Colorado Vacation, 2008...

We just got back from a great Family Vacation in Colorado. We originally went for my sister's wedding, then made it into a fun trip, with lots of exciting activities! I will break up the pictures into the different events and towns we visited. We started out in Estes Park for the wedding, spent 5 days there, playing and shopping, then went to Breckenridge for a day, then off to Stonewall for 2 days to finish off the vacation. We had tons of fun, but we were ready to head home. There is only so much time you can spend with 13 family members. Tension rises, and it was time for a break. I think that we said we would never take another Family trip like this, when we got back last summer, but we did....and we are glad we did!! So, enjoy the pictures....

Estes Park was fun! The town is small, but we found lots to do. The guys went fishing everyday. All us girls went on a Horseback Breakfast Ride one morning. We all went to a Fun Park, with Go-Carts, Bumper boats, Bumper cars, and Putt-Putt. Tatum was so big, and got to do the Bumper boats and Bumper car all by herself! She had a blast! We ended our stay in Estes Park with a drive through the Rocky Mountain National Park. It was beautiful! There was one place where we could pull off the road and hike up to the snow and this HUGE rock boulder. I was in flip flops, so Richard took Tatum all the way up the climb the rocks. They were WAY up there! She loved it, and wasn't scared a bit! I was a little nervous watching her from only half way up!!

We went White Water Rafting while we were staying in Estes Park. We had to drive about an hour to get to the place, but it was well worth it! We had a huge group, 15 rafters. We rafted down the river, then had a BBQ lunch catered for us afterwards. The raft trip was so much fun. This was our second year to do it, so we were ready for some EXTREME rafting. Unfortunately, we had children in our group, and were going late in the season, to be able to have some real extreme rapids, but, I think we got our fix. Our guide was great. She was the only female guide on our trip, so of course, Richard and Andy had to give her a hard time. They made sure she was willing to take us on the most extreme route possible, to prove that girls can be extreme!! And she did! She made the trip so fun and exciting. During our last class IV rapid, she took us the most challenging way, and if we didn't do it right, we would have what they call a car wreck...and that we did! If you watch the video of our raft...I think it is the 2nd video, you will see us crash into a rock, it slammed into Richards back, we bounce off, and keep going a bit! This was a major accident, and we are so lucky that it wasn't worse. The rock hit Richard in the spine on his lower back where his life jacket was not protecting. He was out of it for a couple of minutes, not able to breathe. It bruised up immediately, but he was and is fine! Let's just hope that he can walk in a month or so!!! He was still able to continue, and even play volleyball after lunch, and beat the girls team once again! We will get them next year!!! Tatum and Emma stayed with my mom and Sally while we rafted, then met us at the Raft Shop after we got of the river. They had lunch with us, and the girls had a lot of fun playing in the water hose and sand! It was a great time, and we are so excited that Mountain White Water Descents took a lot of pictures and video for us to have as a keepsake!

Breckenridge was a short day with a little bit of shopping. Richard went fishing after breakfast while we went to Main Street and hit the shops! It was a beautiful day. Tatum got to play a little in the river, then it was back on the road to hard to Stonewall, 6 hours away!!!

Our last stop on this 10 day trip was in Stonewall. This is where we have spread my grandma and papa's ashes. It is in the Southern part of Colorado, but still very pretty. We stay in a big 7 bedroom house when we go so we can all stay together. There is a beautiful river that runs behind the house. We like to build a camp fire, and sit around talking and make s'mores. We also went on a hike one day. We left the little girls behind with Nana and Aunt Sally, and headed out to find the same place they hiked last year. After about a 45 minute car ride to find the trail head, we started our hike. We didn't get far before the guys had to stop and fish a little. Richard carved our initials in a tree on the trail. It was getting dark, we needed to get back to the car before the bears came out. Once in the car, we were talking about our carving, and realized we should have put Tatum's initial on there too! I guess we will have to go back next year and add the "T" to it as well!!

So, that rounds out our Family Vacation this summer! Tatum starts Kindergarten in a week, so we will be getting ready for that! I know that this trip will allow her to talk about fun things she was able to do over the summer break! We are already looking forward to next summer...maybe the beach this time!!!!