Colorado

Luke, Bishop and I drove to Colorado. We left on July 15th and got home on Sunday July 24th. We had a wonderful trip to Estes Park, CO! We drove out and Bishop did well. He didn't nap that much, due to the inactivity, but overall he did well! We got to Boulder, CO on Saturday July 16th and I started not feeling well. I went into Urgent Care on Sunday in Boulder and found out I had strep throat!! Sunday and Monday were really tough days as it completley knocked me out! Luke and Bishop had some nice bonding time (at the grocery store, the ranger station, swimming, etc). I was afraid I would miss the entire vacation, but I started feeling better on Tuesday and felt well enough to hike (and take it REAL easy). The rest of the vacation was absolutely PERFECT! Bishop loved EVERYTHING we did. He loved the hikes and would ask to go in the backpack every morning! I laughed (and cried from laughing so much) a lot and enjoyed being with my boys!! I love the mountains so much!!

We stopped for a picnic in Adrian, MN

Playing on the McDonald's Playground somewhere in NE. I think this may be where I picked up strep throat!!

Hiking around Boulder

This is a picture taken from our condo. We were RIGHT on the river--on the 2nd floor--it was a perfect set-up for Bishop and he LOVED the "wa-wa" (water). Notice the deer

Hiking with Dada

Bishop and I at the start of the Colorado River
Luke hiked up to a point (I was too sick and Bishop was sleeping) and saw this guy...UP CLOSE!
Hiking up to Gem Lake



Cub Lake


Bishop LOVES his icecream!! Luke and I were laughing so hard at how he was eating it, which made HIM laugh....I don't think I've ever been that happy in my life!! It makes me smile just thinking about it!


He'll share with you, but only if he gets to hold the cone! If you take the cone away he'll yell "MINE, MINE, MINE"!!
We hiked up to Ouzel Falls, which was part way up to Bluebird Lake (where Luke and I got engaged 4 years ago). There was an avalanche at Bluebird lake this winter, so it was nearly impassable....but we were nowhere close to getting there (it was a 13 mile hike, STRAIGHT up)!




Ouzel Falls
Hanging out with Cousin Emily!!! Emily and her boyfriend came to visit us in Estes Park....we LOVE seeing Emily!

Bierstadt Lake


Bierstadt Lake

Bishop LOVED the swimming pool! He would climb up the ladder, walk a few steps, turn around, run back to the pool and JUMP in the water (and go under)! The first time he did it, he jumped to me and I couldn't touch so Luke had to jump in to grab him!


Our last dinner in Estes Park was at Mary's Lodge. Luke and I celebrated at Mary's after we got engaged 4 years ago, so it was fun to go back! Bishop loved his meal, especially the icecream!

Waving buh-bye to the Mountains
We drove 16 hours on Saturday to get to Owatonna. We arrived at 1am and we were all exhausted! Our thought was at least we'd be able to sleep in and my parents could get up with Bishop....joke was on us--Bishop was the last one sleeping (8:30)!!