and the very next day.... Colorado

I am not kidding literally we fed the slumber party ladies breakfast, sent them on their way, packed up, and left for Colorado around lunchtime. We drove to an area near Winter park and stayed with some friends at their parents vacation home. We had an absolute blast! We played games, made lots of yummy food, built bonfires, had smores, hiked, and just hung out, it was great, Thanks Mahoneys'! If you haven't been to Colorado you are missing out! I have never seen such amazing views, clouds, trees, mountains and sunsets in my life!! We took over 1000 pictures when it was all said and done...here are some.

This was driving in... I think it was Oklahoma.

 A waterfall we stopped to see on our way up the mountain.

 We went to a rodeo our first night there....

 and of course there was a rodeo clown.

 Maddux was gonna try mutton busting (riding a sheep!) he decided after watching the others get trampled by the sheep he wasn't going to do it (I didn't blame him!).

 Our friends son Trent wasn't gonna let a little trampling stop him...

 he hung on for a few seconds and he too got trampled but there were no tears, he loved it!!

 This is all the kids getting ready to chase the sheep and get a ribbon off of his tail. The rodeo clown thought it would be good for them to warm up by doing push ups.....in the mud!! His response to the whole crowd ooooooing at his idea, "ya'll are the ones you sent em out here"! Notice the one child not even coming close to the mud, I will give you one guess who she is!!

 And the chase begins!! Poor sheep.

Maddux's new friend and favorite part of the whole rodeo. 

 The next morning Jim and Faith got a glimpse at our early morning visitor right outside our living room window!

Maddux and Graci sitting in a funky tree on our first hike.

 The top of our hike that day was an amazing waterfall!

You would never know it from her face but she is loving playing on the sandbar. This is Evie our friends youngest. She was a hoot she shot these looks at people randomly all week long!


One of the views on our hikes, amazing!

and another.

 The next day the daddies took the kids fishing... Maddux the animal lover was a little unsure of a fish actually outside of a tank.

 The Mahoney boys with one of their fish.

 Maddux waiting for a fish.

Graci and our friends middle child, Maggie having a little girl time on the rocks.

 This was the day we headed to the top of one of the mountains the view were indescribable.

 The top of the mountain was about 40 degrees colder than the bottom, Graci is demonstrating exactly how cold it felt with shorts on.

  Maddux at the top.

I kept the window down most of the ride up the mountain due to the crazy amount of pictures I was taking so Maddux covered himself quite well with Jim's coat.

 and Graci tried to with my sweatshirt but it wasn't quite as big.

 and Jim was just being cool.... as usual.

I mean seriously!! That looks like a painting!!

 Graci and Maddux playing in a pile of snow on one of our hikes.

 One of the lakes we hiked around.

 Family picture!!

 The kids rock climbing.

 Somewhere along the way Graci learned to flash gang signs in pictures??

 Graci and Mommy

A picture of Jim and I, a rarity!!

Maddux and Daddy

 The whole crew!! Younces and Mahoneys

The elk thought our van was quite interesting.

 Sunset on top of the mountain.

This is an elk that Jim was trapped by on a outlook sight for sometime. The view wasn't bad as you can see so wasn't too upset. The kids and I had no idea what was taking so long so we sat in the car surrounded by a couple more elk that apparently likes us a lot.

Th