Family Fourth of July in Silverton, CO

We had a really great time camping in Silverton Colorado. Elise was excited to see mountains that looked like Switzerland (her Swiss blood started boiling) and to eat strawberry rhubarb pie at the Silverton rhubarb festival. Kyle was excited to hike in the wilderness and to fly fish again. The boys loved the Silverton Fourth of July and the mine tour. We all loved seeing friends and relaxing.

Here are the four boys outside of our camping trailer (this is the same trailer that took my parents and five girls on a trip across the United States, pulled the entire way by a Toyota minivan, go Toyota!!) - this is one of the only times during the camping trip that they were clean. Note: we also pull the trailer with a Toyota minivan, newer model.

Kyle's friend from work, Steve Allston, took us on a tour of his in-law's mine. This was great!! It was so interesting seeing the ore veins running through the mine. The boys loved collecting rocks. Thanks Allston family and in-laws!

This is Molas Lake where we camped. It was a beautiful lake in a basin of the Colorado alps near Silverton, CO.

Kyle fly fishing near Silverton.

The boys on a beautiful hike near Molas Lake.

Steve and Kyle ran a 5k early on Friday. Are those first place medals guys?

Eating strawberry rhubarb pie at the rhubarb festival.

Elise with our awesome friend Natalie Barstatis. The Barstatis family moved to Durango from our old street. We miss you guys.

The firefighters battle at the Silverton Fourth of July Parade.

This is the Ellsworth family staking out our place at the Silverton Fourth of July Parade. This was so much fun and the fireworks show was the best we've seen.

Free Day

To make summertime more exciting Aunt Amy (Leavitt) suggested the idea of taking one day a week and making it a free day when we did not have any jobs (everyone except mom and dad, that is). We selected Thursday and the boys (and mom) look forward every week to our free day. On free day we generally spend time playing or going on outings. On this free day we took the boys to the Arboreteum. We attended a raptor demonstration:

And went on a lovely tour, where mom got some ideas for gardening in the difficult climate here.