Hancock Lake

    We had another great weekend at the cabin last weekend.  The weather was just perfect.  We could not have asked for a more beautiful weekend.  One nice thing about the mountains in the summer is that it doesn't get too hot like it does down in the city.  It such a perfect temperature.
    Since the weather was glorious, we spent almost all of our time outside.  I think we only went inside to sleep and cook.  We even ate outside.  It was so nice.  On Saturday, while Gracie napped, my dad took the kids and I to Hancock Lake.  I had only been one time before and it was years ago.  We had a nice ride getting there.  Once you get there, you have to hike into the lake.  It has rained a lot, so we basically got to go through a mud obstacle course.  It made the walk even more fun.  The lake was beautiful and there were so many people up there for being so remote.  
    The rest of our time was spent playing outside and having fun with one another.   Ashlyn picked out a wildflower guide book from the general store.  It has pictures of all the wildflowers of Colorado to identify.  We went on a ride and went looking for wildflowers.  We had such a fun time spying different flowers and then identifying them in the book.  That book will definitely provide us with some entertainment.  Its funny, life is so simple up there that it truly is like going back in time and finding fun in the most simplistic things.   It was honestly a perfect weekend.

The background 

Such a neat shot

Leaving the general store

Alli is a spoiled dog and gets to ride in the back of the Arctic Cat.  

Chipmunk time

Gracie hasn't really gotten down feeding them . She was offering them one seed at a time.  

She also really wants to hold them.  

Evidence of the mining past

My dad got Ashlyn this tightrope that you tie between two trees.  This thing provided her with endless entertainment.  She loved walking over and over across that thing.  

She got really fast

Our little monkey girl

She loves to play with balls

Hiking up the lake

Dawson is already a pro

Hancock Lake at the top of the world

In front of the lake

Enjoying dinner outside on a perfect night

Joey and Gracie being silly

Aunt Jane sent me a link to these things called Campfire Cones to try.  They are basically Smores made in ice cream cones.  The kids had fun making them and they were so much less messy than Smores.  We will definitely be making them again and again.  

Don't forget the marshmallows  

As the kids were eating, they got an unexpected dinner guest.  The deer love to cross the yard and get so close without even realizing it.  

Cute deer

Taking in some wildlife while they ate

Trying out his cone

Ashlyn gave it a big thumbs up!

Ashlyn learning to drive.  Watch out!!!