july 23rd, 2011

we had our annual trip to CO almost a month ago now. it was in perfect timing...i had been going like a ninja cleaning the airport so it was a welcomed break!

our 2nd day of vacation we had a big BBQ & celebrated my niece, aspen's 5th birthday. my mom & sister stayed up til 3am making her castle cake. i was amazed at the detailing & all i contributed was the waffle cones covered in frosting that i dipped into sprinkles. her eyes lit up like a christmas tree and as big as saucers when she laid eyes on it!




all the cousins together...




aspen loved standing on my mom's table being the center of attention opening her gifts. cowgirl clothes, hankerchief's, money, barbies, princess loot galore & even a walking stuffed kitten.


my aunt from minnesota was also home visiting and brought her two weenie dogs. lily (the brown one) & homer (the black one). chloe was so attached to them...when we were at my moms, she always was with lily. same with brinley- but i never took any photos of her with lily...so bummed about that!






after aspen's party...we noticed a storm brewing to the north of my parents house. we stood on the back deck for quite a while watching it just build upwards & upwards fast!

jordan & i moved in too take some photos...we don't get storms like this in MT!




our own form of "storm chasing"...but a very light version...all contained in my parents yard. the lightning show was amazing! golf ball sized hail came out of this storm but landed about 20 minutes west of my parents.


both of us were snapping photos. this was the first day i used my new camera & i think i took 350 pics of this storm! all trying to capture the lightening!


my dad called for us to come inside...it got super nasty! jordan was sooo afraid for the animals & certainly wasn't liking the idea of a storm coming along & they couldn't go anywhere!


then the show moved to the front porch of my parents house. while being shadowed under the awning we snapped tons more of the storm... once again trying to get the lightening! i was able to capture one and it's not "clear"...


my sister, crystal, & the 2 older girls were finding images in the clouds...here is a horse riding along...

kinda ironic considering this is denver bronco territory!!

i must admit there is something so wonderful about watching storms! electrifying! i have so many memories of storms as a child & storms so severe having to take shelter. shelter that always wasn't found in the house...sometimes in the nearest irrigation ditch! the girls have no idea! this was a small little taste...and i mean a sliver!