Camping Near Estes Park

The kids and I drove up to Covenant Heights Retreat Center last weekend for two nights of camping. It was awesome! Had a little bit of rain both nights - but not too bad. We fished in the lake at the camp - and the kids had a blast in the canoes, kayaks and paddleboats. The lake is normally catch and release, but the last day we were there we were told by the camp director to keep whatever we caught because they are going to be draining the lake in a few weeks for some bulldozing work at one end. Sweet!!! Fresh trout dinner when we got back to Littleton.

We also took a drive into Estes Park on Saturday. Crazy traffic!!!

Breakfast!!!

Elly and Little Girl on the beach

On the deck of the dining hall

Kayaks!!

Little Girl: navigator

Dinnertime

Just a little black bear wandering through camp...

Grant's first trout in Colorado

Yum

Rockies Dodgers Game with the Cousins

My brother-in-law Kevin drove out from Chicago with Haley and Ethan to spend a week in Colorado - and to help his mom move the rest of her stuff into her new condo. We all got together to go see the Rockies play the Dodgers - with Kevin's two sisters Kari and Kathi and their families - - - 17 all together! Can't beat those $4 Rockpile seats! Rocks won!!!

Kevin and the kids watching the game

Grant and Ethan

Elly and the kids

Coors Field from the Rockpile

Goofin

Go Rockies!

Hot Town Summer in the City

Elly and Grant and I took the light rail to downtown Denver today - temps were in the high 90s - so not a bad day to be near the water. We walked down 16th Street Mall to do some people watching - grabbed some lunch - and then headed down Cherry Creek to Confluence Park and some much deserved swimming and wading in the Platte River near REI. Grant and I spent about 45 minutes looking at canoes and kayaks (his latest craze) and at some camping gear. If you haven't been to this REI - their flagship in Denver - this is destination shopping at it's best...

Getting on the light rail in Littleton - Mineral was closed today for track repairs (bummer dude)

On the Platte below the rapids

Elly taking a dip - center of the picture

The massive climbing wall at REI

Inside the store - used to be the Denver Trolley Power Company - built in 1901

Elly in the Platte

Grant fighting the current

Elly and Grant Meet Bob Stromberg

Last week while we were attending my brother Anders' ordination in Wisconsin, the kids got to meet Bob Stromberg. His son Lars was ordained along with Anders that night. They have been fans of his shadow puppets on YouTube for about a year and they were thrilled beyond belief to actually meet him - it was really cute.

I first met Bob in 1985 at Covenant Point Bible Camp in Upper Michigan - I was on staff that summer and he came up and led worship at a Conference Sunday at the camp.

He showed the kids a few pointers on doing shadow puppets.

Bob and Grant

The Rabbit...and the Hoooooouuuuuund!

Woof!

Elly and Bob

Smiles

The Johnson Sibs

Father's Day at Red Rocks

The kids and I went up to Red Rocks Amphitheater in Morrison on Sunday for Father's Day. They have an excellent buffet on Sundays - and yesterday was no exception. Grant was disappointed that he couldn't order his customary rattlesnake empenadas - but he got over it when he saw they had blueberry muffins...

After brunch - we went for a short hike on the ridge above the amphitheater. Promised both kids we would hit a show there this summer... "veggie burrito!!!"

Driving up to the upper lot

Outside the visitor's center

At the Ship Rock Grille

On the ridge looking toward the visitor's center, Ship Rock Grille
and Denver in the background

Heading back to the car

Elly's Continuation Ceremony

Last night Elly had her 6th Grade Continuation Ceremony at Thunder Ridge High School (where she'll be going to high school in 2 short years...YIKES!!) It was a great ceremony - lots of great reflections from the kids - and a wonderful slide show at the end - including baby pictures and shots from their Outdoor Ed program up at Covenant Heights. Elly's teacher began her comments with thanking her class for their courage and will - and singling out Elly for her awesome PowerPoint presentation on pigs and how they are mistreated in many animal confinement operations - which brought many to tears.

Happy Continuation Elly!!!!

Love Dad.

Elly and Olivia Gardener

Smiles

Holly Frazier and Elly

Elly and Linda

Miss Sloan talks about Elly's courage...

Moonlight Hike in Roxborough State Park

A friend from Centennial Covenant had some extra tickets for a moonlight hike in Roxborough State Park tonight. Only about 6 miles from the house, Roxborough is one of Colorado's most beautiful parks - featuring the Red Rock formations that dot the front range from Boulder down to Colorado Springs. We had a great tour guide in Peter Loux - a retired geologist who - with his wife - shared their expertise and knowledge about the area. Grant hung on his every word throughout the whole evening - and Elly did a great job answering his scientific questions...

A big bonus - when we got back to the visitor's center, a guy had his telescope set up. We were able to see Saturn with rings - and an incredible view of the Moon!

A great time was had by all!

On the Lyons Overlook

The road into the park

Overlook #1

Overlook #2 - the Lyons Overlook