July has been a pattern of hiking, swimming, hiking, family parties, hiking, fireworks, hiking, lava hot springs, and more hiking. Brad and I are discovering that more and more we are outdoor lovers. Who wants to stay in and watch a movie when you can go up the canyon and watch one with the mountains in the background. After all we can't do this year round. So we have come up with a new Dennis family tradition and have a whiteboard entitled Saturday Adventures, and whenever we hear of a fun hike or road trip or event it goes on the board and then come Saturday we pick an adventure and go. The rule is, not too much planning and it's been so much fun just saying "anything can happen." We have walked along side mountain goats, danced in acres of wildflowers, napped along side lakes in complete solitude, repelled down a cliff face without a rope, and slid down a glacier and lived to tell about it. Thursdays have been our Seven Peaks day where we act like 12 year old kids and never get tired of the water slides even though we have both failed the "yellow challenge" multiple times and had to endure the walk of shame. We enjoyed Kelly Clarkson at Stadium of Fire. Our garden is doing well. We conquered the "scenic route" of Timp. And we have discovered delicious (lactose free) homemade Almond Joy ice cream. This has been such a playful fun summer that we both don't want to let go- here's to a late winter!
