As of yesterday, N8 and I have lived here for 7 weeks, and I now *finally* feel like we’re out of a transition period. Since the beginning of June, we’ve been doing so much, including: packing, buying a home, selling a car, staying with (very generous) friends, visiting family, saying goodbyes, moving, unpacking, traveling for work, trying to find a church, and finally. . . we were able to settle in and do a few fun things!
N8 and I have been camping twice, and two weekends ago, we hosted an open house (which was really just an excuse to unpack by a certain date). The open house was a blast! It was busy, but everyone seemed to enjoy themselves. (Just ask N8’s mom who was rockin’ out on the Rock Band guitar.)
In many ways we brought a bit of the east coast here. We served Judy’s arancini, sliders made with Nat’s burger recipe, Betty’s guacamole, and Helen’s coconut shrimp. (Well, technically, we made those the next day at a family bbq because we ran out of time.)
We also made N8’s home made bbq beef, an apple pie ice cream cake, and mint chocolate ice cream sandwiches. It was so fun to host again!
Due to playing hostess, I didn’t take too many pictures, but what I do have, I’ll post below. I’m including a few more pictures just for fun: a camping trip with N8’s family, and a snapshot of our living room. . . you’ll see why it’s noteworthy. 
N8's mom on guitar
N8 and his new baby
Our niece, Emma (and future firefighter)
Our niece, Cassidy, shockingly preferring her own personal ice cream cup to her mom's uber-yummy ice cream sandwich
N8 and our nephew, Jason, on a hike during our camping trip (this was taken on the day it *wasn't* bitter cold)
How do we look in CO?
The Hamel Hammock
And finally. . . the picture that Nate wants to use as our Christmas card. . .a snapshot of our living room (aka, our mini ESPN-zone)
College football heaven (for one of us) 
