Colorado Family & Friends: 3 of 3

Family and friends have always been the most important part of our annual trip to Colorado. We all recalled that 10 years ago this summer, family and friends came from all over the country to this corner of the world to celebrate the 25th wedding anniversaries of both my parents and my Aunt Weezie and Uncle Joe. After 28 years in the Crystal River Valley -- there are so many wonderful memories with so many wonderful people!



















The four people who make our annual pilgrimage to Colorado possible: my mom, my dad, Uncle Joe and Aunt Weezie. Without my mom, there wouldn't be "mom" hugs and no one would know the concept of "minimalist camping". Without my dad, there wouldn't have been any hugs, no bedtime stories would have been told and no one would have put the worm on my hook. Without my Uncle Joe, there wouldn't be any hugs and there wouldn't be "5:00 cocktails" in camp (and the cherries that go with...) and most importantly, we never would have been introduced to "The Valley". Without my Aunt Weezie, there wouldn't be Grumph or some of the best hugs in the world!

And because of these people, my sister and I have been forever blessed .... and cursed because May doesn't roll around without us getting the "itch" to be in Colorado soon.

Colorado wouldn't be the same without all of our family and friends being there. Have I mentioned that everyone missed Dave?!! :-( It is always like a reunion which is saying something since my extended "family" is quite small. So, as we have always done, we create our own "family". Here is some of our "family" eating Weezie's famous "Grumph". Every year, we have one night where friends who live in the area come to our campsite to dine with us and it really is like a reunion!



















The Mikado suddenly comes to mind! In the picture on the left, Kathy, my mom, Judy, Weezie, and Emma recreate scenes from the musical. On the left, Judy and my dad (the Mikado) take a royal tour of the campground. Not really! Every year, Judy (who lives in the area) comes to dinner at camp armed with a "theme". Last year, it was "Christmas" and "Santa's elves". This year it was "China" (maybe in honor of the Olympics!) I'm sure the other people in the campground think that the high elevation has finally gotten to us but we laugh so hard that we don't care!















"Sisters, sisters...." On the left is my mom and her older sister, Aunt Weezie (her real name is Louise but that's not as much fun to say!) On the right is me and my younger sister, Julie.

The Harris Clan. Have I mentioned how much we all missed Dave?! :-( Hopefully soon, all 5 of the Harris/Pedersen Clan can reunite in this beautiful place that holds so many memories for all of us. Maybe next year....