Campin

We went campin this weekend and these were the few pics we managed to take. They are mostly taken at about 12,500 ft. The air was thin, and after a while up there I started to feel like I was getting a slight headache. Driving up the small two lane road was a bit tight in spots, and although the views were absolutely amazing, I'm not sure you would have made it Sandi! We also discovered that Pam is getting to be more and more scared of the dark!



We drove up Ute Creek road outside of Idaho springs. There were tons of mining claims up in that area and Idaho Springs is supposedly where it all started. The area was also around Mt Evans, where a few of the pics are from. We didn't get any pics from 14,000 ft because the battery went dead too quick!!

We camped just up a dirt road. We found out that it was actually a private mining claim and the arapahoe national forest was mixed in with all this private land. Lucky for us though (because we had the camp all setup already) the land had been reposessed. So from then on we decided to just pretend like we just purchased the land.

The people we went with were pretty cool. Seth and karmel were one couple and we've spent a lot of time with them already. The other couple we just met. They are Randy and Linsey. They were older than us, but nice and fun also. Linsey is from Eugene, OR so that was cool to meet someone from our old stomping grounds...or at least close enough to know what we are saying when we're talking about Oregon rain!

Up on Mt Evans, we saw a herd of either elk or antelope. Some mountain sheep, and a Doe and its Bambi. When we were hiking a day earlier we also saw a deer and it let us get pretty close up before darting off! The mountain sheep were cool though because we've never seen one before. They are very furry!

And The Update Is...

So since I just realized last week that our last blog post was now a month ago, I figured since I have a few spare minutes I thought I would update everyone on what Trav and I have been up to. So since our engagement, my mom and Ahna have come out to visit, Trav's parents have come out to visit, I have been back to Oregon and we have put an offer in on a house! Oh yes I did say that, we put an offer in and we are now under contract for a house!!!!


So on the wedding front, we have picked a date, booked the church, the reception location, the photographer, the DJ and the baker. I bought my dress and have decided the style I want for the invites and save the dates. I need to finished the save the dates this weekend and hopefully in the next two weeks the florist will be chosen. Otherwise I feel really good about everything. :)

We started searching for houses about a week ago and this was actually the fourth house we saw. The first three houses we toured were well not what we were looking for. I think one would have worked by none of them just struck as this is the one. However when we went to this house on Thursday, we knew this was it. The lady selling the home is the original owner, lived there for almost 50 years and the house is in exquisite condition. It needs the obvious updating, like new linoleum or tile, getting rid of the 1950's pink bathroom and wood paneling, otherwise everything is perfect and works and is very well taken care. The lot is 13,000 SF or .3 acres, the house main level is 1780 SF and another 1200 SF in the basement, which is 85% finished. It is 4 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms and have a HUGE 2 car garage.

I hate to cut this short but I need to get ready to head over to our friends house for an evening of dinner, drinks and games. :)

Here are some pictures for you all to see.

Engaged!!!!!!!!!!!!!

So obviously everyone knows that Trav and I are engaged. I am super excited, still squealing a bit with joy and well plain ready to start planning and want to buy a house). So I wanted to let everyone know how Trav did it and post some pictures.

So our little story: Trav emailed me during the day Friday at work to ask if I wanted to go for a hike Friday after work because we had his company picnic the next day and he wanted to just relax after oh and he wanted to do a picnic dinner as well. So I left the office, picked up our hiking shoes and a blanket, and the camera and headed over to Trav's office. We headed over to this open space that we had never been to and noticed some nasty looking clouds that were essentially right where we were heading.

The cool thing about this area is that clouds and rain will blow over in about 20-30 minutes and then the sun is back out. Because we didn't want to get electrocuted by the lightening we waited till the majority of the rain and clouds had passed before we finally headed out into the sprinkles. About 10 minutes into waking, the sprinkles were gone, the sun was shining and we were off for our picnic. The hike took us thorugh this open space called South Valley Park, which bordered Lockheed Martin and these amazing homes tucked back in this canyon/gulch area.

We found this great little area where we set up our picnic. Trav pulled out Sushi, my favorite!!, a salad and some crackers. It was delicious and with some yummy water. After we finished dinner, Trav said he had a treat for me. So I had to close my eyes, made me take my sunglasses off so I wouldn't cheat, and put a big box on my lap, wrapped in his gym towel. I opened the towel and the box and inside was a bible with Pamela J Power inscribed on it. At this point all I could do was look at him and just didn't know what to say...

He then had me turn to s spot he had marked, and there was the ring tied to the ribbon. He then read a passage he had marked, Corinthians and just looked at me and explained that he wants out relationship to be built on trust, God and that he got some advice from all his friends and family. So I hugged him and said yes. Which he never even really asked. HAHA So now we are engaged and so excited!!!!!

Good news we will get married back in Portland, we already know who will be in the wedding and just need to find a date. :)

Little Engagement Vid

The Colorado Trail Adventure

So for those that don't know, Trav and I spent last weekend up in the Rocky Mountains, specifically the Pike National Forest, camping, hiking and biking. We had a great weekend, kicked our butts biking and then hiked till we were jello. Here are pictures from the weekend for thsoe that have yet to see them. We can't wait for people to come out and visit us so we can take you out into the mountains as well...

Oh and we have a busy next few weekends. This weekend is Trav's company picnic, then I am going to an all day concert with a girlfriend Sunday. Next weekend my mom and Ahna are in town, then the next weekend is my Relay for Life event for the American Cancer Society as well as Trav's fmaily visiting. Then we are hoping to get out of town again the second weekend in August for some more camping and biking, we are going for all 12miles of the Colorado Trail!