Sunday, July 20, 2014

Rifle Falls

Sunday, last day of vacation. We were down to just Aunt Jaime. As much as we wanted a lazy day, we couldn't let Aunt Jaime just see the inside of our house on her last day here. We wanted to get out, just not feeling super active, so we drove to Rifle Falls. We knew where it was, you didn't have to hike to see it, and we knew it was beautiful! 
We took a different route this time and came across Rifle Gap Lake... it was so beautiful, we had to pull over for a picture, or two. The water was crystal blue...my camera doesn't do it much justice, but it was amazing!




The Falls! Aunt Jaime is up there in the blue...Riley and Reece are there too...blending in.


1/2 price slushes from Sonic. Yay! Any guesses on what kind Reece got?

That wrapped up our vacation. And our visitors for the summer. 

All About Lucas

As excited as I was to see all of my family, I was super excited to see the baby of the family. My youngest nephew, Lucas, who was born shortly after we moved to Colorado, made the long trip and he is just too cute! He has these cheeks that look like they could be half his body weight. And beautiful lips! 
Not sure how this video got attached here.... but it's pretty darn cute.

Lucas is 11 months old. Full of smiles (unless the camera is out and mom and dad leave him).


On Saturday, my brother and his family drove out from their family cabin in Copper to go white water rafting. His family (minus Lucas) , Jake and boys, and Aunt Jaime went. It was everyone's first time, other than Jake and boys. I selflessly volunteered to watch Lucas, while they went to have fun. ;)

From what Jake and the boys say, it was the best time yet because the Colorado River is so high this year. Sad I missed that, but it was totally worth bonding with this cutie. I'm sure he'll never forget the 3.5 hours he spent with me! hehe!



After rafting it was lunch at the Brewpub (a first visit must)... and Lucas had his first homemade root beer. Just kidding... But his brother, Colby, made him a hat!


Those cheeks!!!
Bye, Lucas! Please don't forget me!

Bear Sighting

On Saturday, Jake and I got up early and took Aunt Jill on a local hike. She had been dying for some activity. We decided the Red Mountain Trail would be a good one. We were so close to the top when I saw my first bear! Jake wasn't with us at the time, and Jill missed it, but it was unmistakable. We were coming around one of our final bends and what I thought was a big, black dog ran out of the tree line and ran a few steps and zoomed back into the tree line. It didn't take me long to realize it was way too big and fluffy to be a dog with a fellow hiker. We quietly tip toed backwards and decided we had enough. I'm sure we would have been just fine, but it's not a risk I'm up to taking. I'm still in shock I saw my first bear! It took a little less than a year!

Kline Family Reunion: Day 4-Heading Home

Final day...we packed, ate a last yummy breakfast, said our goodbyes and drove home. Aunt Jill and family followed us again and stayed over one more night to avoid a 10 hour drive. Aunt Jaime also followed us. She wanted to see our new home.
Sami and me!


The staff had some fun with our pancakes...mystery pancake for me!
We took the Independence Pass on our way back...it was interesting. It's a very narrow, windy pass that it is closed almost half of the year. 

A storm was a brewing.

Stunning view.




Kline Family Reunion: Day 3

Day 3 brought a hike... a very difficult hike. Probably the hardest hike I've done so far!
Again, it was suggested by the owner. It seemed easy, hike up the ski slope, find the cross, cross a bridge, go through a campsite and you will find a beautiful 100 foot waterfall. I just didn't know hiking up a ski slope was so tough. It was a failed ski slope...it was facing the wrong direction, so the sun would hit it and it was icy and dangerous (deadly). It was suppose to be the next "Vail" ... it took 3 bankrupt owners to figure out that it wasn't going to happen. The hike was pretty much right in the backyard of lodge we were staying in. What looked like the top of the mountain, was never the top. We kept getting to the top, only to find more mountain to climb. Mountains will get you and trick you. I've been around long enough to figure that out... it's almost like a mind game.
A view down the slope. The view is what keeps you going while hiking!


The Cross!! We finally found it! We only had 5 turn around and a couple turned around just before the cross was  located.  I don't blame any of them for turning around. This was a tough hike... did I mention that part? ;)

After the cross the terrain was easy...using the vague directions were not. But after a little backtracking we found the waterfall. It wasn't a grand, open waterfall... we had to squeeze to fit all of our group close to it. The kids that had been whining all the way up, were determined to enjoy this part. It almost made it all worth it in their minds. Next up were family pictures.

Side note: Riley wasn't 100% better, but he toughed it out, without any whining and made it. He knows what it takes to survive a hike.





I'm missing Jill's family... huh? Next we ate lunch and ventured back down. The way down was even more tough. We were tired and it felt like we were going straight down a majority of the time. Finding your footing was challenging. As much as I don't like skiing, the thought of skiing down the mountain seemed much easier.

I found this on the way back down. Reece's initials. :)


As a reward, we drove into town for ice cream cones. Yum!



Later that day, the kids had some organized craft time. It was nice to have them sit and focus for a bit.

Owen showing off his craft... Owen and Aidan came out without mom and dad. It was hard on my sister to leave them both for a few days, but they did just fine.  
After our final dinner, we had picture time... and I didn't get very many. Here is the Omo clan.
Peggy Omo is my mom's oldest sister. She has 3 boys and their wives in back (my cousins) and my second cousins ,that belong to Cy, in front.

I didn't warn them I was taking a picture. My mom is 2nd to right with her 3 sisters and a cousin.

Finally, late night fun in the hot tub.

Day 3 was exhausting but fun. I never mentioned how tired I was the entire week. I had a 10 days off in total. The first 4 was spent non stop painting and cleaning up the house. My sister Jill came from Utah that night with her 4 kids and stayed the night so we could caravan to the reunion. Days 5-8 were traveling and reunion, days 9 and 10 were more entertaining of family...then it was back to reality on Monday. I had really been working around the clock since we bought the house. It was work, paint, unpack. Coming down from the constant go, go, go was hard on me. Now a week later of no big projects I am beginning to feel more human. 


Kline Family Reunion: Day 2

I woke up on day 2, unsure of what it would bring... meal time with some of my crazy nephews was definitely on the agenda, but after what, who knew. It was at breakfast that the owner gave a few options for us. One was to visit a "castle" about 40 minutes away... after she described it, I wanted to go. 
Alex and a hot chocolate mustache.

Owen being silly.

Will and Jack doing so, as well.

You can google "Bishop's Castle" and find several stories about the crazy Jim Bishop. FYI: he doesn't like the government...probably because he built , excuse me, IS building a death trap of a castle in the National San Isabel Forest. To which Jim claims he bought decades ago. He has been building this "castle" since 1969. He is a welder...not a contractor. He built this with his own hands. No big machinery. I gather he isn't an Obama fan either...wonder why I think that? ^^^



It was a bit nerve-racking taking the kids along... lets just say there were lots of stairs, that may or may not have been up to code. Sometimes it led to a tall ledge with no rails. If we lost track of a kid it was panic time.



Here is a picture of the stairs we used to get in... my anxiety started up shortly after we started climbing.


Hi Owen, Jill and Shawn!



Another FYI: Jim started this castle. Not his father , Willard. I get the feeling this guy was a bit narcissistic. 

Owen being brave on a welded  platform... I hope this guy is at least a skilled welder.

Aidan and Riley... as high as I could handle. See those "stairs?" It looked as though they just dropped off...maybe Mr. Bishop's current project? I hope this guy has liability insurance. 


We survived! What an odd adventure.