Two Celebrations

Last week Drew and I celebrated our 3rd wedding anniversary. The past two years we had gone on a trip to the Keys to celebrate. But this year our anniversary fell on a Tuesday, and since we've been taking so many weekend trips together lately, we decided to keep it low-key. We went to dinner at Oskar Blues and saw Transformers 3-D. We don't usually give each other gifts for our anniversary (or birthdays or Christmas), but this year we used it as an excuse to get something we've each been wanting. I got new Chacos and Drew got an altimeter watch.

Drew also surprised me with some beautiful Sunflowers when I got home from work. Sunflowers are actually the traditional flower given for the third anniversary. I'd like to give Drew credit for following the tradition, but let's be honest, we all know it was coincidence :)

To celebrate 4th of July weekend we met up with my parents who were camping on Lake Granby on the northwest side of RMNP. We drove up Friday night after work and had the most beautiful sunset drive through the park. We saw Elk, Moose, lots of tourists, and tons and tons of snow. Here's a picture of me standing next to the snowdrift on the side of the road... I'm beginning to think all this snow will never melt.

Saturday we woke up at the crack of dawn to hike Mt. Watanga in the Indian Peaks Wilderness. It was supposed to be a 10 mile round trip hike with a summit at 12,375 ft. We only made it a couple miles up the trail because the 'creeks' that are usually easy to cross had turned into raging rivers from all the snowmelt. We also lost track of the trail because it was buried in snow. We were all pretty disappointed, but we still enjoyed our shortened hike.

That afternoon we went over to our family friends' house on Shadow Mountain Lake. We played games, kayaked on the lake, and enjoyed the beautiful mountain views. Later that night we grilled burgers at our campsite, and Mom and I shared our traditional bottle of anniversary champagne. When Drew and I got engaged my parents had gotten us a bottle of champagne to celebrate. But Drew doesn't really like champagne so my mom drank it with me. Since then it's become a tradition for my mom and I to share a bottle to celebrate my wedding anniversary; she is so kind to make sure I never have to drink champagne alone.

The next day my Dad inflated his Bubba tub so that Drew and I could float the headwaters of the Colorado river. I only agreed to do this because my Mom had a wetsuit for me to wear. We only floated for about a mile, but it was very beautiful and very relaxing. I reclined on the bow while Drew paddled and serenaded me in fake Italian.

After that Drew and Mom spent some time practicing their Mother/Son-in-Law act.

We left later that afternoon because Drew had to work on the 4th of July (I think his boss is a Commie). On the drive home back through the park we saw Mountain goats, and again, lots and lots of tourists. Next weekend we will hopefully be meeting up with my parents again on the Cache La Poudre river where there are less crowds and more fun to be had.

Drew's fun fact: The world’s biggest hot dog was 1,996 feet long.

P.S. My parents gave Drew and I matching T-shirts for our anniversary. Luckily now I can celebrate our anniversary and the 4th of July simultaneously with one outfit. Now if I could only get Drew to wear his at the same as me...