The DeLorme Family: June 2014

   We were all very excited when Joey told us that he had planned a surprise trip for all of us. Joey is very good at surprises and he remained very tight lipped despite all of us begging for hints. The only thing he would tell us was that we would be gone for two nights, a general guideline of what to pack, and that we were in for a once in a lifetime experience. I was very curious where we were going.
     Wednesday morning, we packed up the van and headed out. I was very excited to see which way he headed because I thought it would give me a clue. We started driving in the direction of the cabin. I was pretty confused at that point. When we got to Buena Vista, we headed a different direction. We ended up going over Independence Pass which was a first for me. It was so scenic and just a gorgeous drive.
   We soon arrived in Aspen. Joey told me we had a little bit of time to kill at that point. I was even more intrigued. Dawson had fallen asleep, so we couldn't really walk around. I had never been to Aspen before and was just in awe at how beautiful it was in the summer time. There were tall trees everywhere. We had a great time just driving around and looking at all the spectacular houses.
     Before long, Joey said it was time to meet Bill. I had no idea who Bill was, but I knew that he had something to do with where we were going. We drove down the highway for a bit and stopped at a small store. We waited for Bill and soon he pulled up in his Jeep. We started to follow Bill. We were all so excited at this point and our curiosity was out of control. We followed Bill down a dirt road quite a ways. Bill finally drove down a driveway and parked in a field. I didn't really see anything around, so I was still so confused.
    We got out and Bill showed us the wooden bridge we had to walk across. We walked across the bridge, and I immediately saw our destination: a giant tree house!!!! It was truly unlike anything I had ever seen before. I was really excited, but the kids were a little confused and didn't quite understand yet. We walked up to the tree house and we were all so excited to go in. It was the coolest thing ever!   It had everything that you would need. It didn't have cable or any cell phone service so it was a true getaway. Bill showed us around the tree house. It was small, but had the neatest layout. There was a loft and a main room. The tree house had two beautiful balconies for us to sit outside and take in the beautiful scenery. The best part was there was a stream right outside the tree house. Listening to the stream made the whole thing that much more serene. We all immediately fell in love with the place!
    Once Bill left, and we settled in and explored for a bit, we decided to go get some food. The tree house was about 15 minutes from the town of Glenwood Springs. I had never been there before, and I was very excited to check it out. Joey did a lot of research and found some good restaurants for us to try. We headed to town and went to a steak restaurant called Juicy Lucy's. They had an amazing roof top dining area. We had a wonderful meal enjoying the perfect weather on top of a building. It was a great experience!
Once we finished dinner, we were all very excited to head back to the tree house. The kids were especially excited to get back. The tree house had a small hot tub on the deck that the kids were dying to sit in. We got back and changed into our bathing suits and went for a dip. The hot tub was really not all that hot, which was actually perfect because it allowed the kids to sit in it for a long time. After our tub time, we were all more than ready for bed after our day of excitement.
   The next morning, we were up bright and early. There were nearby rooster and chickens that were crowing very early. I didn't mind at all because the kids wake up super early anyways and it was such a neat alarm clock. Joey told us he had breakfast and a day of fun planned for us. We got ready and drove back to town. Joey had picked out a breakfast place called Daily Bread. It was an excellent choice. The food was wonderful. Everything was homemade and they had strawberry peach jelly that was out of this world.
    After breakfast, Joey told us that we were going to go to the local amusement park. It was one of the neatest amusement parks I have ever been to. To begin, you park at the bottom and take a gondola up. The gondola ride was an experience in itself. It was a bit scary, but we made it to the top unscathed. Once we got to the top, we walked into a wild west town. It was so, so neat. The best part was it was literally on the top of a mountain. We had a great time there. Ashlyn and I rode the alpine slide which was one of the scariest rides I have ever been on, and she loved it. We also got our old time picture taken. Joey and I did this with Ashlyn when she was a baby. He has been wanting to take another since Dawson was born, but we just hadn't gotten around to it. We all had a great time dressing up. We stayed for a few hours, but we left when we were ready for some lunch.
    We had lunch at a burrito fast food restaurant. It was pretty good. By this point, it was mid-afternoon and we were all dying to get back to the tree house. We had already been away for too long. We grabbed some food to make dinner and headed back to our paradise in the mountains. We were all kind of tired, so we cuddled up and watched Dawson's favorite Lego movie. After the movie and some rest, Joey cooked dinner. The tree house had a fire pit, so we knew it was s'more time. We had some excellent s'mores and a great time sitting by the fire. After the fire, the kids and I got back into the hot tub. We had so much fun just hanging out together. After the hot tub, it was late and time for bed. We got the kids to bed and Joey and I sat outside on the beautiful deck. That deck was just amazing.
    I was awoken that night to lots of creaking. Since the house is literally built in the trees, when its windy, it starts to shake a bit. It makes a lot of creaky noises and they were kind of scaring me. I was finally able to fall asleep. It was the only downside I found to staying in a tree house.
    The next morning, we were up bright and early like usual. We quickly got dressed and headed to town for breakfast. We went to Daily Bread again. I got an omelet this time and it was one of the best I have ever had. After breakfast, we headed back to the tree house. Sadly, it was time to pack up because our stay had come to an end. We packed up and took a bunch of last minute pictures so we could always remember our very special stay.
    Joey had originally planned for us to go to the hot springs in Glenwood. However, it was pretty expensive and I just wasn't sure how Graceyn would do and what we would do while they were swimming. I didn't want to pay for the expensive tickets and only get to stay a few hours. We decided to head home. We went through Denver this time and enjoyed another scenic drive.
      Joey did such a fantastic job with surprising us with a getaway. I don't think he could have picked a neater place for us to go. I know it's definitely a trip we will all remember for many years to come.

We stopped for donuts at the Donut Milll in Woodland Park. They are so big and so good!

One of the lakes we saw on our way up.

The kids had a great time stretching their legs while I fed Gracie.

Dawson on the top of the world.

Walking around Independence Pass

Bill's jeep that we followed.

The adorable bridge we had to cross to get to the tree house

Our mountain paradise for two nights.

A side view of the tree house

The awesome deck. I could literally live on this deck.

So rustic and cozy

This was the outside area next to the tree house.

I loved this sign and feel that it is so very true.

Everything was so lush and green.

The walk way to the tree house

The small kitchen

The rock shower

These were the stairs leading to the loft

Part of the loft upstairs.

The bed upstairs

Another view of the bed

The kids relaxing

Joey and his baby girl

So happy to finally be at the tree house

Ashlyn had a great time exploring

Checking out the stream.

Our roof top dinner

Having a great time

This restaurant has the world's best onion rings.

Dawson discovered the horse shoes and loved throwing them.

Hot tub time

This is where Dawson and Ashlyn slept together. Gracie was cuddling with them in the morning.

So pretty

Awesome bridge shot

The girls and I at breakfast

The gondola we rode up

Dawson waiting for our gondola car

The view from the gondola

This was a box that was supposed to mimic climbing through a cave. It was so tiny and enclosed. It made me claustrophobic just looking at it, but of course Ashlyn was not afraid to climb through. Love how brave that girl is!