It wouldn't be a trip to Colorado without visiting Garden of the Gods. It is so pretty, with lots of red rock formations. We had a yummy picnic lunch (thanks Mom!) and then went on a walk around the rocks.





Some of us couldn't stand the heat, so we didn't last too long here...though it was quite a drive to get there! Oh well. It was super fun and beautiful!

Here are the ice cream pictures from Estes Park. We went to a yummy smelling place that made all their cones and things homemade. We let the kids pick their flavor and of course they had to choose Krazy Kolors! So gross.
Everything started out okay...not too messy.
This is as messy as Noe got. Who knew this kid could stay so clean??
Arwen had a little bit of a harder time than Noah. I guess she just must have loved it a little more!
Doesn't it look so yummy??
And then there was Josh. He must have loved his cone more than ANYONE ever!
Cool how all the colors mixed together and made BLACK ice cream, huh?
Joshua had quite the crowd of people watching him love his ice cream cone. Some thought it was great, but others were clearly disgusted!
One man even asked me if we bought the ice cream just so we could take these pictures. Sure.
Wanna a lick?
I know, pretty much the grossest thing ever! But the kids loved it and I enjoyed my chocolate shake!

While visiting Denver, we snuck away for a day and ventured up to Trail Ridge Road, which is the highest continuously paved road in the US. It's amazing how it was 100 degrees in Denver, but only in the 50's up at over 12,000 feet! And did I mention it was WINDY!! Noah was scared to death that the wind was going to blow him away. But we had such a fun day, regardless of "almost" losing Noah to the wind.
There were TONS of elk everywhere up there. Noah had a great time screaming out the window to try and wake a sleeping one.

Watch out Noah, I'm pretty sure he didn't want you to wake him from his nap!
Larkin did a good job of trying to keep up with the big kids. After we got cold enough up on Trail Ridge Road, we drove down to a touristy little mountain town called Estes Park. We had lots of fun window shopping and eating lunch there.
We may not have lost Noah to the wind, but we nearly did to that river behind Aaron and Noah there. Noah was playing close to it and ended up getting his legs up to his knees wet. I told him to step back so he wouldn't fall in and then turned to do something. Then I heard Arwen scream that Noah was drowning. Sure enough the current was carrying my sweet boy away. He's so little that he couldn't stop himself. I yelled to Aaron...knowing that he could get him quicker. Aaron quick took off the camera and jumped in and ran down and saved him. Arwen was sobbing hysterically because she was so upset. It was pretty scary!
After Estes Park, and some yummy ice cream cones (pictures of that to come later!) we went to Bear Lake that was in the area. It was beautiful!!
It was maybe a mile around the lake and such a nice walk.

On the way back to Grandma and Grandpa's house Joshua said, "Arwen, if you lost your Noah today, the only thing you'd have left is a Jelly Bean." (Remember how Josh used to call himself Chocolate Factory? Well these days his name is Jelly Bean, or even Jelly Bean Gum.)

My mom had a really great splash park pretty close to her house. We spent quite a few HOT afternoons there cooling off. Mike and Heidi were in the area and we brought them to the splash park one afternoon. It was lots of fun!





Joshua was hysterical. He walked around with his belly out like this and would bump any kid that crossed his path with his belly.
This was the greatest action shot ever...Joshua had just barely gotten kicked in the face by that foot you see in the picture!






This boy (Joshua) and Arwen were the best of friends at the park. He was there a couple of the times we went and he and Arwen were glued together! It was so cute.
He was quite a few years older and was just like a big brother...trying to keep Arwen from getting water in her eyes.

One day, while visiting my parents, we drove up into the mountains to a place called Tiny Town. It was a little village full of tiny little houses and shops. It was pretty cute. The best part about it was that it had a train...complete with a tunnel and a bridge! Josh was in Heaven!

Hold on tight, Josh!
Hee Hee...a little school for Lu!
We had a yummy picnic lunch and played at the playground they had nearby after riding the train and touring Tiny Town.

Aaron is on his sabbatical right now. Intel gives its employees 2 months off every 7 years that they work for the company. He has been able to take it since last spring, but they were not able to let him leave until now because he is just too darn good at what he does! We started our long vacation out by leaving to go to Denver to visit my parents and brother and sister and their new spouses. We had so much fun!! We got there just in time for the 4th of July. Fireworks are illegal in Aurora...where my parents live, but somehow my sister's husbands family manages to get away with putting on a huge show in their neighborhood every year because a fire fighter lives across the street. Up until this year, Noah has been SCARED to DEATH of fireworks. He doesn't really like loud noises...though Noah is LOUD NOISE! He amazed us all this year. He is legendary in this neighborhood. I don't think they will ever forget him!
Yes, that sparkler is right next to his face! He would run around and try and light other firecrackers with his sparklers.

He was too much fun to watch.
This was the only picture we got of Noah doing this super funny, wild fireworks dance. He would shake his bum and wave his arms and shout, "I love it, I love it, I love it, Kung Fu!" He was seriously hilarious! Everyone was watching him and not the fireworks.
Sweet Joshua fell asleep in Grandpa Dana's arms.
Grandpa loved it until Joshua wet his pants...
This is Noah trying to light already expired fireworks.
Arwen had a fun time too!
Noah was so passionate about how great this night was. He told me that it was "the best night of his life!"
After we got done with all the fountains and sparklers, the adults set off the big fireworks. All of Noah's courage melted away. I think he was really tired and it was really cold outside. He just cowered in Aaron's arms, whimpering until he fell asleep.