Hilton Head Island, South Carolina

Rocky Mountain Rapids

The sun shone down on us with love and not a cloud in the sky obstructed its rays. It was a perfect day to hit the Arkansas river. I slapped on the sunscreen with excitement and anxiety. Last year I missed Luke's annual work rafting trip because I was mego prego. This year we were able to leave the Sweet Pea with some adoring family and spend our first night away together in... well, since she was born almost a year ago! Too bad rafting doesn't allow for sleeping in.

The conditions were epic, the river was the highest it's been in over 12 years. With the river running over 3,000 cfs (if you're not a raft guide or scientist, this number means a lot of flippin water running unbelievably fast), we were gearing up for a day of adventure. I wish we had brought a waterproof camera, because it's hard to describe the intensity. Not five minutes from launch we hit the "Boat Chute" and I started to wonder if I made the right choice in coming. It was incredibly scary and strangely addicting all at the same time. Luckily our boat navigated the rapids with no major upsets.

Ironically, it wasn't until the end of the day when we were hitting the last little bumps that something caught us by surprise. Luke flipped out of the boat before we knew it! It was a strange phenomenon, almost as he was magically lifted out while we all watched in slow motion. Good thing his slow motion super power enabled him to grab onto the rope and stay with the boat. We quickly hoisted him in and finished up the day exhausted and satisfied.

Hopefully next year will offer us the same adrenaline rush... and not a day of paddling on a slow trickle of water. (Photos from top to bottom: some of our beautiful 14'ers, lathering on the sun shield, one of our boats and bus, the best looking couple on the river)

The Hike Up "The Rock"

In an attempt to make our residence in Castle Rock more official, we did what every local has done... hiked "The Rock". It was a quick little jaunt and a bit more urban than our preferred hikes, but the weather was beautiful and allowed some great views.

Easter Eggstravaganza

This weekend our neighborhood put on their annual Easter event which involved about 17,000 filled eggs, 5 hunt circles (divided by age group... and yes, they even had a circle for Sarah's non-mobile age group), carnival games, Jello egg eating contests, a giant inflatable slide and more. We initially thought it would be a moderately sized event but were astounded at the number of families who attended. Although Sarah didn't seem to get too excited about it, we had fun watching all the kids line up around their egg circles and pounce on the colorful plastic bobs like piranha's on fresh meat. We're sure the squeals and cries could be heard 'round the world.

Weekend Getaway

This weekend we journeyed into the majestic Rocky Mountains of Colorado for an overnight getaway. Luke's company had taken a snowmobiling trip to Granby, and although we didn't snowmobile, we accompanied for a free night and dinner away from the norm. This was Sarah's first overnight stay away from home and we weren't sure how things were going to go down. Surprisingly enough, Sarah went down with out any problems! Unfortunately, it was the large group of international students from Brazil and Chile partying the night away that hindered our sleep. Nonetheless, we made the best of it and took in all the beauty our Colorado backyard has to offer. These pics were taken outside the Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory (yum) in Winter Park. Sarah just loved this bear, squealing with every grasp.

We Moved

Welcome to Castle Rock, Colorado! Named for the prominent rock formation that overlooks the town, this small community is a gem. We only moved 30 miles south from our previous abode, but we've gone from Denver to delightful overnight. This move came to us as a surprise, so we serendipitously took the opportunity to move closer to Luke's job (the daily drive through downtown Denver rush hour was brutal). We are so grateful to have doubled our living space with a three bedroom townhouse in the 'burbs. I am especially excited about our new kitchen... it's oh so pretty and now I find myself cooking all the time. We love visitors and hope you'll stop in for a spot of tea!