Colorado July 5th and 6th

On Friday morning the guys got up and headed to Eleven Mile Canyon for some Trout fishing.  The moms and kids all woke up a little later, played at the cabin, packed a picnic lunch and then headed for Eleven Mile Canyon.  Eleven Mile Canyon is one of the most beautiful places in Colorado.  It is located about 40 minutes from our family cabin, near Lake George, Colorado.  It is surrounded by the mountains and water.  Growing up we went there every summer.  We would hike there, have picnics, feed Chipmunks, fish, and swim in the cold mountain water.  We were hoping for lots of the same today.

Will's bed was set up in the entryway of the front bedroom.  It was hard for him to nap here because he was very curious about what was happening just outside the curtain/door.

Silas joined him in his bed for some playing and book reading.

Felicity and Silas enjoyed blowing bubbles for awhile before we headed to Eleven Mile Canyon.

Below one of the views in Eleven Mile Canyon.  In the picture on the right hand side, is Steve, right near the water, fishing.

When we located the guys in the Canyon, all the kids really wanted to touch the water.  Steve helped them out with that request.

Below, Eric, fishing.

Will even liked touching the water.  The kids were all really excited to swim in the water later, but the water was up about 3-4 feet and was flowing swiftly through the Canyon.  We decided swimming would not be a good choice that day, but wading just a little bit, with an adult would be fine.

1 - 2 - 3!!!! Whheeeee!!!!

The kids liked hiking up in the big boulders and looking for Chipmunks to feed.

We ate our picnic lunch.

There was some more fishing....

And, some more searching for Chipmunks to feed.....

Eric caught some nice Trout.

Below, the guys with the fish that were caught.

Back at the cabin we played some more, ate dinner, and started to pack up and get ready for our trip back to Kansas the next morning.

Saturday, July 6th

It's always a little sad for me when it is time to leave the cabin in Colorado.  I just have so many sweet memories of times spent there with family and friends.  It is a place that meant so much to my grandparents and to my parents, and now to me.  I love though that now I get to share it with my close friends and my family.  I hope that some of my kids' most favorite memories of summer time trips will be of times spent in Colorado, at the cabin, with family and friends - just like mine.

It's also always a little sad to say good-bye to family members who live 9 hours or more away.....

Below, our crew, left to right, Sarah, Will, Steve, Traci, Shawna, Abigail, David, Mandy, Felicity, Phoebe, Silas, Eric, and I.

I am NOT lucky.  I am simply BLESSED.  There are indeed, no truer words, about our friendships with these families.  I am so happy that they could join us on our Colorado vacation this summer and spend time with us making memories at our Hastings family cabin.