Birds of Prey

This past weekend, Beaver Creek hosted its annual Birds of Prey race. This race is the only United States stop on the men's World Cup tour. We were so excited to have so many world class racers in our valley for the week. Racers competed on Friday, Saturday, Sunday in the Downhill, Super G, and Giant Slalom respectively. On Saturday my friend, Megan, and I watched the Super G competition. Equipped with our cameras and cowbells we made our way to the finish line where we were able to secure outstanding spots! It was so exciting to watch the racers on the giant screen but also have the opportunity to look up and to the left a bit in order to watch the racers in real time! I really enjoyed some of these athletes in the Olympics but watching them in person on a mountain that I can see from my neighborhood is even better!!! To think that later this season I might ski down the same run as these world class athletes is quite a humbling thought.

We chose to stand on the ground near the finish line but this is the crowd people might have seen when the race aired on NBC this past weekend.

It was fun to watch people from around the world tape interviews with the winners and athletes from their country.

We were as close to the action as we could possibly get! This is the finish area. Once athletes made it down the hill they posed for the camera (logo promos) then exited to the left.

The race course from my vantage point. We were able to watch the athletes on the screen or we could watch them make their way down the mountain.

Just finished...evaluating his time and position.

Happy Birthday Macy!!

Today was Macy's first birthday. Although her birthday was today, her birthday party was last week while I was in Michigan. We had fun watching Macy open her presents, try on her party hat, and devour her "cupcakes". The people at the party enjoyed a tasty cheesecake. What a fun day!! Happy Birthday Macy!!!






Macy wearing her birthday hat.













Edible card and birthday treats for Macy.














Enjoying her birthday card.














Playing with her presents.

"Opening" the last present

Weekend in Michigan

So this post is long overdue but better late than never, right? A couple of weeks ago I flew to Michigan (via Chicago Midway) for a quick trip to surprise a friend and see my family. While in Michigan I had the pleasure of attending a baby shower,visiting the beach, checking out Art Prize, collecting beautiful leaves to bring back to CO for my kiddos, and celebrating my birthday with my family. What a great weekend! Here a few highlights from my trip:



It was fun to see people swimming in Lake Michigan in the middle of October!
















One of my favorite places in town.













Just a nice afternoon motorcycle ride with my dad.














A very real looking monk statue at Art Prize.













A penny made of thousands of pennies.














The front of the penny...very cool!!















Up close this piece of art looks like a bunch of paint balls...













but from afar the downtown Grand Rapids appears












Taking a break on a comfortable piece of art.

Fall Color Tour

The weather here in Vail has been beautiful the last couple of weeks! It feels like summer outside but the trees give the impression that it is indeed fall. Beautiful yellow Aspen trees dot the mountainside and just beg for you to come and enjoy them. Two Sundays in a row now I have answered that call. Last week Andy and I attended first service at church then made our way up the mountain for a nice picnic lunch at mid Vail. Today a friend and I took a very similar route up the mountain and were again amazed by the beautiful colors all around us. What a difference a week makes though. Last week the leaves were starting to turn brilliant shades of yellow and even a little orange. This week some of the leaves were becoming polka doted with brown specs and were falling onto the ground. Still quite stunning and a nice reminder that although it may not feel like it outside, the ski season is just around the corner.

Hobie was so excited about taking a hike on Vail mountain!

Beautiful blue sky and Aspen trees.

The leaves are changing!!

The Vista Bahn...my favorite way to start the day on Vail Mountain during the winter.

Oh the beauty of Vail in the fall!

Colorado Springs weekend

On September 11th, Laura's friends were joined in marriage here in Colorado. Laura served as the maid of honor in the wedding and had the opportunity to spend a few extra days in Colorado Springs. Andy, Hobie, and I decided to take a road trip in order to visit her for a couple of days. We arranged to pick her up from the reception and spent a night all together in a hotel. It was such nice to see Laura again if only for a few hours! We had a lot of fun hanging out at the hotel and driving up the famed Pikes Peak. Laura and I visited Pikes Peak many years ago during our family's trip out west but I always dreamed of returning to see the sights once again. Thankfully we were blessed with a beautifully sunny, blue sky day! Here are a few pictures from our Pikes Peak adventure!




The view from the top!















Andy pointing out something important off in the distance.














More views from the top.














Laura and Hobie enjoying a few minutes out of the car.












Lakes on our way down the mountain.














Andy and Laura posing at a beautiful scenic pull off.











Laura and Hobie hanging out in the back seat.















Family picture :)

Family Reunion Pictures

Pictures from our roadtrip from Portland to the reunion at Fort Worden in Port Townsend, WA.

Portland with Mount Hood in the distance.

Columbia River Gorge (standing on the Oregon side looking toward Washington)

Columbia River Gorge

Multnomah Falls

Multnomah Falls

Posing in front of the falls

Heart shaped pond at the bottom of the falls.

Mount Rainier

Mount Rainier

On the observation deck of the Space Needle

Crescent Lake (Olympic National Park)

Hurricane Ridge (Olympic National Park)

Posing at the top of Hurricane Ridge

Hurricane Ridge

Hurricane Ridge

Most (but certainly not all) of the Madden cousins

Brothers and sisters

Fort Worden lighthouse

Beach at Fort Worden

Beach at Fort Worden

Officer's quarters at Fort Worden