Fort Collins

It feels like we've been very active this summer, and this weekend was no exception. I had the amazing opportunity to go visit an even more amazing friend. I met Kristin when we were living in Cheyenne. We only knew each other for a little over a year before we moved, but I made a friendship that will last a lifetime. The Salanoa family just knows how to click with people. Two months after we left Cheyenne they also moved, to California, and have recently moved back to Ft. Collins, Colorado. I knew the next time we made it to Cheyenne we would have to meet up, and we were able to make it happen!

We left on Friday and got to Ft. Collins in time to have dinner and let the girls swim in the hotel pool. Saturday morning we went over to the Salanoa's and had breakfast. Kristin made some awesome banana pancakes with strawberries on top (YUM!), but was so kind to make a batch for Brandon without bananas since he has an allergy. After discussing our options, the kids all voted to go swim in the pool. I knew that would be Chloe's first choice, but I was a little surprised that everyone else wanted to do it too. I tried to take pictures, but my indoor pool pictures just never turn out. After a couple near death experiences we decided it was time to leave the pool, and went back to the Salanoa's for lunch.

After lunch we decided to go visit a raptor refuge that Tyler & Kyle are crazy about. They were the best tour guides I could imagine! These boys are so knowledgeable about everything to do with birds, and even have their own blog where they post about different birds. There were eagles, hawks, an owl (that I somehow missed!), and a vulture that have been harmed in various ways, but can't be sent back into the wild or they wouldn't survive.

Then we went to a huge park to play. Even though there was so much to do, the swings appeared to be everyone's favorite. Go figure! Brandon made a little buddy. He's the one who pulled Trey out of the pool when he lost hold of the edge, and he found Trey when he'd gotten lost at the park. Yes, he really is Superman! We played at the park until Monty got off work, and then we all went out to dinner -- Panera! We don't have one around here, so I was excited to get to go to one. Then we all said good-bye, but not for the last time. Kristin came back to our hotel Sunday morning to bring us a bag of goodies. Her husband works for WonderBread, and he hooked us up with some bread, Twinkies and Zingers!! Oh, the death of me! But the bread came in very handy when we got back from our trip and didn't have any food in the house.

I'm so thankful we had this opportunity to get together! I hope it's not another 6 years, but we've got a trip to Hawaii planned together (or anywhere else she'd like to go, I'm flexible). I don't know when it will happen, but it will happen!