Estes Park 2012: Day 1

Matt's dad and step-mom have a time share in Estes Park, CO along with Matt's aunt Cindy and uncle Kevin.  This year, the whole family went out for the week.  We had three units and 14 people for most of the week.  It was a blast!  Matt and I decided to fly the girls out in an effort to make sure we had plenty of days actually in Colorado.  It worked going out, but I haven't worked up the courage to write about the trip back.  I have a weeks worth of pictures to post before I have to jump off that bridge.  Shudder.

ANYWAY, we made it to the airport in one piece after taking the bus to the metro to the airport with all of our luggage and two car seats.  Let me tell you, that was FUN.  We made it just in time to find out our flight was delayed.  So we hung out at the airport for awhile.  I think the total delay was around an hour and half.  It ended up being no big deal for the girls.  We found out a couple weeks before our flight that Sara, Matt's cousin's girlfriend, had booked the same flight.  Yay!  So she helped us out and then Charlotte and Audrey made friends with a cute little boy.  They shared their books and toys and we played a rousing game of Hullabaloo at an empty gate.  The girls were incredibly patient and awesome.

We finally boarded the plane and set up our car seats.  Charlotte and I were on one side of the plane and Matt and Audrey were on the other.  Luckily both girls got window seats.  I was expecting them to be either super excited or super scared about the plane, but both girls were like, no big, Mom and Dad.  They were awesome.  The gentleman sitting next to me said that Charlotte was the best behaved  kid he'd ever sat beside on a plane.  I think the built in TVs on each plane seat helped.  Flying is easier with the Disney channel!  I was excited to take the girls on their first flight, but with all the commotion and trying to keep the girls entertained, I didn't take a single picture.  All, well.  Hopefully the mental ones will last!

After we landed in Denver we rented a car, grabbed a quick dinner at Wendy's and hit the road to Estes.  A little over an hour later, we settled into the condo.  Matt, the girls and I shared a unit with Andrew and Lindsey.  We had a slow start the next morning, but then started out on our first hike of the week, Ouzel Falls.  It was beautiful!

Playing with Rapunzel and Flynn before hitting the trail.

Waiting for the rest of the group to get to the trail head.  We got lucky since we had the kids and the ranger sent us up to park right at the trail head.  Everyone else had at least a half mile hike just to get to the trail head because the lots were all full!  Benefits of children.

The extent of the wildlife we saw over the trip.  Chipmunks.

Charlotte under her rainfly on the back pack we rented to carry her.  She was my hiking buddy and Matt carried Audrey in the bag we brought from home.

Our tree hugger.  Matt decided it would be funny to hang Audrey from a tree.  He was right- it was totally funny.

Almost the whole group!  Still waiting on Andrew, Lindsey, Tom and Edie.

On the trail!

Ready to go, protected from the rain.

And her smiling face

Toes in the water

Off to hike on her own.  Are her boots the cutest thing ever or what???

Snack break with Grandma Edie

Audrey napping.  Doesn't she look comfortable?

Uncle Andy, feeling good despite our gross unpreparedness in the water department.  At this point, most of us turned back, but a few hikers went on to the top of the falls.

Phil and Sara

Our step-brother Nash and his girlfriend Shue  She was awesome.

The group that made it to the top of the falls (minus Kevin and Cindy)

We came back to the condos, had the mandatory happy hour, and then grilled a fabulous dinner.  It was a great start to the vacation!