Category: Travel

Working Vacation

While we normally go to Colorado for a vacation and to do some needed clean up, this year we went with the goal of helping to re-side Grandma’s house.  It was a lot of hard work, and we did not finish the whole house, but we were able to get a lot done.

Everyone got to help in some way.  Megan learned to paint and the older kids learned how to put siding on.

It was not all work, we also visited family and explored. We did confirm one thing, nine days for travel and being in Colorado is not enough time!

 

Sunday in Colorado

On Sunday, we enjoyed being able to go the Firemen’s Breakfast before church. Their menu has grown and we enjoyed a lot of good food.  Andrea tried a breakfast burrito with green chili and sausage gravy and had the best breakfast of all!

Then we had the privilege of going to a.m. church with Uncle Bill and Aunt Bonnie.  Megan loved being able to snuggle with Uncle Bill.

It had turned very chilly overnight.  After church Audrey picked up a Monarch butterfly she had noticed before service.  While driving home she began to giggle.  The butterfly was still alive!

Though cold, we spent some time outside. We had a needed lazy day and then drove into Colorado Springs so we could go to church with Uncle Dan and Aunt Debbie.  The younger two got to enjoy Awana.  We got home after dark, but enjoyed being able to be with family.

Saturday in Colorado

We drove into Colorado bright and early on Saturday.  Allan drove most of the way, while everyone else slept.  Around 2:00, he needed a nap, so I drove for a few hours.  Mark commented on the falling stars he noticed and we discussed what animals belonged to the eyes and shadows running across the road.

After breakfast, Allan took a needed nap, and the kids and I acted like we were working for a few hours. After lunch and naps, we put in a few hours of real work before enjoying the beautiful Colorado sunset.

Homecoming

This last weekend we drove down to see Mark and enjoy Cedarville’s Homecoming.

All the freshmen engineers had a cardboard boat project.  They were to design a boat and build it using provided cardboard and tape.  Their grade would be determined, in part, if they made it across the lake or not.

Mark’s team worked hard. Their boat was not the fastest, but it made it across the lake with very little damage.

A few teams ended up taking a cool swim to the finish line.

Mark was disappointed that his team did not place high enough to be in the water fight after the race.  However, he was excited when his professor saw his boat, liked the design, and asked if he could put it on display in the engineering building for the next year.

Mark had homework, but joined us as often as he could over the weekend.  We enjoyed a few concerts, watched a movie outside, went to a parade –collected lots of candy– and just spent time together.

It was great to see Mark and meet some of his friends.  He enjoys school and the opportunities to learn a lot!

History Ride

On Saturday, we were given a ride in a 1929 Model A Ford.  The chauffeur, Mr. Stoner, said that he bought this car when he was 17 and has owned it ever since.

Megan was not interested in riding in the car at first, but after her first “date” with Mark, she was hooked.  She rode three different times!  Mark and Adrian asked many questions and learned a lot about the car’s history.  They inquired about the machine gun in the back window and learned that Al Capone was in Elkhart a few times. Everyone enjoyed the history lesson!

Ready for Hiking

hiking

campsignI am ready for a good back packing trip. Since Mark was a newborn, we have often taken the kids out for challenging vacations.  As the kids grow older, Allan keeps looking for new places to take us.  When Mark was seven, Andrea almost five, Audrey just three and we were waiting for Adrian, we went to Glacier National Park for a week of back country hiking.

The older two had to walk all of the way and Audrey did a fair amount of hiking herself.  We slept in a tent and ate dehydrated food all week. We played in ice cold mountain rivers and explored bear country.tent

(It is cold outside, and I am daydreaming of a good hike with the family.  I wonder where we should go?)