Trip to Boulder

On Monday, July 5th, we set out to go climb Pike's Peak on the Cog Railway.  However, we got to Manitou Springs and found out that all the seats were sold out.  So, we went with Plan B instead.  The girls went to Boulder to tour the Celestial Seasonings Tea Factory, and the guys went to Golden to tour the Coors Brewery. 

 So the girls set out for Boulder and the Celestial Seasonings Tea Factory. On the way to Boulder we encountered a scenic overlook and got out to see the whole valley, Boulder, and the beautiful Rocky Mountains.  There's still snow on the mountains.

 The tour was great, and it smelled wonderful.  Unfortunately Shelby wasn't old enough to go on the factory tour, so she and Amanda stayed back and had a tea party.

Then after the Tea Factory we decided to drive around Boulder until it was time to meet the guys for supper.  So we drove into the mountains to see what kinds of cool things we could discover.  We found a random road that said "Gold Hill" and decided to follow it.  We had no idea where we were going, but kept going on and on a narrow dirt road climbing higher and higher.  We saw awesome scenery the whole way.

At the top of the moutain we discovered this old town, which unbeknownst to us, was the very first discovery of gold in Colorado, which began the "Pikes Peast or Bust" gold rush in 1859.  We were so in awe of the old town that popped up at the top of the mountain that we couldn't believe it.  Unfortunately, most of the things up there were closed and we needed to meet the guys for supper.

On the way back down we were not as scared of the mountain road and decided to take in the scenery.  We found 2 old gold mines.

The Black Swan gold mine is right behind the green roof.

We also found an old schoolhouse and we wondered if it was still in operation.  It looked like it.

Apparently, there are bears in this area.  We were searching and searching for wildlife on our drive, but never found any.

We also found a cool old church on the mountain road.

And we found an old miner's rest.

Finally, it was time for supper at the Dushanbe Tea House.  What a cool experience!  We sat at the Tap Shan tables, which is where you sit on the floor on beautiful pillows.  It was a tiny bit uncomfortable for the guys, but they were good sports.  The tea was delicious and the food was beautiful and delicious.

The beautiful tiled ceiling.

The interior was so beautifully decorated.

The amazing carved panels behind us.

Shelby reclining on the pillows.

The guys were in a huge hurry to get out of there, so the girls stayed around and explored a little bit.  The outside of the restaurant was just as beautiful as the inside.

Shelby is so in love with Amanda. 

We were surrounded by hippies on every side.  Apparently, Boulder is a very free-love, tree hugging kind of city.  Here's a picture I snapped of a bunch of hippies just hanging out on the corner.  It was weird!

We finished out our time in Boulder by walking through the park.  There is so much recreation available in every spot I've seen in Colorado so far.  There are tons of walking trails, bikes, and hikers.  It's great.

Garden of the Gods

Today we spent the day at the Garden of the Gods.  Instead of flooding this with pictures, because they were all so cool, I'll pick out just a few faves.

Family and Food

After 19 hours in the car together, bonding through a cross country road trip, we finally arrived at our destination..... Colorado Springs and Justin and Amanda's house. 

We had a wonderful day just hanging out together, eating lunch at their fave Thai restaurant, taking a giant nap together to sleep off some of our crabbiness from not getting sleep the night before, and then finally planning our week and buying groceries at the Whole Food Store.  That store rocks!  I wonder if there is one in Indianapolis.

We got back to the house and prepared this gourmet feast for our families!

We shopped for the olive tray at Whole Food Store.  We got three different kinds...garlic stuffed, mixed with feta, and a mixed olive variety.  They were sooooooooo good!

Feta Olives

Garlic Stuffed

Mixed

We also had the guys pick out several varieties of cheeses for us to try.  Here's the finished product.

A special tray we put together with brie and strawberry jam.

We also had some sourdough bread and 12 grain sprouted bread for us to dip in olive oil.

Finally, we decided that we needed to have some roughage to ensure that all of the cheese did not decide to take root in our systems.

And then finally, here is us..... enjoying it all.

And Shelby striking a pose because she was so happy with all of the food in her belly.

My new favorite song - version 2.0

Hailey's Doll

We are having a great time on Spring Break!

We started out our COLD day indoors in the Oceans building.  Hailey is getting VERY brave compared to other activities we have done in the past.  It only took a couple minutes till she was courageously putting her hands in with live sharks to touch them.  Shelby never did get that brave.

Next we went to the Dolphin Show.  All week long, or maybe even for two weeks, we have been looking forward to Hailey getting to be a Junior Dolphin Trainer.  It has been a great incentive for good behavior, taking naps, doing good work in school, etc.  Here is a picture of her waiting for the show to start.  She got a special Junior Trainer Badge and she had to wait in a special spot until they called her to help.

Here she is with Abbie doing her thing.  Everyone clapped for her and she actually got the dolphins to do their tricks.  I think the Junior Dolphin Trainer experience was great.  It only cost $10.

Here's a dolphin doing his trick.

Another awesome dolphin trick.

A really cool trick!

The girls with Hailey's special trainer.

The girls looking in on the penguins.

The penguins actually swam under the floor and you could see them in the glass.

After the zoo we went to the Botanical Gardens.  The butterflies are just starting to hatch or come out or whatever you do when you're a butterfly.

Spring

The Spring by Thomas Carew (1640)

Now that the winter’s gone, the earth hath lost

Her snow-white robes; and now no more the frost

Candies the grass, or casts an icy cream

Upon the silver lake or crystal stream:

But the warm sun thaws the benumbed earth,

And makes it tender; gives a sacred birth

To the dead swallow; wakes in hollow tree

The drowsy cuckoo and the humble-bee.

Now do a choir of chirping minstrels bring,

In triumph to the world, the youthful spring:

The valleys, hills, and woods in rich array

Welcome the coming of the long’d-for May.

Now all things smile: only my love doth lower,

Nor hath the scalding noon-day sun the power

To melt that marble ice, which still doth hold

Her heart congeal’d, and makes her pity cold.

The ox, which lately did for shelter fly

Into the stall, doth now securely lie

In open fields; and love no more is made

By the fire-side, but in the cooler shade

Amyntas now doth with his Chloris sleep

Under a sycamore, and all things keep

Time with the season: only she doth carry

June in her eyes, in her heart January.

We welcomed spring by going to Adam's Mill.

Hailey has a great time.

Shelby was pretty disobedient and consequently got very wet and had to wear my sweater.

It was wonderful to sit in the sun.