Friend Karen

Saturday evening, July 13, Jason and Rachel drove to Denver to pick up our dear friend Karen.  Karen and her family live in Terrace, BC and they are our "mentor family".  Karen and her husband Travis take their three boys out on super cool outdoor adventures all the time, and we are inspired by their ability to get outside and be active as a family.

Karen was in Denver for a conference, and then spent three nights with us.  Thanks to Karen, we were able to manage a busy few days.

Sunday Jason ran Gray's and Torrey's mountains (14ers) with a friend while Karen and I hiked up Shanahan Ridge in South Boulder.  I used to run this loop quickly before work, but this adventure with the two kids took us over 2 hours.  Despite the altitude, Karen kicked butt and we took turns carrying Rachel in the backpack carrier or Ava in the bjorn.  It was the most physical thing I have done in months, and it felt wonderful to be outside on a trail, even if I was slow.

After our hike we went to Pearl St and shopped at GoLite.  Rachel and Karen pulled luggage around the store pretending to be on a trip while I tried on clothes.  Then I took Ava and Rachel outside to watch a man make huge bubbles and play on the rocks.

Karen treats Rachel to a yummy muffin!

Big bubble on Pearl St.

Memory game with Karen and Rachel

Monday morning was quite hectic.  We had several contractors come to the house to do touch ups on the house, as a warranty service from our purchase almost one year ago.  Dry-walkers, painters, concrete guys, sliding door guys, and flooring guys all descended on the house.  This all happened while I was actually out, without the kids, for a meeting.  So Karen basically saved our butts with the two kids while Jason ran the gauntlet of coordinating contractors.

Rachel plays with nursing/bottle equipment!

Later Monday morning Karen and I took the kids to a playground, and then to a doctor's check up for Ava, while Jason still had the house in pieces.  Ava weighed 8lbs, 12 oz. and all is well.  Eventually we all made it home to peace and quiet, and then Karen and Jason went hiking near Eldorado Canyon while the kids slept and I packed.

Monday night we were up late packing and playing games.  Tuesday morning we managed to get everyone in the car and off to the airport to get Karen home.  Then the packed black Subaru continued driving east...

Karen gets top points for her patience with both kids!  We love her very much and are brainstorming about upcoming adventures for our families to do together.  Thank you Karen!

Our little MOJORA family continues to do well.  Rachel has been a terrific big sister and Ava has been a sleepy baby.  Ava, so far, seems to be a calm baby.  She loves to eat, sleep, poop, and snuggle.

Let's see how the kids do driving for hundreds of miles!