Next Great Adventure

As many of you know, two weeks from today Drew and I are packing up and moving back home to Florida. We decided we need some adult supervision (and free baby-sitting) since we're having a baby in 3 months. It seemed like an easy decision at first, but the closer the move gets the harder it's become. We've had so many great adventures here in Colorado but it's time to move on to our next great adventure- parenthood. This will probably by our last blog post since dirty diapers and spit-up are not as interesting as peak-bagging and mountain lion stalkings. Thanks for following this blog, it's been a lot of fun sharing our adventures with you. On to the next!

Drew's final fun fact: Mrs. Vassilyev of Russia gave birth to 69 children between 1725 and 1765.

Let's Make A Deal

Yesterday Drew and I made a deal that if he went hiking with me in the morning (not his favorite outdoor activity) I would go climbing with him in the afternoon. I must have been in denial of my pregnancy at the time; I don't why I thought I was capable of that much exertion in one day. The good thing about being in the second trimester is that you feel great. The bad thing is that sometimes you forget about your "condition" and bite off more than you can chew.

So yesterday morning we drove up to a dumpy little town just west of Boulder called Ward, CO. We parked at the Brainerd Lake recreation area after the nice lady at the entrance let us in for free (we failed to bring cash to pay the entrance fee, oops). We hiked 5 miles round trip along two beautiful alpine lakes just above treeline. The hike felt great but I definitely needed a nap by the time we got home.

After my nap I stuck to my word and went climbing with Drew. We decided on a 3-pitch 5.7 route in Boulder Canyon at Cob Rock. I haven't done much climbing since I've been pregnant especially since my belly has been getting bigger. I guess I should have realized when I could barely bend over to tie my climbing shoes that I was in for more than I had bargained for. It wasn't pretty but after some struggling, grunting, and only a few tears I made it to the top. Don't worry, climbing while pregnant is safe, but certainly not very graceful.

Today I have a date with the heating pad... Drew is out climbing, with someone else.

Drew's fun fact: According to the U.S. FDA standards, 1 cup of orange juice is allowed to contain 10 fruit fly eggs but only 2 maggots.

The Grand

Here are some videos of Drew's trip to climb the Grand Teton a few weeks ago...

Next up... Devil's Tower and the Petit Grepon

Drew's fun fact: Women wishing to enter Canada to work as strippers must provide naked photos of themselves to qualify for a visa.

It was all yellow

This past weekend we went camping near Steamboat Springs with a group of friends to enjoy the fall weather. I'm not sure why I thought it would be a good idea to sleep on the hard ground in 20 degree weather at 20 weeks pregnant, but somehow I survived. We had a great time watching the Aspen trees turn yellow, the Gators beat Tennesee (phew!), and Drew and Steve invent something called extreme hammocking... everyone was quick to point out that it was the father of my unborn child dangling from a rope up there...

Drew's fun fact: There is a poisonous plant that leaves the victim with a smile on their face at the time of death.

Another one bites the dust

After procrastinating as long as possible Drew and I finally decided to jump on the baby bandwagon. Most of you probably know by now that our little boy is due the end of January. We had our 20 week ultrasound last week and everything looked great. When we found out it's a boy Drew said to me "haha, you're screwed." I can only imagine the messes, mischief, and mayhem I'm in store for... I couldn't be more excited.

I haven't done much blogging lately because I haven't done much lately. Between weeks of first-trimester nausea and months of 90+ degree heat I have been laying low. I was able to get outside some this summer, here are a few highlights:

Hiking up to South Arapahoe Peak (8 weeks, only made it to treeline)

Climbing at Lily Lake when Kari came to visit (12 weeks)

Camping (RV-style) with my parents in Buena Vista (16 weeks)

Drew was able to do some great climbs this summer and even made a trip to the Tetons. If I can ever get him to edit his GroPro videos I will post them. He seems to have a high tolerance for my nagging so it may take awhile...

Drew's fun fact: Denver, Colorado now has more marijuana dispensaries than it does Starbucks.

Burning Up

Summer has arrived. I know because my ugly chaco tan is reappearing. I also know because it's been over 100 degrees everyday for the past 2 weeks. Drew's parents came to visit for Father's day and after spending a few days in our "dry heat" they were happy to go home to Florida where it's only 86 degrees.

This weekend was a prototypical Boulder summer weekend. We went climbing in St. Vrain Canyon Friday night after work. Saturday we hiked up to South Arapahoe with Steve and Caroline. Drew was the only one of use that was brave enough to do the traverse, you can see why from his video.

Sunday we rode our bikes down to the Boulder creek to cool off. It was quite the party down at the river complete with people dressed up in pirate costumes floating in inner tubes and drunken college kids playing floating beer pong.

Unfortunately this summer has been very dry and we've already had several wildfires. There is one burning in the foothills of Ft. Collins that has destroyed 250 homes and is only 45 percent contained. I think we're going to have a government-mandated statewide rain dance soon.

On a happier note, our 4th wedding anniversary is this Thursday and we're celebrating by going to see the Avett Brothers at Red Rocks!

Drew's fun fact: The High Park fire that is currently burning near Ft. Collins is the most destructive fire in Colorado's history, and the second largest by acreage.

Taking Advantage

My weekends may have been rained out lately, but Drew has been a bit luckier with weather on his days off. He's always good about taking advantage of his free time, the proof is in the pictures:

Quandary Peak

The Young and the Rackless

MacGregor Slab

Drew's fun fact: Elmo is the only non-human to testify before the U.S. Congress.