Colorado Part 2

We enjoyed every minute of Colorado. We had the opportunity to spend time with so many wonderful people.

A highlight was visiting with our closest family friends Jennifer and Connor (whose Daddy Duncan was actually IN Iraq with Brad this entire deployment and gets home in September...) For those of you who don't know the story: Brad in Duncan have known one another since when Brad was in North Carolina (before Kelly) and they introduced Jen and I when we lived in California. We have been fabulous friends ever since (and she was my birth coach with Olivia when Brad and Duncan were gone to Iraq in 2003). Special friends for sure.

With Duncan gone this year, Jennifer decided to homestead in Colorado where Duncan's family and her mom and grandmother live). SO, we got the opportunity to spend some time with them too! Here is from our first night with them. We went to check out Connor's Tae Kwon Do class and then to dinner - here our our two whispering behind the menu... so cute!

Connor getting some hugs from the Aiello girls.

Bathtime for 3?

The drive to Red Rocks.

As we drove into the park I think Olivia said something like "What are we going to see there? Some Red Rocks?" (yes, something like that...)

Alessandra holding up some really big rocks.

"splorin some caves

No more photos please.

As we pulled into the parking lot of the amphitheater we noted a large number of Government vehicles in the lot. Once we parked we started noticing the large number of Marines exiting the amphitheatre. Our kids were in shock by the number of familiar uniforms. They were all there for a Change of Command. ( a profound and somewhat overwhelming emotional experience for those of us married to our Marines who were away for the time being).

Lovely Red Rocks

You can see more photos taken by Jennifer here: http://adobe.kodakgallery.com/ShareLanding.action?c=3qn0sf69.btvefvmh&x=0&y=f85cow&localeid=en_US

She brought out the "big guns" (really nice camera with a big lens) and took some great shots.

The girls enjoyed "performing" on the stage. They kept trying to coax Connor into it, he wasn't going for it.

The whole gang.

Muscle shots...

Jen with the kids

After a great couple of days with Jen and Connor (minus Connor and Alessandra not becoming the best of friends), we headed back to Dad and Suzann's.

Alessandra and Susu

Spent some time with Kimm, Paul, Oscar and August

(and funny enough, Oscar was all excited to play with Olivia, but I think I found he and Alessandra playing together more often).

Oscar, Alessandra and Olivia

By the bridge in Boulder

August popping his head into the photo. We needed a 4 cousin's shot.

A shot of Olivia at lunch. It made me laugh.

Jen and I also had a "date night" where Dad and Suzann watched O and A and her mom watched Connor. We went to dinner in Denver (amazing food by the way..) and spent some time eating chocolate cake and drinking wine. A great way to spend an evening.

Here we are the next day when Jen dropped me off at my sister's house.

And, here is a photo of Kimm and I outside of her house.

Can't wait to go back to Colorado! Good people, good food and good fun.