Wednesday, February 18, 2009

Rocky Mountain High

Photobucket


Thursday afternoon, we left for Colorado for a mini-vacation. Josh's aunt and uncle live in Trinidad so we thought we'd venture up there to say hello.

We had an absolutely wonderful time. We spent one day hanging out at their beautiful home that overlooked the snow-capped mountains. Jack loved exploring the new territory

Photobucket


and all three of the boys loved playing with all of the "new" toys (well, at least they were new to them).

Photobucket


Photobucket


Photobucket



We went to Cripple Creek, where they were having an Ice Festival. The streets were blocked off and lined with elaborate ice sculptures

Photobucket


and their artists.

Photobucket


The boys were enthralled with them,

Photobucket


especially the interactive sculptures.

Photobucket


On the way home from Cripple Creek, we stopped at a Dinosaur Resource Center where Josh (who has a thing for dinos) got a hold of the camera and took thousands of pictures of every dinosaur imaginable.

Photobucket


It was a really cool place though, that had hands-on learning stations for the little ones; but my kiddos were most taken aback by the gift shop, where Beau fell in love with a large stuffed dino

Photobucket


and Jack sat down in the middle of the store and began reading all of the books.

Photobucket


We also drove up to the outlet mall in Castle Rock and did a little bit of shopping and visiting with cousins that drove down from Denver.

Photobucket


Monday, despite the boys' begging and pleading to stay longer, we began our journey home. We took our time in getting back and stopped at a few places along the way. One such place was the extinct Capulin Volcano in New Mexico.

Josh read to the boys all about its erupting into existence sometime between 56,000 and 62,000 years ago.

Photobucket


Photobucket


Photobucket


In Amarillo we ate at the Big Texan - a novelty restaurant geared towards tourists where animals hung staring at me while I ate.

Photobucket


Not really my thing, but the boys had a great time.

Photobucket


Photobucket

14 comments:

~ A Moxie Mom said...

It looks like you all had a wonderful vacation! Those are some beautiful pictures!

Unknown said...

Wow! Those ice sculptures are amazing! And that first view....Wow! It looks like you had so much fun. What a nice trip. :)

Unknown said...

Melinda it looks like you had a wonderful trip. We are thinking of doing a similar trip in June this year, when I get out of school. Love your piccies too.

Unknown said...

Great pictures! I've been to a few of those places but it was usually cold and snowy. Looks like a fun time and a great getaway to ward off the doldrums of February.

Debbie said...

I swear your kids have the best eyes ever!
Looks like a great trip. Love those ice sculptures.

Shawna Byrd said...

What a neat mini vacation! The ice sculptures were amazing, and you got some great pics of the boys!

Heidi said...

looks like you had a great time! wow, those ice sculptures were beautiful! you take wonderful photos!!

Carrie said...

WOW! What great pictures!! I love Colorado. My sis lives in Denver and I grew up in MT. I miss those Rockies something fierce!!

Thanks for stopping by my blog!

ThatsBaloney said...

Was that dino place in Woodland Park by chance? My husband's family cabin is up the street from that. We go to Cripple Creek once a year (summer) bc Doc and his mom like to gamble.
I had no idea they did ice sculptures in the winter!

Corrine said...

wow those ice sculptures are truly amazing as well as your photographs.

Stacey Cannon said...

What an AWESOME trip!!! The picture of the view was incredible, and the pics of the boys are just darling!! I'm so glad you had the chance to go!

Knit Purl Gurl said...

Sounds like the entire family had a vaca to remember! Great pics!! :D

Devin said...

Awesome pictures! It looks and sounds like you guys had a great time!

Vinyl Rocks My World said...

That looks like such a great adventure! Gorgeous pictures - and your boys are too cute!