7 in 7

"Excuse me, Ma'am. But do you know the couple sitting at that table?"

I looked over and told the waitress no.

"...because they just paid for your dinner."

Really? Dang. I shoulda had the prime rib!

I went over to thank them, and they explained they so appreciate parents who've taken the time to raise well behaved kids, that they occasionally do something to show it, like pay their dinner tab.

Ha! How cool is that? Good thing they didn't see Miss Acacia on a sassy day...

The girls and I were in Denver for Acacia's last gymnastics meet. She'd placed first all-round at Regionals, so we had high hopes for the State level, but she just didn't have a good day. Happens to the best of us! She came in 4th on vault, so she got to come home with a medal, but she could've swept it. Still very proud of her, and I love watching her; she's very fluid and looks like a little gymnast. It's a huge thing for her to perform anything with an audience of strangers, so this season of meets has been good for her.

During the four days before her Regionals meet, she, Cayenne and Nick climbed six 14ers. Maybe that's what was missing last weekend!

And the day after Acacia's Regionals meet, I got to join them for their 7th peak in a week, Mt. Lindsey (14,042 ft).

Behind us are Blanca and Ellingwood. To the left of Blanca's peak and down 1,000ft, there are a few snow patches... and if you squint reeeeeeeally hard, you might see our camera that Nick dropped from the ridge...

(I suppose these photos aren't too bad, considering they're taken with a phone.)

Very proud of our baby girl.

 

Blanca Peak

I jumped when Nick's text sprang onto my phone and instantly tears filled my eyes and spilled over. Total relief. I looked across the table at Petra and tried to explain how nervous I'd been that I hadn't heard from him and the girls for eight hours past when they should've been on the summit of Sherman. But she understood. I know it's the easiest 14er in the state, but I'm a mother, so I can't stop the video behind my eyes of everything that could go wrong.

But it all went right and the three of them were done with Sherman, according to Cayenne, "in two seconds." I suppose when the last 14er you climbed took 15.5 hours, this probably did feel like a split second. Back at their campsite by 10:30 A.M., they decided to go nab another one. They were on the summit of Quandary that afternoon, before hunkering down in (long-time family friends) Charlie and Debra Campbell's cabin near Breckenridge. Added bonus: the cabin has television, so my girls are happy campers tonight. 

No photos yet of what they climbed today because they are out of range again, so here are a couple of their last adventure.

 In case you're wondering what could take 15.5 hours? 

Hiking the whole ridge - from the left side of the photo to the right side - of Blanca Peak (14,345 ft). July 1st.

Yay! We're done! Let's eat!!

Slytherin House

Acacia's a screamer at the best of times, but I knew when I heard the pitch of this one that something was amiss. I saw her run to the back door holding her hand and assumed she'd been stung by a bee.

"I got bitten by a snake! It's poisonous!"

Huh? There are rattlesnakes in these parts, but not in the garden. They like the hot dry dusty trails on the open mesas, so maybe in Nick's garden in Phoenix, but not here.

"What did it look like?"

"It was a gardener snake and the kids at school said they're reeeeeeeeally poisonous! I could die!!"

A garter snake? They're harmless and I've never heard of one biting so I needed to make sure that's what it was, and not a rattler.

And there it was, a fat, dopey garter, and on Acacia's hand, a queue of double dots where his fangs had lightly broken her skin in a trail along her thumb.She didn't believe me and I started doubting myself so we Googled it and they do indeed bite occasionally - but no, Acacia would not be dying from it. So off she went, climbing in the garden where the snake lay, not bothered by it and still liking snakes.

Until two days later. That was when she witnessed our fat snake wrapping itself around a small chipmunk who at the time she saw it, was already beyond saving - but still alive. She was beside herself. So sad!

The snake consumed little Chippy from the back legs up, so near the end of this ordeal, just his furry face was peeking out from the snake's dislocated jaws. Zoology 101, right by the front door, just below the empty Stellar's Jay nest.

Acacia no longer likes snakes.

    

The (Not So) Secret Fort

One of Cayenne's favorite places is The Secret Fort, a hidden space in the thick scrub oak across from Petra's. There's a well trodden path leading to it, and usually peals of laughter emanating from it, but the neighborhood kids feel safe and secret there.

It was the most natural spot for her 12th birthday, but she didn't know I knew that. While she and her buddy Paola painted tiles and quietly hung out, her Fort Friends were busy decorating with streamers and balloons. 

When it was all ready, Maddie and Quinn came to call on her as they often do, and Cayenne had her first true surprise party. Taking after her Papa, she's not a hugely social person, but this is exactly what she wanted - only had no idea how to go about making it happen so didn't ask. Yay Mom for mind-reading!

Happy Birthday, Beautiful!

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(Acacia made the banner) 

And then.................

... Dominoes delivered pizza directly to the fort. ha! 

I know, I know, I'm brilliant. 

Good Times!

I'm back! Are you still here??

Guess where we were? For a full week, Nicolas and I got to slip away to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico and Santa Barbara, CA. And by slip away I mean the trip was free because Nick flew a client down there; he got paid to be there; and friends and family took care of the girls. WooHoo!

This would be a lovely photo if you chopped off my head. The background is purdy! Not sure what I was running my mouth about, but I'm certain it was important.

We climbed around the rocks and found this little beach...

Then we climbed more rocks and found this BIG beach. 

Alone in Cabo - almost an oxymoron! 

 We spent an evening with Sean & Susie and Don & Kellie (with whom we flew down), who were staying at the home of some of their Durango friends. We could easily have camped in the wine cellar...

But the rest of the house didn't suck either.

 It was pleasant having our drinks served by the wait staff and all...

... but a simple beach bar with my hubby is definitely more my speed.

Cheers to Ilona and Michel, Erika and Bill, and Katie and Carl for helping to make this happen by taking such good care of our girls. Love you all. ♥

Growing Up and Old

"Mama?! One of the baby birds is on the ground and he can't fly back up!!" Acacia was almost in tears as she called me at work just now. I'm on floor, which means I am the agent "on call" in case anyone needs one. The office doors are propped wide open and cyclists are flying down the hill and around the corner onto Main Avenue. It's the Iron Horse weekend and this town is chock full of bikes.

Yesterday was the big race to Silverton and today are all kinds of smaller races downtown. The speed the bikes are coming around this corner is shocking. Only one crash so far...

The first bird tried to fly today and did a pretty good job getting to the ornamental cherry right next door. But he didn't move from there for three hours until he tried and ended up on the ground. Acacia is worried he'll get eaten by something.

In the ornamental cherry tree, just below their nest.

She's called me back twice, and this time said the parents are there now trying to encourage others to fly. Another one made it to the cherry tree. I wonder how they get them back to the nest.

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I got home and discovered there was no plan for getting back to the nest. The parents yelled, "Chop chop! Fly Already!!" to the other two until they, too, jumped. And that was it. Done. Off they went to learn to fly, find food, and fend for themselves. Pretty awesome and scary. 

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And while these little ones were growing up in a hurry, I tried to pretend I wasn't by riding the Iron Horse.

Rolling into Silverton... Glorious weather, piles of friends in town,
and feeling my age in my knees, neck and butt!

              

We're Almost Empty-Nesters

May 11th

May 21st

May 23rd...

Thinking about flying the coop.