Beating the Heat In Colorado

   Destiny got to pick what she wanted for her 16th birthday....a concert, hotel weekend with friends, just about anything within reason.

 She picked to go to Cuchara, Colorado, the sweetest little quaint mountain town you ever did see.

  So on the morning of her Sweet 16, we opened a few little gifts and packed the car.

  Yes, I said loaded the CAR, not the RV.  Some of our dearest friends have a family cabin there that they offered to let us join them at.

   Here goes nothing.  7-8 hours ahead of us!  Let's see if we still remember how to do this.....

  The kids are older now apparently, and shocked me with how well they did.  They read, slept, listened to Adventures in Odyssey CD, watched the scenery go by and only watched one movie!

     Western Kansas, aka Feedlot Alley was an um, aromatic experience.  And talk about flat lands, there is nothing out there and into Colorado!  The temperature steadily climbed until it reached 106 at one point. 

  Are we going the wrong way? 
  
  Nope, there is the mountains! PHEW!

  I was worried about altitude sickness as we climbed to 9,000 plus feet so I had the kids drink a lot of water.

 Dale was less than impressed that someone had to pee every hour and 20 minutes.  Haha! Hey hydration is important!

 Alas, we finally made it to Colorado.

   YAY! We made it. Hi friends!  

 I wish you could SMELL these photos. Oh the pine filled, cool crisp air was HEAVENLY!

   A special surprise awaited Destiny inside.  SO sweet!!!!  Mena, age 11 made this AMAZING CAKE.

  We had a visitor the first night and almost every  night after.....a momma bear and her 2 cubs!

  The next day some of our kids were up with the sun.  They decided to try their hand at some hummingbird whispering.  Apparently if you hold still enough, they come land on your finger!  Paxton tried over half an hour but no luck.

 We packed up a picnic lunch and headed to Bear Lake for a day of fishing, hiking and relaxing by the water.  It was gorgeous!

  We were up at 13,000 feet.  (Brutal on the way down which equaled some bad headaches all around)

   I am pretty sure this is the definition of DOG TIRED.  She was dead weight on my leg on the way down the mountain! Hee hee

  No one felt like cooking, so we walked down to town for some Dog Bar food....this cool outdoor restaurant where dogs are welcome to join their owners.

 We left sleepy Sophie at home but still enjoyed ourselves!

  The kids spent the next day playing games, hanging out around the cabin and seeing the sites.

 Poor buddy Paxton, must have had some altitude sickness or a bug, because he threw up during the night and spent the day sleeping and oiling up.

 I took the girls down the mountain to town so we could get a snow cone and do some souvenir shopping!

 Paxton was awake when we got home and feeling more like himself.

 We cooked chicken tikka masala and garlic naan bread for the crowd and enjoyed an evening drive all over the valley.  IT WAS GORGEOUS and I totally want a cabin there!

  Pax man was as good as new the next morning, so we walked down the mountain to the darling little putt putt golf place to have some fun!

  It was all fun and games until it started HAILING ON US and pouring rain! Haha, kids quick finished the last holes with hoods up.  The moms waited it out under the awning before playing the last holes and then we all dashed up the road to the Dog Bar to feed our hungry golfers some snacks.

  We ate INSIDE the Dog Bar this time (along with the entire town it seemed) so poor Summer the big white dog had to sit outside under the porch awning and watch us from the window.  She loved the attention!

  We enjoyed the PRETTIEST nature walk! This town is D R E A M  Y!

  We drove around looking at cabins and daydreaming.....

  And just like that, it was time to load the car and head back home....but first, our traditional stair step pic!

  Back to Kansas we go.......

Hugs, T