Family Time

As a family, we are preparing for Whitney to leave for college.  She's our first to fly from the nest, so many of us (esp. her Mom, her Papa, and me) are struggling with it.  While Whit will do awesome, it's hard to believe that she is an adult now and will be on her own.  It is a time of excitement, fear of the unknown, and filled with pride.

Another bbq at Papa & Marilynn's was planned & we all had a great time!  Everyone was there (meaning my sisters and our families).  Here are some shots of Whitney with the family before she breaks our hearts heads out on her own and takes on the world!

Whitney smiling while True (age 5) acts silly.

Whitney is great with little kids - ha!!  (Whit & Hayden, age 2)

Whitney & her Papa (my Dad)

The first four of my beautiful nieces - Courtney (15), Kilee (11), Ashley (16) & Whitney (18).

Me with Whitney . . . my "Sweetie Girl," my first niece, my love.

Go get 'em Whit - and Hook 'Em!!!!

Colorado - Part 3

Breckenridge!  We packed up Christina's two youngest (Beck & Cate, age 9) and headed out towards Breck.  After stopping in some little town that I can't remember the name of for lunch, we piled back in the car and headed UP.  The scenery along the way was so pretty!

Gorgeous - and taken from inside the car!

We took a bus up to Peak 8 to the "Fun Park."  It was great!  The weather was gorgeous, there was tons of stuff for kids, it was a safe place, and they served beverages.  :)

We bought our tickets and decided on the Alpine Slide first.  Cate and I rode the lift up, and most importantly, I did not die.  (For those who don't know, I am *deathly* afraid of heights.)

That's Cate & me not dying on the lift.

A quit shot from the lift.  Worry not, I held on for dear life while snapping pics!

Then it was time for the kids to enjoy some trampoline bungee, rock climbing, and the Alpine coaster.

Airborne Beck!

Cate on her way to the top!

Cate & Beck & Christina ready to ride the coaster.

Eventually, Christina and I became tired and thirsty.  We let the kids run around within eyesight and found a nice patio bar at the Lodge.

The Breckenridge Lodge

View of our patio table.

Yea!

Simply stunning.

As the evening came, we headed back to downtown Breckenridge for a little shopping, some playing, and some eating.

Lots of fast-flowing water through the river.

"Act like you love each other!"  This was just before Cate took Beck in a chokehold.

Christina told me you rub your hands on these trees and rub the whitish powder on your skin for sunscreen.  Cool!

Cool scene so I had to get a pic.

Found Christina & I t-shirts! ha!

  Cate & Beck find a rock with holes made for twins!

After dark, the four of us loaded back in the car for our ride back home.  I headed to my room to do some packing since the next day was my last there.

"My" cozy room in the basement.

Annika cooling off by resting on the vents.

Pretty Cate and a pretty flower.

Sweet and charming Beck

Before leaving town, we dropped off Busy Beck at a friend's house and met Sarah (Xtina's oldest daughter) & her friend Sami for a girls' lunch at White Chocolate Grill.  Why don't we have one of these in Dallas?!  A few more pics and we were off to Denver International Airport.  She and her family were amazing hosts, and I can't wait to return again soon.  And, yes, I am required to return with Todd next time!

Sarah, my little love, and I at lunch.

No need to tell Sarah & I to make a funny face!

When we got to DIA, we got my ridiculously heavy bag out of the car.  I teared up, hugged Christina, and said goodbye.  As I started to walk away, Christina grabbed my shoulder, turned me around and gave me another hug between her tears.  Waterworks began and I had to go before things got messy.  (And now I'm crying just typing that.)

One of the best parts of my friendship with Christina is that she loves me for who I am, wherever I am in life.  Always.  And I love my snail friend just the same.

Colorado - Part Two

After leaving the Garden of the Gods, Christina drove down into Manitou Springs.  It's a small, kinda hippie-like town with lots of neat, small shops and eateries and bars.  Of course, our first stop was the candy store!

We didn't eat or buy any candy.  (yeah, right!)

A dog and his human sat in a two-story window and chatted with friends.

We found a pet store and something with Steve written all over it!

Yes, I'm buying this for our house.

Then we hit Santa's Workshop, which was cool since we love Christmas and I knew it was hotter than Hades in Texas.  :)

On my "to make" list.

Then, like a strong magnet, I was pulled into a quaint wine bar with a backyard patio!!  The pull took its hold on Xtina, too!

We went along with the "you try, you buy" philosophy of wine tasting.  (Thankfully, my purchase made it back in my suitcase!)  As evening approached us, we soaked in a little more of the beauty of Manitou Springs and worked our way back home through CO Springs, driving by the Broadmoor the week before the Women's US Open.

Little creek in Manitou

Pretty Episcopal church

Preparing for the US Open

The Broadmoor Hotel

One of many gorgeous CO sunsets I saw.

After we got home, I actually saw Rob (Christina's husband who is also a college friend of mine) for the first time!  I had been there for three days and hadn't seen him yet.  :)  The three of us went to dinner and spent time catching up, drinking wine, and laughing more.  When we got home, I went downstairs to my room.  Soon after, I hear Christina coming down and the clinking of glass.  After more wine, we watched a movie and I watched Christina sleep on the sofa.  She always laughed at me that I couldn't sit still to watch TV, and now I watched an entire movie while watching her sleep!

The next morning, we grabbed the kids and headed out to Breckenridge.  That will be my next - and final - post about my trip.

My Trip to Colorado

Last month I went to Colorado to visit one of my best friends and pledge sisters, Christina, who moved there not long after Todd and I married.  Christina is one of those friends who you pick up with right where things were left last time.  She and I tear up when we see one another and cry when it's time for us to part.  We had such an awesome time just hanging out (with friends, with family, just us) and doing some sight seeing, but my time there just didn't seem to be enough.

My first night there, we went to see "Rock of Ages: The Musical." It was some awesome 80s music!!!

View of the stage from our great seats.

Christina & I (top L) along with some of her friends.

The next evening, I was able to visit my friend Traci and her husband.  Traci is also from Texas, but she made her way to the Denver area when she and Joel married.  I had fun spending time with them, seeing her pup Nika, and drinking some beers.

The view from Joel & Traci's back deck.

Nika was sad because her sister, Roxy, was at her grandparents.

Traci, Nika & Me

Traci & I

Traci & Joel a couple of days before their first anniversary!

Traci & Nika playing in the front yard.

On Friday, we dropped the kids off for sleepovers and headed south for lunch and sight-seeing.  Garden of the Gods was BEAUTIFUL.  I took over 100 photos, but here are some faves of mine:

Self portrait as we stopped at a pullover spot.

After we pulled over, we saw this bagpiper standing atop a tall rock.  Then we crashed a wedding.  :)

GOTG has beautiful rocks just jutting up out of the ground.

Nature is so cool.

Beautiful sky against the red rocks!

Taken from the Visitor's Center

Look!

Known as the kissing camels

After our tour of GOTG, we headed into Manitou Springs for some shopping and more hanging out.  I'll start my next post there.