Family Vacations

June has been a busy month for us - but good!

At the beginning of June, my parents came out for a few days in the mountains in Keystone, CO.

It was so nice to see them, but unfortunately, Ezra was sick for the first two days and sort of still recovering for the rest of the time, so he was extra clingy and not too excited about Grandma & Grandpa time until the end of the trip. Still, it was fun.

My dad got to try out his new fly fishing equipment, as did Ross, but I don't think either of them caught anything. We went for a few walks around the trails in Keystone, did some shopping, and walked around Breckenridge. And of course, we all utilized the hot tubs - except Ezra, who randomly decided they were the worst thing ever, much to Grandma Helen's disappointment.

In Breckenridge

Swinging with Grandma Helen

Playing in Breckenridge

Playing on a granite slide in Breckenridge

Reading with Grandma Helen

Reading with Grandpa Bob

Moving on… a few weeks later, it was time for another family vacation in the mountains. This time was a week-long family reunion with the Lehman side in Estes Park. Ross's dad's siblings and their children and grandchildren have managed to stay close, getting together once a year for either Thanksgiving or a summer trip, so we were glad to see these relatives as well.

Besides catching up with relatives, we did some hiking in Rocky Mountain National Park. We kept it pretty light - a 3-mile hike to Bierstadt Lake (which was not all that easy - lots of switchbacks for a 900 foot elevation gain) and some easy hiking around Bear Lake. Ross and his sister Meredith did a longer day hike. We also took the harrowing drive up Trail Ridge Road in the national park.

We also rode the aerial tramway up Prospect Mountain in Estes Park. I had visited Estes when I was 5 years old, and the tram and park at the top were one of the few clear memories I have, so I had to see it again. The ride did not disappoint - and this time I was tall enough to see out the windows! And the chipmunks in the park at the summit were still just as adorable and disconcertingly happy to beg for peanuts as they had been 22 years ago.