entertaining

with summer finally committed to staying, we have been outside and entertaining more and more. our first dinner on the deck was with gabi! she was home for a few days and invited some of her high school besties over for a barbeque. they loved sharing stories of their first year at university and savoring this relaxing time together again. gabi's friend caroline, the ginger-haired beauty, is a designer and photographer for the dance-inspired athletic wear company, kadyluxe. gabi has been modeling for kadyluxe for a couple of years and she and caroline took time out for a photo shoot with gabi modeling one of caroline's new summer designs. i snuck a couple of amateur photos as well :). i loved having gabi home and we took full advantage of our time together as well, going to the gym, lunch dates, making some of her favorite home-cooked meals and lounging around watching the bachelorette. oh yea.

paul and i have become involved with a youth community group and host an event for 14 - 18 year olds every quarter. we've just had our first youth night at our house with 50+ kids playing volleyball, singing karaoke (this went way, way into the night, they didn't want to stop) and eating gourmet s'mores. we loved having all these kids over and i must admit, it helps fill the void of our kids and all of their friends grown and gone.

this last weekend, we invited some of paul's coworkers and their wives, who are my dear friends as well, over for brick-oven pizza. sebastian and madison were driving from utah and arrived just in time as well. we had a great weekend with sab and maddi and their pup, smudge. how sweet these two were to make the effort to be here for father's day. it meant so much to paul. saturday morning, we all went on an 18 mile bike ride through and around boulder, stopping at the farmer's market and then back home for cold pizza from the night before - paul really, your pizza is the best! sebastian and madison are training for a half marathon next month and kept up with their training runs each day as well. thanks for coming, you two. hugs all around and throw a stick for smudge for me.

Adopt the pace

 of nature:

her secret is patience.

- Ralph Waldo Emerson