Thursday, September 10, 2009

DENVER!!



About a month ago Adam and I set out for our first vacation without Harper. We went to Denver to celebrate our 5 year anniversary, my birthday, and completion of 10.5 months of breastfeeding. My parents were kind enough to watch Harper. Having family nearby has been such a great blessing.

We had mixed feelings of excitement and anxiety as we left. We knew Harper would have lots of fun with her Grammy and her Grandpa Mike but for the last year our lives have been filled with caring for, playing with, feeding, and enjoying Harper Paige and we knew we would miss her. It has been a spectacular year but we relished some time away just the two of us.

Adam is a lover of cities and anytime we go anywhere he likes to spend at least one night in the city we visit. He picked a really beautiful boutique hotel to stay in for our first night called Hotel Teatro. It was so beautiful and very quaint. When we checked in our room was not available so they upgraded us to a corner room with a view of the city. It was the most romantic hotel we had ever stayed in. It had windows from wall to wall, beautiful plush bedding, a cool little sitting area, a shower with a waterfall head, and a huge tub to soak in. It was a great start to a memorable trip. We enjoyed happy hour drinks and shared a really yummy marscapone cheesecake dessert.

We met Adam's childhood friend Jonathan, who lives in Denver, for dinner. He took us to this really cool eclectic place called The Office. It was really yummy.


Here are a few pics of Hotel Teatro and The Office.
Our room


Leg 2:
BRECKENRIDGE: Such a low key and down to earth town with lots of fun little shops and restaurants, we sat outside every day and breathed in the fresh mountain air, ate homemade fresh mini donuts, got massages, went bike ridding, and hiked. We drank coffee in the morning by the river, and caught up on some reading. It was so relaxing.
We mountain biked downhill 9 miles from Breckinridge to Frisco. We ate the most amazing food for lunch and then took the bus back up the hill.
Enjoying coffee by the river

Hiking 3 hours to the top where their was an alpine lake. It was beautiful but it hailed on us once we got up there. Our little PT Cruiser barely made it up the road to the trail head (more on that later)

Leg 3: VAIL COLORADO
We did not plan on staying in Vail but after an interesting incident in Breckinridge where a random guy had a key to our room we decided to leave Breck and headed to Vail. My best friend Grayson happened to be in Vail at the same time so we got to spend some good time with her and her FIANCE!!! We got to be there for their engagement! It was AWESOME!

Vail was so different from Breck it is a master planned ski town. The town was beautiful and expensive. We went hiking, played in the river, went to the Betty Ford Alpine Garden, ate some great food, took the gondola to the top of Vail, and enjoyed the Vail Farmer's Market.

We also drove 10 miles outside of Vail, through the mountain roads to Piney River Ranch. It was one of the most beautiful places I have ever been. So quiet and serene. Adam and I went canoeing and sat by the river and read. Grayson got engaged at the Ranch and we got to celebrate that night (which also happened to be her birthday).

Adam and I Canoeing at Piney River Ranch

Grayson's Engagement!

We had an amazing trip and got to spend some time praying for our family, our future, and God's vision for our lives. We felt well rested and came back with a renewed purpose. Spending time in the Mountains/nature always seem to bring me back to my core, my center and remind me of the beauty and simplicity that daily life should hold.

We look forward to more vacations with just the two of us.

2 comments:

Jordan said...

much agreed on the mountains renewing your spirit. We go every summer to a place just outside winter park (not this year though, too preggers). I definitely missed my summer soul renewal. There's nothing like the mountains that can remind you of Gods perfect plans and creations.

jimmy, marisa, jadeyn and brynlee said...

what a great vacation! i hiked that same place in breck in college...it's beautiful! congrats on 5 years, friend!