Family Vacation 2014: Part 1

Every 2 years, we go on a big family vacation with my family.

2010 - South Dakota/Colorado (pregnant with Natalie)

2012 - Outer Banks, NC

2014 - Durango, CO

2016 - ???  I vote for a beach vacation :)

On this trip, we drove with both girls in the car over 3,000 miles!  I was really not looking forward making this road trip because Aubrey is not typically a great traveler and never really has been. However, the girls did AMAZING and we really couldn't have asked for a more smooth road trip. We took about 3 days to get out to Durango and only 2 to make it back. Bobby drove the whole way (his choice because I did offer). The favorite snacks of the trip were grapes, blueberries, cucumbers, peppers, and beef jerky.

Natalie is not a morning person :)

worthless stop that I do not recommend in Vandalia, IL

 Yummy place to eat in Columbia, MO...Shotgun Pete's BBQ

 On the way there we stopped in Kansas City, MO and stayed at the Great Wolf Lodge which the girls loved, as did we. We have never been disappointed in a stay at this hotel and they definitely make it a hotel that has more of a resort feel so you could spend your entire weekend there without getting bored.  We highly recommend these hotels. Also, Natalie LOVED their mascot 'Violet' and even hugged her TWICE, which is huge for her since she normally does not like any large character (recall the Easter Bunny?!). We now have a small stuffed animal of Violet!  Natalie and Bobby also got to experience how they close the waterpark at night...with the howling of wolves, which Natalie thought was great and we got to hear her story of the wolves for the rest of the trip.

 An interesting and fun place to eat was Fritz's Railroad Restaurant that you order from your booth on telephone and then your food is delivered by a train that moves around the top of the restaurant. Natalie actually requested to go there tonight for dinner, but we had to explain how we don't have that restaurant here in Terre Haute. :)

We drove through lovely Kansas the next day...although it was a pretty day, there is absolutely NOTHING around!!!!

our artist of the trip :)

 We did see double rainbows in Kansas both on our way out to Colorado and our way home.

Our house for the week was awesome, but too hi-tech for even Bobby to figure out!

master bath

master bedroom

entryway

living room/dining room

kitchen

That was just the top floor!  The downstairs had a pool table, fireplace area, tv area, 2nd laundry room and 2  more masters.

view from the patio 

The next day we headed to Mesa Verde National Park. Aubrey was too young to hike the trail to Cliff Palace (although she probably would have done fine), so her and I stayed back while the rest of the clan made the hike. We were at the park all day and were tired after the trip, but it was worth it and very neat to see. Natalie loved seeing where the Indians lived.

twins!

This part, we were actually able to climb down into, which was fun to see!