1st Week of Summer Vacation, or Yeah for Visitors!

The night of the last day of school, Sam’s oldest brother Brad, his wife Winnie, and their three children arrived in Denver for a visit.  Although we love all of our extended family and cousins, Elle definitely has a special place in her heart (cousin crush?) on Caleb, and there had been much anticipation regarding their visit.  Like months of countdown, papers all around the house with the word “June” on them (June for when Caleb was coming), etc.  We tried to pack a lot of fun in to the time they were here.
Wednesday included a Rockies vs. Red Sox game.  Sam and Brad lived in Boston when Sam was a baby, and have been Red Sox (and Celtic) fans ever since, so they were very excited to find out that Brad’s visit to Denver coincided with the Red Sox being here to play the Rockies.
 
Wednesday included a trip to the Denver Zoo (a specific request from Emma).  It was a bit spur of the moment, so we weren’t totally prepared for the almost 100 degree day.  I about died when I got there and opened my trunk to discover no stroller.  But we rented a wagon and made the best of our time there.
 
We spent Wednesday afternoon and evening driving up Mt. Evans.  Sam considers it to be THE “must-do” thing in the Denver area.  He is most likely the ONLY person in Denver who feels that way, but that’s okay.  It is the highest auto road in America, and it  is a “14-er” that you can drive almost all the way to the top of.  I just don’t like the four hours in the car it takes to get there and back.
 
The mountain goats at the top are always a hit with the kids.
       
Lots of pictures at the top.
We stopped at the lake half way down the mountain to eat the picnic dinner we brought, but it wasn’t the picturesque experience I was hoping for.  Most everyone ate in the car while Campbell cried on the picnic blanket.
    
Friday we went swimming:
 
And then went to Bennett’s baseball game that night.  It was almost as fun as the Red Sox game on Wednesday.

Saturday, Brad and Winnie’s family and Sam and the three oldest kids headed up to Rocky Mountain National Park for a night.  They spent Saturday in Estes, driving through Rocky Mountain, and hiking to a waterfall.
        
That night they slept in a Yurt in the park.  They had to hike in a 1/4 mile through mud to get there, but it was apparently worth it, for everyone seemed to have a great time.
 
Dinner in the Yurt – grilled cheesers and soup.
 
Sam loves his car, and thinks Elle will drive it when she is 16.  Cute, huh?
   
Views of the inside and outside of the Yurt.
The next morning they hiked back to the cars and met me and Campbell in Fort Collins for the start of Week 2 of our Summer Vacation, or Trip to Utah.  Stay tuned for that very exciting post.
 
Rachel carrying Reagan through the mud to the car.  So sweet. 
We really were grateful they drove all the way to Denver to see us, and had a great time with their family.  Thanks for coming, Lehi Millers.