Meet Buddy

This is Buddy,  Lily's new little mountain friend.  We had a great time getting to know this little guy on Saturday.

With all of the trauma and drama surrounding the shooting Bob and I decided that the respite we needed was a day in the mountains.  We headed up to the Rocky Mountain National Park and enjoyed the most amazing hike.

 It was so refreshing and rejuvenating!  Lily is such a trooper and simply loves being outdoors and in the fresh air.  We got into the park with no plan and found the first trailhead we could find.  The round trip up to Deer Mountain was 6 miles.  Honestly we were not convinced that Lily would make it the entire way so we headed up and decided to play it by toddler.

What amazing views.  I simply could not snap pictures fast enough.  The pictures don't do the landscape justice either.

Lily faithfully carried her juice and Boo Boos up the mountain and had a blast riding on her Daddy's back.  She didn't fuss once.  It's like she has the mountains in her blood.  After about 2 and a half miles of walking we stopped for a much needed snack and leg stretching break.  I grabbed some kisses and snuggles from the littlest mountaineer.

 How could I not?   We met with some 4 legged hikers to Lily got to love on more horseys.  She just lights up when she sees them.

The top of Deer Mountain was everything it should have been with a spectacular 360 degree look of the breathtaking Rockies.

 We toodled around up at the top for a while snapping pictures and letting Lily get some of her energy out.  This is where we met Buddy.  The chipmonks up there are not afraid of anything and will literally come right into your lap for any snacks you might have to offer.

 I know we probably shouldn't have fed the wildlife, but it was just too much fun.  Once Buddy crawled up into Lily's lap for a snack she was mesmerized with him and searched high and low for the little guy when he would dart off.  We sat up at the top playing with Buddy and his friends for quite a while.

The hike back was faster since we had to outrun the rain.  We got back to our car simply exhausted and starving.  Both Bob and I wanted to take a nap.  Oddly, the mountain air had the opposite affect on Lily.  She didn't sleep a wink all day and had triple the amount of energy to burn.  What a great day!