Family Vacation...lots of it!

Ok Ok, I didn't start off very well as a blogger. I posted once and disappeared but a lot has happened over the last month or so and I'm here to catch you all up (you all being my one follower - thanks Jess!)

If I didn't already mention it, I love spending time with family and I love to travel.  Brett and I try to spend as much time as we can with family even though it can be hard being a few hours away and as the oldest, the least favorites to our parents...those middle and youngest children just get all the attention don't they?? (Just kidding...sort of! I don't want to speak for Brett but we all know Danny and Robbie are the favorites at my house!)

But anyway, with our love for traveling and spending time with family we were lucky enough to combine the two! Brett and I spent some time in Colorado enjoying the amazing weather! It worked our perfect as Brett's family was up for 4 or 5 days followed by a few days with my family.  It was great spending over a week in the fresh (non humid) air.  It has been 110 degrees with 100% humidity in KC so I am dying to return already (so are the dogs). 

While the Hartung side (Brett's mom's side of the family) was up we decided to do some white water rafting.  Gene-O (Brett's dad) was really excited and we thought we'd share in his excitement and go along! It had been a few years since I'd last done it and I was ready to take on something a little more challenging...be careful what you wish for is what I learned! 

We took the journey, which seemed to last 5 hours with all the bathroom stops we had to make for Brett's cousin Steve, close to the Royal Gorge to begin our adventure.  We found out once we got there that our original 3+ rated trip had now turned into a 4 with a class 5 rapid.  It was at that point I decided to strap a helmet on tight. The very first rapid we went over was a class 5, and it was definitely more than we all expected.  We were paddling our life away as we approached the beast just hoping to get through it without flipping.  SUCCESS, well at least for our boat, the Maxfield's on the other hand had a little bit more difficulty with Molly's "near death" experience! We made it! It was close but we made it.  I needed to take a few minutes to recuperate but if given the chance, I'd do it again! (Now I'm not so sure if Molly would say the same)

Here we are ready to hit the rapids! Myself, Brett, Matthew, Allison,

Gene, Molly, Shelby, Kelsey, Steve and Kirk.  Man those wet suits are unattractive!

Pictured here are Vern, Kirk, Steve and Brett.  They spent an afternoon golfing!

We had a great time with Brett's family, but missed Mike and Janine but will see them shortly when we make a trip to Phoenix!

Once we said goodbye to Brett's family, my mom joined me for the week where we spent some time shopping, lunching and relaxing! It was perfect! The rest of my immediate family, including my brothers, Jess and my dad, arrived just in time for the 4th of July weekend, oh and more importantly my birthday - the 3rd!

Relaxing with my mom and I were four of our dogs, Riley, Max, Buster and Marty!

We missed Maggie and Moose!

When all the Knight's arrived we spent several days hiking, biking, eating, drinking and shopping. We had a great time! See some of our pictures below!



The five us in Keystone for dinner at one of our favorites...Kickapoo's!



Celebrating my 27th Birthday! Got a Ski Helmet - My dad swears my ears will never be cold again!



The Vail Pass Bike Ride! Next time Jules is making us ride it up hill. I think I'll have altitude sickness that day.

The four of us stopping for lunch along our bike Ride - Danny ditched out on this one, why am I not surprised!

Mom and Dad while out to eat at Pug Ryan's in Dillon!

Brett and I enjoying the Colorado sun! Picture taken in front of Dillon Lake.

A great 4th of July week, a great 27th birthday and a fabulous time spent with family! Till next time...