Westcliff, CO 2012

Do we have everyone??

Every 4th of July week, we travel to CO for a week with Brent's family. His family has a cabin in Westcliff that they built 23 years ago. It is a pretty rustic cabin (no electricity and true "running" water). We haven't been to the cabin since Emersyn was Elynn's age. I was pregnant with Elynn last time we went. So, we were excited to be able to go again.

The part I was not looking forward to was the 13-14 hour drive with 3 kids 4 and under! It ended up not being too bad. We took along Ezra and Emersyn's leapsters which were a big help when they were bored. Elynn on the other hand cannot be as easily entertained.  On the trip up, we drove about 8 hours and then stopped to stay the night in Amarillo. After a good night sleep, a free breakfast, we got back into the car for the last "leg" of the trip, 5 hours! We got to the cabin just in time for lunch! We were so happy to be put for a whole week. 

Sangre De Cristo Mountains

Buffalo ranch

View from the weather

Loving this weather

Saturday, the day we arrived, we unpacked and cleaned up the cabin. No one had been to the cabin for a year so there was some cleaning to do. Brent's parents, his sister Michelle and her family (husband and 5 kids) arrived shortly after. After unpacking and cleaning, we just SAT. The good thing about having a rustic cabin with no electricity is you have to go to bed when the sun goes down! We were ready for BED!

Sunday: After a good breakfast on the stovetop, we all got ready to head into town for mass and lunch. Sunday ended up being a day of rest for us. On Sunday, we were able to use a neighbors cabin that lives down the road for the rest of the week. That cabin has electricity and running water. Wahoo! FR. Brian (uncle Brian) flew in late Sunday night to join us.

Monday: Every year, there are projects around the cabin that need to be done. So, the boys set to work on doing some handy projects around the house. One of the projects included getting the water tanks hooked up and working so that the cabin can have "running" water. New kitchen and bathroom faucets were put in. That afternoon, Bradley (brent's other twin brother) and his three kids arrived. Everyone was finally there. The only three (and a baby) missing were Melanie and Kevin and Susanna (bradley's wife). Melanie and Kevin were expecting their first baby boy on the 11th of July so they stayed back. Good thing they did because sweet baby Andrew arrived on the 7-7-12 at 3:35 am!! Susanna stayed back with their sweet new baby boy, Johnathan, who is now 3 months old. 

Total adults in CO: 8 Total kids in CO: 11 And we are still growing!!

me and my horse Yarro

Most of the crew waiting to go

Oma and the kids ready for the wagon ride

watching them saddle the horses

Fr Brian and Brent

Brent getting ready

The dusty trail

Our group at the top of a mountain

Me and my love

Daniel and Juan Paublo

Soccer

Bubbles

Tuesday was a fun day. We had a planned horseback riding through the valley Westcliff. Only kids 8 and up could ride, so Brian, Brent, Daniel, Juan Paublo, Zachary and I went on a two hour trail ride. The rest of the crew went on a horse drawn wagon ride. It was such a fun time. The trail was Beautiful and the weather was AMAZING! I think ONE day it was in the 80's. The rest of the time it was in the 70's and 60's because of the cool afternoon rains!! LOVED IT!

After horesback riding, we all headed back into town to the park to eat sandwiches and play soccer at the soccer field. Every year, we have on day where we make sandwiches and play soccer. After we are done with soccer we usually go for ice cream at the local ice cream shop. A good ending to a great day. 

Wednesday: It was the 4th of July. The boys and older kids loaded up all of their camping gear and headed up the mountain. They hiked up mountain to the lake for some overnight camping and fishing. While the dads and older kids hicked and camped, the girls and younger kids headed in town for the Fourth of July parade. It was such a cool, overcast day. We enjoyed iced coffees, the parade, garage sales and good play at the local playground. That night, the girls had a sleepover at the other cabin that involved a movie and nail painting.

He caught his first trout in the mountains!

setting up camp

his trout

cooking breakfast on the stove top

I'm ready to go dad!!

Thursday: We enjoyed a hangout day while waiting for the boys to come back from their hiking. When they arrived we grilled up some fresh trout and veggies. Oh so delicious!

watching the chipmunks

boys playing legos

best of friends

Friday: This was finish the projects day and packing up day. We left CO after lunch and drove 8 hours to a small town outside of Ozona.

Saturday: Last leg of the trip. Everyone was really feeling being in the car by then. But, we only had 5 hours to go. We ended up getting home around 3. It was so nice to be home!! 

It was a really nice, relaxing trip. I always enjoy going and love getting to spend so much time with Brent's family. I am truly blessed with great In-laws!! Love you guys! Thanks for a great week!