The Rockies

MAN was this a fun trip! Phil and I have been to Colorado many times but this proved to be one of the best. These pictures are also posted on Facebook (plus about 100 more) as well. Evan stayed with Juju and Grandpa Phil. We missed having him there as part of the family, yet activities like caving, mine tours, rock climbing, and long hours in the van were sure easier to deal with!

We ate lunch right here as soon as we got into Summit County!

Breckenridge carriage horses (and Sheridan asking the driver all sorts of questions)

On a gold mine tour 1000 feet into the side of a mountain near Breckenridge - it was very awesome! We learned that most men made $1 per day and that was considered good pay a century ago.

2.5 hour hike at 10,000 feet - it was one of the prettiest days I've ever experienced. We hiked through snow, mud, and water.... in June! I know!

Same hike - look how high the water is over this "bridge"....at the end of the hike it was running over the boards which made crossing scary!

The hike was more difficult than we anticipated, though this vista was our reward! The water is all run-off.

Sher and I riding outside of Leadville at this breathtaking Ranch!!!

With our cowboy chaperones, Austin and Andrew. They were so much fun!

Driving through Phantom Canyon. The kids have never seen a real cactus before. Ethan got little stickers in his finger and was so worried they were going to soak in his body and sprout somewhere else. :)

Cave of the Winds by Pikes Peak. This cave was a cool one! You can also take these lantern tours where there is no guide per se and no electricity....spelunking 1800's style!

At the tip-top of Mount Evans - 14,000 feet!!! It was cold and windy but somehow there were still plants and a plethora of wooly, stinky mountain goats.

God's creation! (Not me, the view!)

Gorgeous of view at 11,000 feet near Mt. Evans

I love all waterfalls, big and small. These beauties were everywhere!

Sher and Eth, still dry. Five minutes after this Sheridan fell in the creek after slipping on a mossy rock. She wasn't hurt and we had quite a laugh at her expense! Love that girl.

Intense greens and blues in the forest.

The second oldest fish hatchery in the U.S. is near Leadville. It was actually a very pretty, rather stately building and grounds.

Playing near a ghost town - they are everywhere where mining is concerned.

Hiking to one of the most gorgeous waterfalls I've ever seen - to get there was about an hour of dirt, rocks, slopes, and 93-degree heat. And 9000 feet elevation.

Here's the bottom of that waterfall. It was too big to fit all of it in.

Ethan wanted his picture by a little Ethan-sized stream. By the way, he lost a tooth while there and got $2 and a rock. :)

As I said before we REALLY had a great time in Colorado and plan to make it back yearly if at all possible. I continue to be sincerely thankful to have family that always helps us out and makes trips like these possible!