Ally, Mike, and me
      Turquoise Lake, Colorado
      July 30, 2008

      Wednesday was our third anniversary, so Mike and I decided to take a couple days off and go camping to celebrate. We headed up to an old mining town called Leadville, which is south of Vail and east of Aspen. Outside of Leadville is lovely Turquoise Lake, where we camped near a stream on the west side of the lake. We spent our anniversary hiking along the lake and then roasting marshmallows under a clear sky filled with stars. The next day we headed to Twin Lakes, where Ally finally learned to swim!


      There is a beautiful trail all along the north side of the lake.


      We stayed at the May Queen campground next to a really cool big rock wall.


      Of course many marshmallows were consumed.


      That rock wall reflected the firelight and made for cool photos!


      The next day we headed to Twin Lakes, south of Leadville.


      Ally has always refused to go in water over her head.

      We threw the stick gradually further and further, and finally she started swimming to it! We were such proud doggie parents, and Ally seemed really proud of herself, too. 🙂

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      COMMENTS

      I know it’s a bit late to be saying this but I am totally jealous!! I miss the mountains!! Beautiful campfire pic…ahhh, the good ol days of camping and getting dirty…

      Wow!

      I can’t believe that you’ve mellowed out and are going to camping…. for your anniversary!!! I still remember the story on when you were a little girl and your parents took you guys camping, and you refused to go potty in the woods, so your mom ended up driving you miles away to a scuzzy gas station or something. Ha ha, that still makes me laugh. xoxo, Sarah

      Ally probably knew it was her Mommy and Daddy’s anniversary and decided that she was going to swim in water over her head for the first time as her present for her human parents on their anniversary.

      Oh how cool… I can’t wait to hear how it goes.

      I would love to plan a trip to Yellowstone sometime. Maybe next year!

      Thanks, Tamera! We should plan a camping trip together sometime. 🙂

      Thanks so much! I can’t believe it’s been three years already!

      Re: pics are wonderfull

      Thanks! I wish that photo could show the star-filled sky better… the Milky Way stretched overhead and it was magical.

      Thank you! I’m really glad you liked them!

      I swear, s’mores are divine.

      Thanks! You should definitely plan a mountain trip… just do it. 🙂

      Oooh Yellowstone should be a wonderful way to spend an anniversary. I hope you have fun!

      Aw, thanks for the congratulations for Ally! 🙂

      Re: From: Heather-http://heathergarland.com

      Absolutely! Ally is a huge part of our family, and I love to see her happy like this.

      And by the way, happy birthday!

      I hope you love your new camera — I’ve heard great things about the 40D!

      That’s hilarious, because we do that, too. We no longer go to Rocky Mountain National Park, because dogs aren’t allowed on the trails there. What’s the point in visiting a park if we can’t bring Ally?

      I’m glad I can help bring CO to you, at least a little bit!

      Definitely move here! There are so many people that moved here for a little while, but then couldn’t bring themselves to leave. 😉

      Thank you! I love that one, too. 🙂

      Life is good with coffee, to be precise!

      I hope you guys have a great trip, too!

      Sometimes I sit on a rock and can’t believe the view around me. I hope I never start taking it for granted.

      We were so proud of our little swimmer dog! Usually when we threw a stick a little out of her reach, Ally would refuse to get it, and then she’d look sad for disappointing us. Poor girly.

      I will, apparently, be in the Leadville area on Sunday. Today, I got invited to hike Mt. Massive.

      OMGosh! Beautiful photos.

      You two should consider hiking Yellowstone National Park someday. Your photos of it would be absolutely BRILLIANT! There’s a couple of hikes I could recommend like Fairy Falls and Mount Washburn lookout tower.

      OMGosh! Beautiful photos.

      You two should consider hiking Yellowstone National Park someday. Your photos of it would be absolutely BRILLIANT! There’s a couple of hikes I could recommend like Fairy Falls and Mount Washburn lookout tower.

      Happy anniversary Charlotte and Mike! It looks like you guys had lots of fun. We love camping at Turquoise Lake too. It’s so pretty there.

      Looking forward to seeing you on Tuesday…

      Tamera

      Happy Anniversary Charlotte!! Lovely photos!! You all look gorgeous!!

      pics are wonderfull

      All pics are wonderful. But the upper one (with campfire) is quite magic! Looks like a fairytale!

      pics are wonderfull

      All pics are wonderful. But the upper one (with campfire) is quite magic! Looks like a fairytale!

      What beautiful photos!
      Happy Anniversary!

      Stunning photos. Oh_my_goodness!!!!!!

      Yum, marshmallows!! I want one! That looks like so much fun! Happy third anniversary 🙂

      happy anniversary!

      ugh, i am so jealous…what i wouldn’t give for those views or to go camping somewhere like that!! this….GORGEOUS!!!!

      happy anniversary!

      ugh, i am so jealous…what i wouldn’t give for those views or to go camping somewhere like that!! this….GORGEOUS!!!!

      Beautiful…what a wonderful way to spend your anniversary…thats what we are doing also! Spending it backpacking in Yellowstone!

      I love the reflection of the water on the lake. Stunning!

      Happy Anniversary! Looks like a wonderful time! And, of course, many congratulations to Ally. 🙂

      From: Heather-http://heathergarland.com

      Looks like yall had a blast! I love the one of you two at the camp fire and the one of the lake reflecting the clouds. And aren’t pets our kids too? They sure became part of our family 🙂

      How GORGEOUS. I’m so jealous of your photography skills…I hope to take pictures as beautiful as yours. Someday. LOL. *total fangirl*

      *whispers* I’m getting a Canon 40D for my birthday next week. I just have to learn how the heck to use it!

      Um, I really need to visit Colorado. Patrick and I plan everything around our dogs, and this just seems so perfect.

      How GORGEOUS. I’m so jealous of your photography skills…I hope to take pictures as beautiful as yours. Someday. LOL. *total fangirl*

      *whispers* I’m getting a Canon 40D for my birthday next week. I just have to learn how the heck to use it!

      Um, I really need to visit Colorado. Patrick and I plan everything around our dogs, and this just seems so perfect.

      Life is Good for the win!
      Awesome news about Ally- gosh, I miss CO sooooo much (but your pictures bring me closer!)

      All of your pictures are gorgeous…and I am so jealous of where you live!!! All the beautiful mountains, lakes, campgrounds, nature….just lovely. I think I’m moving to CO. Congratulations on your 3rd Anniversary!!! :o)

      All of your pictures are gorgeous…and I am so jealous of where you live!!! All the beautiful mountains, lakes, campgrounds, nature….just lovely. I think I’m moving to CO. Congratulations on your 3rd Anniversary!!! :o)

      Such amazing photos!
      Out of all of them this is my favorite!

      Yay for Ally finally learning to swim!

      I spy a life is good shirt!

      It looks beautiful. I love camping! We’re going in 2 weeks. 🙂

      Happy 3rd!

      That picture of the mountains reflected in the lake is gorgeous. I think that Colorado has to be the prettiest place I have ever been. It amazed me and your pictures always capture that beauty so well.

      As for Ally and her swimming, that is how we got our dog to swim out farther into the lake, by throwing a stick…LOL. They can’t help themselves!

      Charlotte Geary

      CHARLOTTE GEARY

      Lifestyle, event, and portrait photographer with a vibrant, joyful style and 17 years of professional experience.

      Located in Reston, Virginia near Washington, D.C. and available for travel.

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