COLORADO!

Vacations! Aren't they great? I got back from Estes Park, Colorado on Sunday, August 19th. We had a great time. Estes Park is one of my very favorite places to visit. The biggest problem is getting there. You have to drive all the way across the state of Iowa and then you get to be in Nebraska!!! There's not a lot to see in Nebraska, but we made it without too much mishap.

Barbie and I met up with the rest of our bunch in Kearny on Friday evening. We actually made pretty good time and got into the hotel around 9:30 p.m. We were up and off the next morning by 8:00 a.m. Here's the Rockies!! They are so awsome!! Majectic! Beautiful! If you haven't figured it out already I dearly love the Rockie Mountains. I'm in awe of their 'biggness' and the wonderful of nature when walking in them or just standing there and looking at them. The first picture was taken as we were coming into Loveland, CO and our first sight of the Rockies!!

There were 8 of us this year at our 'home away from home' in Estes Park. My daughter and myself, my sister Glee and her husband Ron, Rob & Mary Sass and Jim & Diane Sass. Rob and Jim are 2 of Ron's brothers. We celebrated 2 birthdays while we were out there and did a lot of walking, talking, eating and drinking!!! Oh, and picture taking!!!

We got into Estes around 2:00 p.m. MT on Saturday. Diane and Jim were already there as they flew into Denver that morning. They had some business to attend to in Cheyenne during the week and had to leave early for another vacation planned in northern Minnesota. Shopping was the first thing on the list. Diane, Glee and Mary headed for Safeway while the rest of us put beds together and clothes away!

Saturday night the chefs (Ron, Jim & Rob) decided chicken on the grill sounded good. As you can see they worked real hard at that meal. It tasted great! We did a lot of grilling when we ate at the cabin.

Another of our favorite pasttimes in Colorado was playing Baggo! Son Jim made a number of sets of these games for Christmas. Barb's was an ISU set and we used it practically every day during our stay in Estes. Barb and Diane played against Mary and I in this game. Notice Barb's form -- beer bottle in hand she threw her big and probably put in it the hole! We had a great time playing with this game.

Notice the garbage can tipped over in the background? We found bear claw marks on the top of the can. In the journel left at the cabin it was mentioned that a black bear when through the yard 2 weeks before we got there. We didn't see one (thank you very much) but the fact that they're around does make a person think. We left the garbage can in the garage when we left!! Thought it was safer that way!

Saturday night the decision was made to watch the metor showers. After fooling around in the cabin yard (we were trying to put the yard light out) for some time we decided to head into the park and find a nice quiet, dark spot to watch the show. We piled everyone into one car (that's 8 of us) and off we went. It was a spectular sight! Some of us saw more than the others but we all saw some of the show. Thanks Jim for telling us about this awesome sight!!! The majority of us woke up with a slight stiffness in our neck from all our gawking but it was worth it!!

Did a lot of hiking (both short and long hikes). I even did some this year. Like I said I love it out there!

It's 7:00 a.m. and I need to get ready for work. More pictures and more comments later in the week. We have a lot going on in our lives right now. Baby and Bridal showers this weekend, then a holiday weekend (yea 3 days off!) and a wedding the end of the month. I'm not sure this old lady can keep up!!!

Talk to you soon. Have a good day!