Colorado Day 6/Steamboat Springs

Thursday morning we woke up and enjoyed a delicious breakfast at the Nordic Lodge. They provide continental breakfast in the mornings, which are delicious--pastries from the bakery, warm hard boiled eggs, waffles, bagels, fresh fruit (from the owners garden) and more! It was the perfect start to the day! 

We walked to the park and played for a bit and then checked out the library. The kids loved setting up the ramps and creating their own obstacle course to roll the balls down. Bishop didn't want to leave--it was pretty neat!

My little engineers 

We headed over to the Alpine Slide to check it out. I had never gone on an Alpine Slide before and this is touted as the biggest/longest one in North America. It was fun to ride the chair lift and go down with the kids. The carts were newer so they didn't go down super fast--that was ok with me, but at times it was hard to gain speed. It was fun regardless!

Heading up on the chair lif!

Dad and Bishop were right behind us!

Ready to go down!

The first time down we went at the same time as Bishop and Luke!

We switched partners the 2nd time!

Dad and Nora

After the Alpine Slide we attempted to take in some live music in the Botanical Gardens. However, the kids weren't as into it as we were and they were getting hungry--so we didn't stay long....and we picked up McDonald's for the kids and enjoyed a picnic lunch back at our place!

Eating lunch behind our place--right on the river

Emily offered to hang out with the kids in the afternoon for a couple hours so Luke and I went tubing down the Yampa River. It was a blast! We used Emily and Raymond's tubes--Emily dropped us off and took the kids back to her place to play with the dogs and hang out. It turns out they had a nice, relaxing time hanging out on her bed with all the dogs! ;) Luke and I had a blast--we just floated down the river and enjoyed a couple beers along the way, it was relaxing and fun......until we had to get out! I had gotten ahead of Luke and got pulled into a little eddy at the bottom of a small set of rapids--when Luke caught up he thought we should get out......the plan was to get out at the library and I knew the library was just a little farther down the river, but there were rock steps here so we decided to get out at this spot. I had to walk across the river (it was VERY shallow) and the rocks were pretty slippery--so I was a little nervous to walk across. Luke took my tube so he was carrying 2 tubes and a chip bag with some empty beer cans in it. Something got away from him and he chased it down so I got out and he had to get out in a little more of a precarious spot. Unfortunately in trying to save the beer cans and the tubes he cut his finger and got scraped up a little bit. We both made it out safely and were fine--it just made for an entertaining exit!!

We headed back to shower and change as we were heading up the gondola with Emily and Raymond to have dinner at the top of the mountain and to watch the sunset! It was SUCH a fun night! The kids loved the gondola ride and there was food and live music at the chalet and then we hung out to watch the sunset over Steamboat. It was such a beautiful evening!

Riding up the gondy!

Dancing with my girl!

Nora and Raymond! Raymond is so fun!!!

So much love for Emily and Raymond!

It has been so special to see Emily in CO in the summers!

A little Dirty Dancing rendition

I am so thankful that Luke and I enjoy the same things!

Beautiful sunset!

Such a great picture....with a couple extra little hands! ;

It's been so fun and special to be able to connect with Emily when we've made our trips out to Colorado. She lived in Estes Park and was the first person we could tell in person that we got engaged back in 2007! Since she's moved to Steamboat she's made the trip over to Estes Park to see us, so it was especially fun to be able to visit HER and make the trip to see her and Raymond!!