The Colorado Adventure is Beginning!

 In the last post we said we might have come back to Colorado a little early, but we really did not have a choice.  Seriously though, we were getting a little tired of the snow and the below average temperatures.  We knew Spring would eventually get here and we would welcome it with open arms.  To tell the truth my shorts thought I went on vacation and my very white legs were embarrassing.  I  thought I might have  jinxed the weatherman with our last post since we have had terrible weather since our last post.  We have survived and Spring finally made it to the Front Range in Colorado.  We have enjoyed our stay here so far and as we slip into May and gallop into the summer we think this summer, with the family,  will be great. 

God Bless our Country, we display our flag proudly even in the snow!  Hopefully, this is the last snow picture we post this year.

Dad and son bonding over an open fire with a couple of Coors Lights!

 

Here I come Grandpa, get out of my way! 

Karsten, look behind you at the hot air balloons.  The Super K's stayed with Grandma and Grandpa

over night in the motor home and got up to see the hot air balloons take off early Saturday morning!

 

 

Amy and Kris brought their boat over to Chatfield.  We think it was not only to enjoy the weather, it was not only to take the boat out for the first time this year, we actually think it was to ensure we would let them take the grand kids back home.  Wait a minute, is that Amy sneaking into the picture with Grandma and the Super Ks!

 

 

Nice hair Amy, what is in the can?  hmmm!

Dad can I back the boat up?  Kris, you are looking good but you got to do something about that tan!

 

David is getting the fire ready to cook, he brought the food and fixed it over the open fire.  Can it get any better - one son brings beer, the other the food, we just get to relax and enjoy.   Outstanding!

Relaxing after a great meal with Mom and the puppies.

 

  The social pattern for the summer is being set up by our wonderful family, with their weekend visits, a little fireside enjoyment, outdoor cooking, a little beverage and plenty of love!  We have been traveling across this great country visiting friends and family for over 5 years but the last month with David, Kris and Amy and the Super Ks has been wonderful.  David, Kris and Amy  have grown so much in the last few years, they make us very proud.  And, if you follow our blog you know how much we love the super Ks and how happy they make us every minute we spend with them.  Summer in Colorado was not in our original plan but we are so glad that our plans changed and we are able to be here and be with our family.  We hope you follow us during our stay here in Colorado, the adventure is just beginning, but this adventure will include David, Kris, Amy, Kasey, Karsten and the puppies, Ty and MyLee!  It is going to be fun!

What a Great Start Our Summer Backyard Adventure!

 

Our adventure as the Camp Host at Chatfield State Park has began.  David, Kris, Amy and the Super Ks have found their way over for visits and they have found that there is a lot to do here at Chatfield SP.  We couldn't believe how much fun we have had in the first week...and if the summer is anything like the first week this could be our best adventure in years.  Before we get ahead of ourselves - thanks kids for suggesting we stay in Colorado for the summer!

OK, the weather has really cooperated and we do not expect every week to be as great as the first week but ... oh heck, why not!  On our first night here, David came over and we just sat around and talked, played with the puppies, and connected like we have not done in years.  We don't know about David but we thought it was a great start to the summer.  The next day we got to watch the boys here at the campground, they wore themselves out at the playground and playing in the motor home.  That night David came back over to join Kris and the Super Ks around the campfire.  The next day, we took a ride on our scooter to visit with David - guess you can't always expect everyone to come visit us, but when we came back to the motor home we were joined by Amy, Kris and the boys.  Wouldn't you know it - Kasey and Karsten asked grandpa if he would start a camp fire!  This might be a regular thing, there is something about a camp fire that is magic to young and old. 

 

 

We woke up to several hot air balloons taking off from the hot air balloon field located on the other side of the water from us - not a bad way to welcome the day

Kris "tends" to the fire - Amy says he is "playing with the fire"!

Karsten wants to give Dad a ride on the scooter!

Kasey and Karsten on the scooter - can you believe right after this picture was taken Kasey asked for the keys and pointed to the ignition telling grandpa that he should just put the key in there.  Grandpa did not give in to their request - for once!

 

We did not believe that volunteering as Camp hosts here in Colorado this summer would be anything like our first week and so much fun.  Oh by the way, we also "work", in fact, we actually earned our keep today.   We believe it will all be worth it, just to spend time with our wonderful family. 

This backyard adventure is what our life is all about: living each day to the fullest, being with family, meeting new people, enjoying new experiences and getting to do whatever we want in this great country of ours.  After this first week, our expectations for the summer are sky high...we hope you join us as we continue to live our dream.

Spring in Colorado

We are experiencing Spring in Colorado i.e., snow shoveling, strong winds, blue skies and brilliant  sun filled days, drape overcast days, days starting out at 5 degrees and climbing to 77 degrees and that is the Colorado spring weather in one week.  Did we come back too early or did we come back to enjoy the beautiful Colorado spring time, when you get to experience all the seasons in a one week? 

 

We started out by shoveling snow to clear a space for our motor home, thank goodness we had Kasey and Karsten to help us dig out (Kris and Amy did a little also). Along with George's maintenance treatments, we were able to spend quality time with the family and have decided to spend the summer in Colorado.  The older kids (David, Kris, and Amy) have persuaded us to stay here for the summer, pointing out that we have not spent the summer here since we started full timing.  Of course, it did not take much to convince us, all they probably needed to do is to have Kasey and Karsten ask Grandma and Grandpa to stay.  Since we were offered a volunteer Camp Host position at Chatfield State Park, we have a spot for the motor home and something to do for at least 20 hours a week.  We will be camp hosts at Chatfield State Park until George's maintenance treatments in September after which we will be driving down to Tucson.  If anyone comes to Denver this summer, in their camper, we will have a spot for you to hook up.  See some of the pictures below... we have a picture postcard view of the Chatfield reservoir, mountains, and we are nestled in the woods plus at night, we have the city lights of the Denver suburbs to our northeast.  Not a bad place to stay for a few months.   This should be one of our best adventures, for sure it will be one of our most scenic backyards campsites.

 

 

Grandpa, Kasey, and Karsten shoveling snow at Buckley AFB campground in mid March

 

It must be a little chilly, Kasey still has his coat on but apparently he is having fun coming down the slide

Grandma, I am a big boy and I can do this myself!

David, Ty, Mylee, and Grandma at David's place.  Of course, David has his small computer commuter screen up and running!

 

 

Our views from the front and left side of the motor home.  The reservoir is about 500 feet in front of the motor home and the playground for Kasey and Karsten is just about 50 feet from our pad.

Covered the motor scooter, but we have plenty of space for the grand kids and the adults to come and play. 

George constructed a flagpole for our flag - it has a dual purpose, it rotates with the wind and it serves as our wind vane. (is that flag backwards??)

Grandpa it is Spring and softball season - Catch!

 Karsten loves when Daddy plays softball cause he gets to keep the ball!

Kris and his friend, Eric getting ready for their softball game - actually the weather was in the 60s at game time (7:05pm) but cooled off after the sun went down. Thank God for the 10 run rule, Kris' team, the" Fatkids",  won their first game and we got to go home early.

 

It has been a long time since we have camp hosted but this will be another adventure and another chapter in our lives.  We will be working about 20 hours a week, a little more than we did as the golf host in Georgia but we still will have a lot of time to shower the big and little kids in our lives with a summer full of love.   We don't know exactly what we will be doing but there will be camp fires at night, golf with the boys, watching the puppies and the grand kids, hiking and exploring the state park, boating, meeting and making new friends and enjoying life with our family.  As we all  know, the best times in life are with family and friends - we hope you are enjoying your spring and summer, and you keep your family and friends close to your heart.  We love you and hope to see you as we travel the backyards of America.