Seven Falls

409 steps up and down the falls...her look says it all. Our booties got a good work out as well as our nerves. It was a little more intense walking up and down those steps than I ever thought it would be.

Not as much water as it is in the spring with the snow melt but stunning none the less.

And of course, beautiful flowers with the water fall just behind. It is one of the most special things about places other than AZ, flower boxes everywhere!!!

Pike's Peak, Top of the World

Of course we couldn't go to Colorado Springs without making the treacherous journey up Pike's Peak. What a beautiful drive up this mountain. It takes approx 2.5hrs to drive up and down the switched back road. The kids were in awe as were both Shane and I. Some family history...George, my father in law, worked two summers at the restaurant at the top of Pike's Peak while in college. It has changed significantly since those days. There is no longer burgers and fries...now it's over priced donuts and coffee. And, yes I say over priced when they was $3.19 for one donut...crazy! We did buy two and shared them among all of us. The COG railway is a cool thing to take, a train up and down the mountain but we will have to save that adventure for another time. Oh, and it was in the 70's at the bottom of the mountain, at the top it hit a whopping 47!!! It felt glorious!!!!!

Garden of the God

This was a beautiful place! I would love to go back with older kids and hike all around the park taking photos at sunset. The red rock shooting up in the midst of the greenery was a stunning contrast. We drove through most of the park but did manage to get out and do a small hiking trail which did include a bit of rock climbing. Jacob was an amazing big brother helping everyone out. He certainly has a fondness for little kids. When we came a monsoon had just past so it was even more beautiful with the storm clouds in the back ground. God's paintbrush certainly leaves us in awe!!!

Family Photo

I took an opportunity to set up the tripod and take our summer family photo. I LOVE this back drop. This was the front lawn of the lodge we stayed at for the reunion. It was on an old railroad bed and sandwiched between two mountains. The kids loved the hot tub in the back and the fact that this place had a basement with a ping pong table. I could totally do a house like that...noisy kids downstairs, peacefulness upstairs. It was heaven. The kitchen is pretty much where everyone hung out, chatting and spending time together. We haven't seen some of the Aunts since our wedding 13yrs. ago. We throughly enjoyed reconnecting.

And of course a Self tradition...the funny face photo!

Great Sand Dunes National Park

The beauty of this park is a miracle of God for sure! Those mountains are 11,000 ft, and the sand dunes are created by the sand coming down during the snow melt. As the water dries out the wind blows the sand to form the dunes and below the dunes it becomes a marsh wet lands. It is a phenominal example of God creating things that require each other to survive.

Samantha was the only one who made it to the top! We started at about 8,000 ft and she climbed, almost straight up at times to 11,000 ft at the top of the dunes.She had a great helper in Dr. Williams and everyone was so proud of her. Shane and Jacob tried their best but we were quickly running out of sunlight. It was awe-inspiring to say the least!!!! We would love to go back sometime in the spring when there is water flowing...it is supposed to be unbelievable.

Durango campground, glider ride and mountain passes

Shane making our yummy pancake breakfast...I get the morning off, well, not really...I am the one packing up and re-organizing the pop-up. We love this breakfast!!

The boys took a glider ride and as if you can't tell be their smile, they were pretty excited!!! It was exciting and my stomach was a little crazy until they safely landed.

This is all of us at the continental divide at Wolf Creek Pass on our way north towards Great Sand Dunes National Park.

many more to come...stay tuned!!

Durango Animas River Rafting

Last year we went to Durango as a family to do a quick trip on the train. We loved Durango so much we just knew we wanted to get back. So with this trip having a final destination in Colorado Springs we were excited to hit up Durango on our way up. We skipped the train for obvious reasons but added the Animas River Rafting adventure to our list. And let me just tell you it was a blast. The river is a bit low because all the snow is gone and the summer rains have not yet come so it ran smooth and relaxing in some places and had just a few rapids in other for the kids to experience but was nothing outrageous. We even took Leeah...she loved splashing and the ride. She has an adventurous heart. Jacob, Samantha, Nathan, Ayana and Shane all swam in the the river following the raft along at a few points along the trip. In all it was a fun 2 hours!!! I have a bunch of pictures from the trip but have misplaced, (in a safe place of course) our small point and shot camera and as soon as I come across it I will upload those photos. In addition, Shane and Jacob took a glider ride, catching thermals off the local mountains and I have some great shots of that...so definitely more to come.

Lake Powell (part 2)

Lake Powell (part 1)

Here are a few...many more to come...