I just realized that I never posted about Denver because I wanted to post pictures. I have to write about our summer vaca for rememberance sake. Chet and I have always wanted to take an annual family vaca. It's near impossible. Between family reunions, and scouts, and hunting, we have no vacation time left. This year we decided to skip family reunions and plan a trip all around fun. We planned it with several friends in Gillette. Come time for the trip, everyone but the Lee's had to back out for one reason or another. We decided rather than camp and lake, we would go to Denver and play. We switched plans last minute and Erin and I went to planning. We booked our rooms and headed down (the guys had taken off Wed, Thur, and Friday) Wednesday morning. When we got there, we went to the zoo. It was the first time for my boys. Then we went to the aquarium and decided to eat first. It was sooo cool. There were tanks where mermaids were swimming which was a huge highlight for the Lee girls. You could go up to the tanks and they would swim over and touch hands with you and let you take pictures with your kids by the tank. They also had a play room for the kids while they waited for their food. So the men took the kids and Erin and I just ordered and sat and chatted. So much fun. After dinner we decided we would just go get dessert and head back to the hotel. Outside they were making smores for free over a fire pit. All the kids got to roast a marshmellow and make a smore.
The next day we got up and ate at the hotel. Again, all 14 of us eating in a hotel breakfast room. The kids were all talking and excited for the day. We wanted to be at the amusement park when it opened, and we were. We partied hard all day. First Erin and Clint took the older kids and Chet and I took all the younger ones on the kiddie rides. Then we switched. Then Erin and I took them, and then the guys. It was a fun day, and we all got to ride almost everything we wanted. Clint and Erin took the kids to a motorcycle show where they were jumping and doing circles in a cage. Colby talks about that every day still 2 months later. We closed the park down. While leaving the parking lot I called cheesecake factory and asked if they could seat 14 of us. They said sure come right down. We all went to the cheesecake factory in downtown Denver. I don't think we were the group of 14 they were hoping for, but it was great. We were kinda in a seperate room (there were about 6 other tables) and we all had a great time. Then we went back to the room and watched some TV together and then crashed.
We had planned to go to the Lee's property in the Black Hills on Friday and camp the rest of the weekend, but we were having too much fun. The kids loved the water rides, so we just had to go to the water park too. So Friday morning we got up and were at Water World to open the park. If I thought we played hard on Thursday, we played even harder on Friday. Even the babies were having a blast (they have a boy 2 months younger than Colbs, 2-1/2) We played until the park closed. It wasn't too hot, but hot enough, and the lines were fairly short. For the second day in a row, we seemed to hit on the right day. Perfect weather and lines. We then went to dinner at a steak house, and the kids were GREAT! They were so tired, we thought it would be breakdown city, but they were so tired they just sat and stared. It was a blast!!! Dinner is a highlight for me. I love to just sit and eat food that I don't have to cook or clean up after while talking to my friends, and reliving everything we had just done. I had permagrin. We then headed to the hotel, hung out a little, and crashed.
Saturday we hung out until about 10ish and headed home. We stopped in Casper on the way home and hung out for a few hours. Sunday we headed up to the Lee's property and cooked dinner and had a great feast. The boys ran around in nature, feeling like they were in heaven, and we just sat in chairs relaxing. The guys took all the kids on a low key 4 wheeler ride. Everyone was just happy!
It was a happy weekend and always a great time with the Lee's. It's so nice to have a family that is in the same situation as us. They understand our frustrations, and we all help each other. They can help any of my kids and we can help any of theirs. We just all pitch in where needed. Their kids are almost our kids ages, and they all get along really well. Clint and Erin are VERY different from us, and it works. They don't like to plan, but are always up for having a good, clean, fun time! They leave most of the planning to me, and go along with whatever I come up with. We love hanging out with them, and always come away feeling happy and blessed to have them as our friends!
We hope to hit Disneyland with them next! Lego land, the beach, Sea World, the works!!! Already saving and hoping!!!
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