June 2021

We started June by watching the US men's national team take on Honduras in the Concacaf semifinal game at Mile High.

Other than the fact that it was a billion degrees, it was such a fun environment for a soccer game. See those seats over there in the shade? That wasn't us.

It's amazing to see such talent.

June brought Naomi's second covid vaccine. We are so grateful to have a fully vaccinated child.

June 8 -- Fifteen years since we got engaged at this very spot in Boulder. I'd do it again and again.

We were able to spend a night in Amarillo with Uncle Gary and Aunt Sara.

We went to see the musical Texas in the Palo Duro Canyon.

With the canyon as a gorgeous backdrop, Texas is about the settling of the panhandle.

Parts of the show had horses riding across the top of the canyon.

There were fireworks and fountains -- it was quite a production.

And we went by Llano Cemetery to remember and miss Grandma and Grandpa.

From there we headed to this house in Crockett, Texas.

...where the Hartemink clan converged to spend the week together. 

The original six Harteminks

And the grandkids that followed

As a general rule, we try to shower and look nice one day of the week. :) 

My favorite people.

With Oma and Opa

Cousins arranged by age...

Cousins arranged by height. 

This outside decks were arguably the best feature of the house.

Because it was the spot where we could enjoy sunrises and sunsets and each other.

...while the kids rode off into the sunset.

We spent our days paddleboarding...

...and floating...

...and being thrown off the platform by Uncle Dave.

And while Uncle Dave was being cool uncle, the rest of us laid around lazily.

Kids made up challenges and did flips and no stitches were involved.

We caught a few little guys.

And practiced our slack lining.

...and spent our days in the water

...just waiting for the sun to set.

So much fun cousin time.

Each family took a night to cook dinner and most nights involved the grill.

Despite the Texas heat, there were some evening campfires.

Mostly so there could be evening smores...

The kids made the t-shirts that they make every reunion.

The bigger kids got a little obsessed with a puzzle.

There was big game of bunco...

...and a BINGO tournament.

One thing I love to watch at these reunions is how the big cousins are always so cool to the little ones.

We did a Father's Day dinner to celebrate these guys.

Opa and all his grandkids on Father's Day Eve.

Cousin silliness. So much silliness.

Girl cousins 💓

Sarah got her fill of snuggling this week

And cousins got to reconnect.

It's been a tough year. Covid's been hard. But I'm learning to take nothing for granted. Like sitting on the couch with my dad. 

And staring at my kids grow in confidence and independence. It's everything.

We drove 15 hours back home from TX and dropped these two off for summer camp at 7am the next day. 

While they were gone, Sarah got some special girl time with Aunt Val.

Our good friends just moved to Lyons, so we met up with them to go for a hike.

Annika and her soccer friends found a creek to play in behind their practice fields. No swimsuit? No problem for Annika.

Father's Day observed since Father's Day was spent in a car. Because Clifton's a total mani pedi kind of guy.