Colorado Springs

We were off with the Ozaki's in July to Colorado Springs for a few days. We flew there since it was quite a drive. Would you believe the whole time it was drizzly and cloudy so we never saw Pike's Peak until the day we were leaving of course! We loved it. But it would have been great to take the cog train up to the top of the mountain but there was hardly any point.

This was the inaugural flight for my new luggage that I got for my birthday!

Airport selfie

While we were there we ate at a couple of Diners, Drive Inns & Dives places. Randall is always great at scoping those out for us. The Bagel Deli was fun. A real Jewish Delicatessen so I had my first taste of knish and matzo ball soup. Pretty darn good. The Denver Biscuit Co was amazing. It was only open until two each day so we hit that on our way to the airport going home. Now it was incredible. Lori and I both got the french toast biscuits to go thinking we would eat them on the plane but we were still so stuffed we didn't have ours until the next day.

We have always wanted to see the Garden of the Gods. It was a little smaller than I thought it would be but just beautiful. We thought on our way back through we would hike a bit but it was raining by then so we just drove through. So now we have to go back because the hiking trails looked so fun.

 Randall had also scoped out this cool castle. Ayre Castle that had limited tours that were unfortunately all full for the rest of our time there so another thing we have to go back and do. When I looked online I saw that they did afternoon teas that Lori and I were dying to go to. Rats they were all sold out too!!

 We went to these cliff dwellings that were right there. I didn't think it would be that much of a big deal after Mesa Verde etc but they were very cool. You could go all around in them so that made it even more cool.

 

 It was misty all day threatening to pour and finally it did let loose so we went to the Cave of the Winds. I love caverns so I loved it. Still can't see Pike's Peak!

 

 

 

 

 

 Here we are touching the only rock you are allowed to touch. Good luck was promised so we will see.

Lori and I walked all around old town Colorado City and Manitou Springs and shopped and explored one day. We hit this place for lunch and had some amazing homemade butternut squash ravioli.

Last food pic of the post I promise!

 On our last night we went to Tucannos to celebrate Randall's birthday. We love that place. During dinner it started to pour and HAIL and everything. There was lightening and quite the storm hit. We kinda enjoyed that too except the rain was leaking in where Lori was sitting.

July 4th

We stayed in the valley this year for the 4th. Of course we had a big BBQ too.

It's what we do best. It kept threatening to rain all day and sure enough when it was time to put the food out and eat here it came so we just ate inside. It was just drizzling but who wants to eat with rain drops? After dinner we headed up to Ashley's to do sparklers and little stuff with the kids and watch the town fireworks.

Swinging those glow lights from Aunt Alisha!

 

 The boys had a blast running around with the sparklers and lighting off all the fun stuff from their family and Grammy & Grandpa too.

As soon as the town fireworks ended we took our chairs to the front yard and watched the spectacular show from the neighbors! What a fun night. The pictures don't do it justice.

Shopping Day

Christina and I found the cutest little boutique store awhile ago and we have loved popping in from time to time to drool and window shop. It was a secret really but I guess I can finally share. I was able to find a day when Ashley could go see it so we took the day for a girl's shopping trip. We missed Christina who hasn't been able to make it down this summer but we decided we couldn't wait any longer and went. First stop...Amber's Umbrella.

Ta Da...best store ever!

 We spent all morning browsing and drooling and lots of ohhh and ahhhhs. I wish I had a million dollars that kind of thing. I did finally take the plunge and buy some vintage suitcases though and made my suitcase stack for the living room. Pretty exciting for me.

 The shopping was followed by a fantabulous lunch at Zupas of course. After lunch Ashley suggested a cupcake shop she had tried before and I was all over that. Who can resist a cupcake after all?

 Oh ya it was so good. Grasshopper cupcakes for dessert. Loved them. We did some more shopping and finished off the day tired but pretty darn happy! It was wonderful to spend the day together and I am pretty sure Ashley enjoyed being childless for a bit too. Win win.

My vintage suitcase stack sits proudly in the corner even though Mendis called it a pile of junk. Men!

Father's Day

We had our traditional Father's Day Breakfast Buffet. There's no going back now because it's tradition and well loved by all, especially the dad's. We met Ashley & Benjy and their kids at the Red Rock this year bright and early so they wouldn't run out of food on us, lol. We were anticipating a big ol' line but we got lucky and there was none at all. Any other Saturday it would be packed! We all had a yummy breakfast and I am happy to say no one was worrying about their stupid diets this morning.

 Luckily the green jello only got mauled but not eaten!

Really it's all about watching the kids eat. With this kind of entertainment what else do you need right!!

So Mendis and I went shopping after for his present. He got a new grill finally. A webber that just got delivered to our house this week in fact. We are both pretty excited to fire that baby up. See what I did there!

So Saturday night we took Grandpa Cooper out for Father's day with the Coopers to Buca de Beppo. Seriously we had two meals that day and we were still full.

 After dinner we introduced Ashley and Benjy to the Sweet Tooth Fairy for cupcakes and cookies! You're welcome Ash.

Play Date with Cooper

I had the day off June 3 so I thought it would be a great day to have Cooper over to play. It was the last full day of school so we drove by and watched the kids at Water Day on the way by. We played with the marbleworks, the water toy, puzzles and tiles and colored. 

How cute is that!

 Cooper watched the Jungle Book while I made popcorn for Ashley's mutual. He started off in a pretty normal position but morphed into this.

 Cooper did help me test the popcorn to make sure it was ok. Every time he walked by he tested it lol.