Home from the mountains! (with pictures)

We got back last night about 6 o’clock from our Colorado getaway with my parents.  We had a really good time with them, and I am so glad that we were able to spend the time together! 

Thursday

Trent celebrated his 27th birthday!  We left home around 5 to head to Colorado, so we stopped for dinner once we got into Colorado Springs.  We ate at Solo’s, which is a restaurant where part of it is actually inside of an old plane.  I had been there once, but Trent and my dad hadn’t.  It was a unique way to celebrate Trent’s birthday, and they gave him free apple crisp and ice cream to help us celebrate! 

Trent and I outside the plane / restaurant where we ate.

My parents outside the restaurant.

Trent pretending to "fly" the plane.

I am such a natural…

After we ate supper, we headed off to Embassy Suites, which is where we stayed while in Colorado Springs.  Trent opened his birthday presents, and we played a game of Uno Attack.  I bought that game for him for his birthday, and we had so much fun!  We all laughed so hard we couldn’t even talk or sit up straight any more.  It was a perfect end to the evening!

Friday

We got up Friday morning and headed to breakfast at the hotel.  It was delicious!  Then we set out to visit the U.S. Olympic Training Center.  While there, we were able to do some health tests to see how we compare with olympians as well as watch some guys train for volleyball and gymnastics.  It’s really neat to watch them and hear about their actual training programs! 

Trent and I sitting in the olympic rings.

My parents outside the Olympic Training Center

I think he was having a good time…

After we left the training center, we went to the mall and did some shopping.  There are a few priests that used to minister where I grew up that now hold Mass at the local mall.  So we stopped in to visit them and see their place as well as do some shopping.  We went to Steve & Barry’s, which I love, and Trent got 5 t-shirts to wear under dress shirts, 3 polo shirts, and 2 pairs of dress pants for under $80.  I was pretty excited!  So now he has a few more clothes to wear when he teaches.  It’s sometimes hard to get him to look at clothes, so I was pleased I was able to get him to shop like he did!  We ate lunch at the food court in the mall, and then we went for a drive to Woodland Park.

When I was a little girl, my family used to go to Colorado Springs almost every summer so that my brother and I could go to the North Pole and visit Santa (a little-kid amusement park there in the Springs).  We used to always stay at this same place in Woodland Park, so we wanted to see if it was still there and what it looked like now.  It was a beautiful drive through the mountains, and it was neat to see the place where we used to stay.  It’s completely not what I remember it being like, but that’s the differenec between seeing something through a child’s eyes and through an adult’s eyes. 

We headed back to the hotel to get changed and then went to the Flying W Ranch.  They have a western town set up with food and shops, and then they put on a chuckwagon supper as well as a music show.  The entertainment is fantastic, and the food is wonderful!  My parents had never been, so we treated them for their upcoming 32nd anniversary. 

My parents and I sitting outside one of the shops.  I think we were caught off guard!

My parents before supper.  They both hate taking pictures, so I was doing good to get this one!

After the show we headed back to our hotel where we played some more Uno Attack and then headed to bed!

Saturday

Again, we began our day with breakfast at our hotel before heading out.  My mom had a store she wanted to go to in order to look at computer stuff, so we went and found that store.  We also did some other shopping in the morning.  We drove through the Garden of the Gods and took in the beautiful views!

Then we took my mom back to the hotel because her foot was hurting (she got a blister Friday), and the rest of us headed to the Air Force Academy.  We weren’t able to go inside the chapel because there was a military funeral taking place, but it was a unique experience to see.  We watched the gun salute at the funeral as well as saw the Patriot Guard there.  It was neat also to see and hear how the cadets go to school and what their daily lives are like while at the Academy.

The Air Force Academy Chapel. 

After leaving the Air Force Academy, we went back to the hotel for a nap.  My allergies were really bothering me, so it felt good to lay down for a while before heading to Mass.  We went to Mass that evening and then headed back to the hotel for cocktails and snacks.  Then we headed out for dinner.  We ended up eating at Joe’s Crab Shack, which was fantastic!&nbs

p; My parents had never been to one, so it was fun to do that together!

At our hotel before heading to Mass.

Sunday

We slept in this morning and then went to breakfast later before getting ready to check out.  Then we went shopping for a while, stopped at Cold Stone for some ice cream and shakes, and then began our journey home!  We got home around supper time last night, so we had some time to relax and get unpacked. 

View of the mountains from our hotel.

Then we headed to Trent’s parents’ house late last night to tell his sister and nephew good-bye.  They had been here the past week and were headed out early this morning.  Today has been a day to get some laundry done and catch up on some things around the house.  I plan to be a computer bum and play my Sims 2 game this evening and just enjoy doing the things I love to do!  Trent’s parents are planning a trip to a Royals game in 2 weeks, so I’m sure we’ll do that as well.  Then it’ll be time to get serious about getting ready for school.  It’s hard to believe it’s already this time of the year!  Once my birthday hits every year, I know I have to start getting ready to head back to work…

I hope you all had a good weekend and that things are going well for you!  Sorry about the overload of pictures — I enjoy sharing them!