first camping trip of the season.

despite my initial reservations, mr, lesley, sir winston, and i had a great time camping last weekend.

colorado is so gorgeous, so it's hard to be disappointed with such a beautiful backdrop. 

we camped at matterhorn creek, mr. lesley summited wetterhorn peak, his 41st 14er (!), i enjoyed snapping photos, and sir winston spent about 6 hours on our first day panting (that's gotta be a record or something). 

bottom line: if you have the chance to get out in nature, you should do it. 

i don't think you will be disappointed.

enjoy these snapshots from our weekend.

p.s. we're about to take off for vegas with the kirkegaards! 

bucket list prepare to be bucketed! 

on our first anniversary.

yesterday, i went hiking with you in the wilderness. 

sir winston led the way through the quiet of the morning with the mountains as our backdrop and lush green grass filling the meadows that surrounded us. 

i looked absolutely ridiculous wearing your jacket with my hair protruding in every direction.

you looked like a professional, a model for rei perhaps.

we hiked quietly together for an hour or so, until i knew it was time for me to turn around and head back to our campsite and let you go conquer yet another 14er on your to-do list. 

i kissed you on the trail, told you to be safe, and with sir winston as my guide, began the hike back.

i couldn't help but pray as i stopped to admire the beauty surrounding me in every direction.

the mountains felt especially majestic as i thanked God for the faithfulness and goodness that i just couldn't deny.

and as i prayed, i cried. 

i cried because everything was so overwhelmingly glorious, and i didn't feel adequate to take it all in. 

but i also cried because i was so thankful for you. 

you always say that nature is your church, and in that moment, i truly understood what you meant all along. 

God felt very close to me there, and i thanked him over and over again for the incredible gift you are to me. 

and without you, i would have never seen such beauty, or felt such wonder, or have been overcome by such amazement. 

you have introduced me to the world of 14ers, and crampons, and ice axes, and hiking boots, and cliff bars, and camelbaks, and mountains, and rivers, and camping, and hiking, and backpacking, and the God who speaks to us when we spend time in his creation.

and this may seem like an odd way to commemorate one year of marriage, but i feel like it's a perfect example of how you, mr. lesley, have changed my life. 

in small ways, and in big ways, and in all the in between ways, you have wreaked some havoc on this heart of mine.

not only has this year together introduced me to the world of the outdoors but also the world of red wings hockey, and neighborhood walks with sir winston, and a long distance marriage, and morning goodbye kisses, and delicious home cooked meals (hallelujah for a man who cooks), and a lot of sweet action ice cream, and craft beer, and wrinkly shirts, and piles of piles of kleenex, and everything in between.

let's just say, our first year of marriage has been full of the good, the bad, and the ugly. 

we have laughed hard and we have cried hard (well, maybe just me on the crying part.)

we have been giddy in love and silent in disappointment. 

we have felt incredibly known and celebrated, and we have felt misunderstood and alone.

but we have felt it all together.

i am a better person because of you, and life is so much richer because you are by my side.

so here's to at least 100 more years of adventures, and beauty, and seeing the world with new joy that only comes from being together.

i love you.

is there wifi in the wilderness?

{from our camping extravaganza last summer}

today, mr. lesley, sir winston, and i are hitting the open road for some good 'ole camping adventures.

mr. lesley pitched the idea to me a few days ago, and he was so enthusiastic and excited and really wanted to climb a few more 14ers on his list {that i will not be joining him on btw} that i couldn't say no.

 i genuinely like camping, but i also like access to a shower, but sometimes your hygiene takes a back seat to your spouse's happiness {those yet to be married, take note.}

anywho, while we were talking about logistics, mr. lesley told me a few pieces of key information...

-within the past two years, there have a been a few mountain lion spottings where we will be camping.

-when he's conquering 14ers, and sir winston and i are all alone at the campsite, i must carry around a big stick at all times. 

-the purpose of said big stick is to hit any mountain lions if/when they try to attack us. and always aim for the nose.

-sir winston cannot pee anywhere close to the tent, and we will have to keep his poop bags in the car overnight to again, keep away the mountain lions {what about our poop? and i am not about to drive in a stank car all the way back to denver!}

moral of the story: i may or may not make it back alive. 

either a mountain lion will kill me or i will die from the paralyzing smell of my dog's poop.

should be a great weekend.

...and then we got egged.

summer nights.

there's nothing quite like them.

i mean really, there's nothing better than a volleyball game at the park finished off by ice cream at a local spot.

all feels right and good in the world on a night like that. 

well, until you get egged. 

you heard right.

last night, i was a victim of egging.

darn kids.

there we were. 

just finishing up our ice cream and getting ready to head home. 

when all of the sudden, before we knew what had happened, egg yoke covered our legs. 

normally, i would have run after that car with my fists in the air, but even though i run as fast as an african gazelle, the shock was paralyzing and they got away unscathed. 

we cleaned ourselves up while jenny told us, "guys, this has happened to me before."

i guess eggers like to prey on people eating ice cream and those waiting in line for dave matthews tickets {in jenny's case.}

the good news? 

i made scrambled eggs this morning, so the attackers didn't win.

no one can take away my love for eggs, and no one will taint my love for summer.

but friends, stay safe out there.

you never know when someone will throw eggs at your calves. 

don't say i didn't warn you.

summer bucket list.

{via}

summer is here, and i want to take advantage of every second of it. 

so i thought i should make myself a little bucket list to keep the adventures coming! 

without further adieu, my summer 2013 bucket list...

-ride bikes on the cherry creek trail to the farmer’s market 

-go to a rockies game, eat a hotdog, and drink a cold coors light
-admire the art on Santa fe at the first friday art walk 

-catch some rays on the roof of our apartment 

-read, read, and then read some more
-bump, set, and spike every monday night at wash park without embarrassing myself too much

-bake a sweet treat and hand it out to all my neighbors 

-ride horses with krista (fingers crossed on this one)

-go on a date with mr. lesley to root down for their 52.80 sunday night menu 

-watch a movie at film on the rocks 

-have a family picnic at wash park
-make a cherry pie from scratch
-have a dinner party without getting nervous that the food will totally suck

-go backpacking in the mountains

-stand in line for way too long to eat ice cream at little man

-swing at the park 

-dance with mr. lesley at jazz in the park

-grab some petey bird ice cream sandwiches at the clock tower on a hot afternoon
-dominate vegas with the kirkegaards
-schedule at least two photo sessions and practice photography as much as humanly possible
-visit the denver zoo
-make a perfect summer playlist
-wear a really big sun hat
-cook a uber romantic and fancy candlelight dinner for mr. lesley


let the good times roll. 

a wonderful weekend in the mitten.

this past weekend, mr. lesley and i headed to michigan for a weekend dedicated to love. 

new love and seasoned love alike. 

and it was love-ly.

{sorry i couldn't resist.}

it all started out in glen arbor for the wedding of mike and kristen.

mike was one of mr. lesley's college roommates and since mr. lesley was a groomsmen in the wedding, we couldn't miss the celebration! 

they picked a beautiful location and everything went off without a hitch! 

the weather cooperated, kristen looked absolutely beautiful, mike was all smiles, and they were surrounded by people who loved and supported them. 

i don't think you could really ask for much better.

the next morning started the way every morning should...a hike up huge sand dunes in sandals, jeans, and the most non-althletic shirt i could find {it had parrots on it for goodness sake.}

definitely wasn't prepared for the workout, but the views made up for my awkwardness. 

on our way to meet mr. lesley's parents, we stopped for lunch in traverse city, where i thought over and over, "yep, i could definitely live here."

{and of course i made mr. lesley pull over so i could pose in front of the world's largest cherry pie statue. i mean, how could you not?}

our final stop for the night was petoskey. another absolutely adorable michigan town. 

we explored the town...

and even got to eat in the same restaurant where hemingway hung out! 

mr. lesley was totally geeking out at that one.

then came the moment of truth.

for months the whole family has been planning a surprise 40th anniversary party for mr. lesley's parents. 

we were in charge of keeping the secret, getting them out of the house, and bringing them back in time for the celebration to begin.

family flew in from all over the place and they were completely surprised! 

it was absolutely perfect! 

his parents are such a great example of true love and commitment, and i feel so proud to be a part of such a wonderful family.

and no michigan weekend would be complete without fishing in the golf course pond next to his parents's house.

he dominated those fish.

and i caught...one.

{with dirt in my nails to prove it!}

i am so thankful for such great people and places to celebrate!

what a wonderful weekend from beginning to end.