Summer in Colorado

This summer Mimi and Grandpa took our family on a vacation. They alternate every year between Peyton and me. We had originally thought Emily and Peyton and the girls were going to join us this year, too, but in the end it was just the girls that came. It was SO FUN. I really think we might include Avery and Paige every time we go on a vacation with Mimi and Grandpa. Alivia loved having some other girls to play with and Avery and Paige are a breeze.

We went to the YMCA Camp in Estes Park which holds a special place in my heart since I went there a summer or two with Mimi and Grandpa back in the day. It is such a beautiful place. 

We had asked for two cabins close by one another and we got them! Sunny pine and Starry Night were within yards of one another. One cabin was a 3 BR and the other was 2 BR. Avery and Paige stayed with Mimi and Grandpa in the 2BR and the Risingers all stayed in the 3BR. The cabins are very basic but comfortable. There is no TV which is a blessing and we hid the iPads during our week there, too.

I was on the fence about placing all the kids in camp all day every day that we were there but it turned out they really liked it. Thankfully I stood my ground and held them out of camp on Monday and we all hung out together and went to the top of Trail Ridge Road which was so fun and beautiful.

Usually after we picked the kids up from camp we would head to the Art Shack for various arts and crafts which all the kids really liked. Their Arts and Crafts are really amazing. I could tell we were there before the rush of the summer because there was lots of staff around the help and it did not seem that busy which was really nice. Alivia and I made woven baskets, Will made a night light out of glass and the other kids tie-dyed t-shirts and painted various objects.

We cooked dinner every night and the kids were fast asleep by 7 pm. It was so light early in the morning they were getting up around 6 am! And the altitude really wiped us all out. I am glad that Matt and I decided to take Diamox to help with the altitude. I know it made a difference.

On Wednesday Paige, Matthew and John were begging to stay out of camp so we decided to let them play hooky and choose and easier hike for us all to do together. I wish we had been able to pull out Alivia and Will on other days but one day we had to go into Boulder to get Matt a new iPhone so that ruined our plans for that. Bummer!

All in all, it was a really fun trip. I can tell Mimi and Grandpa are getting older because the trip really wiped them out. Mimi got really sick with a URI after we got back and was under the weather for almost a week. I would love to go back again though. The camp has a little bit for everyone. It is such a better fit for my dad than sitting on a beach somewhere. The beach is more Matt's family's style! We are looking forward to a beach vacation next summer.

Getting all of us anywhere was a hoot - it looked like Matt and I had SIX kids. I loved it!

View from the porch of the YMCA camp. Beautiful.

First day hike around Emerald Lake

The Art Shack

Trail Ridge Road - we had prepared Alivia for brutally cold weather, but it was really pleasant. It wasn't windy that day.

The kids were thrilled to see SNOW

Trail Ridge Road

Dropping the girls off at Day Camp - we made sure they were together!

Basket weaving!

Making a night light from glass

Playing hooky from camp with Paige and Will

On one of the last days Matt, me and Dad hiked to Estes Cone

Camp Gladiator definitely helped me stay in the front of the pack while hiking. It felt so good to not be out of shape.

Top of Estes Cone. Beautiful! It was a tough hike - 6.5 miles with 1606 feet elevation with steep scramble at the top. I think my dad was really glad he had hiking poles with him.

View of one of the kid's bedrooms.

Another kid bedroom

Front of the cabin

Our cabins were side by side and connected by a small driveway - so perfect! The kids could run back and forth.

Last Day of School at ACS

John's 6th Birthday in Bertram!

 Bertram is the best place for little boy's birthday party. Especially a little boy like John who lives for the outdoors. This is the second year we have had it at the ranch and I think this year was even better than last year. The weather is always a concern and this year is no different, but the rain held off the entire time we were there and it was such a beautiful, cool day.

Paige Mangum's first fish!

Tyler Mangum's first fish!

Bailey caught a fish and then decided to roast it! It was pretty good!

I was glad Alivia had her friend Paige there to bum around with

The tank is nice and full from all the rain. In fact we could not even fish on the other side because the fence was in the water

Blake Mezger

Jack Ingle

Jack and John

We had been collecting cans for a long time and were able to set up a really fun shooting range with the BB-guns

I love this picture! What a fun group. Thankful for all the adults that came to help out, too (Micah Knox, Jon Ingle, Luke Mezger). With all the fishing rods that needed to be baited, we needed all the help we could get!

10 years at Seton

I knew the milestone was coming up but it was still a sweet surprise to receive my 10-year pin in the mail. TEN YEARS! I can hardly believe it. I remember starting out at the Seton Kozmetsky Clinic which was located way south - at that point I was working all day Monday/Wednesday and Thursday afternoons. I had just had Alivia - I started in April so she was 3 months old when I went back. I would pump in the bathroom. And I would cry on my way home when Matt would tell me he had already put her to bed. It was a very difficult transition and start. I wanted to quit so many times. I made myself commit to staying at least 6 months so it would not look bad on my resume. The job was just so overwhelming initially. Seeing patients every 15-20 minutes, trying to speak Spanish and being exposed to so many things that I just did not feel secure enough to know how to handle. WHEW. Talk about pressure and stress. Throw in a newborn baby, pumping, commuting and a husband who was starting a new business. Oh, and living in a town with very few friends. AHHHH!

Fast forward several years. I had three kids on Seton's dime and took generous maternity leave for each one (3 months!). I was welcomed back when I returned, and after my fourth child asked to reduce my hours to all day Monday and Wednesday, and it was granted to me.

This job has been such a gift to me. I am so thankful that my dad showed me the classifieds in the Travis County Medical Society flyer that had my job listed. It is a difficult job but has so many rewards - I am honored to work with the patients that I do. And am thankful that Seton allows me to work part time and carry my whole family on my health insurance plan. My income has helped us get through some tough financial times. 

I think the medical field is such a great place for women (and men!). It pays well, is always in need, and gives you a sense of truly helping others in need. I am glad that I heeded the Holy Spirit's whispering in my ear when I heard Him telling me "Go to medical school!"