MDA Summer Camp

This week i spent four amazing days at MDA Summer Camp in Empire, Colorado. Known as "the greatest week of the year" for the 100 kids that go to camp, this week was truly one to remember! It is so rewarding to know that the other 51 weeks of the year that we work and plan events to raise money makes this week at camp possible.

At MDA Summer Camp, children with a type of neuromuscular disease get to spend a week with friends participating in activities specifically designed to their special needs. Campers go horseback riding, swimming, fishing, and can even ride a zip line through the mountains. Other activities this week included Harley Night, a talent show, and the dance on the final night.

I also made some new MDA friends this week...

Joey (below) is a new favorite. He never looses his smile, loves to play spiderman, and had a great time at the dance.

For more pictures from MDA Summer Camp, go to www.comdacamp.com/2007

the username is mdacampco07

and the password is pirates

almost a 14er

Another awesome day in the mountains!

With little sleep, we hit I-70 this morning to get an early start hiking Grey's Peak (just west of Georgetown, Colorado). Grey's Peak is one of about 50 14,000 foot mountains in Colorado (14ers) and would be the first ever for andrea (and arnie), but not for richard (or dirk)!

The route proved to be rougher, steeper, longer, snowier, rockier, and just plain harder than andrea had expected...but after about 4 hours on the trail we made it to about 13,500 feet. While not quite to the summit still an awesome day.

The views from the top were absolutely incredible - we were looking down on other "big" mountains and even saw a mountain goat fairly close up. The snow was up to our knees in places and the trail was often icy, and we can't wait to make another 14er attempt later this summer.

What a day!

today was the true measure of colorado life!



we woke up early and hit the road to Buena Vista, Colorado - a place as beautiful as it's name suggests - home of Young Life's Frontier Ranch and the Arkansas River. we met up with some friends at Noah's Ark, a local whitewater rafting outfitter, and hit the river about 10AM. after nearly 5 hours of paddling, hitting favorite rapids like zoom flume, pinball, and sidel's suckhole and braving the nearly 45 degree water, we came out unscathed and adrenalized! we can't wait to go back again this summer!

Summer Lovin'

for all of you doubters out there...we're still blogging!

the last few weeks have been so great for us - many fun events and trips to bring in the summer here in denver (where the days are warm and the nights are cool and everyday makes us want to spend more time outside)

memorial day weekend was awesome for both of us...

for andrea, it was the 4th annual WFU girls weekend - this time in knoxville, tennessee. with the arrival of baby sam leonard, it only seemed fitting to spend the weekend at the luttrell's lake house. the weekend kept up the traditions of relaxing, having great conversations, and playing many rounds of mexican train!

for richard, the holiday weekend brought a beautiful mountain top wedding for our good friends robert and jill and a reunion with many southwestern med school friends. (side note...jill and andrea have the same birthday and both went to high school in roswell, ga! - what a small world)

also bringing in the summer for the fuquays...

richard's first 100 mile bike ride - the Elephant Rock Ride in Castle Rock, CO

and, a fun weekend bbq with our friends tamra, dan and their two precious girls, regan & tatem (regan loved the ice cream!).

we are looking forward to many great summer weekends....we'll keep you posted.