Vacation!!!

We're home and finally unpacked from our wonderful family vacation! Colorado is a terrific vacation destination for families. All 5 of us had a great time.

Our first stop was Colorado Springs, were we attended the Rockwell Family Reunion (yes, we're related to Norman Rockwell - on my mother's side of the family). Staying in a hotel room was quite a challenge for two kids who need to run and play, but we had a wonderful time with our extended family, despite the fact that my parents were unable to attend at the last minute. :-( Hannah and Daniel had a great time getting to know more of their family, and Caleb found lots of warm shoulders to nap on. :-) Besides attending the regular family events, we went to see Glen Eyrie, The Garden of the Gods, and our favorite: Focus on the Family.

From Colorado Springs we traveled to Estes Park, CO, to meet up with Peter's parents and sister Lini. We had a beautiful 4 bedroom home right on the Thompson River, with lots of space for the kids to run and play. Outside was the river, a working well pump, lots of squirrels, bunnies, and birds, a deer, and a couple of times elk joined us as well! We spent a whole week enjoying the magnificence of God's creation at Rocky Mountain National Park.

I wish you all could have seen Hannah. She was such a trooper! We told her so, and after a mile and half of hiking, she announced that she liked being a trooper! Here's a photo of Hannah in front of Nymph Lake. She was having so much fun. I think her favorite part was seeing snow up close for the first time. She also demonstrated her climbing ability to climb up and down the ladder to play in the top bunk of the bunkbeds in the kids' room. (I wasn't brave enough to let her sleep there, but she thought it was a GREAT place to play where little brothers can't reach.)

Daniel rode on Daddy's back, seemingly all week. He had a good view! He was such a good little buddy, even when he got a cold. I think he'll be quite an outdoorsy kind of guy as he grows up. Daniel was fascinated by the elk in our backyard. I think his favorite part was just running in the grass by our house, chasing bunnies and squirrels. Daniel also demonstrated that he is becoming quite the "big boy," by sleeping in a sleeping bag the whole vacation. I am so proud of him. It is hard for him to hold still and stay put for very long, but he did a great job at self-control by staying on his sleeping bag each morning until someone came to get him.

Caleb was such a good baby. He slept on the plane the whole way there, and was such a good sport about sleeping wherever, whenever - as long as he got his milk! He is very much Mommy's boy (actually, they're all "Mommy's," come to think of it...), but he loved having lots of people around to have a nap on. He's such a cuddler! Aunt Lini was gracious enough to carry Caleb on more than one of our hikes.

Peter and I agree that the highlight of the trip for us was a special date we had at The Inn at Glen Haven, near Estes Park. Beside a beautiful dining setting, complete with REAL china and silver, and an incredible meal (I had duck and Peter had elk), we had such a special time talking and sharing our hearts, without being interrupted or rushed. When we came back to California, we learned that The Inn is a world famous restaurant/bed & breakfast. I wish I had a photo to give you a glimpse, but we were having so much fun that we forgot to pull out the camera!

Hanging out with Granny, Grandpa, and Aunt Lini was terrific. Hannah and Granny learned how to play chess. Daniel had lots of people to read to him. Peter and I enjoyed ourselves because we weren't just meeting the kids' needs all the time. Lini had lots of time bonding with Caleb. Grandpa gave Hannah rides on his shoulders during the hikes when she got tired. Peter and I decided that vacationing with family is THE way to go.


Now we're home, and glad to be back. Everyday life is back to normal, and we're all rested and happy. Going away is great, but I'm so glad that we all love it here too.