Colorado Day 5

Today's primary objective: climbing. The boys were begging for places to climb and we found some good one!

First stop, Manitou Cliff Dwellings and Museum.

Then, a delicious lunch at the Stagecoach Inn in Manitou Springs. The weather was amazing so we ate outside.

Finally, back to the Garden of the Gods--this time we stayed away from the paved paths and found some places to climb and hike. Adeline likes dirt.

Our children turned into Indians, outlaws, and . . . a mean Panda bear.

Our beautiful girls.

Sam was getting pretty brave.

back at home, playing with my camera in the evening light: This is one of our favorite Adeline expressions: "I don't know."

This girl is growing way to fast for me.and getting prettier every day.

Colorado Day 4 Cont. - Garden of the Gods

"You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and the hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands." Isaiah 55:12

Colorado Day 4 - the Zoo

Today we headed to the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo. This really is a MOUNTAIN zoo-the paths were a workout and the view was spectacular. Sam, Ella and I visited the zoo in 2005 and we were excited to come back and see the giraffes!

We had a gorgeous sunny day!

right beside the sign explaining that the Grizzlies sleep a lot in the winter, these two bears were wrestling in the water! It was so entertaining--they reminded me of my boys.

here, one bear gets out and contemplates a body slam move, then chickens out and climbs back into the water the easy way. In the bottom corner, his opponant is taunting him.

It was fun for the kids to get up close and personal with the Grizzlies.

A Colorado Vacation . . . with a new camera!

Ah, spring break! For the first time since college, we get spring break (well, actually, just Jess gets the official spring break-the kids and I are making it ours too). We decided to head west to Colorado and are so happy to have Jess's sister Alyse along! We started at 4am on Saturday and had a fairly easy trip. Explored the rental house in the middle of nowhere (14 miles from Woodland Park, CO) and bought our groceries. On a cold Sunday morning we had a family worship service and headed to the Dinosaur museum in Woodland Park, but rushed back to the cabin early because of a winter storm warning! Snuggled in and waited. . . We woke this morning to this:

Now that my kids aren't Georgians anymore, they are used to snow,but the sunny 35 degree morning made exploring the mountain in the snow a unique and amazing adventure!

Swing!

the sun was too bright for these kids.

This photo makes me anxious, it was right before Amos almost fell off the cliff.

sweet Si has kept us laughing this week.

"Thank you for taking me thank you thank you for taking me!" Amos LOVES the snow.

A man and his dog.

After a morning in the snow we headed to Colorado Springs and the Focus on the Family Welcome Center. They have a great play area for kids. And ice cream.

a puppet theater.

a stage and costumes.

It was about this time that we realized that somehow, when he went to the potty, Si had not put his underwear on right, and it had shimmied down his leg. I told you he keeps us laughing.
Next stop: The Olympic Training Center. A nice, free diversion.

Team USA!

I think the rest of the week is supposed to be dry and sunny so we'll be hitting the mountains! Stay tuned!

Chicago to home

Dad and his sweet girl

We went home via Jess's grandpa in central Illinois. It was wonderful to have a few hours with family, AND load our cooler with goodies from the garden!

Aunt Sarah found the way to Addie's heart, and her favorite word: COOKIE

We love our Grandparents and Great-Grandpa!!!