telephones, they can't replace me with you, face to face

{There I go stealing lyrics again. Thank you, Matt Wertz, With You Tonight}

This weekend I was lucky enough to spend the 4th of July with Jonathan in beautiful Colorado. After a tiring & delayed day of travel on Friday evening, I made it to Denver. Saturday night we ate breakfast at Boulder's great farmer's market and walked along Pearl Street (think downtown Columbia...with mountains in the distance). We headed to Estes Park in the afternoon with hopes of finding a campsite in Rocky Mountain National Park. The tour guide information lady laughed when we asked what the chances were of finding a campsite (on the 4th of July)...but we got one of the last ones (so ha, lady!) After setting up camp (in the rain...) we drove to one of the nearby lakes and caught a beautiful rainbow and tranquil beauty surrounding this lake. It was so calming and just lovely. Then we headed back to Estes Park to catch the fireworks show along the lake. We saw some elk hanging out on the golf course along the way. No big. 

Woke up to beautiful sunny weather on Sunday and drove all through RMNP. We stopped at so many lookouts that the beauty of it all has kind of blurred in my mind. Hopefully the pictures that follow can do this weekend more justice than my words. Simply said, it was a wonderful break that was much needed. A break in all kinds of ways: a break from city life, a break from getting dressed up (and wearing makeup or doing my hair...ah camping:)) & a break from a long-distance relationship. 

rainbow: check. bench: check. mountains, lake, trees & perfection: check.

Jonathan's internship local

fireworks (Jonathan and his digital SLR took this one)
to me it kind of looks like the background is too perfect and we're photoshopped in (also jonathan's)
looky there, leave no trace!
"I could really go for an elk today" said Jonathan as we left the campsite. I think these will do the trick. I kind of wanted to take one home with me.

Big Colorado sky that Leigh Anne loves (and I clearly see why).

Shameless plug: For more pictures, check out Jonathan's new flickr account.

(One last thing that I do not have a picture for: Josh Hartnett was seated first class on my return flight to New York City. My 7th grade self was freaking out--I used to pull out pictures of him and put them on my door. Ahh celebrity crushes)