Independence is a beautiful thing...

July 4th was a great time! We went to my dad's and enjoyed the day with him, my step-mom, her son and daughter and their families and my brother, Dave, and his family. Shane brought a firework show that would impress the best of us. Dad gave Tractor rides. We all played a game of baseball. The kids ran around the property for hours. It was a cooler day, which was fine with me! It was comfortable and pleasant. Here is the kid's playhouse with the doors dressed up for the holiday!

These photos are in no particular order....so bare with me.

Zach learned how to ride a bike!

Finn played bocce.
And leveled grandpa's driveway.I just loved these little shorts on him. So grown up. Already....

Not sure what this pout was about...but funny!He LOVES papa's tractors. He knows where all of them are! Two in the barn, one magnet on the fridge, a tractor lamp and this little one in the cabinet. He has to stop and check it out every time he's over. He's so good about not touching it. I was impressed...wonder how long it will last?!?! :) We're lucky it's humid. This size fire started in CO would burn the state down.Hudson. :) He had a blast! He left Monday, July 6th for Oklahoma...to spend the rest of summer with his mommy. So Shane took him to the drive-in movies, shopping, fishing and the waterpark over the last few days. Good times!My brother, Dave and his wife, Julie.Brian & Jason playing corn hole.Finn getting some 'love' from grandpa.So serious...which my mom laughs because apparently I was this serious as a child too.Time for a tractor ride!

Trails in papa's woods. Brianna is above...Alyssa below.Dad's wife, Joyce.Isabella...soon to be Miss 4-year-old Isabella!The captured turtle...loose for a minute on the gravel. He made a run for it too! Sad for him, the kids were faster. He's since been released. :)Daddy & his boys.Brice.I love how Shane is looking at him in this photo.

Anytime we didn't know where Finn ran off too...check the barn. Joyce decorated the garage for the festivities.Back at it again...If we wouldn't help him up, he's was determined to get there himself!Somehow, Finn talked Papa into getting one more tractor ride just as the sun set.

Thank you Dad & Joyce for opening your home and sharing your beautiful property! The kids love coming over and doing all of their favorite things (Finn went straight to the creek/bridge to through rocks when we first got there). It was a special day and we're especially thankful...in that it sent Hudson off with a great ending to his summer here.

Grand Velas - Nuevo Vallarta

I had the priviledge of tagging along to Mexico with my brother, Tom. I worked with him in the travel industry until I had Finn and he's still working hard. He was invited to a 'FAM" trip to get FAMililar with this lovely resort and some other sister resorts which are all rep'd by a company called IGS (Internantional Group Sales). We've used them in the past for our larger, corporate groups...they're wonderful to work with and have a long standing relationship with my father, who started the business.

So Tom & I journeyed to beautiful Puerto Vallarta and enjoyed 3 nights, 4 days of sunshine, crashing waves, hotel tours, dinner parties and fun!

This is a photo of the gorgeous resort from our room. And below is Susanna, who was our group leader...representing (and working for) IGS.

Here I am in the presidential suite, master bedroom. One of the cocktail parties was hosted here so we could see it. Beautiful!

They had the appetizers set up as you walked in the room. They were delish and beautiful too!

This is our room. The resort is all suites. It was a separate bedroom/living room and deck. Perfect!
Here's my brother, Thomas. Isn't he cute?!?! ; )
More resort photos...infinity pools.

Sorry...took my little, cheap-o camera and it didn't convert the photo right-side up.

All along the resort walk ways there were these decorations. They are river rocks turned on their side and pushed down into the cement. Clever, huh? I loved it! I told Shane if we ever redo our driveway we'll be trying it!

Tom & I took the Canopy Tour on Saturday. It was one of two 'true' canopy tours offered in the area. True because it was literally tree-top to tree-top, no man made stands. It was all in the rain forest and absolutely gorgeous! We love it...wished we had time to do it again.

I know...I look like a dork. They told me to look 'sexy' and pose. This is all I have for game these days....pathetic!Crazy, right...I'm the light blue spec on the ladder. It's called the "Crazy Ladder" because as soon as that husky gentleman at the bottom started up behind me, the ladder started moving everywhere...CRAZY!! Needless to say, you can see the relief on my face in the next pic when I finally got off!

Tom was the first one up the Crazy Ladder and handled it like a pro...you can see he's totally relaxed and loving it. He knew I froze...he saw my face (must have been scary!) and asked if I was ok. Obviously, I made it!

This is roudy crowd that led our group. Fun group of people. So light-hearted and upbeat!

G'nite sweet Mexico...till next time.