Airport Signs

My sister flew in from Denver yesterday.  My dad thought it would fun for Sarah and Phoebe to hold signs at the airport when we picked her up, so he helped them make a couple.  The girls did have fun waiting and watching for Aunt Lindsee to arrive.  Two older ladies who were sitting by us, also waiting for someone to arrive, had a good time watching Sarah and Phoebe waiting and holding their signs.  Sarah kept trying to trick us all by saying, about every 2-3 minutes, "There she is.  I see Lindsee."  Ha-Ha-Ha, funny girl.

When Lindsee did arrive Sarah ran to her with a huge hug!  So cute.  Lindsee even said later that it may have made her tear-up just a little, like a scene from out of a movie.

We love our Aunt Lindsee!

His Grandpa's Train

Last weekend Eric had the opportunity to drive his Grandpa' train in the Olpe Downhome Days parade.  This event is held, in the heat of the summer, every July in Olpe, Kansas.  A little event that draws a lot of hometown people together.  They have a children's fishing derby, games for children and adults, food, a parade, music and a street dance.

Eric's Grandpa, George Bowers, made this train.  It has been driven in many parades and many children and adults have enjoyed riding in it.  George and Dorothy Bowers grandchildren and now great-grandchildren love it when the train comes out of the barn whether it is for a parade or a ride around the Bowers land in Olpe.

Taking a test ride in the train cars around the backyard before the parade started... three of George and Dorothy's great-grandchildren, Sarah, Phoebe, and Harlee,  and some of our friends, Kyla Kuhlmann, Jesse Kuhlmann, and Josh Kuhlmann

Getting ready to drive the train over to the parade starting point... Carla, Eric's Aunt, and his Grandma Dorothy rode too!

In the caboose and ready for the parade!  Choo-Choo!

Colorado Day Six

Day six, our last day of vacation in Colorado for this summer....  Boo, I never like the last day... packing up, loading, leaving the fun behind, more things that we didn't get to do, the long drive back home... 

After packing and loading we took a few pictures on the balcony of the condo before heading over to take a Gondola ride up the mountain.  Sarah and Phoebe thought the ride up and down were very exciting and fun. They both liked being up high and looking down to see things.  They also liked how the Gondola cars took off very fast out of the Gondola stations.

On the way up  and back down...

While we were at the top of the Gondola ride Sarah, Popee and Lindsee went on the Alpine Slide.  They got tickets and waited in a pretty long line.  (While they waited in line Eric and Phoebe walked up part of the mountain next to the chair lift to get to this big remaining pile of snow.  They are in the middle of the picture on top of the snow pile.  Eric has Phoebe on his shoulders.)  This was Sarah's first time to ride on a chair lift!  Lindsee let her ride with the old chair lift pro - Popee!  

Lindsee is on and heading up... Eric and Phoebe sat down to watch them ride by....

Next it was Sarah and the Pro's turn... waiting to walk up to the line, all smiles, at the line, 

turning back over their shoulders to look back for their chair, and sitting down, still smiling!

They are on and heading up!  And, there they are all coming back down.

Phoebe was too young to go on the Alpine Slide, (had to be 3 years old or over) so she choose to ride the ponies.  When it was her turn she picked a black pony and Sarah picked a little paint.

We had a picnic lunch at the top of the mountain before heading back down to the bottom of the mountain and getting ready to start the drive back to Kansas.

Fun Aunt Lindsee with her favorite nieces!

The Colorado Columbine ~ The State Flower

We went up and over Hoosier Pass on our way south out of Breckenridge.

We stopped by the Royal Gorge Bridge on our way south.  Amazing views there!  A storm was coming in so we didn't stay long.  We saw rafters down in the Gorge though, and think this may be something we will try when the kids get a little bigger, or with family and friends in the years to come.

Dear Colorado, my most favorite state, we will be back for more fun, breath-taking views and relaxing with family and friends next summer.  I can't wait.  Thanks for the great memories year after year! 

Love your forever adoring fan, Stacee Noel