Coram Deo

Vacation Memories

I finally got the pictures from our CA/AZ/CO trip and thought I would share.

The impetus of the trip was to finalize the adoption of Ethan and Ezra.  Some of our family and some of our friends were able to be there.

Afterward we had a little party at my sisters house.

We spent time with friends and family in CA and AZ where I shamefully and regretfully don't seem to have taken any pictures.

Then we went on to CO.  This picture is taken at 4 corners, where it is possible to be in CO, AZ, UT and NM at the same time!

In Silverton we took the Old Hundred mine tour, which was really a highlight for the kids.  It was a working gold mine that never really made any money until it became a tourist attraction.  We got to see how the first miners in the are did it, all the way up to how they do it now.  Our ex-miner tour guide was interesting and a wealth of information.

Afterward the kids got to pan for gold.

On the way back down the mountain we stopped at a river and let the kids play in the water.  The current was pretty swift though, so they mostly had to stay near the shore.

The boys loved throwing rocks in the water, and only occasionally hit each other

On another day we went to the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo.  Which might be my favorite of all the zoos I have been too.  It isn't huge, but it is really well laid out and you are very close to the animals most of the time.  They provide a lot of opportunities for interaction between the kids and the animals.

This is the kids in the little water play section at the zoo

This is a baby wallaby that ducked its head behind the handlers arm just as I snapped the picture

This peacock was really strutting his stuff

Mamma wallaby with baby in pouch.  They weren't in cages, they were right in front of us.

Climbing on the rocks outside of Flying W Ranch

Look!  It was cool!  In June!

Garden of the Gods, another favorite of the kids.

Eli had trouble getting up here, so Mike reached out his leg and let Eli use it as a handle. 

I was on the wrong side of the sun for a lot of pictures

Riding the Royal Gorge Railroad.  Very expensive and very s-l-o-w.

At the Air Force Academy

Inside the AFA chapel.  This is the Protestant section.  Downstairs is the Catholic section and in the back is the Jewish section.

The stained glass in the chapel

So, that's some of what we did on our trip.  It was wonderful to be able to take that time as a family and I hope the memories last for a lifetime.

Yay!

10:17 AM, Aug. 19, 2006 .. Posted by Ella

What great pictures. It seemed like we were there!!!
Glad you had a great time.

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9:13 PM, Aug. 19, 2006 .. Posted by DanielleW

WONDERFUL pictures!!! 4 corners is somewhere that if I ever go west, I really want to visit. I'm the kind of person that sometimes likes to go places just to say that I was there.

Thank you for sharing the pictures of your experience.