My Home is in Alabama

Although we didn't want to leave Colorado - we were excited to see our babies Roscoe, Gidget, Cassie and Ronnie.  We had an awesome time in Colorado.  The weather was great and the company was perfect.  It has been a long time since mom, dad and I have gone on a true vacation.  In the past years, they have been trips with TASRO, NASRO or some function where dad had to work and we would have a free day to be together.  So, this was a well deserved, long time coming vacation.
IT WAS TERRIFIC!  We were honored to be guests at a beautiful wedding and then became tourists for a week.  We were lazy when we wanted to be and tourists visiting different and unique attractions.

Thank you mom and dad for a wonderful, memorable, exciting and glorious time together with two of my best friends.

I LOVE U!

Fallen Fireman's Memorial & Air Force Academy

Yesterday July 16th, we spent our last day at the Fallen Fireman's Memorial and the Air Force Academy. 

While at the Fallen Fireman's Memorial there was a quiet air - it was sobering.  The first three walls were firefighters who died in 9/11.  We also found several AL firefighters - even Robert Davis, who is from Birmingham.  Dad and I both took several pictures to show our friends and family who are fireman this wonderful example of gratitude.

A short driver later, we arrived at the Air Force Academy.  I have a friend from high school who attended the air force and it was cool to see where she lived for so many years.  Jaime recommended seeing the Chapel and it was GORGEOUS!  It has beautiful architecture and would be a wonderful place to worship.  We spent about an hour there and it was time to head to get to the airport. 

Enjoy the pics from yesterday!

Garden of the Gods & Flying W Ranch

On our last full day of being tourists, we decided to go see the Garden of the Gods and attend the Flying W ranch.  The Garden of the Gods was a cool garden of rock formations.  We actually walked down into some of the garden and actually broke a sweat.  I mention the sweat b/c it was the first time in 7 days that any of us broke a sweat!  I guess the Dear Lord is preparing us for the weather back home.  After the Garden of the Gods, we drove back through Manitou Springs.  In my opinion the writers of  "Cars" got some of their inspiration from this town.  I am 100% sure that most of the hippies live in this town!!! 

Then, it was off to Flying W Ranch.  We received a traditional 'cowboy' dinner which consisted of cowboy beans, barbecued beef, potato, applesauce, roll and apple spice cake.  The food was good but nothing to write home about.  Eventually, we all pulled the 'eject' button and left before the traditional cowboy music began to play.  We hopped into the car and headed for Seven Falls.  After realizing it was almost $30.00 for 3 of us to get in, we hit another 'eject' button.

As a treat, we were greeted by a friendly deer on the side of road.  He was kind enough to pose for pictures!  We stopped by Target and got some milk for our cookies from Doubletree and headed back to the room to pack for home.

Enjoy the pics from today!

Pikes Peak, CO

On Thursday, July 14th we left Estes Park, CO and headed to Colorado Springs, CO.  We rode the Cogwheel train up to the summit of Pikes Peak.  At the base, we started out in our short sleeve shirts and at the top we were freezing in our jackets.  It was 42 degrees at the top with a windchill of 34!  Did I mention mom and I had on flip flops!!!  It was beautiful and again the pictures don't do it justice.  I think I will let the pictures do the talking this time...enjoy!

Stanley Hotel and Rooftop Rodeo

On Wednesday, July 13th we went back to the shops of downtown Estes Park to buy Ann the shirt I couldn't resist. We enjoyed a home cooked meal at Nicky's - lemon pepper chicken for me and mom and beef tips for dad. Then, it was time to find us a room in Colorado Springs, CO.  Once that was booked and confirmed, it was back to being tourists!
Our first stop of the day was a History and Ghost tour at The Stanley Hotel.  Stephen King wrote "The Shining" after staying one night in room 217.  The movie was not filmed at this hotel but Stephen King's miniseries was filmed at the actual Stanley Hotel.  Learning the history behind the hotel was more interesting to me than the ghost stories.  FO Stanley built his wife, Flora, the hotel because when they came to Estes Park for the summer - she was bored.  It was a pretty hotel and has a wonderful history, but I am glad we didn't stay there.

After a quick wardrobe change, it was off to the rodeo!  It was breast cancer awareness night.  This was a more appropriate night for us to be there supporting Nana back home.  It was moving to hear the announcer give the opening prayer (mom and I teared up), see the rodeo girl ride the area holding a huge American flay (more tears) and then hearing the entire crowd sing The National Anthem (...more tears).  As if I hadn't cried enough, they brought up 3 mamma horses and their babies.  I thought this was a rodeo and all I had done was cry!  After drying our tears, they brought out the action. We were able to see bareback bronc riding, team roping, saddle bronc riding, tie-down roping, steer wrestling, barrel racing and the ever-popular bull riding.  I thought I found me an Alabama cowboy, but he went to Troy.  It won't work.  HA!

Below are some pictures from The Stanley Hotel and the Rooftop Rodeo.

Rooftop Rodeo Parade

On Tuesday, July 12th we went to the Rooftop Rodeo parade in Estes Park, CO.  It was so neat to see all the horses and especially the Clydesdale's.  After the parade, we decided to walk through the streets of downtown Estes Park.  It is a little bit like downtown Gatlinburg.  For the one that said, I want something from Colorado that I can always have - I don't want t-shirts.  Well, I am coming home with at least 2 t-shirts so far.  One is long sleeve and the other I just could NOT pass up.  A picture of it is below.
We had lunch at a local BBQ establishment that was suppose to have North Carolina style BBQ.  It was good, but dad said it wasn't quite right.  We ended up going back to the hotel to take a quick nap before the rodeo at 7:00.  We woke up at 6 p.m.  HA!  So, we just took the night to rest up for Wednesday!

Below are some pictures from our Tuesday in Estes Park, CO.

my shirt I could not resist

Rocky Mountain National Park

After checking out of of the Silver Moon Inn (where we stayed for the wedding), we went on our journey for the Rocky Mountain National Park.  It was a beautiful drive up - even for this girl who gets motion sick.  Thank you Dramamine!  We stopped at several pull offs to get some awesome pictures.  One stop included dad and I walking through snow -- yes snow, in July!  We finally made it to the top and it was breath-taking.  If someone doesn't believe in God - they need to make a trip up the Rocky Mountains!  It is truly God's country and His handy work.  BEAUTIFUL! 

We decided to take the long way home and it was well worth it.  We were able to see elk, moose and deer!  I kept teasing dad that he spent money a few years ago to hunt elk and saw one.  We spent $20.00 to go in the park and he saw about 6-7 Elk, of course he couldn't kill these!

It was a great day with views that a picture will never do justice...but they are still amazing!

River outside our room - a little higher than normal

Yes, snow in July !

A wedding in the mountains

Yesterday, July 10th, we were honored to be a guest at Phillip and Lauren Brown's wedding.  It was held at the Wild Basin Lodge located in the Rocky Mountain National Park.  It was beautiful!  The wedding was held outside and it had many personal touches by Phillip and Lauren.  They wrote their own vows and instead of lighting a unity candle - they planted a tree with soil from both Birmingham (his home) and Chicago (her home). 

After the ceremony, they had the photographer take a picture of all the guests with Phillip and Lauren.  As a guest book, they had their logo (a tree with a bike against it) printed.  We used a stamp on our finger and left our fingerprint as the leaves on the tree.  Below our fingerprint, we were asked to sign our name.  They plan to hang the poster in their home. 

We had a cocktail hour and appetizers, including bread baked at the bakery where Phillip once worked, followed by a sit down dinner.  Another unique touch to the night was that we each had a rock with our name on it.  Under the rock, it had our table assignment.  For dinner our choices were pork, chicken or vegetarian.  After several meaningful speeches, both sets of parents and Kym (Phillip's sister), it was time for cake.  A friend made their cakes for their gift.  She made carrot, chocolate and vanilla.  Delicious!  It was a lovely night and it was a wonderful treat for all of us to be their to celebrate Phillip and Lauren's love!  Check out some pictures from the evening.

Me and mom

Mom and Dad

3 of us

Ron and Ann (groom's parents)

Kym (groom's sister) and Josh

Phillip and Lauren wedding site

our rocks :)

emotional toasts

Just Married !