Colorado Part II

I have determined that I will not fully get everything in that we have done over the last year +. I will try to get the important things or just the pictures that I like. I will start off with our day trip to a reservoir about an hour from Colorado Springs. It is a little tricky to get to and Layne and I were afraid of running into a bear. There were signs up everywhere!! It was very beautiful and peaceful once we got to the water.

Last November, Layne experienced what most kids her age get to go through--braces. Just a little history on her mouth (I know she will love me for all the details I am going to give about her in this and subsequent blogs) none of her teeth were coming out, so about 3 years ago she had 6 pulled. Four on top and two on the bottom and today only 4 have fully come in. Because of this, she only had two front teeth to put braces on--so cute!!

To help make room and hopefully get those others to come down, a pallet expander was put in. Now, the joy of this contraption is that she made this hissing-like sound every time she ate. It still happens but she seems to better manouver her food these days.

There are some wonderful parks close to town and the one below is Helen Hunt Falls. This a popular spot for the Hoke's--we take most of our guest here. It is so beautiful and free.

I had previously introduced you to our late Jeep Wagoneer--to replace that we purchased a 1983 Toyota Landcruiser (not better on gas, but really cool). Heath really loves this car and I am in the process of trying to convince him we need to sell this one too. It is really cool and fun to drive in the mountains. I will continue to keep you posted on the status of our vehicles.

This past January we made our only trip snowboarding. We had free passes and a guest, Colleen, she was one of our Fusion Volleyball coaches and now works for the Iowa Region (actually my old job). It was a very cold and windy day but fun. We are hoping to get on the slopes more than once this coming winter--it is very hard to get a free weekend during club season.

We spent Easter in the mountains. We have friends that have a wonderful home in the mountains and we stayed the weekend there--so peaceful. Everyone went snowshoeing and it was very funny when the big shoe didn't hold and you would sink in the snow up to your knee!!

One of our many day trips to hike in the mountains close to our house.

The picture of Hayes in Vail that I promised for the last blog. He is such a cheese-ball and loves to make funny faces for the camera. He is the funniest little guy and I really miss seeing him on a regular basis.



Heath really enjoys a good game of Guitar Hero.

Heath's dad (Steve) came to visit at the begining of August. They did all the fun stuff and the photo below was the day they took the cog railroad to the top of Pikes Peak

One day they drove into the mountains and had a full day of hiking--I, unfortunately, had to be at work.

Another photo of Layne's first day of school. She started 7th grade this year and it is truly unbelievable to me. Just yesterday she was a baby and now she is a young woman. She is currently running track and doing very well in school. She is also involved in band and plays the marimba--don't ask me to explain what that is.


So, of course all of you are aware that the Olympics just happened. Working for USA Volleyball and just being interested in volleyball--it was an amazing and exciting games. Volleyball medaled in every discipline for both men and women. The indoor women's team trains in Colorado Springs and we planned a wonderful homecoming for them at the airport. The following photos are Layne with a few of the players. The first is Stacy Sykora and Layne was super excited to get a photo with her.

Next up is Logan Tom

Finally, Kim Willoughby.

Over Labor Day we decided to go camping. We headed for Breckenridge and camped at Lake Dillon.

We stopped to grill lunch on the other side of Lake Dillon and found this wonderful, quiet spot. Everything was great until a family of 20 people invaded our space. Keep in mind that there was a whole lake and plenty of other room, but no they wanted to be right by us!!

I am going to close this blog with that. In the mean time, I am going to check all of our photos an see what I have forgotten.

Tori