(31/52) AIN'T LIFE GRAND...

the last week of july took us to grand lake, colorado.

we soaked up rocky mountain national park,

winter park, grand lake, 

estes park, trail ridge road,

time with friends, time with family, 

drives, games,

hikes, exploring,

nature, wildlife, and crisp mountain air.

along the way we found:

1 alpine slide,

2 grandparents,

3 mountain crafts,

4 adults at our house,

5 cousins,

6 stamps in our national park passports,

7 mile hike,

8 kids sleeping under one roof,

9 animals crossing the road,

10 rounds of bingo,

and lost count of the memories made.

(9/52) THE MOUNTAINS WERE CALLING OUR NAME...

...and so we hit the road to pay a weeklong visit.

The first stop on the journey was Abilene where we all enjoyed our first night, and where Mae was delighted to stay the whole week.

The next day we successfully drove from Abilene to Winter Park! This was extra exciting and we were so grateful after our too eventful travel day(s) last year.

WP, CO DAY ONE:

We got a good night's rest and woke up for a great morning of worship with friends and family. All 27 people had safely arrived and together we settled into the house, got groceries, rented skis, rode the gondola, and explored.

WP, CO DAY TWO:

We checked thirteen kids into ski school and then skied all over the mountain. As the lifts closed that afternoon everyone gathered at Goody's crepe shoppe and traded stories.

WP, CO DAY THREE:

We worked together to complete the last bit of schoolwork, then it was a snow day of fun in the backyard of the house. A snowman was built, snow forts were constructed, lots of sledding happened, and night tubing too.

WP, CO DAY FOUR:

We hit the slopes again, this time with the kids skiing with us. It was so fun to see them progress and enjoy it too. And of course we finished the day with more crepes, cocoa, and ice cream.

WP, CO DAY FIVE:

On the final ski day my dad was in Winter Park too. What a treat it was to ski with two grandparents, 

and for them to join Adelaide and Graham as they both skied their first blue/black run. That night an epic snowball fight occurred, hot tubbing too, and part five of Evan's tinies stories at bedtime.

WP, CO DAY SIX:

The final day we soaked up as much remaining mountain time as we could. We found souvenirs, explored the woods, went out for pizza, did the final laundry and packing up. 

What a gift of a special week soaking up beautiful creation, stepping outside of our routines, and making memories with people we love dearly it was.

A WEEK IN WINTER PARK...

OUR SKI TRIP JOURNAL:
we counted down for months. they made posters that hung excitedly on the fridge. leading up to the trip dates we fought strep and coughs at our house. others were much more sick and sadly original plans had to change. but eventually it came time for the five of us to hit the road for 1100 miles each way!

SATURDAY:
we woke up bright and early and we were on the road by 4:15am. by 8am we acknowledge no one was falling back asleep. we had covered much road, but had to stop for our first puke of the day. shortly after the second puke stop we came upon two horses dead in the middle of the road and a pile up, many car accident around them. by the third or fourth puke stop we sent the steffens on ahead and our doctor called in medicine to wichita falls pharmacy. the medicine kicked in and thankfully color returned to graham's mouth and face once again, which resulted in a cracker and gatorade party for all. we slid into a hotel in pueblo, co for the night and crawled into beds and pallets.

SUNDAY:

the day started with a continental breakfast and laundromat date for adelaide and me. it continued with many more hours logged along snowy road but this day was fabulously free of puke. thank you God! eventually we arrived in winter park and our first stop was ski rentals for adelaide and graham (who insisted he felt all better and wanted to try sometime during the week). mae was content touching every patch of snow she could get her hands on. evan and i were so happy to have actually made it!

MONDAY:
it was a grand day for graham's first ever ski day! he was in lessons with caroline, while adelaide was in a class with sage and kolby. they all made good progress and successfully stayed in lessons all day. meanwhile, evan and i thoroughly enjoyed a day of skiing with rubey and each other. mae was having a wonderful day herself back at the lodge playing with jim, gayle, kelli, and hazel kate. the afternoon called for coffee, cocoa, and crepes at the base of the mountain to celebrate.

TUESDAY:
during the night graham got sick with a different stomach virus. the rest of us felt weird too, so we quickly quarantined ourselves up in the master bedroom for movie marathons and rest. 

WEDNESDAY:
everyone seemed well again by the morning, but sadly we had to say bye to half our group that morning. i love this picture and what all these faces mean to me. it's a beautiful thing that the first friend i made in austin, became friends with two of the first friends i made in houston! the rest of wednesday morning was spent digging a sledding hill and playing in the snow. 

wednesday afternoon was spent visiting cooper creek- shopping for souvenirs, fudge, and playing. mae stayed back for her nap, and we realized we had taken an almost identical picture at cooper creek's fountain a few years back. then on our way back to the lodge the trip down memory lane continued as we took adelaide and graham by the spot where evan proposed. 

THURSDAY:

the crazy way the week had gone, it felt like such a bonus day of skiing for evan and i to both get to be on the mountain with the big kids this day! we all rode the chairlift up together and then took turns which kid followed which adult down to the bottom of each run. evan and i totally relived our childhood, only this time as the parents repeating instructions instead of as the kids trying to juggle listening and balancing. adelaide preferred playing follow the leader in our tracks, while graham focused best by us shaking our booties in front of him. we skied through the trees many times. then at midnight we heard crying upstairs and mae got sick...

FRIDAY:
thursday night through friday morning, evan slept on the the floor next to sick mae. ev has many gifts but one that especially amazes me is his kindness and skills at taking care of our puking kids. the rest of this day was summarized by measuring sips of gatorade, lots of laundry, and packing up to go home.

SATURDAY:

i woke up in winter park as a 35-year-old. we left with memories of our vacation days, and drove from 8am until 10pm, accompanied by snow on the ground every mile of the way from colorado to texas. it was a sllllooooow travel day, but we were soo thankful for zero sick stops on this travel day. and that night we got to land in abilene for wonderful hugs and a midnight birthday snack of three of my favorite things: nachos, cucumber sandwiches, and brownie fruit pizza.

SUNDAY:

mom made a yummy breakfast and i still can't believe this impromptu bonus day of the trip happened. to sit around a table celebrating with my parents, sister, four grandparents, evan, and the kids was such a treat. as was sitting around the living room after that, worshipping and taking communion together. it was a day i will remember always. that night we finished the last leg of our car time and arrived safely back in houston.


as we fell asleep back at home thinking of all one week had held, it was time to put into practice my motto:
"if you are going to laugh about it later, you may as well start laughing now."
because it was a crazy, memorable, full of way highs and way lows, but oh-so-special week in winter park.

". . .IF IT'S THE MOUNTAINS BENDING RIVERS, THEN YOU SHALL HAVE THEM. . ." -The Avett Brothers

THURSDAY

rubey came from austin and evan arrived from houston.

FRIDAY

most of the swim camp troops headed home,

except for adelaide and graham who stayed for a few extra days with grammy and poppa.

rubey, ev, and i started our twelve-hour-drive to denver.

we were more than a little excited to cross the state line.

we ate dinner at cracker barrel, stocked up on candy from the general store,

then landed at ruby's aunt and uncle's house in denver around 10pm.

SATURDAY

afternoon we headed to red rocks amphitheater for the avett brothers concert.

 just when i thought the night couldn't get any better, the avetts dad and sister came out and sang an old hymn with them.

we got to go backstage through the tunnel previous artists had signed afterward too.

best concert venue + favorite band +wonderful weather
with people i love = pretty much perfect night in my book.

SUNDAY

morning we got to worship with my great aunt and uncle at their home church,

then went to coors field for their hottest game of all-time (not really but my sunburn made it seem that way).

while watching the rockies play i dined on nachos for the third day in a row which clearly sums up vacation to me.

after the game we had to say good-bye to rubey who was staying longer in denver
then we left for an early anniversary stay in winter park.

hello beautiful mountains, 

peaceful streams,

and leisure dinner dates on patios

with temperatures that clearly call for sipping soup (at deno's).

MONDAY

i woke up to starbucks delivery then we drove to grand lake for breakfast at our favorite place there- the fat cat.

from there we drove along trail ridge road above the mountains.

evan thoroughly soaked up the time in one of his happiest places on earth.

he took pictures of wildlife, listened to favorite tunes, stopped along the way to check out brooks and cliffs,
and found the perfect souvenir rocks for the kids.

i was passed out most of the four hour drive due to nausea/perfect fullness of biscuits and gravy.
i woke up long enough to: 1) pretend i was really athletic.

2) eat some ice cream in estes park before we turned around and started the drive back to our condo.

i love him.

back in winter park, we walked over to the base of mountain and ordered appetizers and played giant jenga.

we braved the storms that night for perfect pizza at hernanado's and another dinner full of good conversation.

our trip was pretty much wonderful.

the kids said the same thing about theirs.

they visited a water park, spent hours playing in stepping stones,

discovered their love for sonic slushes (and now proudly know these are on the menu)

and soaked up wonderful grandparent time until they crashed.

TUESDAY
we drove back to abilene.

WEDNESDAY
we celebrated a fun fourth of july morning there,
then drove back to houston for our four family to be home together once again.