We are in Colorado

 Right now Ben and I are sitting listening to the rain fall in the nicest hotel we have ever been in, Devil's Thumb Ranch in Tabernash, Colorado.  We just each just ate a wonderful New York Strip and are stuffed so we thought we would share our day!

Today we started in Estes Park, Co and took a 4 hour horseback ride.  It was long even for me, but we saw some amazing sites!

 We stopeed half way at the top of Beaver Mountian to take a few pictures and streach our legs. ( which will be sore in the morning)

 This was the view from th etop of the mountian.  We are out of focus but the picture is still neat!

These were all the horses at the ranch.  We didn't actually get a picture of us on the horses, the terrian was actually rough up and down the mountian and I didn't want Ben distracted with the camera.

We spided a chipmonk after or ride.  These litte things are so cute and we saw several today, they are prevelant here.

Then we headed into Rocky Mountian National Park, where we found some snow!  I threw this snowball at Ben after the picture, it was pretty funny.

The views in the park were amazing.

 We also saw this marmot climbing the rock ledge and evidently we were as intresting as he was.

Check out how little the roads look in the side of the mountians- these mountians are so big!

 This was taken in the alpine area where the glaicers start, beyond the tree line.  The park ranger there told us some of the flowers in bloom bloom only once every 30 years.  They were pretty but very small and not worth a 30 year wait in my opinion, but we still didn't step on them.

 I have to tell you right before this picture was taken we were walking out onto the snow and Ben had the camera and bag in hand and slipped down on the snow- it was the funniest thing I have every seen. Ben looked like he was running backward on a treadmill!!!  HA HA HA!! After I grabbed the camera I laughed so hard!!  Ben and the camera were fine.

We saw this big ol' Elk on the tundra, by far th ebiggest we saw today.

Overall the Rocky Mountain National Park was amazing and I would definantly recommed it as well as this ranch!! 

Tomorrow we plan to be up with the sun, which rises at like 5am here, as we are going to visit the baby cow here are one ranch as well as walk off some of dinner, visit the ranch coffee shop and head on to Aspen, Co for some after hiking!!

Beau loves his mask!

 Isn't this picture so funny- it looks like he is miserable.... but really Beau loves his mask.  He just can't smile with it squished to his face.  :)

 He loves to wear his mask around the house, in the tub, and swimming. "Mommy I a scuba diver!"  "Dadddy?? you a scuba diver??"  It is so cute.

 We are trying to teach him how to use the snorkel- but that is still a work in progress.  Beau even took some of his swimming lessons in his mask this week.

 Of course Beau wanted Avery to enjoy the mask too- and she seemed to like it- a pool maybe in our future!

Have a wonderful Memorial Day- we will be finishing some chores in the yard, heading to the beach on Sunday in honor of my birthday on Tuesday, and enjoying some pool time on Monday.  I am really looking forward to a productive and relaxing weekend!

Next week I  begin training for my half-marathon scheduled for October!!

Beau's swimming lessons!

Last year beau took his very first swimming lessons with ISR instructor, Julia Duam.  He did a great job last year and has started his refresher lessons.  This is day 5 of his refreshers lessons and apparently it is like riding a bike for him; he is doing great!  Check out our little fish, he has even swam with his mask (thanks Aunt Eilene) and Ms. Julia's flippers!

Avery got her ears peirced!!

Isn't she precious!

Easter Clothes

 When I was growing up my mom always made our Easter dresses. Krysti and I always had matching dresses made out of coordinating fabric, mine was usually pink and hers was blue or yellow.  So naturally since I have a little girl- I made her an Easter dress, and I couldn't leave my baby boy out, so I made him some shorts, and while I was at it I made me a dress too!  Even Ben conformed and wore pink for Easter.  Aren't we cute!!

This is Krysti, my sister, and Avery.  Aren't those some great smiles!!

 

The Naval Airstation

 Ben's Grandfather as well as uncles are buried in the cemetery at the Air station.  It was by far the most beautiful cemetery I have ever been in. What was most striking to me is as you walk along looking at the graves you can help but notice that some of the stones have writing on both sides.  After further inspection I noticed that most of the time it was the wives of the soldiers; it would say His Wife.... so and so and then the date and whatever commemorating thought the family inscribed.  It spoke volumes to me that the wife was inscribed on the back, symbolizing the backbone of the families while some of these men were away at war.  The strength that these women must have had to endure life with there husbands in other parts of the world.  I thought it very fitting. They didn't hold any fancy titles like many of the husbands- just "His Wife".  I really loved it and I think one day whenever I am buried next to Ben I think I will just have them put His Wife Karah.

 At the museum there were a lot of co-pits for the kids (and Ben) to sit in and they all loved it!

 Beau loved this helicopter!!

See Beau pointing... he did this with everything. He was so excited and made sure to tell me to stand back everything was dangerous. 

 Beau didn't want to stop for the photo op.

After this Beau wanted Avery to sit with him every time. (He made sure to tell here not to touch the switches- they were dangerous)

 This was a big plane- Ben said this was the kind he wanted to fly, saying "see I fit- they told me I was too tall."  noticed he sat in the front moving his son to the back- Beau enjoyed it just as much.

 Avery got plenty of flight time herself.

Sneak peek-

Sunday we took some pictures in Granny's yard and I think they are great!

 Avery wasn't thrilled about the tractor photo shoot- I think she might have been hungry.

Don't worry more to come!

Easter

 Avery loved Easter Eggs!!  I put jellybeans in them and she loved shaking the eggs as well as eating the jellybeans.

 I have family pictures- they are on my home computer and we are having internet issues at the moment.  I made us all matching outfits for Easter and we were super cute!! I will post the pictures as soon as I am able!  I am sure these cute pictures of Avery will suffice.  

NOTE: there are none of Beau and his Easter basket b/c I was in the shower when he woke and daddy was not doing what he was supposed too manning the camera.   

 Ben spotted this in our yard on Easter, so Beau and I went to get a closer look.  Beau was so excited- Mommy I see his FACE!! 

 Ben and I worked in the yard on Saturday, I have been wanting to redo our flower beds in the front.  This past winter everything looked dead (see picture below from Feb) we had no evergreen plants.  So my parents helped me reshape the beds and I planted all new plants in the front.  It looks much better!!

 Beau was telling me to not go bother the turtle- he was going in to get his gun. Beau spent the day shirtless- he was wearing a white linen shirt and after a while it was damage control time and I decided to just take it off.

Going inside to get his gun...  he is his fathers son!

We had a wonderful Easter and really enjoyed entertaining our family and friends.