Pumpkin Patch

Grams & I took the kids to a pumpkin patch in Perkins last week.

There were soooo many healthy sized pumpkins, I was so excited!!

Ethan loved picking out pumpkins, which of course he called "balls".

Aidan slept through most of the trip, so I didn't get any shots of him.

But Aidan thought it was fun too.

Kodie & Ethan

My Supermen

I found these darling jammies at Target. Aidan is really into super heroes right now, so they are perfect. They even have detachable capes! The boys have been running around the house with their capes flying in the wind.

Opal Lake

I forgot to post one of my favorite parts of the trip. Opal Lake is a beautiful spot which was one of James and my camping spots from pre-parenthood. It is beautiful! The surrounding mountains and lush green trees reflect into the beautiful "lake" (large pond). And there are nice flat areas perfect for camping. We decided to take everyone there on a day hike. It is a mile hike straight up the mountain. Half went by horseback and the other half went on foot. James and I enjoyed walking (with James toting along little Ethan in our Kelty backpack) and of course Aidan rode good ol' Gunner. I am absolutely amazed at Aidan's skill at only 3 years old. He was able to ride via horseback through the rough terrain the entire hour and 15 minute hike without use of the stirrups. He never lost his center, keeping his balance through the steep inclines and decents. He was so comfortable, he even sang as we went! Ethan LOVED riding in the backpack. He could actually see the world from our level without exerting any energy! Just as Aidan did when he was small, Ethan fell asleep a few times while hiking. Opal Lake is one of my favorite places!

Exhausted after a long trip!

We had such a wonderful time in Colorado this summer. We spent hours soaking in the hot tub, went on peaceful walks, painful runs uphill from the Allen's cabin, had time to shop (Allie) and golf (James) and horseback ride (Aidan). We saw many wild animals--elk, deer, raccoons, marmots, hummingbirds, and we even saw a BEAR jet across the road in front of the bus the day we left! We enjoyed spending time with family and friends.
We can't wait until the Blanco Basin is covered in blankets of snow.

Maybe it will be a good time to get Aidan in a pair of skis.
But until then, we're gonna get to bed. We're exhausted!

Our Spot

I wanted to share a small memory of where our little family began. In August of 2001, James and I knew we loved each other and wanted to begin a life together but it wasn't official. I was able to take a trip to the cabin with him and one Sunday morning, we grabbed a fishing pole, threw our scriptures in a backpack, and took the ten minute hike from the cabin to the river. We found a spot on the rocks to sit and read scriptures for our impromptu "church". James then asked, through tear-filled eyes, if I would be his eternal companion and begin a life with him. I realized he was holding an open box with a sparkling solitaire engagement ring. It was so peaceful with the flowing water rushing by and so romantic with the gorgeous mountains surrounding us. There was no other place in the world that I wanted to be at that moment. We now have this wonderful spot to always remember and come back to. And now we are able to share it with our children.

Life is a journey, not a destination

Here's an awesome shot of the sunset from the sideview mirror.
Aidan and Ethan were good sports.

They never complained, they just went with the flow.

We did hit a pretty good afternoon rain storm on the way back home before Angelfire. It lasted, oh I don't know, 15 minutes. It was perfect.
There's our three children cozy in the back. The way back home took us about 20 hours. Once we got to the Panhandle of Oklahoma, it was torturous. That part of the drive is booooooring. I'm not sure I'm up for such a long trip in the green machine anytime soon.
But I wouldn't trade our experience for anything. It was so worth it.

Goin' Green

James has always wanted to make the drive to the cabin in the bus. It has always been vetoed because either I was pregnant or our kids were too young. But this year was the perfect time with the boys being such sturdy ages...they could handle a little heat (NO a/c).
We took the longer, scenic route through Taos instead of the standard I-40 route.

James had SUCH a good time driving the bus through the scenic passes.

Okay ladies, you know how it is with the window rolled down and your hair blowing in your face? I was such the trooper b/c I had my hair in my face the ENTIRE drive. I couldn't even run my fingers through it when we arrived to CO. BTW, in this pic I'm reading Stephenie Meyer's "The Host", anybody read it?
My favorite part was when it rained for a split second and then smelled like pine trees and fresh rain, we wouldn't have experienced that with the windows rolled up and the a/c blasting.
Normal Estimated Time to Arrive to Pagosa Springs: 12 hrs

Stuart's Total Time to Arrive to Pagosa Springs: 16+ hrs

Memorable Family Road Trip: Priceless

"To travel hopefully is a better thing than to arrive."---Robert Louis Stevenson