Colorado Trip--Christmas Post 4 of 5

For trips this year, the family tagged along on one of Mike’s business trips the end of June beginning of July.  We were able to visit good friends on the way to Denver. Then Mike always works for a week (which we did without Shae’s niece this year—but we survived) One evening while in Denver we ate at the Aquarium because they have real Mermaids (well real ladies in full mermaid costumes but don’t tell Haven) in the massively huge fish tanks that run the entire length of the restaurant.   They dive, swim, blow kisses, and interact with the kids through the glass.  Very fun!  After Denver we spent a couple of days at Estes Park/Rocky Mountain National Park.  Shae’s folks were starting a CO trip with a visit to Estes planned at the same time we were going.  So we decided to rent one big house together instead of 2 dinky cabins spread out over town.  It was gorgeous and cheaper for everyone.  Sounds like a win win to me.  We saw more wildlife (mule deer, huge herd of elk and calves, and a bear) in our yard then we did in all our time at Rocky Mountain.  Mike was on a mission to hike this year with Haven being 4 and hike we did.  By the end some of the group was doing a bit of grumbling--the boys were tired of it all and Shae would have liked a bit more down time at the rental house.  However, we saw some new things and all 7 of us (including Shae’s Mom & Dad) climbed (er more like hiked and scrambled) a mountain together which was a fun accomplishment.  We celebrated Ethan’s 9^th birthday our last day in Estes.  Then we spent a few days including the 4^th of July with Mike’s Aunt and Uncle in Silverthorne with a fun filled day at Breckenridge.  We never knew that there were so many summer activities at the ski slopes.  It was like a carnival.   A stop at a hotel with a small water park on the way home was a huge hit with the kids as well.

in Rocky Mtn National Park

at 12,000 to 13,000 fee on top of the mountain that we all just climbed.  Fun accomplishment.

Haven Face to Face with a Mermaid at the Denver Aquarium Restaurant

In Rocky Mountain National Park

We saw a herd of 34 cow elk and calves by our cabin.

On the Gondola ride up to the top at Breckenridge.

Celebrating Ethan's 9th birthday at the cabin in Estes.

Ethan's birthday lunch at Baldpate Inn outside of Estes Park.

In downtown Estes at the Riverwalk.