Our Summer (Fall) Vacation

Once summer ends we head for the hills and enjoy some much needed rest... and boy, did we need it this fall.

Fall is my favorite season, it always has been, but it takes on a whole new level of sweetness as we work hard all summer and then get to spend good time resting and enjoying being a family.

This year we drove to Silverton, went 4x4ing over Cinnamon Pass (undoubtable named that for the cinnamon colored hills), and then camped outside Lake City.

Camping was great until about 10 pm at night. It got SO cold. I was in my 0 degree bag and was cold, so I knew my poor kiddos weren't too warm. Then Addie started to cough. She gets croup at the drop of a hat. It was a fairly uncomfortable night. So we nixed our second night of camping and opted to head to Glenwood Hot Springs... not a bad deal huh?

We enjoyed the springs and then headed to Breckenridge where my grandparents (who've passed away) had a cabin. It is probably the last time we'll get to use it, it is being sold in my grandma's estate. :-( We completely relaxed, slept in, went hiking, swimming, fly fishing, biking and shopping in Breck.

We even went to a local production of Cinderella... it was really really well done. The children love it and Addie got to hugs the Princess herself. :-)

(Note: the cabin was built in the 1950's and is "enjoyably rustic." There are all sorts of old things there... a microwave my parents had when I was 5... it is a 25 year old microwave... plus it beep so loud you feel the need to cover your ears!

I found this can of hair spray... it HAS to be from what the 1980's! It totally made me laugh. Look at that hair! And, yes I did use it... it still worked... but no my hair didn't look like that.)

Sprinkle Donut Cora

Our day hike was up to this amazing pond above Silverthorne. It had lilly pads all over it. It was lovely. Tim even waded out to get a lilly pad for the children to look at.

After that we headed for the Big City... Denver. To see my parents and to hang out with other family. My poor brother has Bell's Palsy on he left side of his face... I felt so bad for him! :-( We are praying it goes away soon (but it could take up to a year for the effects to wear off, depending on what is causing it.)

My highlight was getting to go eat ethiopian food the the first time with my honey. It was so cute. This sweet little Ethiopian (obviously the owner and cook) came out and told us about the food and then after we'd eaten came back to ask us if we liked it. :-) It was SPICY... that is an understatement... and I like spice. I love the lentils and sweet potato stew... yum.

Over all it was one of the best vacations we've had as a family.

We rested, we grew and we enjoyed each other.

And then we came home. That is some times the best part, isn't it?