Colorado Vacation ~ Eight is GREAT!

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Tuesday morning I woke up to Keith saying "Happy Anniversary".

Ahhh... Tuesday, September 25.  Eight years ago today we said "I Do".

From that one statement we proceeded to come up with rhyming years.

Eight is Great.

Nine is Divine.

Ten is ... well... nothing rhymed with ten.

Eleven is Heaven.

Twelve... well, at twelve we gave up the rhyming.  What fun!  The quiet laughter was abundant as Oliver and Kellan were sleeping too close for comfort.

Then... Keith hit me with the best statement EVER!

In summary he said "I'm going to Starbucks to get you a Chai and I'm taking Oliver."

HEAVEN!!

The story actually went like this:

Keith "I'm thinking about going to get you Starbucks and taking Oliver with me."

Carrie: "You know that is in the next town?"

Keith: "Ya, in Clifton."

Carrie: "GO! GO! GO! and make it a Vente!"

By this time, Oliver was peering over at a sleeping Kellan and starting to make small talk with whomever would listen.  I pulled up my iPhone app and discovered that the Starbucks in Clifton was about 10 minutes away and came complete with a drive thru.  "Pssst... Keith... Don't even bother getting Oliver dressed.  He can go in his PJ's!"  In no time, they were off.  I laid in bed for the next 30 minutes listening to Kellan slowly wake up, occasionally talking to himself.  He and I are made of the same morning thread... slow as molasses.  (Keith and Oliver are early birds.  It's good to be paired accordingly)

Tuesday morning came complete with storm clouds over the horizon and rain drops on the windowsill. 

A highlight of our room was the view of the railroad tracks that went through town.  They were far enough away that we couldn't hear the train until we opened the window.  Kellan always ran to see the choo choo and would stare in amazement.  Oliver always went to see as well.  It was definitely a high light for Kellan, a highlight that came through several times an hour during the day.

On Tuesday we checked out of the Wine Country Inn and headed west to Glenwood Springs.  The road to Glenwood is very twisty and turney.  Half way through the hour drive we say a sign for Rifle.  I had heard that Rifle Falls was a great stop so we decided to take a side trip since we were way too early to check-in at Glenwood.  The road to Rifle Falls was even more twisty and turny and Kellan was a bit green by the time we pulled into the parking lot but we made it just in time.  We spent the next two hours exploring what has been described as Colorados lush rain forest.  It was nothing short of amazing.

The hike to the falls was more of a stroll from the parking lot.  We lucked out with the weather as it was raining hard on the drive up but shortly after we arrived the rain subsided.

Have camera, will shoot!

The boys were thrilled to be out in nature, yet again.

Kellan was probably the most excited to be out of the car and off of the crazy road.

there was a small staircase and trail up toward the top left of the falls so we thought we would climb it to see what there was to see.

The climb took us closer to the falls and about half way up the hill.  The boys looked on in wonder.

Keith took this great photo of the boys while I was taking their photo from the front.  

These two amaze us! 

Oliver quickly added a bit of moisture to the nature trail as he watched for onlookers and then we were off to climbing once again.

Low and behold, the trail took us behind one of the waterfalls.

It was a bit misty at the top.  Oliver didn't care for the mist much, but he wouldn't turn around for a photo.  Go figure.

Maybe the mist was too much, but we made him take photos anyway.  I know... torture by photos.  It's cruel.

Kellan's pouty lips and Mama.  Don't let him fool you, he didn't mind that much.  I think the big bear hug was his happy place but he had to show his dissatisfaction in the mist by throwing down a pout.

Mama and her boys.

It was very cool (literally) to be behind the falls.

It was time to head down and see what else there was to see.

I hadn't gotten any photos on the way up of the main attraction so I wanted to stop to take a few.

Here are the results of that stop.  I had one eye on the image and one eye on Kellan to make sure he didn't go for a swim.

Oliver found another trail for us to take and we were off on another adventure.

We could see landings at the top of the water fall but the question was, how do we get there?

Oliver wanted to take some photos.  I'll admit, it makes me proud to see a photographer in the making.

On our way up the trail we found numerous caves like this one.  We didn't have flash lights so we couldn't go too far in, but it didn't stop the boys from checking out what daylight would allow.

In another cave the boys found a hole to the surface that provided light.  Oliver was so careful to help Kellan along.

Kellan would go up to the clearing, peek around the corner and...

... run to Mama!!

After a bit of a trail, numerous mini caves and plenty of ants and rocks we discovered the top of the waterfalls.  There were plenty of photos to take, some of which required rail leaning and bush holding.

The results of all of that leaning and holding:

One of the creeks that fed the waterfalls.

The view from the top.

I imagine in the next week and with some colorado sunshine and blue skies this valley will be breath taking.

Beautiful views and serene landscapes, the hike must move on.

Look Ma, life size sage brush!!

Keith was in shock and awe over this big bush!

The boys... they' weren't so impressed.  Maybe it's a Wyoming thing.

Hey Mama look, a cool tree that you can climb in!

Surely, this is the most handsome 4.9 year old, ever.  I'm so thankful that he has moved past his "no photo" phase and now seems to enjoy giving his Mommy a CHEESE here and there.

Oliver even put his photography skills to the test to take a photo of his Mommy and Daddy.

Around the corner we finally found the waterfall over look that we could see from below.  It was great to be out of the over look, we just pretended that we didn't know that it was suspended in mid air.

What a great hike and adventure.  We all loved it!

Back at the parking lot, Oliver found this great tree that was begging him to climb.  Mommy found photo ops begging to be taken advantage of.

After a great afternoon, we loaded back up in our trusty ride, slowly proceeded down the twisty road with the windows down and then hit the freeway with Glenwood Springs as our final destination.  We made it with ZERO car sickness.  Whew! 

After a full day already that was cold and rainy, we were all hungry and ready for some feel-good food.  We found a great place at the Glenwood Brewery.  The food was perfect, the beer was perfect and the atmosphere was perfect.  Ahhh... Perfect!

As the sign behind me says: We Want Beer (and food and apple juice)

We enjoyed our lunch time coloring placemats.  Isn't that what everyone does while they wait for lunch?

Mmmm Ready to Order!

That afternoon, Kellan enjoyed a nap and then the four of us went to the Glenwood Hot Springs.  There are no photos of this adventure as hot spring pools and cameras don't always mix.  I will say that it was fabulous.  The pools was a great temperature and the boys loved it.  After a few hours in the pool we were ready to hit the hay to end a great day.

I should end with a great photo to say Happy Anniversary but really, the statement Eight is Great is enough.  It's amazing to think about how far we have come in Eight Years.  How we have grown as a couple and as a family.  We have stayed at the same employers, but changed jobs.  We have the same friends and many many new friends.  We left the house where we lived as newlyweds and new parents and moved into the house of our dreams.  Somedays, we still pause and wonder if we're dreaming.  Could life really be this good?

Yes, Life is Good.  Life is Grand!

Click Newer Post below to see Tomorrow.