Monday, July 15, 2013

Busy Days

I know, I promised to be more faithful about this blogging thing, but...it just hasn't happened.  So, now, I find myself having to catch up one more time.

When I left you hanging, we were on our way to Gillette, Wyoming, to join the Advance Team in preparation for the 53rd Escapades.  We did just that and spent the month of June helping where and how we could.  Although,

DSC_0048-001

Bob and Molly, Wallace and Wanda had already been hard at work, there were last minute things we helped finish.  However, some days I thought all we did was dodge the

DSC_0210

storms that kept rolling through.  I don't think, I have ever pulled in the slides or lower the satellite more than I did while we were in Gillette.  We even weathered a

DSC_0212

hail storm that left the ground looking like a snow storm had come through.  We are still thinking that we will have to contact our insurance regarding our air conditioners.  We have lots of little bent fins.  But, no time to think about that at the time.

We continued our work, thinking about how we would

DSC_0051

decorate the 147 tables for the big banquet and how we would do this or do that, and putting the finishing touches on a lot of different things.

We did take a day out for a little fun and headed to Kaycee, Wyoming, to

DSC_0079

the Chris LeDoux Days and Rodeo.  We saw some pretty amazing

DSC_0156-001

cowboys ride some pretty amazing horses.  It was a great day.

Soon, the days passed us by and before we knew it, it was time to get really busy.  There were 597 rigs due to come in and they were all expecting us to be ready for the 53rd Escapade...we were and what a great week it was...

The

DSC_0234

stage was decorated and set the scene and mood for the week.

Wanda and Wallace

 DSC_0245

were always on the move taking care of seminars and making sure all the other golf carts were on the move.

One of the biggest highlights of the week was Tuesday when we raised

DSC_0241

lots of money with

DSC_0230

donuts for care!  We even had some great

DSC_0226

cheerleaders to encourage the sale of the donuts.

Great job everyone!

The days passed quickly, and soon we were to Thursday, and preparing a birthday banquet for almost 1,200 people.  I was so busy that day, I didn't even get one picture!  So, just take my word that it was a big success and everyone had a great time.  But, the banquet meant that the 53rd Escapade was coming to a close and it was time for us to say good-bye to lots of old friends and to the new friendships that were made during the week.

Then, with a big sigh and a second breath, it was time to

DSC_0110 

pack up the big red truck.  And, all that left of this story...is to say...see you next year in Goshen, Indiana.

We then had a couple of days to relax and catch our breath before we headed South, out of beautiful countryside of

DSC_0246  

Wyoming and into

DSC_0260

Colorado...hello Rocky Mountains!

After wiggling through

DSC_0253

downtown Denver, we arrived at Diamond Campground in Woodland Park, Colorado.  We settled into our site and did a little regrouping.  Then this past Wednesday, we were up early and headed back into Denver to the airport to pick up

DSC_0264

four of our grandchildren. They are spending a couple of weeks with us here in the mountains.

What started off to be a great day ending up being a very trying and tiring day for us all.  As soon as we left the airport, we stopped and fed a very hungry bunch before heading back for the mountain.  We drove through a couple of heavy rains and were soon stopped on Hwy. 24, turned around, and sent back down the mountain to Manitou Springs.  The heavy rain had caused a mudslide and washed three cars off the road.

Okay, now what?  We drove around for a little while, then decided to stop off by the Pikes Peak Cog Railway to purchase tickets for a future day.

By this time it had stopped raining, so we decided to take a drive through

DSC_0266

The Garden of The Gods, one of my favorite spots.  We found a rock to

DSC_0277

climb through, and

DSC_0269

pose for a sassy picture before we tried once more to get up the mountain.  No way...every entrance was blocked.  Soooo, we did a little more sightseeing, took in the

DSC_0112

crazy sculptures up by the Broadmoor Hotel, found a place for pizza...because, by now, we are all starving again!  After dinner, we decided to give Hwy 24 another try.  And, just to keep this story straight, we are now going on almost 12 hours since we left Woodland Park.  Finally, the road was open, and we could make our way back to the campground.

On the way up the mountain, we saw

DSC_0294

where the mud had covered the road.  The snowplows had been there clearing the roadway.  No, wonder it took all afternoon to clear the cars and the mud.  We were just thankful, we had stopped to have that lunch after the airport or we might have been in the middle of that mud.

We had a better day on Thursday, and Friday, we celebrated

DSC_0442

Kourtney's 6th birthday.

She chose to go to Santa's Workshop.  My nephews and great nephew joined us and we had a great time with them.

The kids all had fun

DSC_0385

riding the

DSC_0384 

many rides and Kourtney even got in an

DSC_0346

early visit with Santa. 

After a long day in the park, we enjoyed a mini family

DSC_0446

cookout back at the campground.  Kourtney said, it was her best birthday ever!

Saturday was a day to regroup and do a few

DSC_0450

of the necessary things.

Yesterday, we were up early again, and off to pick up Zachary, who flew in to meet up with us for a few days.  Now, we have five grandkids...just missing the 2 year old!

The older kids were excited to finally be all together for what they have always known as summer vacation with Poppa and Moppa.  Caden and Kourtney are learning and learning quickly!

Last night they made a great

DSC_0006

campfire, made S'mores and watched the

DSC_0001

deer come through our campsite.  And, when the cool air and light rain ran us inside, they

DSC_0013

all resorted to games on their ipads. Lots of competition and gaming going on!

After a great night's sleep through the rain and cool night, they were all up, ready for breakfast, and an adventure!

We decided to take in the

DSC_0027

Olympic Training Center.

They all shopped and shopped,

DSC_0020

played around, and

DSC_0018

lifted weights.  All of which made them hungry...

So, we were off to make a plan over lunch at Rudy's.  The decision was a trip to Seven Falls.

They were off...and

DSC_0043

headed up 185 steps to the top.   They made it to the

DSC_0041

half way mark...caught their breath, and

made it

DSC_0034

to the top in record time.

We saw

DSC_0036

Poppa, who waited on us at the bottom...smart man!

Once we were back down, they had a fun time

DSC_0059

meeting the local residents of the park.

This one got real friendly with

DSC_0073

Lauren, while

Kourtney

DSC_0069

wasn't real sure she wanted the little guy in her space.

Caden

DSC_0080

just wanted them to come to him and

DSC_0071

Andrew and

@

Zachary couldn't keep them away.

Well, enough of those

DSC_0068

fat faced little guys...and they were off to climb

DSC_0107

more steps.  This trip, I stopped at the first level and let them

DSC_0093

go all the way to the top.

We all had a fun afternoon at

DSC_0087

the falls.

All those steps today have worn them out and they are all tucked into bed.

And, now...I am thinking those busy days in Gillette have prepared me for these busy days.. but, oh, my...what fun they are!

See you after our next adventure!

1 comment:

  1. What memories those kids are going to have about your vacations with them. I can't believe how they are all growing so fast.

    Great looking family Moppa

    ReplyDelete