Rocky Mountain High

The drive to Colorado

There were some really long tunnels through the mountians

"Are we there yet??" That was the phrase repeated 30 times a day!
This picture does not do justice to the ski villages we went through. We were driving in white-out conditions. We went through some of the fanciest, busiest, ski resort towns I have ever seen! I could not believe the size of the homes there! I am not one who enjoys skiing -- to think of building up cities around the sport is baffling to me! It was something to see!

Colorado Springs

We got to stay at the Antlers Hilton Hotel for the week. It was a pretty nice place, though I am just as thrilled to stay in a Best Western! It is a nice hotel, but I do not think I would recommend it to people with small children. It worked out well though, Charles was just downstairs so he would come up on all his breaks/lunch. It was a good time!
The view from our hotel window

William looks on with amazement
Riding the elevator

Garden of the Gods

This is one of the most beautiful places I have ever been. I could not take enough pictures to capture the true glory of it. The kids LOVED Garden of the Gods in Colorado Springs -- they did not want to leave! It is a great place to take family. It has paved trails all the way through it, and dirt trails for the more adventurous travelers, or you can go straight up and climb the cliffs! I was in awe of the natural beauty. I have come to appreciate the beauty of "real" mountains. I suppose that is something I took for granted from growing up in Alaska; mountains were just a normal part of city living. I see now that is not true! It is so great if a city has mountains, it adds such depth and beauty. I love Colorado Springs. It is a really beautiful place. I would live here in a heart-beat! I have really enjoyed our trip, and seeing things I have never seen before. It has been a fabulous time!


It was a lovely 75 degrees! So perfect!

Pikes Peak - A view from the garden

William enjoyed rock climbing too!


The kids LOVED climbing the rocks!

It was so amazingly beautiful, we were there at the perfect time of day!

The kids went spelunking in the caves :-)

Pictures

I am trying to post as many pictures as I can at a time. There are so many and many more to come! I am doing my best to take pictures of everything (requested by my mama in Samoa.) :-) I am doing my best!

Lots of LOVE!

Twin Business

Sammi and Julia got to be together again! It was so sweet to see them reunited. They use to have this thing in Spokane that they would say, "Twin Business!" They would talk about all the things they had in common, and when they found something it would be "twin business!" So, Sammi and Julia told me that they made a "special promise" that they would always be "twins" forever. How sweet! They are just the sweetest girls together. They are so positive, and uplifting -- always complimenting each other. I loved watching them together. It was sad to leave. Sammi said in the car, "Why can't we just move to Colorado so we do not have to be seperated?" I wish all of Sammi's friends were as kind and thoughtful as Julia. I am so grateful for their special friendship. Twin Business FOREVER! :-)