Summer was coming in and our timing worked out so that we could get Ben to Overland, meet Connor, and go to Leah's wedding all in one trip with an excursion of our own added to the journey. So, Suzanne and Ben checked the departure board and led me to the right gate where we waited to board. Once on board, I was moved to first class (since neither of the others wanted the upgrade) and had juice and water fruit and cereal and a cinnamon bun for breakfast with a chocolate chip cookie right before we landed. I was also able to get off the plane and greet Suzanne and Ben at their arrival. After baggage claim chaos, we made our way to E-Z-Car rental where this man gave us our wheels for the week. And so we were off to Parker where Greg and Larry greeted us ad we walked past the welcome bear so that Suzanne could greet Connor and the rest of us could see the dogs who were so glad to see us that they shook all over and while this didn't phase Suzanne or Connor, being this close to a dog did concern Ben. Lunch was served including Janet's orange cookies and we bade farewell to dogs and babies and headed to the barber shop where Suzanne and Janet held court while Ben and I posed for before and after photos. This activity required a visit to the liquor store and then a stop to look at Greg's office before we were back to Connor with his new toy and Janet with Cam as Connor played on the floor Erin minded dog Connor played with Suzanne as dog watched and the pattern -- Connor with Suzanne dog on couch was repeated once more before Dansyl arrived and greeted Connor so that Syl, Connor and Janet could pose as did Dan which put Ben into warp speed from which Ben emerged to show his haircut once again as Suzanne sat with backlight and Larry shared Connor with Dan while Erin displayed the shirts that Syl had brought which didn't seem to affect either Larry or Connor as they stood together though the toy that Erin showed did seem to amuse Larry and Connor which amused Erin and Janet as Connor stayed with Larry but slowly made his way towards Suzanne

and back as Dansyl watched before Syl took her turn with Connor though Connor made his way back to Suzanne with Dansyl and Greg watching as a dog came into the picture while Larry and Greg and Ben and Suzanne and the dog watched Ben and Suzanne and Larry as the dogs gathered with Greg for moments that could either be described as playful or growling (depending on one's disposition towards dogs).

Solidly in the growling camp were Ben and Suzanne and Dansyl though Greg solidly represented the other camp which did not convince Ben and Suzanne and even this cute dog couldn't bring Dansyl and Ben and Suzanne to Greg's point of view. And so, dog and Greg were amused as the camera flipped between Ben and Suzanne Dansyl back to Ben and Suzanne Larry back again to Ben and Suzanne over to Dansyl yet another visit to Ben and Suzanne and then to Syl and Connor with Greg taking a photo as I opened one of the beers we had bought and Syl and Connor were amused though the wasabi peas amused both Syl and Connor and the dog even more. Syl and Connor were on the (safe) couch) as Larry and Janet watched and a small Connor and Syl walk emerged as Erin and Greg Larry and Janet Dansyl and Larry and Janet were clearly waiting for someone to arrive.

The first arrival was Dan which gave me a chance to record the dog sign and Larry and Janet a chance to show off Connor before Toba arrived and did her bonding with Connor and Rachel arrived with her high spirit as (another) Suzanne conversed with Syl and I recorded my pizza and the other foods before settling down with my pizza as the dogs called it a day (a dog day to be sure).

Sunday was Father's Day and Larry and Janet Suzanne and Gregory seemed ready to celebrate but this dog took a while to come to life as Ben got ready to begin his journey Suzanne said good bye to the dog and we headed off in our rental car to Denver airport and United baggage claim where Ben was united (lower case U) with his leader and Zach from North Adams, Mass. to prepare for their journey.

Back at the house Syl sat with Connor as Dan watched and Erin posed as Erin, Greg and Connor got ready as Greg posed with Connor as Suzanne Larry and Syl watched which caused Connor to demonstrate all of his tricks

before Suzanne joined Connor on the floor and as a dog slept we made our way to Hickory House Ribs where we learned their secrets and rules and perused their menu as people on both sides of the table -- Suzanne and Larry Erin and Janet and Dansyl were faced with difficult decisions as the drinks arrived and Connor showed off his hat

before the basket of onion rings and the meals arrived. In the parking lot were this old car and Hickory the bear before we headed off to the street fair where Larry and Janet noted the nice sky as we watched the performance as Janet gathered flying pieces of the cottonwood trees and I posed with the horse as Suzanne was being seduced into a jewelry purchase from this lady.

Back at their house, a bridge game arose until the table needed to be set so that dinner could be served as this was my meal and Larry Dan Janet Suzanne and I and Greg and Erin posed.

After dinner there were many efforts to get generational pictures staring with 2 then 3 generations of men as the 4th generation got ready to enter for a series of 4 generational photos

which Erin captured as did I

before the whole family gathered (except for Suzanne who became photographer)

with a too close up and then more group photos before we went back to the (more or less) nuclear family and then photos of aunt, uncle, Mom, Dad and baby which ended our day.

The next morning, Janet attached the dogs and we got ready to go out where we found this ball along the trail and then this deer at a distance as we observed Pikes Peak in the distance with the progress of our walk that seemed to amuse the dogs as Suzanne took care of Cam as I admired some flowers and the trail continued for some group photos with back lighting

and oriented lighting after which we admired the llamas in the distance and many flowers

and a teepee followed by more flowers before we returned home where Syl and Connor were bonding as Larry and Janet watched and Connor got ready to get on the blanket with Suzanne as Janet was on the couch with a dog and Suzanne and Connor finally reached time for their activities as I drove to the airport to drop Dansyl at their gate as they posed with Janet who accompanied me. A result of Suzanne's shopping tour were these nice sunglasses which amused Connor

as we said good bye to Pam Haines who had come to visit and Connor and Erin posed as we prepared to go to a Mexican restaurant where Connor and Greg Larry and Janet Suzanne and I enjoyed our chips and drinks as the main courses came but were not consumed fast enough for Connor who had a bit of an unhappy spell.