Birthday Celebration and Bucket List

Thankfully Miss A loves to celebrate her birthday since it seems like we celebrated her 8th Birthday a few dozen times in the last month.  Of course for her actual birthday, we couldn't just pretend we were over with the fun so we crossed yet another item off our Summer Bucket List.  Our family (minus dad who was back to work after a long vacation) went to a mini golf course and watched Mr C school us in all things golf.

In other words, we tried our best and Mr C used this outing as a way to practice his short game.  Miss A, however, is a good enough sport that she didn't let a little friendly competition get in the way of an afternoon of fun.  When Mom threw in a trip to Sonic for Happy Hour, she quickly forgot how much the girls were crushed by the real golfer in the family.  I keep telling Mr C that if I had time to play a few rounds of golf a week and have lessons with a PGA professional I too could be good at golf once again!  That's my story and I'm sticking to it!!

After our afternoon of fun, it was time for a little birthday party fun with just our family.  Thanks to Nana's fabulous baking skills, Miss A had homemade German chocolate cupcakes and her mother's favorite bakery provided the Chocolate Cake. Let's just say that we had a fridge full of chocolate goodness for a few days!  The kids have never been happier.

Of course, it's not really a birthday party without presents.  Even though Miss A had already "opened" most of her presents in the previous celebrations, there were a few gifts that she was thrilled not to miss out on including a new dress, a soft comfy pillow, and some other Barbie goodness. This girl has been spoiled.  Good thing she's so appreciative and so cute.

We are so thankful that Miss A joined our family eight years ago.  It's hard to imagine our life without this little spitfire.  Happy Birthday Sweetie.  Now let's wait another year before we celebrate again!

Platte River Road Arch: Final Day of Vacation

Our final stop of the vacation was at the Platte River Roadway Arch,  It is a spot that looks so intriguing from the road, but worries you that it might not live up to the hype.  I'm sure I speak for my family when I say that we are all pleasantly surprised at what a fun stop this was and how much we learned about the pioneers trek across that plains and so much more.  It really exceeded our expectations.

Outside, we got to visit a sod house, a Pawnee earth lodge, and a settler's home along with some amazing life size sculptures of bison and buffalo.  As I've often noted, it's a good thing we were not born back "then" as we surely would have died if our current ability to grow vegetables is any indication!  Not to mention the smell of the "earth" in either a lodge hut or sod house; we'd have really struggled with our allergies.

However, had we gotten lost along the trail as a Pioneer heading west, I think either Mr P or Mr C could have found us a way out; either that or they are just really good at mazes.  I must say I'm not too bad at mazes either, but I do get a little dizzy walking around and around.  Thankfully, the 2nd time, our family attempted the TrailBlaze Maze outside the arch I watched from the crows nest above and got to see who cheats and who helps their fellow sister!

Once inside the Arch, we experienced what life was like on the Prairie, to watch the building of the frontier right before our eyes, to walk along the Lincoln Highway and how that changed transportation to really feel what it must have been like on the Pony Express and how challenging life was for those who came before us.  Listening on the headphones to first person recollections and seeing scenes change before you life, it was almost as if you walking the trail with these pioneers.  I think each one of us was impressed with the images and sounds and so grateful that we got to experience this journey.

It really is like no other museum I've experienced.  It was impressive that you are in essence walking across/back over the interstate the entire time.  For as much as I might have joked about this place in the past, I can honestly say I was impressed.  There really was something there for everyone with some hands on sites outside and some visual effects inside made a great impact on the kids.

Of course, the fact that we got the kids pictures taken with a real life Explorer made the end of our trip even more special. What a great way to end our vacation.  As the kids would say a few more times that day: "Are We Home Yet?"  Almost.

Loveland Pass: Take Two

Before we could leave behind the beautiful mountains of Colorado, we decided to take one last hike up Loveland Pass and really experience the breathtaking views of the valley below and the peaks above.  Amazing is really the only word you can use to describe the beauty and majesty at every turn.  Since we were all prepared for the trek, we made it a little higher than before though not as high as Mr C would have liked.  However, after about 30 minutes, we did really need to start the journey down the mountain and back towards home.

Next year, we will come back with coats and walking sticks, pack a lunch, and plan to make a day of just exploring the area. How often do you get to experience the fresh mountain air, the beauty of the timber line, and views that last for miles?  We did not get enough.

As we were leaving, we did decide that one of the memorable portions of the Loveland Pass is right at the Loveland Ski Area.  You pass underneath a Ski Lift the goes right across the road.  Under the Lift is a long net to catch things that fall from the chair; protecting the cars from ski poles etc.  Of course, we thought the sight of a body (skier) in the net might be the scariest sight a driver could have on the Pass!

Thankfully, our journey towards home was a slow one.  We planned a few more stops along the way to ease the transition back to reality and help us come slowly down for our mountaintop experiences.  First stop was at Chic Fil A in Denver for an early lunch.  Who knew that is was also protest Chic Fil A Day; a perfect day for us to go support our "friends" who stood up to the politically correct and stood firm on marriage. No wonder we love to "Eat Mor Chikin"

A little later in the day, we stopped in Ogallala Nebraska, the cowboy capital of the plains, and saw Boot Hill.  Let's just say the kids were less than thrilled with this little excursion, but Miss M did find a tomb of someone born on her "birthday" so that made up for the inconvenience.  Their lasting impression however was a few blocks away from Boot Hill where we came across a garage sale. On the side of the house, there was a lady cutting someone's hair right in the middle of the street.  We'd never seen a garage sale/ hair salon before.  Just to make sure we weren't seeing things we even went by twice.

Finally, we came to our stopping place for the evening; Kearney Nebraska home of the Great Platte River Roadway Arch.  We stopped at a Holiday Inn with an indoor water park complete with two slides!  We live on the edge.  Giving in to peer pressure (the kids twisted my arm-really hard), I even went down the slide to my own amazement.  Let's just say that I don't normally go on water slides because without my glasses I'm nearly blind and there is nothing I dislike more than going in a dark slide without the ability to see!

Let's just say it was a one time wonder.  I left the slide with a bruised up arm; bleeding from rubbing the slide and being forced down under the water at such a high rate of speed.  Not my idea of fun, but the kids were thrilled that I'd taken one for the team. Literally, I had "skin" in the game.

Keystone Village: Our Little Home Away from Home

We loved our condo in Keystone. It was perfect for our family, just the right size, a quiet location with a gorgeous view of the mountains, and a pool that we had nearly to ourselves every night.  It was just what a vacation was suppose to be; relaxing, bonding and without the day to day stress of life.  Sure we fixed some easy meals, did a few loads of laundry and had to remind people to turn off the Olympics and go to bed, but those things actually made this stay more like home and easier to manage.

Our only wish was that we had found the little village shops near us before our next to last day of the trip.  Who knew?  However, that didn't stop us from exploring around and having fun.  Next trip, we'll know a little more about our surroundings and be ready for even more adventures.  Who knows, maybe I convince my little family to make a trip during ski season sometime and we can trek on the trails with snowshoes and skis.  I'm not holding my breath.

 



We loved our walk along the creek in Keystone. Jumping over sticks, creating our own path in the water and finding time to "Tebow."  Hey, Tim used to play for the Broncos!  Miss M and Miss A were a little disappointed that at no time in our trip did we run into any mountain lions, grizzly bears or wild animals.  Their mother, of course, was thrilled that they stayed far away; nature and animal lover that I am.

I tried to convince P that we could sneak a few wooden Adirondack chairs into our suitcase; but he shot my idea down and I had to just soak up as much time as possible on the front porch.  Cool Colorado mornings and breathtaking views from the porch, who would want to leave?

 

We did have one solution for not wanting to leave Keystone; we threw the kids in the city jail. Sadly, they used their brute strength to get out from behind the bars. 

We had a great trip to Colorado and one that we are considering repeating new year.  The memories we have from this trip will certainly be the tales of family lore in the future.  That's what its all about!

Panning Gold and Memories: Breckenridge

Our final day in the mountains was spent in Breckenridge, the "little ski village that blew up unto a huge resort" or at least that's what I would call it today.  Back in the days of my childhood, it really was a small little ski resort. A town that I could walk to from our home and knew the main street and the slopes at Peak 8 and Peak 9 like the back of my hand.

First stop of the day was to the Country Boy Mine where we panned for Gold and got to feel just a little bit of the Gold Rush.  My husband might just have survived being a "rusher" as within minutes he'd found a gold nugget in his pan; Miss M and Miss A were not as lucky even when the took lessons on Fill-Spill-Splash-Tail from their father.  He had the touch.  Mr C found a few nuggets too, after some time with Dad, he resorted to getting right in the middle of the stream in hopes of avoiding the already "claimed" areas. 

Had we been a real gold mining family, I think that the girls and I would have been busy doing the laundry and cooking while the boys were busy striking gold.  At least that would have been my plan.  Miss A said she could have done the gold mine chute slide, but I'm not sure that would have been an option.

After a few hours of mining, we were ready to explore the town. I  hardly recognized anything. Sure there were a few places I remembered like Skinny Winter Gifts where I used to blow through my allowance and birthday money on knick knacks; the Whale's Tail Restaurant that we used to frequent, and of course the Shirt Off My Back where I bought my yearly screen printed t-shirt. It was fun to take a little bit of a trip down memory lane, but I enjoyed making new memories with my family even more.

When we finished lunch, shopping, and strolling the city; it was time to head up the mountain to see my favorite slopes.  Everyone was willing to take the Gondola from town thinking it was so much safer than the chairlift in Copper.  They loved the enclosed feel, the doors and the fact that you climbed so much more gradually. At the base of the mountain I was shocked to see a Giant Hotel Complex which had previously been a a small little chalet.  Progress?, 

It as fun to show off some of my old stomping ground, but I was anxious to get back to our quiet little condo in Keystone!

Loveland Pass: Contintentail Divide First Attempt

Leaving Georgetown, we decided to try a different route back to Keystone.  The condo owner had told us how much quicker it was to take the Loveland Pass instead of going through the Eisenhower Tunnel and then around to Keystone.  Now for those of you who have never been on the "Pass," I'll admit that my one and only experience on this route was back when I was about Miss A's age and there was a snowstorm. According to my parents, I was a little shocked with just have far the drop off was from the road. 

I'll give my husband a lot of credit for being willing to drive our big Honda Odyssey over the Pass. He's not what you call an experienced high elevation driver.  Add to that the fact that most of the other vehicles on the road were Haz Mat carrying Semi's and it's a little unnerving.  He did great, but I think all of our kids were a little shocked at just how much we were climbing and how there was no real side rail protecting us from falling off the road.

At about the hallway point of our journey, we discovered an overlook that we could not pass by; the Continental Divide.  We parked the car and got out for a quick hike up the mountain. Quick mostly because three of us had on sandals or flip flops.  Climbing up the side of a steep mountain is not something you take lightly and we were ill prepared.  Of course, Mr C was convinced that we were being wimps until his youngest sister slipped a few times and almost fell off the mountain.  At least that's my story. 

I'll admit even though we'd been in the mountains for about six days by now, the altitude as we climbed really got to a few of us; something about shortness of breath and the deliurous thought that we could keep on going.  Thankfully, wisdom prevailed and we decided that we'd come back on our way back down the mountain in a few days and we'd be more prepared for the cool temps at the top and for the rough terrain.

One thing is certain; God's beauty at the Continental Divide is unparalleled.  It's stunning. Having the kids see the Timber Line and realize that trees don't exist at a certain height and that snow is still around in August was amazing.  Maybe I can understand why the gold rushers and the explorers of the west stopped in Colorado along the way and never left.  It's stunningly beautiful. 

Georgetown Train

There is a cute little mining town just past the Eisenhower Tunnel that I had visited a number of years ago and thought it would be a fun place to take a trip into yesteryear in Colorado.  Georgetown boasts the finest Narrow Gauge Loop Railroad of it's kind. Constructed in 1884, this is the same train line that miners took to get to the silver miners back in the late1800's from Silver Plume to Georgetown.

We rode along in an open rail car and got to experience what an engineering masterpiece this narrow three feet gauge line really is.  How amazing that the designers realized that due to the elevation the steam engine trains would need to "loop around" in order to make it up the mountain.  The spectacular views of the mountains and the valleys in this beautiful area were well worth our morning excursion. 

Once again, we were convinced that there was no way any of us could have survived living in Colorado during the Gold Rush/Silver Mining Era.  No wonder so many didn't make it past Omaha. I'm thinking our family was born at for such a time as now! 

The train stopped in Silver Plume (a town that is according to the conductor is only "open" on weekends) and then the train engine switched places and we went back down the mountain to Georgetown.  Traveling along the rail lines we realized why our ears popped and car protested the incline going up the tunnel.  What a climb!

After a great train ride, we took a little stroll around the town of Georgetown including a visit to a Scandinavian shop where I had purchased a bib that said "Lil Norwegian" for Miss M when she was a baby while I was on girls only weekend with some relatives.  What a perfect little excursion!