Adventures with Meej

I loved visiting my best friend Megan (Meej) in Portland, Oregon!

Megan welcomed me with my favorite flower, hydrangeas (this is why I am petting them). They grow everywhere in Portland :].

Megan's cute house!

Megan and her chickens.

The tub sink I used every day! It was like a little porcelain boat; the fixtures resembled propellers--I was quite fascinated by it.

My accommodations: Megan's cozy room.

Megan playing foos ball with her housemate, Jess. I only played four times, but I did improve my left hand/arm dexterity! Our favorite activity at home (other than eating) was choreographing a dance to Madonna's "Holiday." Megan learned one minute of choreography in just a couple of hours! She is a dancing queen.

Portland has so many farmer's markets with fresh berries and other yummy food (here, Megan samples bread). At this one, I found my kind of cinnamon roll...

...one as big as my face!

Megan invited her friends over for a BBQ.
They are so nice (and funny!).

We went on a beautiful hike along Eagle Creek in the Gorge area (near Mt. Hood, I think).

The high that day was 105 (even I was hot),
so we swam along the trail.

Refreshing chai on the day Portland registered
a record high of 106! After that, we went to watch a movie
in an air conditioned theater, The Laurelhurst, which serves pizza and beer while you watch! Yee-uh!

More refreshment:
Meej smoothies made with blueberries and marionberries...

...delicious (Megan made me at least five).
Can't wait to visit her again!

Fun with Friends and Family!

We've been loving spending time with family and friends.

Pam, Nick's aunt, visited Fort Collins after Brad's wedding. We were so happy to spend more time with her and Uncle Paul.

Eating at the Pickle Barrel with Jennifer, Sascha and their daughter Elisa. Jennifer grew up in the house just behind Sara's. She is such a good friend! And we greatly enjoyed getting to know her husband and daughter.

Nick and Sascha play Wii Bowling--Sascha was the Turkey Master.

Sascha and his Mii.

Elisa is so cute (look how she's holding my hand)!

Celebrating Austin's birthday. Austin and Kelly are fellow statistics geeks. We adore them.

Austin and his troll, Austina.

Uncle Austin and Auntie Kelly with Algy.

Guitar Hero-weenie.

Brad and Stacy's Wedding

On our way to Albuquerque, NM, for Brad's wedding, we stopped in Los Alamos--where Nick grew up!

A typically beautiful New Mexico sunset welcomed us to Albuquerque. The earth seems to glow with a purple light at dusk--truly an enchanting land.

We enjoyed a rehearsal-day lunch at El Pinto restaurant with the Cummings Clan. Pam, Paul, Lisa and Allen, Nick's aunts and uncles, were special guests.

Stan toasts (more like roasts) Brad at the rehearsal dinner. Brad's mom, Pam (at right), was our gracious host.

The happy (and cute!) couple.

The wedding ceremony and reception were held at the Tanoan Country Club--an elegant and picturesque setting. We liked the pretty and yummy cake!

The ceremony.

Married!

Parents with the newlyweds.

Stacy and Brad's fans (we're posing in front of the imposing Sandia mountains--they do look like watermelons).

Stacy and Sara get their sass on doing the latest line dance--fun!

On our way home, Betsy and Sara knit nearly all the way.

4th of July Fun

Bryan-David, Justy, Solana and Lucia invited us to celebrate Independence Day with them in Denver. We were treated to a delicious BBQ meal and spectacular fireworks. Thanks, guys!

Bubbles and Abuela!

Lucia and Nick at the parade.

Solana and Bryan-Da(vi)d

Justy and Lucia (who was chanting "Fire...fire")

Solana enjoyed her patriotic glow bracelets.

FIREWORKS!