Trip to Aspen

PJ had another recruiting trip this summer, but this time it was within driving distance so we decided to take a few more days and make a family vacation out of it. The recruiting happened at Aspen, Colorado's music festival. We took two days to drive out there, stopping the first night in Mesquite, NV and staying with a college friend of mine.

The next day we drove almost all the way to Aspen. We saw a sign for a dinosaur museum in Fruita, CO and decided to stop there on a whim. It was rather small, but the kids loved it. They saw lots of dinosaurs and we listened to the Laurie Berkner "We are the Dinosaurs" song about a million times afterwards.

They got to dig for dinosaur bones.

I don't know why Avery's punching herself in the eye and Alex is punching himself in the mouth here...


Alex liked the animatronics


Later that day....after many more hours of driving, our poor kiddos were tuckered out.


At least Alex is old enough to be in a forward-facing carseat so he could enjoy the scenery.

That night we stayed with the Bradleys, the FABULOUS parents of one of my best friends in high school. They live in a log cabin on the side of a mountain, 25 miles from the nearest town, which is Glendale Springs. We loved staying in their amazing home, seeing deer come right up to the house, throwing rocks in the river just across the road, and seeing the beautiful stars at night. Thanks so much for putting us up!!

The next day we drove an hour and a half or so to Aspen. This is outside our hotel on a short walk we took with the kids. There are these little creeks all over, and Avery loved throwing leaves, rocks, and pine cones in the water and watching them float away.

This photo looks oddly like a totem pole....

After two gloriously restful and fun days in Aspen, it was time for the long drive home. We drove to Vegas the first night. We stayed in the Excalibur hotel because it looked like a castle and our little princess would love that. We walked up and down the strip that evening, wearing ourselves out.

This is New York, New York

Does this look familiar? I can't believe they fell asleep in their strollers, but that's how tired they really were.

The next morning, Avery and I went exploring. We found this awesome display in the Bellagio. Avery loved the flowers and the cool fountains.

We got home from exploring just in time to go swimming before checking out and driving home. Here's the view from our hotel room.

We made it home safe and sound. How fun that the family can tag along on Daddy's work trips and we can create these great memories.