ZOOM!

Wow!  It has been awhile since I posted.  Truth be told I did not take very many pictures in the last 8+ weeks.  We were was just moving full speed ahead.  Just to recap the adventures since my last post the Caricos have:

Nick and I gave blood for the first time

Cooked dinner at the local homeless shelter

Hosted our annual Church in the Park, which involved moving church from inside four wall to an outside park - moving chairs, sound equipment, seating, and a BBQ

Volunteered with Habitat for Humanity

Enjoyed 4th of July with friends, which included: running my first 5K, watching the Bayfield parade, and a BBQ

5 day prayer and planning meeting for the church, now my full-time employer

A Bachelorette Party in Glenwoods Springs, CO

Gary and Bonnie came into town for a wonderful weekend visit

Traveled to Red Feather Lakes near Fort Collins, CO for my dear friend Taylor's wedding

Celebrated my mom's birthday by enjoying breakfast together 

Watched a whole season of "Sherlock" a BBC TV series, which we would suggest watching to anyone

A weekend to get caught-up from the craze of July or at least attempt to get caught-up

  

Lost my brain, as it decided to take a vacation

Currently searching for my brain

Enjoyed a Girl's Night out since Nick is scouting for hunting season and he saw a bull moose

Hopeful the dust will settle this week

Here are the few pictures I did capture in the whirlwind - Enjoy!

Cooking dinner @ the local homeless shelter with friends

4th of July 5K run

4th of July Parade



4th of July Parade

4th of July Parade

4th of July Parade

4th of July Parade

Habitat for Humanity

Sampson came to visit

I plan to post more regularly, so stay tuned! 

Time Flies!!  It has been one month since my last post, and I am trying to recall what we have done in the last thirty days.  As I flip through the photos it appears to be uneventful, yet I have had little free time.  However, I will share some of the highlights. 

My first report is more of a "lowlight," I said good-bye to an old friend - my little red Toyota Corolla Zoey.  We had some fond memories in the 13 years we shared life together.  She was my first car!!  Here is our shared record: run-ins with stationary objects = multiple, collisions = 1 (not my fault), traffic violation tickets = 2 (that I can recall), road trips = too many fun ones, miles = 226,000.  That is a good life for a little car.  So I had to give this reliable friend a proper hug good-bye - Zoey will always have special place in my heart. 

I went on a hike with my friend Virginia.  We had a great time, and it was a beautiful day for a hike.  We did not make it to our final destination due to some time constraints, but it was good to hang out with a dear friend and enjoy the outdoors. 

With the help of others, I planned a Bridal Shower for my dear friend Taylor.  I am sure most of you know Taylor, her and I have been friends since we were 12 years old.  She is getting hitched to a wonderful young man, and we got to celebrate her upcoming wedding day with friends and family.  From the reports I received everyone who attended had a nice time.  Below is the bride of course, she is wearing red, and some other dear friends who attended the shower. 

During my weekend up in Fort Collins attending the shower, Nick planned a backpacking trip.  He set a goal, made the plans, packed appropriately, and had a phenomenal time.  He hiked through some pretty terrain, including: Black Hawk Mountain, Graysill Mountain, Indian Trail Ridge, and Kennebec Pass. 

Oh we harvested our first piece of fruit - a single cherry.  Yippee!  We are excited because it is an indication that we will have much fresh fruit this season.  I sampled this cherry and it was pretty bitter, but the taste splashed into my mouth and made me smile anyway. 

The other morning, promptly at 5:45 AM we were greeted by bleating sheep.  Every year there is a local sheep rancher who moves his huge sheep herd from low winter pastures to cool high summer pastures.  He herds the sheep up this highway every year.  It is an event the Town of Bayfield looks forward to, and it happens to be right in front of our house and into our driveway.  I was in my pajamas, on our front porch at dawn taking the  photos.  If you click on the photo you might be able to see them better.  This city girl thinks it is the coolest thing!

 

They are hard to see because it is dawn, but you can see the herd of sheep passing our home!

There they are at the bottom of our driveway!!

Which brings us to today...Nick and I had a wonderful morning together.  Our weekends have been busy, so to have a day together was great.  This morning we made breakfast and had our morning cup of coffee.  After breakfast we did all things Durango: enjoyed the Farmer's Market, walked along the Animas River (the river that goes through town), enjoyed iced mocha at Durango Joes Coffee (a local coffee shop), and ate lunch at Serious Texas BBQ (a local BBQ hot spot).  To top-off the afternoon we plopped down on the couch and watched a movie.  Truly a wonderful day spent together! 

Walk along the Animas River

Iced Mocha @ Durango Joes Coffee

Lunch @ Serious Texas BBQ

Carico Spring Preview

From fun filled events to life transitions this last month has been busy to say the least.  In all the transition and fun I have not had time to post to our Candidly Carico Blog.  So this is a Carico Spring Preview as I reflect on all the life event that have happened in the last 30 days. 

Nick went camping in Canyonlands National Park near Moab, Utah

Kristen soaked in the Pagosa Hot Springs

Kristen planned a fun Wild Baby Shower for a friend

Kristen traveled to the Front Range to visit family and friends

Nick and Kristen celebrated their 5th Anniversary - Yippee

Kristen started a new(ish) full-time job at The River Church

Nick's work picked-up - people want new roofs this summer

Here are the photos to prove that all these events did take place in our lives - Enjoy!

Nick is packed and ready for his camping trip at Canyonlands National Park

Flowers I received from The River Church, my full-time employer, for Administrative Assistant Appreciation Day.



The Wild Baby Shower my friend Kelly and I planned - isn't the palm tree AWESOME!

Kelly and I at the Baby Shower

Taylor and I on my trip to the Front Range

We celebrated our 5TH Anniversary at Mesa Verde National Park

The start of our anniversary celebration weekend - hiking and exploring the cliff dwellings

The end of our celebration weekend enjoying a delicious dinner at the Lodge where we stayed

One of Nick's current re-roof projects

We hope that you have enjoyed this Spring Season as well.  We miss you all dearly and think about you often.  We have the best family and friends. 

In Full Bloom

It is still early, but I think spring is here!  Our pear tree is in full bloom, a good indication that warm spring weather is sure to come.  These pictures capture spring in the obvious beauty within each flower.  You can almost taste the pears with the sweet aroma that fills the air.  Oh how we love our home!

We (HEART) Diedre

We have this crazy barn cat that we adopted when we lived out in the country. She brings us too much joy! We probably give her WAY too much attention, but she has a special place in both of our hearts. Oh and her name is Diedre, our cat that makes us smile. I have captured a few photos that display why we love this cat. Thought I would share!!

Napping in my laundry basket

All tucked in by Nick

The perfect place to take a nap - the bathroom sink

Super Kitty!

This chubby cat fits perfect in that little box

LAZY cat by our fire place
we cannot get her to leave this spot when we start a fire

She refuses to drink from her own water bowl

Loves to go backpacking just like Nick

Our fruit trees have started to bloom and the sweet smell of new blossoms are filling the air.  It is a true indication that spring is here.  The warm sun and fresh air only confirm this discovery.  I am so excited for this new season.  I am waiting with anticipation of all the wonderful changes in our life.  This is going to be a great spring!

   

Fun had by All

Recently we have been enjoying hanging out with some sweet friends.  Friday, March 30 I went to a new wine bar called Four Leaves with a group of friends.  Actually, there is a group of us that try and get together every Friday night.  Typically it is hosted at someones home, but on this night we went out the  town.  A gentleman from our group was playing music at the wine bar.  We enjoyed tasting yummy wines and listening to the great music that filled the air. 

The Girls: Erin, ME, & Sarah

Dear Friends: Ryan & Erin

Dear Friends: Mike & Sarah

Oh Saturday was great!  I got up went on a nice hike with my good friend Erin.  It was a perfect morning for a hike, a cool yet sunny morning.  Nick had gotten up early and went into Durango to enjoy breakfast with some friends.  Later that morning we met up and went on a long walk, returning movies to our little library, bought milk at the grocery store, and stooped by the bakery for a donut.  After that we came home made macaroni & cheese and plopped on the couch to watched a movie.  Delightful!

RELAX!!

This weekend was just as eventful!  On Friday we attended a Good Friday Service at our church in Durango, it was awesome.  Saturday night we had a delicious family dinner.  Nick's mom Alexis, Nick's brother Neil, and Neil's girlfriend Cassie all attended.  We had big juicy steaks, shrimp scampi, sweet potato fries, and dessert - pecan pie.  See I told you it was delicious!  Oh I forgot to mention that the newest member of our family was also there - Winston the new three old puppy. 

On Sunday afternoon we went over to our friend's house, Mike & Sarah, for Easter Dinner.  It was a yummy pot-luck dinner, with good conversation, and great company.  The ladies were at the dinner table talking about shopping, while the men were in the living room talking about hunting.  So very appropriate!!  Happy Easter - we hope all our friends and family had a great Easter as well.   

The Girls

The Gentlemen