Fall colors, field trips and Westwater Canyon

We enjoyed another beautiful fall full of hiking, playing at the park, camping, rafting, kayaking, SUPing and playing on motorized toys. The leaves were extra special and spectacular this year and the weather was warm far longer than it should have been. This last part made us very happy, but has led to a moisture issue for our skiing endeavors. It has been the driest winter since we moved here with only about 76 inches of snow so far this season on the mountain (and I am writing this in January).

This was supposed to be a serious going into battle picture, but the birthday boy just couldn't stop smiling!

Colter's birthday bash at Go Bananas!

Full of wet and wild fun! Laser  tag is still the favorite.

SUP race at Trout Lake

Beautiful fall day hiking around Woods Lake with Grandma and MacMac

We had a few great visits with Grandma and MacMac this fall and one of them was at the peak of the leaves this year. It was four days of  "Ooooohing and Awwwwwing" and taking way to many pictures. Colter found this cool old cabin to explore at Wood's Lake. Only about 15 minutes from here, but I think we will go camp there next summer.

Yeah, what a cute picture!

Will have to plan ahead for a photo shoot next fall.

Beautiful colors on Wilson Meas

Apple orchard field trip to Paonia. with  the cousins.

Westwater Canyon, Utah. Colter and Finn's first big whitewater trip. Colter kayaked the first half and did awesome! I SUPed and did better than average:)

I love being on the water with my little buddy!

Melissa was an awesome leader for Colter! We will need to do more boating with her and their boys.

You tend to have a worried expression on your face at the top of the rapids and a huge smile at the bottom!

You and Dad checking out the old miner's cabin before the rapids.

Finn and Eric, as well as the Plantz's, shared this day with us.

Here I am using all of my skills and balance to get through the wave trains. I only fell of once and didn't even get my hair wet. It was a great day!

Scouting the first big rapid, the boys are thrilled, but Trevor looks a bit nervous!

Skull Rock, we had a very clean run.

Mark's boat had a much more exciting ride than we did through Skull!

They did not flip and everyone stayed on board.

We smirk in the face of danger, ahhh ha ha. This would be the Room of Doom.

Happy boys after our overly exciting run through Last Chance. Actually thought we were going over on that one! It  was a great end to the rapids and gave the boys a story for years to come.

I love this picture! He looks so grown up. This is the face of true happiness. The afterglow of a big adventure when all works out as planned and life is GOOD!

Ahhhh...beautiful Westwater! We shall see you again soon.

What a cool day that was! 

We love every stage and age of our kids development for various reasons and love our boys unconditionally no matter their interests in life or choices they make. But it sure is fun to share our passions and interests with them as they grow and see the excitement in their eyes as they embrace at least some of what we love about the world. This is just one of many "milestones" we hit this year as far as adventure and travel go, and it was a big one. Colter said "this was the best day on the river EVER!" He and Finn talked about it for weeks and like all good river guides their stories just got better and more exciting with time.