Every year we head up to the mountains for the Strawberry Festival and make a great weekend out of it. We started our trip off with a stop in Idaho Springs. We had lunch at Tommy Knockers and the girls picked themselves up a 6-pack of Orange Crème soda for the weekend.

 

Annabelle’s photography skills in action:

Gwyneth’s photography skills in action:

We had lunch at the Runway Grill and watched the airplanes land. It is a great view and the girls enjoy the patio. Let me be honest, the food is horrible. We had a fun outing but this won’t be making a return to the bucket list next summer….or at least we’ll go for a drink and some airplane watching but no lunch. (Let me also be clear, B has turned us in to complete food snobs so others with out fabulous chef husbands may not be so harsh and actually enjoy it. no judging here.)

 

Please take note of the clothes. Now that school is out the girls are all about matching.

B rewarded the girls for a morning of play at the park with an icee. It was a hot one today!

Yep, just as seen on TV!

 

The girls have been wanting to get funky manicures and we found the kit. Gwyneth got lady bugs and Annabelle got watermelons. I’m sure it’s a shock, but it’s not quite as easy as seen on tv but I gave it a try. I’m sure it will only get better with practice.

 

 

My dear friend, Kristen and I have never been out without our kids or husbands. It took us years to realize this and it never really mattered, but we realized we needed to do it before she moved. So, we both read this book and decided to meet for the movie.

 

I started crying about 20 minutes into the movie and kept on crying all night long. I cried saying goodbye to Kristen and then had one of those really UGLY cries the entire drive home.

 

I can’t do this friendship justice in just one post. Kristen is just one of those good people. She is kind and sweet and funny and a fabulous baker, mother and friend. She reads good books and I love to hear her opinions about them. She makes me a birthday cake every year. She has my girls over when I need a break, she has me and the girls over when I need a friend, and has our entire family over when we need a great night of food, fun, laughs, and games.

 

We talk about everything. We talk for hours and I always leave her house wishing we had just 5 minutes, 10 minutes, 1 more hour. It’s never long enough.

 

Our families are friends and that is not an easy thing to come by. I’m so sad to see them move, but friendship transcends distance and I look forward to our visits with them.

 

I am thankful for our house on Dharma Avenue and bubble wrap and the opportunity to meet such an amazing family.

Where do you take a fantastic chef for Father’s day?

Why, Casa Bonita naturally!

 

B has always said he has great memories of this restaurant from his childhood. He knew the food was bad but he always liked going. That’s how it ended up back on my bucket list this year.

 

It’s true: the food is bad. Really, really bad. But everyone had a fun time watching the divers. It was a great Father’s Day and I think everyone likes to watch me squirm and gag a little over the food.

 

Conflicting opinions amongst the Meyer ladies.

These two actually like this place!

Gwyneth must have had 6 sopapillas!

Happy Father’s Day, B!

This leaves me speechless and manages to fit all the clichés of having a teenage girl. She’s just playing a game on BJ’s phone, but I feel like we just got a sneak peak in to our future.

YaYa joined us for the fun day too.

Uh oh, someone is going in the fountain…

And it’s not going to be one of the girls…

Night #2 of Dance Recitals.

The girls rocked their hip hop dance to “Afterparty”.

They love this class and had so much fun on stage.

 

These costumes were a big purple glittery mess. They shed all over our house. I would like to have a giant purple glitter bonfire now that recital is over, but of course, these are their absolute favorite so they are keepers.

 

How cute are these kids?

 

 

I think Gwyneth should be taking Annabelle’s dance off challenge a bit more seriously.

 

Gwyneth and her sweet pal, Paige.

We left tonight at intermission so we could grab ice cream. The girls earned it!

Gus brought them gifts from his trip. This gift is awesome — and loud, which is Gus’ specialty.

Naturally, the girls adore it!

Gwyneth even got a special necklace and was thrilled!!

Thanks Gus for thinking of our girls. Love, love, love!

We celebrate the girls’ recital with popsicles…well, Annabelle did anyway. She still loves them. Gwyneth got a big bowl of chocolate ice cream instead because she informed me tonight that she doesn’t like popsicles anymore. I hear ya, girlie. I don’t like popsicles either. More for Annabelle and B.

YaYa came to Colorado for the girls’ dance recital. We picked her up from the airport and went straight to lunch and to play at the splash park. The girls were very excited to see YaYa, but not so pleased with the freezing cold water!!