Fleabass!

GP is now playing in a band. He's been taking lessons and his instructor felt it was time to play with some other guys. This has bumped up his incentive to practice every day. You don't want to be the one guy that's not pulling his weight.

We came across a used Fleabass at the Music Go Round! GP is fired up about it. It plays well and sounds great. He can't wait to take it to practice next week.

Colorado!

The morning after the Iron Maiden concert, we piled in the car and drove to Estes Park, CO. We met G&G at their time share and spent the week with them.

We went for a hike every day in Rocky Mountain National Park. The boys remembered the death hike we took them on four years ago, and were leery each morning as we started up the mountains.

Despite their complaining, I think they had fun.

No trip to Estes Park is complete without a visit to the Stanley Hotel.

More full-resolution photos are located here: Google Photos

Dorm Room Decor

This summer we've been keeping an eye out for stuff for CP's dorm room. So far we've scored a cool Chinese-style print of a Japanese monster and a big flag from the Iron Maiden concert.

Iron Maiden!

When we stood in line to buy tickets in January, it was 5° and windy. The night of the show, it was 95. We didn't realize when we got our tickets that they were in the club section - we were treated to extra special service while waiting for the show. The boys chowed down on the buffet with unlimited Pepsi refills, and the girls enjoyed private bathrooms in the club room. 

I've been listening to Iron Maiden for the last 35 years. The boys have been listening to them since birth. JP has learned all their music via osmosis. We all had a blast singing along!

The bass player started the band in 1975. He is an idol for the boys and me. The lead singer flies the band's 747 from show to show. They hit 39 countries during this tour.

Graduated from Switzerland

C & A stopped by the weekend of the 4th. We haven't seen A in nearly seven years!!! He and the boys picked up as if he had only been gone for the weekend. He had just received word that he passed all of his high school requirements for graduation as was greatly relieved. School is a bit more rigorous in Switzerland than here.

July 4th Weekend

This year the 4th fell on a 4-day weekend, which is way too long. We spent the majority of it at the G's pool. This year we only spent $50 on fireworks and enjoyed the neighborhood show instead of our own.