Hiking season has begun! (again) (in Nebraska this time)

One of the things I miss most about Denver is not actually Denver at all - it is all of the outdoor fun that comes with being right next to the mountains. Sooooo why not replicate that back home, right? Thanks to a NE State Park pass that Mom and Dad got me for Christmas I have no excuse not to go exploring in my home state. So my lovely friend Ashley and I set out for an adventure to Platte River State Park on Saturday!

Old habits die hard and it was great to launch back in to "mountain mode". Granted, I didn't need the hat and gloves I brought in case of altitude weather changes, we didn't really need to leave early in the a.m. to avoid the storms that always roll in after noon, and we didn't need all of the sandwiches/apples/water/Clif Bars that were safely packed in my CamelBak...

But it was great!!

I do have to say I was a bit disappointed with the information desk at the Visitor's Center - when I asked for hiking trail recommendations I was told by a lady behind the desk, "ummmm, I don't know. I really don't do those things." (Oh, I'm sorry, I thought maybe you could provide some information, I seem to have been mistaken!) Someone else was able to give us a few tips but warned us that the trail was "really difficult" and "really long". How long is long?  "Well over a 1/2 mile."

Don't worry, lady. We packed food. We're here all day. 

Still a great first hike for the season, and thanks, Ash, for braving the adventure with me!!

Not quite the waterfall I was picturing, but a waterfall nonetheless!

 Not the Rockies, but Nebraska sure does have its own beauty

 Ash is the best navigator!

 Awesome view from the observation tower

HOLY WIND, BATMAN!

 Much anticipated self-timer shot. In a tepee :)

Looking forward to adventures to come! Much love from the Heartland!

Easter in Estes (v 20.14)

We all had such a great time in Estes Park last year for Easter that we decided to go again! This time I was in on the 8+ hour drive out to CO, but it was worth it. First time back to CO since the big move home, and yup, I miss the mountains a TON! Family + mountains = awesome Easter weekend :)

Roller skating fun at the Y! Abby-Gab skates moved like the road runner's legs - good thing Lori was there to hold her up!

 A date 30+ years in the making...

 We hiked to Bear Lake! At least we think it is under there somewhere... Turns out there was still 5+ feet of snow in Rocky Mountain National Park. Brr.

 Ella was carefully documenting everything we saw

 A mountain boy and his mountain dog

Awesome sunrise from the cabin porch on Easter morning!

... and on the drive home we managed to track down Santiago's burritos at a gas station in Ft. Morgan. We bought their entire stock. And I don't regret a single burrito :)

Denver Meets O-Town

Last weekend was bittersweet for me - my bestest girls from Denver, Sarah and Ilana came to visit O-town for the weekend! While we had a BLAST, I was also reminded of just how much I miss them and our daily antics together. The sweet greatly outweighed the bitter, though, and I am truly blessed to have found such wonderful ladies that I know will remain lifelong friends, regardless of the highway hours that separate us.

These lovelies are truly part of my family! They were gracious enough to spend time with my extended family at a 80th birthday at my parent's house, and I'm pretty sure my entire family wants to adopt them (and kick me out?), but I can't really blame them...

We had a wonderful weekend exploring E-town and O-town, and it was fun to play tour guide in my own city. Having been back only a few months there are quite a few places we visited that either weren't in existence last time I lived here, or it had been so long since I visited that it may as well have been my first time.

 Denver meets O-town! We had to check out the breweries in Benson, of course.

 You can buy anything in the Old Market!

Checking out a new brewery in the Old Market. We found the cutest tasters in all the land!

A lovely day for a walk across the bridge to Iowa...

Forging friendships across the Iowa/Nebraska border - the Jews and the Germans may now live in harmony

 

Thanks SO MUCH for coming to visit, ladies! It means so much that you would come to see where I've ended up, and next time, I'm coming to CO! We do lack mountains here...

 

Much love from the heartland!