Friday

April, part 2

our last colorado adventure - a trip to great sand dunes national park

 
we stayed at the lodge right at the park and loved it.  we found the sun for breakfast in the morning. even the parking lot had a great view!

 
but the real view was in the back.  there are over 30 square miles of sand dunes right at the foot of the sangro de cristo mountains.  

 
waiting patiently to get the day started


the approach

 
it really was the perfect day for this hike to the top of the first ridge of dunes

 



 


this was MUCH steeper than it looks

 
freddy hitched a ride

 
hey belly!
 
this is the same photo.  my little hiker!


at the top
 
the faces

 
i mean.  melts my heart.

 


 
brown-eyed girl

 
worn out daddy!




snack time
 
my favorite of the day

 
can't decide which one i like better



 
freddy rode with me on the way down

 
the "avalanche" pat caused

ahhhh.  naptime

somebody got a little sun burned.  oops!

can you see the deer?

dinner, watching a gorgeous sunset

going, going, gone!


big hungry


simon says

before heading home the next day we slept late, took our time checking out



and then spent a couple of hours in medano creek



the kids weren't so sure at first.  


but after a little pep talk

i guess you could say they got into it.  ha!







so did daddy








i think that's a happy boy


ready to go!

Thursday

April, part 1

 
we got up early to take abbi and pops to the airport

 
then we ate some blueberries

 
we went swimming at lifetime

 
family shower

 
cool dude

 
precious girl

 
learned this lesson the hard way.  spinning wheels grab hair

 
sweet siblings on a snow day



 
moments

 
this is ME!


last ski day for mommy and daddy.  thank you luke and the rest of the platings for keeping the kiddos!

 
B, we are so glad you came to visit!


we loved having you here
 
my Bible study girls.  great friends!

 
this is so true!  we have been trying to figure out if we have any food sensitivities/intolerances

 
this is the night we were testing gluten.  ha!

 
laurel and i went to coldstone after school one day to celebrate natalie's birthday with her.  it was snowing outside!