RMNP Friends Camping Trip + Mutton Bustin'

 We started the week off with a Mutton Bustin' Monday!

Camden was lucky to win the Mutton Bustin' lottery so we went to the rodeo to cheer him on. We also found cotton candy first because we recently learned he's never had that before? Michael is a big fan, I am not, but Michael is also only going to eat cotton candy at a place that cotton candy really belongs. The country fair definitely meets the mark.

Camden didn't last long at that sheep but it was so cute. He was excited and brave and we liked watching the whole rodeo. Rodeo kind of feels like people vs. animals and honestly, we're team animals and that team won that night. The cowboys were having a hard time with every event, and we kind of prefer when those calves stick it to the man.

I listed all the furniture in the little boy's room this week and we're about to get them set up with twin beds and a new dresser and redo the walls and carpet. It's time. But it's been the same nursery furniture since I redid it all way back in Manchester Village before Westin came, and it's been good to us. Change is so interesting as these boys grow up. Each new stage is SO FUN and comes with new great parts but you can't help but mourn what leaves.

This weekend was one of our favorites of the year -- our annual camping trip with ward friends. This time we did it in Rocky Mountain National Park and the campsite was beautiful. I love our Fort Collins friends so much! The boys basically disappear into a weekend of card games, tag, good food, exploring, etc. Asher sticks close by though :) And we do so well with our two-tent set up -- everyone just goes to sleep when it's time to go to sleep! I'll never take that for granted after trying to get those babies to sleep during our rougher camping years. We were not always successful and sometimes I just drove home :) But now we've got it down!

I love it here.

Rodeo and County Fair

We recently learned Camden had never had cotton candy?
No better place to fix that than the fair.

Ready to ride that sheep!

A new belt for Benny boy!

I love this little road crew that waits for me at corners.

Time to sell the little boys' furniture and given them a big boy room.
I bought this on Craigslist before Westin was born and painted it.

The little toddler bed we've had since Westin was 2.

The little couch the boys have had in their room for a while.

Camping with friends is one of our favorite weekends of the year.

I really love this crew. It's so fun to camp together, especially when summer is winding down and school is about to start, and we've all been traveling different weeks all summer.

The nature equivalent of laying on the cement to warm up at the pool.

We did this hike with Michael's family in the summer of 2017. I love that we live here now.

I loved this little walk with Michael and Asher while the older boys were playing tag at the campsite.
We saw a weasel carrying a fish, and had fun just chatting with little Asher boy.

I did an extra loop around the lake with Jamie, Debbie, and Lindsey.

The best part of camping is waking up to these cute views.

We took the long way home to drive up Trail Ridge Road.

That littlest turtle was Asher's chosen treasure when helping with the Youth Rummage Sale at our church.
I'm shocked it has stuck around so long, and he even found a friend for it.