Colorado Day 2

Day 2 - we woke up on time to eat breakfast in the hotel before

we drove out to Estes Park, CO!

We drove about an hour and 15 minutes to North Platte

and made a stop at Fort Cody - a big gift shop with a little bit of history.

The Dads with the kids riding the buffalo! 

YEE-HAW! 

Aubrey, Dakota, Weston, Avery 

Weston and Avery "playing" checkers with the "cowboy" 

Uh oh - they kids ended up in jail! 

Weston, Aubrey, Avery 

YAY, we made it to the Colorado border! 

This was the first time the girls had gone to Colorado! 

a fun rest stop near Julesburg, CO to eat our lunch

We walked up to this little tee-pee on the premises 

Aubrey "fell asleep" for 10 minutes 

Avery fell asleep for about 15 minutes

(the only sleep in the car for both directions traveling)

We stopped at Baskin Robbins in Loveland, CO

for a nice ice cream treat before heading up the mountain. 

(this is also where our van wouldn't start so we waited it out at 

Family Dollar and prayed and then it started!)

making our way up the mountain to Estes Park 

The Big Thompson river winds back and forth the road all the way to Estes Park.

We pulled over to throw some rocks into the river

and Dad accidentally caused Aubrey to fall and scrape her leg. 

We made it to the Estes Park Visitor Center!

Check in wasn't until 6:00 and we beat the rest of the VG family 

so we did a little looking around the area. 

Entering our home away from home for the next week - YMCA of the Rockies! 

At the Administration building, checking in 

view outside our cabin

some extended family girl cousins

This was one of two of our family reunion cabins

that had 8 bedrooms in each! VERY NICE!

Aubrey and Camryn 

They had a park, basketball court, tether ball, and horseshoes 

right outside our cabin so the kids had lots of fun on that!
And stayed up way to late each night :)

Colorado Day 1

On Sunday, July 7, we left for our vacation after the morning church service.

We packed up and headed out! 

We had bought Jimmy John's sandwiches and brought our chips and drinks

and had lunch at the big rest stop on I-80. 

We had to go potty and stopped at this very sketchy gas station

in the middle of nowhere, Nebraska.

Two miles later there was a sign "Mom approved restrooms" - we had to laugh

since the gas station was SO GROSS! 

I-80 Kearney archway in Nebraska 

We met Josh's family at the AmericInn for the night 

for supper and swimming!

We didn't plan it but we arrived within TWO minutes of each other! 

The guys went out and got Pizza Hut to bring into the hotel. 

Dad and Avery 

The Dads swam with the kids while the Moms watched :)

Avery had a slight tantrum so she sat by herself for awhile :)

The girls had to share a bed and after about 30 minutes of Avery

screaming, they fell asleep. She needed too many lights on

and we all didn't agree. First nights sleeping all together never go well. 

4th of July

The weekend before the 4th, Leighton had their festivities of a very HOT night!

We had never gone before, but thought, why not?

Avery found her friend there in almost matching shirts :)

Avery's face paint 

Aubrey wanted a matching one like her shirt 

balloon making 

She was a little stinker and tried to wipe off her face paint :)

waiting in the shade for the parade to start at 7 pm

They were happy to get LOTS of candy

Then on the ACTUAL 4th of July we went to the Bussey parade.

Normally Steve's family has quite a showing, but it was just us

due to vacations and work and injuries.  

That afternoon we went to the Oskaloosa Edmunson pool.

They had different activities that day for kids - this was the chalk coloring contest. 

They had one square and 30 minutes to draw.

Aubrey chose to be patriotic! 

Avery's beach scene 

The girls each got a FREE ice pop for drawing. 

Aubrey was one of the winners and she won a pool ring! 

That evening we went to the square to listen to the band play their 

patriotic songs! 

We ended the night with FIREWORKS near Lacey Complex in Osky.