Family Vacation 2014 - A Dream Come True

After a delicious breakfast on Monday morning, we headed to Rocky Mountain National Park for a little hiking. The weather was gorgeous and has been all week except for late afternoons just when we are finished with outdoor activities, it has started to rain a little.

 

 

Grand Lake - I love sparkling water!

Early morning smiles!

 We started off on a trail called Adams Falls which led to a lovely waterfall! On just about every trail we hiked this week, we always came upon a rushing stream! They are so beautiful especially in the middle of the mountains. On Sunday evening we watched "the Sound of Music" and hiking in the mountains the rest of the week reminded us of it ... "the hills are alive with the sound of music!" :)



Adam's falls

 Our theme songs for the week were "All Things Bright and Beautiful" and "How Great Thou Art". They were so perfect as we'd come home each evening and sing them after spending time in HIS marvelous creation!

 

 While hiking on Monday we came across a moose and her baby calf! It was neat to see wildlife frequently as long as it wasn't too close! We saw lots of moose, elk, deer, and the back-end of one bear :)

we enjoyed another picnic for lunch on Monday

and then supper!

We had a relaxful evening Monday night and got up early on Tuesday to begin the day with pancakes :)

We had planned to go horseback riding Tuesday morning, but those plans changed to Thursday morning, and we spent a big day at RM National Park again!

hiking in Coyote Valley

The first trail we did was really simple but good for Kenan. The next one was a little more exciting and adventurous and led to a big snow bank!

We enjoyed playing around in the snow for the most part. Marcus, Jared, and Lily climbed all the way to the top, and then "skied" down. The boys made it just fine but Lily had a few troubles - thankfully nothing serious!

The next stop was a lookout of 12,000 feet where we could see for miles!

we were in the clouds!

And we made it to the top!

 

 

 To take a little break from us for a while, we thought we share a few pics from Grandma and Grandpa's trip to CO in 1975! Mom wasn't along this time, but it was still fun to see their pictures!

Here they are at the very same lookout that I just talked about!




a rushing stream!

looks like they rode in some kinda chair-lift which we got to do on Wednesday...




Here is Grandma, Aunt Joni, and Aunt Dawn at the Continental Divide sign almost 40 years ago...

and here's me! (I was the only one willing to get out of the van for a picture...)

 Marcus and I hiked past a trail to the top of a big rock - kinda freaky but a lot of fun! That's true king of the mountain! :)

 

After touring some cabins that were built in the 20's we got to dress up a little!

 

it's okay if you laugh at him because we all did :)

  Before leaving the park for the day  we went back to Coyote Valley to wade in the water. When we got to the place where we wanted, there was a moose in the perfect position for a picture :).

Mom sat and read a book instead of wading!

It was a big but awesome day as we went from in the valley to the top of mountains, and back to valleys - the God of the mountains, is the God in the valley!

Tomorrow is our day to head home, and then we have a busy week ahead, but sometime we will hope to get the last part of our week posted. Part of us is ready to get home, but the other part isn't. We've had an awesome week - Jared told us it was his dream come true!



"Climb every mountain



ford every stream



follow every rainbow...




'Till you find your dream!"