Grand Lake

Friday, July 4th, our whole Colorado family packed up and headed to Grand Lake, CO. We ate a picnic lunch along the way, then hit some traffic, but made it in time for dinner. We went to the lake area around 8:00pm, anticipating the start of fireworks at 9:00pm. We waited and waited. Then, one cousin had to go to the bathroom. So, one carload headed home. While, Geremy, the boy cousins, and the four of us stayed. The last time Jenna had seen fireworks was when she was 3 and doesn't remember. And Kellen had never seen fireworks, so there was no way that we wanted to leave.

(I borrowed this picture - my camera doesn't take fireworks well.)

Finally, at 10:00pm, the show started and the kids loved it! And, then it was over by 10:12pm. We thought it was a little anticlimactic. Later, we found out that it was supposed to be a 20 minute show, but a faulty shell misfired sinking one of the barges that was used to set them off - thus ending the show.

Saturday, July 5th, for lunch, we used the fire pit at the mountain house to roast hot dogs and s'mores. It was really fun!

So silly! I can't remember what they were doing in this picture.

After lunch, Mima stayed with Kellen for his nap while the rest of us went on a hike near where Papa, Kevin, little G, and Kellen saw two moose that morning.

Hiking buddies

There were lots of columbine.

Sunday afternoon, July 6th, we took the kids to this great playground in Granby. Turns out, it's a great place to play hide and seek! Many rounds were played.

After all that playing, you need some ice cream.

Monday, July 7th, we went to the Green Ridge picnic area/boat launch at Shadow Mountain Lake. Jenna had a great time collecting wildflowers. We all had fun taking turns with the canoe and having a picnic lunch.

It was fun canoeing - the four of us

Kellen called it "sailing."

Baseball with a view

After canoeing, we hiked at Adams Falls - this is a gorgeous spot up past the falls.

Hiking buddies

Adams Falls

Tuesday, July 8th, we went to Willow Creek Reservoir for a picnic and more canoeing. This time, Mima joined in the fun. We saw an osprey grab a fish out of the water and fly it to its nest. So cool!

It was a pretty warm day, so after canoeing, we stopped by the public swimming area of Grand Lake aka "the beach." We hadn't brought swimsuits with us, so we just waded.

Love the expressions on these faces! The lake is basically snow melt so the water is COLD! Heather described it best - "it's like brain freeze in your feet!" The kids got used to it pretty quick, though. They kept getting in deeper and deeper until their pants were all wet. They had a blast!

On Saturday, Jenna made this list of "fun things for 7 year old girls!" "Spy team, go seek, nacher with M, wach movie." The last entry that's crossed out says, "hair solon." I suspect that she crossed it out because she and M lost Heather's hairbrush while they were playing "hair solon." (The brush was found the next day.)

Well, Tuesday afternoon, "hair solon" was back on the fun list. Jenna made this cute menu of styles to choose. "Pig tail, Jasman hair, one pony tail, good brushing, curls."

Kellen got spikey hair.

Wednesday morning, July 9th, the creativity continued with a coloring contest. Jenna drew the three similar pictures and gave them to little G, Kevin, and I to color, while M drew the different page and gave it to Heather to color. Little G's (top left) won 1st place.

In the afternoon, we took the kids back to the beach with their swimsuits. Kevin was the only grown up brave enough to get all the way in.

Kevin "encouraged" Garrison to take the plunge. (See video 0415 in "Grand Lake July '14" folder.)

And, Kellen wanted to do it too! (See video 0416)

I love Kellen's expression in this one - pure joy!

Then, Kevin took a bigger plunge off the dock. (See video 0417)

Jenna had to try a little jump. (See video 0419)

Kellen tried one, too. (See video 0422)

Then, he wanted to jump off the dock, like Daddy. (See video 0428.) When, Kevin jumped off first so he could catch Kellen, I had to hold him back from jumping at the same time. (I love this picture!)

Sand castle building was next. 

All five cousins took a spot on the beach. 

Jenna has been wanting to go to the beach for a long time, now. Glad she got this chance and maybe someday, we can take her to a warm water beach.

Thursday morning, July 10th, we took a drive on Trail Ridge Road. We stopped here and hiked to Lake Irene. There was rock skipping . . .

and snowball throwing.

One of my hiking buddies - this is at least the third day of him wearing this shirt on this trip. And, he was usually wearing it with 3 other shirts at the same time. He loves this shirt, but it will never be the same - the white on the sleeve cuffs is forever brown I'm afraid.

And, my other hiking buddy. We had a picnic lunch at the trailhead and then kept driving.

Beautiful panoramic view! 

So many pretty views! When we got back to Grand Lake, Papa, Mima, and Heather took the kids for ice cream and swimming on the beach (they just couldn't get enough!). And, Kevin and I had a date for our anniversary. First, we toured the shops in town.

Then, we went for another drive on Trail Ridge to use up some time before dinner. I was glad we did because we saw this moose! I had been wanting to see one all week.

We hiked along a trail near where we had seen the moose. (Near the Onahu Trailhead, I think.) Pretty nice place for a moose to live.

We went to dinner at the Grand Lake Lodge. Fabulous view of Grand Lake! This time, the view was better than the food.

After dinner, we decided to get some chocolates at a shop in town. On the way, we saw another moose.

Friday, July 11th, we had to come home. But, no mountain house vacation is complete without a lunch at Casa Bonita on the way home.

I asked for their picture and this is what they gave me - they love each other!

15

July 10th - Happy 15th Anniversary to us! We celebrated a little early with a 2 night trip to Estes Park. We stayed at this cute little place.

The back deck - right on the river. So pretty and nice! We enjoyed sitting out here watching the mesmerizing water, the trout in the water, and the hummingbirds skitting around.

Monday, June 30th, we hiked to Bierstadt Lake. It was so pretty! 

We saw a couple of these strangely shaped trees. Kevin decided to ride.

After the hike, we found this pretty spot for a picnic lunch.

Then, we drove up Trail Ridge Road. I forgot to charge my phone the night before and it ran out of battery right before we got to this great view! My phone takes really cool panoramic pictures. And, we thought our camera would, too. But, you have to use some software after the fact to actually piece it together.

So, imagine these four pictures pieced together. That was the gorgeous panoramic view.

We drove up to the Continental Divide and then turned around. 

We saw these elk taking advantage of the cooler elevation. 

A traffic signal at about 12,000 ft elevation. They were doing a little road work and set up this portable signal. Pretty interesting.

Tuesday, we walked around downtown Estes a bit. There are no less than 7 ice cream shops and 5 taffy/candy/cookie shops in the downtown strip. We had elk burgers for lunch and then headed home.

It was so nice to get away! Here's to the next 15 years.