Tuesday, July 23, 2013

Day 7

    On Friday, we spent most of morning around the cabin doing our usual activities.  We decided that we wanted to head back to Buena Vista to do a little more exploring there.  Katy and I were also desperate for a shower, so we wanted to stop by Joey's Dad's house to take one. 
       We had noticed a museum in Buena Vista that looked interesting.  I just love museums and since I teach Colorado history, I love any chance I can get to learn more about our state's past.  The museum was in a very old building that once was the court house.  They then moved the court house and it became the school for many years.  There was a lot of history just in the building.  The museum contained a lot of old things from the past.  It was kind of disorganized, but still really neat to look at all of the old stuff.  They had one room that was devoted to old school things.  They had old typewriters that the kids got to type on.  They really liked that!
    On the top floor, they had a model train set up.  A local train club spent four years building a train replica of the Buena Vista/Salida/Leadville area how it was a hundred years ago.  The tour guide was very knowledgeable and gave us lots of information about the history of the train.  Dawson was of course beside himself to see such a large model train.  Ella kept exclaiming, "I want to go in there!"  We got a kick out of that one!  
    They had a second part of the museum that was out a park nearby.  We had to go to the second part because it was a train museum.  The neatest part was that they had a hundred year old real train caboose.  We got to go inside of it and see what a caboose was like back then.  The only bad part was poor Ella and Dawson were under the impression that they train moved and would take us somewhere.  
    After the museum we headed back to the park so the kids could play and run around a bit.  We got a great game of chase going.  We got pretty hungry, so we headed to a local restaurant for dinner. After dinner, we headed to Joey's Dad's house for a much needed shower!  Boy did that feel good!  We had another great day!!

The boys hanging out
The outside of the museum

Part of the model train

The caboose

The train museum

There was a lot to look at

Checking out a train

This was inside the old caboose.  These wooden benches were actually beds the conductor, engineer, and other train members slept on. 

Where the conductor sat

The side of the caboose. It looks much bigger on the outside than it feels on the inside. 

We couldn't get a picture with all three looking at the camera


Jameson discovered this tunnel that he just loved!

Cutest baby face in the world!

The boys having fun

Time to play chase

They just love to run


They also love to spin

The park is always a fun time!

Monday, July 22, 2013

Cabin - Day 6

     After spending a few days out exploring the area, we decided that we needed to spend a day at the cabin.  We started the day with a pancake breakfast followed by a trip to the chipmunks.  The kids never ever get sick of feeding those chipmunks.  Dawson is usually pretty leery of them, but he started letting them eat out of his hand.  
   After chipmunks, Katy took Jameson back to the cabin for a nap.  Joey and I took the kids on a ride.  After the ride, I decided to go on a run.  I love running up there, even though it is very hard because of the elevation.  Running at 10,000 feet is no joke!  That particular day I had a phenomenal run.  I was running on a road with lots of atv's.  I got a lot of thumbs up from people passing by which put a big smile on my face.  
     We spent the rest of the day going down to the river, blowing bubbles, and having fun.  It was really nice having a day to just relax at the cabin and not go anywhere. 
  

Feeding the chipmunks


Finally not afraid of them anymore!!!




Taking a pit stop during our ride

They love any excuse to run around

This is an old mining building.  Joey and I joked with the kids that we were going to stay the night there.  They weren't phased in the least. 

Ella and Uncle Joey
My AWESOME trail run. 

The scenery can not be beat!

Down below is another retired mine. 

Bridge by Mary Murphy Mine

Popsicle time by the river!!!



Alli getting her exercise

Dawson loves throwing sticks. 

More of their favorite activity: chasing bubbles!



We learned Jameson liked to pop bubbles too!

A deer we saw one night.

We bought the kids glow in the dark bubbles.  The problem was that it got dark so late up there that we had a hard time finding a time to use them.  One night Joey found Ashlyn still awake in her bed.  He brought her outside and "activated" the bubbles.  He said the look on her face was priceless.  She thought they were the coolest things ever!

Blowing the bubbles at night

Sunday, July 21, 2013

Salida

   On Wednesday, we ventured down to the lovely town of Salida.  Joey, the kids, and I went there last year and really enjoyed it.  It's quite a bit bigger than Buena Vista and there is lots to do.  They have a neat Main Street with lots of neat little of shops.   They also have a really neat park right next to the river that is a lot of fun.
     We started our day with some shopping on Main Street.  They have a toy store and all the kids got to pick out a small toy to play with.  We walked around some more and did lots of window shopping.  We worked up quite an appetite and we were ready for some lunch.
     Last year, we went to a restaurant called Amica's because it had been highly recommended to us.  We had a great experience and couldn't wait to go back.  It is a popular place and we were glad we got there early.   It is a pizza place and they make some of the best pizza I have ever had.  The pizzas are wood fired and taste amazing.  We were once again happy with our lunch choice.
    After lunch, we headed down to the park.  The kids wanted to check out the river.  The Arkansas River is so beautiful and we love any opportunity to spend time by it.  After getting in the river, the kids played in the park for a bit.  By this point, the kids were starting to get a little tired.  On the walk back to the car, we stopped in a neat little coffee shop for ice cream.  It was the perfect ending to a perfect day.
     Joey drove us all back to the cabin.  He and Ashlyn decided to go do some fishing.  After they fished for a while, they headed down to Papa's house and spent some time with him. 

The sides of the buildings have neat paintings on them
Dawson reading his new book

Another building painting


Walking down Main Street

The amazing pizza

Enjoying lunch

By the river

Dawson climbing

These kids love the water

Dawson loved splashing in the water

Ashlyn in front of the rock climbing wall


More swinging


Ashlyn feeding her horse

She is so good with them

Carrying hay

She loves sitting on the horses



I love this picture!!!