Gem Lake Hike, RMNP

 Gem Lake Hiking Trail, Rocky Mountain National Park, is a great trail for kids with a bit of hiking experience. Lilia and Alex were 6 & 9 at the time when they hiked this. They did relatively well. Round trip it was over 3 miles. The key is to pack more food than you think you'll need.
Not long after we started on the trail Dave spotted a deer watching us through the trees.

Gem Lake

 The chipmunks are super friendly from so many hikers. As we sat under a tree eating lunch, this little guy came very close looking for crumbs. Dave didn't have anything in his hand, but stuck his hand out so I could snap a photo.

 One of the major land marks fairly close to the top is Paul Bunyon's foot. I'm not sure how this rock got to have a hole in it, be a boot shape, or even lean like this, but it is certainly a spot to stop and take a photo. I love how the kids pretended they were being stepped on. I did not prompt them.

Camping in Rocky Mountain National Park

Bull Elk

We pulled into our campsite and got our tent set up, and a fire going. After dinner and smores, we went for a drive along the Trail Ridge Road. NOTE: When you see other drivers pulled over, you should pull over too. We saw a line of cars so we pulled over not knowing what we would see. It was a bull elk! He was just munching along on the grasses while tourist after tourist snapped his picture.
I asked the kids to stand in the picture. They had the biggest smile on their faces, knowing I was taking a shot of the elk's butt!

As we were driving back to our camp site for the night the sun was setting behind us. The way the sun lit shadows on the mountains reminded me of a painting!

The sky was firey as the sun sank lower in the sky.

 The next morning we were pretty exhausted from a big hike the day before. We found a small lake that had a flat loop. It had beautiful views of the mountains.

Here's our campground! Aspenglen. I would highly recommend coming here, and we would certainly go back. The sites were a decent size, equipped with large bear boxes. The bathrooms were really new and clean, although there are no showers.
We set up our tent and got a fire going. We brought a cast iron skillet with us to cook some chicken over the open flames. We learned this technique from camping with the Ku's in the spring.

The kids are relaxing by the fire.

Snow along the Trail Ridge Road. (date: June 20th)

Back on the Trail Ridge Road we stopped at the top look out area. Over the edge we saw several marmots. They are super friendly and used to people.

 We saw more elk along the top of the road. It was a luck night to see three elk all together!

Happy Birthday Mom

Now that my in-laws have moved out to Colorado, we only see them maybe once a year. Since we were out in late June, we had the opportunity to celebrate not only Father's Day together, but also my mother-in-law's birthday.

I feel so thankful to have Marilyn as a mother-in-law. She is so thoughtful, and generous. She did so much to plan for our visit out. She prepared so many fun things for the kids, great meals for us, and quality time together as a family. It was so wonderful to celebrate her birthday all together - we just needed Pete, Karen and Jesse there to really make it feel complete. (Pete was out of town for work.)

Fun with Family in Colorado

On our first full day we spent the day up at Julie's house in Monument. Pete and Julie got a kitten, Blake named her Jeffery. She's an adorable, all black kitten, and she gives list of scratches. She's full of energy. The kids, especially Lilia, loved trying to wear Jeffery out.




Blake is only 2 1/2, but the way she talks, you think you're talking to a 4 year old. She cracked us up with her grown up phrases. She was bossing around Lilia and Alex, despite being the youngest by 4 years. Lilia would yell at her brother at different times. Blake picked that up from Lilia. We saw her standing with her hips on her hands yelling, "Alexander! Get down from there; it's not safe!"

Pete and Julie also have two dogs. Andy was a rescue dog they got from a shelter. She is very leary of children. Lilia used all of her "Cesar's Way" knowledge to try to befriend Andy. It worked slightly. It helped when adults Andy trusts were around, like Pete, pictured below.

 Finley Harper was born February 28th. We finally got to meet her at 7 weeks old. Here is Marilyn with her youngest grand baby.







We got to spend a lot of time with Julie and the girls. I was so thankful to get to hold Finley, help put her to sleep in the carrier, and just spend time with everyone.

 Blake is so fun and full of energy. It's funny how you can forget past stages of your children so quickly. I forgot how exhausting toddlers are. Blake never stops. She sure is a lot of fun though! Lilia and Alex loved getting to play tag with her or whatever other creative games they came up with.

Grandpop with all his grandkids.

Blake really loves Alex. He was a sweet helper feeding her dinner.

All the cousins eating dinner together.

This is Finley's favorite way to fall asleep during the day.

Lilia helping with bath time.

Alex reading Blake a bedtime story.

Uncle Dave teaching Blake some bow staff moves.

Downtown Frisco & Pier 39

The Pacific ocean leading into the bay.

A sign of a restaurant at Pier 39

 Muir Woods is just 20 north of the golden gate bridge. So after Muir Woods, we headed to a pull off above the bridge for lunch and photos.
The location was so amazing, and because it was the afternoon we had clear skies and could see all the way to the Pacific ocean!

Pier 39 is very much like the boardwalk at Ocean City. There are shops and ice cream and places for kids to have fun. One thing they have that OC definitely does not have are sea lions. Pick a spot on the deck and watch the entertainment as males fight, and mamas and their babies bask in the sun. 

Alcatraz

We drove down the famous Lombard street with its 40 degree incline. I would hate to be one of the home owners along this stretch of road. Everyday hundreds of tourist walk past your house taking pictures. Plus their driveways exit onto the crazy hair pin turns. I don't get living there, but it was cool to drive down Lombard st once!

Not pictured...but we also drove past the famous houses from the opening scene of the TV show Full House. We parked nearby and rolled the windows down in the minivan and played the theme song. The adults burst into song when the chorus came on as the kids embarrassingly sunk down in their seats. It was hilariously memorable - more than any picture!