Spring Travels

Spring Travels

Posted by Brit

What a month!  I feel like I haven't been home most of May, but I've had the opportunity to spend time with lots of cool people this month.  Over Mother's Day weekend my mom and I took a trip to Colorado Springs to see our Aunt Pat and stay with her for a long weekend.  On Friday we went to the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo and on Saturday we went to the Denver Botanical Gardens where we got to meet up with Brandon's sis, Andrea!  I had a great time visiting my aunt; we ate really great food and had good conversation.

Mom and Aunt Pat

My new favorite animal, the Okapi, from Africa.  It's closest relative is the giraffe; you can see they have similar shaped heads.

The masked bear

The wallabys get to roam free, except they mostly just lounge in the sun.

View from the Zoo - You can see for miles

Daffodils in bloom at Cheyenne Mountain Zoo

The zoo has a very open outdoor area for elephants, but also has a large indoor care facility to bathe and take care of sick elephants.

Tulips at the Denver Botanical Gardens

Andrea and I

An atrium I wouldn't mind having...

Mom and I

Aunt Pat and her friend, Jen

For Memorial Day weekend I was off to Phoenix.  Andrea lives in Denver now, but used to live down there.  We stayed at her friends Kel and Drew's place.  It was definitely a go-go-go weekend, but I had such a good time with Andrea and all of her friends that I got to meet.  We went down to Tuscon for brunch on Saturday, and except for some brief problems with my sinuses due to the dry Arizona air, it was another great day.  On Sunday we had a party at Kel and Drew's; we cooked up food, played yard games, and hung out all night.

Mimosas in Tuscon

Kel and Drew's backyard, Tiki Bar included!

(Stolen from Andrea) Jen, myself and Andrea

My friend, Anna, and I went to visit the Keeper of the Plains in Wichita during her last week in the states.  Despite being a Wichita native, I've never been down to the actual statue.  It was a gorgeous night and several people gathered to watch the lighting of the flames surrounding the statue.

Now I'm back home.  Brandon and I made a last minute quick trip to Lawrence on Friday and came back yesterday.  He had a tournament, and I got to hang with my grandma and Tia.  My grandma and I went to my grandfather's grave site.  This was the first time I got to see his recently finished headstone.  I got teary-eyed as we stood there, but soon smiled with memories of such a great man.  Couldn't ask for more.

Disc golf gallery

Brandon nails a putt

Tia obsesses with Instagram

Drinks at Gaslight Gardens!

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Posted by Brit

Well it's been a busy spring and now summer is pretty much here, and it's hot. Starting sometime in February I managed to spend nine weekends in a row out of town for at least part, if not whole, weekends. Visiting friends. Watching disc golf. Mourning and celebrating a life. It's been a whirlwind. I've taken some pictures along the way that I'd like to share. Of course I hope to keep up with the blogging throughout the summer. I've got no huge summer plans, but Tia, some friends and I may go to West Yellowstone for Farmageddon Fest - a music festival.  I recently got promoted at my job and I'm settling in.  I've got a busy couple weeks coming up with quarter end!

Brandon and I traveled up to Holton, KS in early spring to visit friends Joel and Julie.  We took our time traveling and stopping to play a couple of disc golf courses along the way.

Tia and I went to Lawrence and met up with some Bethel folk.  We saw William Elliot Whitmore at the Granada.

We also saw Drakkar Sauna at the Granada.

In March I visited my dear friend Ashley who is now living in DC.  She showed me around town properly with cupcakes from Crumbs.

Peanut Butter Cup cupcake!

Oh, and no big deal, but Ashley and I set court side at a Washington Wizards/Portland Trailblazers NBA game.

Ashley also got to come home in May for her family's big auction.  Josh, Ashley and I went to see the Avengers in IMAX 3D while she was home.

Visiting grandpa.  Such a loving, caring, wonderful man was lost.  He was always proud of the things we had done.  He was willing to help anyone out.

Despite the sadness surrounding us we were able to love, bond, and hold each other close.  I cannot describe how thankful I am for this family.

And baby Gavin is about the cutest little genius around.

Tia, some friends and I camped out on a farm east of Newton for String Break, a benefit mini festival for Kirk Rundstrom.  Here's Tia ready to go.

Camping, Drinking, Music.

Brandon and I also traveled to several of his tournaments this spring, with more to come.

Brandon, Nathan, and I went to the Bartlett Arboretum in Belle Plaine, KS to watch Tim O'Brien play a show.

The weather was great.  We had a slight breeze and some cold beers to keep us cool

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For $10 you got to see the concert and tour the arboretum.  You could bring in your own cooler with food and drinks, which is what we did.  I did have to splurge on a $5 BBQ plate too though.

We through a party for our friend Gen's birthday!

Measuring cups made a substitute for small beverage glasses.