Garden of the Gods 08/27/10

After making Shannon steak and eggs for breakfast this morning (he has only been home a total of 3 days in the past 2 weeks working between the fire station and St. Francis ER) I felt motivated to enjoy this beautiful morning. I told Ava after breakfast we were going to see some red rocks. As we drove closer she was so excited to see and touch these "big rocks/mountains".

I was pulling into Garden of the Gods Park and this intuitive almost 3 yr old says with a gasp "Who painted the rocks red?!" I replied, "I suppose God did." An acceptable answer as we are at the Garden of the Gods named so because the Ute Indians and the first settlers were so enamored with the beauty of this place. Most of the trees you see in the pictures were planted by the settlers in the late 1800's and later in the 1900's to reclaim the damage/erosion caused by the millions of visitors to the park. Ava of course wanted to pick flowers and take some rocks. I had to explain that if everyone who visited this place took a flower or rock, there would be no more to see. You can never instill conservation and respect for nature too soon! ; )

We got Chase in the carrier and headed out. To see Ava so excited about hiking and seeing this beautiful place warmed my heart. She is so special! For an hour and a half we walked and looked at the rocks, reading the signs, watching the climbers, and having a little snack in the shade. It was a great morning with my babies and the weather was perfect.

Next on the list of things to do is Eleven Mile Canyon (one of Shannon and my favorite places since we moved here 9 yrs ago), the Colorado State Fair, and then maybe a drive thru Monarch Pass later in Sept. to watch the Aspens turn color.

Flashback-Before and After

Iowa vs Colorado

ML Photography, Indianola IA



No I am not talking about a Big 10 match up, just our whereabouts this past month. Lots of things going on in this house in July. Ava will start preschool on August 10. Chase rolled over and cut 2! teeth on our trip to Iowa. 12 days visiting family in Iowa and the 12 hour trip there is now 15 hours. Both kiddos did great, could not have asked for a better trip, however 15 hours of driving is really hard on the dad! We went swimmming several times which everyone loved, made smores at both grandparents house's, and we took a spin on the boat (which put Chase to sleep and made Ava dance). On Shannon's to do list was golfing and his 15 year class reunion. It was a fun family vacation and I love being able to say that! Aunt Missie took family pictures at their new house in Indianola. I have posted some of my favorites (with more to come).
ML Photography, Indianola, IA

It was fun to visit Iowa, but I was excited to return home and get the kids and who am I kidding, myself back into a routine. For about the last 8 years I have felt a tug at my heart everytime we left Iowa, but it was comforting to want to return home to Colorado. How awesome to feel grounded within a community that I know, now a church family to turn to as well as our family within the fire station and my work. We tried so hard to get back to Iowa and now I know why we never made it. Don't be afraid to ask the Lord to bless you, if you don't you will never have the gifts he has just waiting to give to you. (Prayer of Jabez) I am blessed...-sigh- :)

ML Photography, Indianola, IA