Summer is Here!!!!!

Okay if you haven't caught on, I'm trying to keep this blog real up to date and chronicle our recent happenings in Denver. I feel like we just keep having these super fun encounters and pinch myself often, because we have found such a great community in Denver.

This weekend was no different. We accepted an invitation to an "Around the World Party" (stay tuned) and we hosted a nice little Sunday evening BBQ on our newly decorated patio!!! I could not think of a better way to kick off the first weekend that felt like Summer....apparently we are skipping Spring this year. Is everyone okay with that!?? ;)

Friday night AK and I stayed in for a few reasons.....one, we were out too late the night before at the Zac Brown Band concert where I celebrated enough for the two of us, and two, we were hoping to get a few things done around the house. So we I planted flowers, AK set up his new fire pit (thanks, mom) and we both cleaned a little bit so we could have a fun afternoon on Saturday....

After putting the finishing touches on the patio, cleaning the house and both squeezing in a workout on Saturday morning, we were ready to celebrate....the world, I guess. Our good friends Stephanie and Nick have kindly included us in some of their recent parties and we are thankful, because these people are fun and are always up for a good time!! Saturday was no different. A few of their friends had a very fun idea of having an "Around the World Party" which involved moving between four houses that each represented a country. At each respective country (ie. house), the host country had to provide an authentic adult beverage, authentic food and an activity that represents each country. I'm not sure how this idea was thought up, but let me tell you, it was genius!! The first country (ie. house) we went to was England and one of the England hosts was an actual Brit who relocated to America so the food and drinks were amazing. The most laughs though came with their activity which was a less harmful form of jousting!!! Seriously hilarious and wait until you see pictures below!!! The next house was Stephanie and Nick's and they were hosting the country of Japan. You want to talk about cracking up.....their costumes alone were enough to make me double over in laughter...you'll see!! They provided Japanese beer and sushi and the game was reading your fortune from provided fortune cookies aloud but you had to add "in bed" at the end of the fortune. Seriously.....so funny!!! The next country was Mexico and Brittany and Elliot played it just right....Mexican beer, chips/salsa/gauc and they made homemade tamales that were delicious. And there was also a pinata...like I said last week, it's not a party without a pinata!!! The last country (ie. house) was America and as I said when we left Mexico...."it's always nice to be home after traveling!!" :) Zack hosted a great American party.....country music, hamburgers/hot dogs, American beer and American flag painted boards for cornhole, which the guys played a lot of.  And the girls played their own American games.....Butt quarters (don't ask) and flip cup.....kept it classy, as always!!! ;)) We biked from one house to another so we felt as though we were getting exercise, but let's be honest after a day of drinking and feasting it didn't really matter, and was more for the fun of it!! All in all, great day spent in great company and great weather (finally!!!!).

Stephanie + Robyn while visiting England

AK + AFS....the olympic committee with an American flare (see AK's aviators).....we weren't hosting so we had to come up with something!!!!

Japan's food display!!!

this is how we rolled. yes mom, i wore my helmet.....the only one i might add!!!

i would never post anyone else but myself.....but now you get the idea of butt quarters!?!? but my mom informed me the cup has to be on the GROUND!!!!! apparently she's good and knows the rules!?!?!?? ;)

group shot at Mexico

the Japan hosts.....fans and warm towels!! genius!!!

getting ready to "joust" AK

giddy up!?!?

the pinata was tricky....kinda caught steph off guard!!

group shot at England

the pinata moved up and down on a rope....not easy folks, not easy!!!!

Sunday was the nicest day we have had all year. It was 75 degrees, sunny, not a cloud in the sky and the day was meant to honor mothers and plant flowers/a garden and we did just that!!! We honored our mother's from a distance....both placing calls and sharing our favorite things about our moms. Turns out, we're pretty lucky. We finished up our flower planting and got a good start on our garden (Thanks to my Dad for his advice)!!! Once our patio was a go, we decided to host an impromptu BBQ to show it off. We had AK's brother Bryan and his gf Brittany over some delicious food and Summer Shandys......the taste of summer if you ask me!!!! It was a great weekend and we are looking forward to many, many more on our patio this summer!!! And if we seem excited, WE ARE, as neither of us have had a patio or deck since we moved away from our parents house, so we are beyond excited!!!! 

i didn't mention it, but we also dog sat Tommy for a night.....Ruby was in heaven and they wore each other out!!!!

bryan and brittany!!! love them and they are just across town!!!!

our patio!!!

from the yard!!!

from the corner

my favorite part....fire pit and patio lights!!!! 

Summer is here and we couldn't be more thrilled......as this summer offers so many wonderful celebrations!!!! Next up, my friend Tim's wedding this coming weekend and our 4th and final wedding shower!!! Looking forward to a quick trip home!!!