Westward ho.
We kidnapped Brad from work & drove to Breckenridge, Colorado last week.
These two jokers were in heaven.
If one is in Colorado, one must be adventuresome.
Brad & the kids were really good at this.
(I faked it pretty well...I mean, I didn't whip out my inhaler or claim an allergy attack to get out of "outdoorsy things;" however, I did not touch the worms while fishing.)
White water rafting. A hilarious experience with my kids. Ainsley's up for anything.
Max is too, he just wants details..."Uh, Mom? So who will rescue me in the river when I go overboard?"
"Max, the goal is for you NOT to GO overboard."
"Yeah, but what about when I do?"
We did a quick, and lovely, raft trip down the Arkansas River...none of our children fell out.
A highlight of our trip was the Kids' Fun Park at the top of Peak 8 in Breck. Basically an amusement park of "mountainy" activities. We were there for 6 1/2 hours. When's the last time you did anything with little kids for 6 1/2 hours? Exactly.
Ainsley on the bungee trampoline.
Max didn't weigh enough to make the bungee trampoline work very well, so the wayward youth who worked this ride enjoyed launching him heavenward. Yes, we have video & no, he didn't pee his pants.
Panning for "gems" was a big deal. (Check out the "Young family concentration tongue" Max has going on.)
Ainsley on the rock wall.
Brad & Ainsley on the ski lift for the alpine slide. This is the point where the kids were playing "Rock-Paper-Scissors" for who DIDN'T have to ride the rides with Mommy. WHAT? I'm SO MUCH FUN. They were LUCKY I was even THERE!
First roller coaster rides for Ainsley & Max...
...Max obviously lost Rock-Paper-Scissors.
Max still found time to put the moves on older girls...here he is in line for the roller coaster - I'm so proud.
After our EXTREME outdoor activities we found time to commune with nature. We hiked a few times...this was the Lily Pad Lake hike...
Should I be concerned that he thinks he's hiding?
Required "act like you love each other" shot in front of
Lily Pad Lake
Fishing.
I could write a lot about this experience, but I'm just going to say that 1) Brad & Ainsley have a lot of patience, 2) Max & I do not, 3) we weren't leaving until Ainsley caught a BIG FISH with her rod, 4) I only brought one bottle of water which proved problematic since we were there for 2 hours, 5) I'm probably not going fishing again.
Here's Ainsley with her first fish that "wasn't good enough because it was on Max's rod." Awesome.
1 1/2 hours later.....rainbow trout! Thank you Jesus!
After catching Ainsley's fish, we looked out into the water & got a HUGE surprise...
...a moose jumped into the lake to cool off, then swam over to us, scaring us all...
...luckily he took a left turn & swam away, although I'm pretty sure Max is still traumatized.
We lucked out with the moose sighting, but were also lucky to have some fabulous people visit us in Breckenridge:
Auntie Michelle came up with her sweetie-pie doggie, Aspen.
Cousins Michelle & Matt came up for the night...
...Max & Ainsley pretended to be their kids...
...instant nuclear family!
And then there was this situation:
Picking out souvenir shirts, my children fell in love with these. Um, no thanks.
This was Max's second choice. Not good foreshadowing for the future.
Goofball in cousin Michelle's glasses
Required family shot.
We miss you Colorado!
