Cherry Hills Community Church

Cherry Hills Community Church was definitely one of the reasons we looked into settling in Highlands Ranch. Reminded us a lot of Parkview in Iowa City and is about a mile from our house. Very active in the community and wonderful worship and message every Sunday with a midpoint service on Wednesdays. Worship music is always fresh and upbeat with a 200 person choir at many services. The children's programs are second to none and the kids love The Treehouse which is where they gather on Sundays. The patio off of the coffee house is a great place to relax and admire God's creation.

9/4/09 Red Rocks Amphitheater

Caught our first concert at Red Rocks with friends Jim and Hollie. KYGO Country Summer Slam headlined by Darius Rucker. Great concert and even better venue...cut right out of the foothills with amazing views of downtown Denver! Started around sunset with a big full moon later in the evening.

8/30/2009 Dance Recital

Kaylee has stayed active with tap/ballet and hip hop dance classes. We were so proud to watch her perform at her recital. She has a beautiful heart and is always looking for ways to help others...just like her mama.

Fall 2009 Flag Football

Tyler played his first season of flag football this past fall. He met his buddy DJ in his class at school and the two of them play anything with a ball at recess. DJ told his dad (Coach Dennis) that he needed to get Tyler on all of the teams that he coached (which is pretty much everything). Tyler was on DJ's football, basketball and baseball team this summer. Both Matt and Tyler played on Coach D's flag football team this winter and had a lot of fun. Dennis is a high school basketball coach with a passion for coaching kids of all ages. He is great with the kids and brings a lot of energy to practices and games. He pushes the kids to work hard and the boys have learned a lot since joining his teams.

Tyler and his buddy Jack

Coach Dennis and T-Man

Tyler catches a touchdown pass

8/11/09 Night Game

There is nothing like a night game at Coors Field. The games start as the sun is setting behind the mountains in left field and it gets nice and cool. We like to sit down the right field line in the upper deck to take it all in. MJ loves to keep the book and has learned the numbers of each of the positions. T-Man talks about being down there someday and Kaylee is just happy hanging out as a family...often with Grandma and Grandpa who keep them stocked up on treats that Dad won't get them.

They love to torment me by spoiling the kids and doing things they never would have done as responsible parents

Tyler should come down from this sugar high about midnight

Trying for free t-shirts

8/7/09 Motocross Track

Our friends Nick and Charlotte showed us the world of motocross today. The smaller bike wouldn't start so I ended up taking them around the track on my lap...what a blast catching air on the jumps and trying to get around the course faster each lap. The gear was pretty fun to wear as well.

Mocha Latte

Mocha is doing great even though her life expectancy probably dropped by 20 human years by moving to Colorado. We have heard numerous stories of coyotes walking off with dogs in Highlands Ranch...along with the owls, rattlesnakes and who knows what else- we have to keep an eye out for this little morsel.

8/9/09 White Water Rafting

We drove up to Idaho Springs with Grandma and Grandpa and took the kids on their first rafting trip. It was a beautiful day near the end of the rafting season and we all had a blast. Tyler made us promise that we would do it again for his birthday next June during high water.

8/1/09 Pirates' Cove

7/31/09 Casa Bonita

Casa Bonita is a must do in Denver. Mexican restaurant with cliff diving, pinata breaking, haunted caves, mariachi band, arcades, and below average food (except for the sopapillas). We took Uncle Ryan out along with the Gunthers and Strattons. I work for Mark at Southridge and coach with Steve at Valor Christian High School. Both are golf nuts and very good players. Looking forward to road tripping with them to Iowa City this fall for homecoming and a Nittany Lion butt kicking. Mark is a Georgia Tech fan so it was fun watching the Orange Bowl with him and cashing in on our wager.

Steve, Mark (Gunther) and yours truly

Grow up!

Schooling my little bro

Fountain fun

Uncle Ryan always has to take it to the next level

7/9/09 First Day of 1st/2nd Grade

Since we moved into a year round school system, the kids had a short summer break before beginning 1st and 2nd grade. We love the year round schedule...9 weeks on/3 weeks off. Gave us a chance to visit Iowa in September and go skiing during the entire month of December. Unfortunately we are going back to a modified traditional schedule next year similar to what we were used to in Iowa only two weeks shorter in the summer with a two week fall break and two week spring break. We really liked the year round system but shouldn't have any problem adjusting back.

Highway 20 Ride

I was listening to this song the other day and it took me back to a place I don't often go...thinking of the trips back and forth on I-80 from Chicago to Iowa City.

http://www.cmt.com/videos/zac-brown-band/466250/highway-20-ride.jhtml

June 2009 Elitch and Casa Bonita