Outdoor Adventures in CO

(Warning: this post contains an absurd number of photographs. We apologize! We simply wanted to add a few memories to our digital scrapbook.)

Our family loves the outdoor mentality of the folks who reside here. Nearly everyone spends their free time OUTSIDE - hiking, biking, sledding, skiing, snowshoeing, rafting, kayaking, fishing, and mountain climbing. The opportunities to explore the great outdoors are ENDLESS in this state. (Wanna sled down the largest sand dune in North America? Yep, that's an option in CO!)

As a lover of all things "wild and free," I (Meredith) feel incredibly grateful that our boys have the opportunity to spend their childhoods OUTSIDE, scaling the Rocky Mountains and trekking through national forests (when their health permits, of course!). Adventure is in their blood (isn't that true of all boys?!), and there's a plethora of adventure around every bend here. We're so grateful for these opportunities to explore God's beautiful creation:

In addition to our explorations through the nearby mountains and forests, we're also grateful for the adventures right here in our neighborhood! Again, the kids prefer to be OUTSIDE, even if the weather is chilly/snowy/windy/rainy.

Side note: rain occurs next to never here. We're in "high desert" country. Hearing thunder is an event, y'all - we've witnessed store clerks leave their cash registers in order to stand outside beneath a rumbling sky because thunder is that rare. Our kids have stared in awe at raindrops sliding down the windowpanes. I know that sounds ridiculous to all of our southern, rain-soaked relatives, but Colorado is one of the sunniest states in the country, averaging only 30-40 overcast days per year. So the weather doesn't often impede our ability to enjoy the great outdoors. Isn't that bananas?!

Anyhow, we're grateful for the endless outdoor fun that can be had right here in the neighborhood, almost any day of the year:

So that's it, folks! Living in Colorado has opened our eyes to the beauty of God's creation - the mountains, the sky, the trees, the rivers - we're officially hooked on the great outdoors! And we know that every city possesses a thousand adventures; we can't wait to explore the trails and parks in Kentucky and Georgia (as soon as our bodies are healthy enough to handle the humidity, that is). We LOVE experiencing new adventures alongside our grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins! ;-)

Wherever you're currently living, we hope that you're able to snag a few afternoons/evenings every week to experience that "wild and free" feeling in your own corner of the world. Many blessings to each of you! :-)