Some dear family friends blessed us with the chance to stay in their condo in Vail, Colorado, last week. Mountains? Cooler air? A place to relax? Yes, please!
The drive took two days there and two days back, so we had lots of quality time and adventures. I got to know parts of Texas I’d never seen before, like the plains and the panhandle. If there was ever any doubt, I now know that I’m a city girl through and through. All the wide open spaces with no buildings for as far as the eye could see made me very nervous! It was beautiful though. We spent the first night in Amarillo and ate at The Big Texan, which is an experience I’ll never forget. The next day we drove up through New Mexico and got to see the Capulin Volcano, which was very intriguing to Jackson. He wanted to know where the lava was. The drive from New Mexico into Vail was like going from glory to glory. The mountains got bigger and bigger until we were finally driving right through them in tunnels because there was no way around them. The scenery was incredible. We celebrated big time when we finally got to the condo in Vail and saw the lovely creek behind it. It was perfect!
The best thing about our time in Colorado was being able to play outside with the kids in the cool air. Vail is filled with really neat playgrounds and we tried to visit all of them at least once. One day we drove through Independence Pass and got to see the Continental Divide. It was cold up there, y’all! And glorious! We had lunch in Aspen and I promise you I’ve never fallen more in love with any town.
We headed home on Sunday and just happened to be driving right by New Life Church in Colorado Springs right before their service was starting. At the last second, we exited the freeway and headed that way! It ended up being the perfect thing to do. The kids loved getting to play in their classes and Curtis and I enjoyed having some time to worship the Lord together. Even though we didn’t know anyone there personally, we had the same Father, Son and Holy Spirit and it felt like family. I love that about the body of Christ. I even saw a lady carrying the Esther DVD set and wondered if she was a Siesta!
You may be wondering how on earth we survived 4 days in the car with a four-year-old and a one-year-old. We couldn’t have done it without these things:
–Psalty CD’s
-A DVD player
-Candy blocks and necklaces
-Lots of snacks
-Sticker books
-La Quinta Inn
-My Blackberry (for my sanity)
-Mommy hiding in the back row of the Suburban behind the whining toddler. It took us a while to figure this one out.
-The grace of God!
Here are some of the pictures we took. If you click on a thumbnail it will enlarge once. Click again and it will be full size.
Thank you for blessing us, Weir family!
So glad you had the chance to get away! I took a year off for the same reasons you explanined previously. No regrets! Enjoy it!Blessings:0)
Yay! So glad you had a wonderful vacation and a break from the heat. If you ever want another place to cool off, come on up to central NY. I am actually shivering a bit right now, it went down to 53 last night and I get cold very easily.
Great pics! Hope you’re feeling better.
– Love the big red bow in AB’s hair!
What a wonderful trip!!! I’m glad you had cooler temps to play outside with the kids. I live on the MS Gulf Coast and it’s just as hot and humid over hear as it is in Houston! AND I’M READY FOR FALL…hallelujah no frizz for a few months!!! 🙂
Prayers and blessings,
Rebecca
Soooooo GREAT!!! What a fun trip, Amanda, and sooooo beautiful!!!! 🙂
When my children were small and we took road trips I would save up the goodies from the cereal boxes, (I always poured the cereal into plastic containers so they wouldn’t fight over box and said toys) and I would pick up little trinkets before the trips and I would then pack a few things along with a small snack into brown lunch bags that I decorated with stickers. Every 2 hours I would hand out the new goodie bags to little girls who behaved! They are now 22 & 24 and we recently took a 10 hour road trip and they wanted to know “where’s our goodie bags Mom?”
Thanks so much, Amanda, for being so willing to share your family experiences with us. It is such a joy to read and see the pictures. There is a smile on my face from ear-to-ear as I read your wonderful descriptions and look at the pictures of all of you. BTW, you guys both take some GREAT shots. Whatever your kiddos do your don’t remember about the specifics of this trip, I know it continues to add to that firm foundation that a solid and healthy family growing-up experience brings. My husband, my three girls, now 16, 14 and 13 and me were watching some family videos of when the youngest was just born and it was awesome. My husband has been going on about how blessed we are, what a good job we did as he watched how engaged and fun we were with them at that age and commented on how good God has been to us. And he is not even a believer! Anyway, what I have always been so thankful for is that we are so on the same page when it comes to parenting and you and Curtis are doing a great job of offering that same kind of secure and loving environment. When you are knee-deep in some of those many days in a row of no one above the age of four, remember that it is not about each hour or even a week or two but of these years of being there as a constant presence in their little lives. It is invaluable and as many have already assured you, you will never regret choosing to commit so much of your days with them. And, don’t forget to give yourself breaks. Even just to go run errands or buy groceries without them. That used to be such a treat for me! (Not sure what that says about me, but it was tough having three in 38 months and was such a welcomed relief.) Anyway, thanks again so much for being willing to share so much of your family and personal experience with all of us. We are all loving it!
Ahhhh Vail! My husband and I went there for our tenth anniversary 2 years ago and it was the best trip I’ve ever taken. Soooo beautiful!!
I know this has nothing to do with your trip, but that’s the cutest little red jogging suit that AB has on! It’s darling! 🙂
Y’all were in my home state AND home town!! I live in colorado springs as well! So excited you and your family were able to see God’s amazing, abundant beauty first hand!! now you know why we love it so much here!
The pirate ship park is so much fun. We stopped in Vail on our way to Cali back in May and had the whole place to ourselves. The pirates ship even got Carlos and I playing! Looks liek a ton of fun! H
Oh my goodness I want to go to Aspen too! That looks heavenly!
Thanks for sharing, such beautiful scenery!! So glad you all had a wonderful time! Jackson and Annabeth are growing all the time. I love the picture of them in the ride together..so sweet! The DVD player is a must on a trip with kids, definately! The Big Texan…is that the one with the HUGE steak that if you eat it all it’s free?
That’s the one!
thanks for sharing – yes what a blessing to get out of the heat! I’m in Phoenix with 110+ and just the pictures were refreshing to look at! Blessings to you and your precious family!
Love the pictures, especially the one of AB resting her head on the sofa and the ones of her in her jogging suit. Jackson’s smile is infectious. Glad you had this opportunity. I’ve never been to that part of the country but I’d love to some day. Thanks for sharing. 🙂
Bless you for pictures of Jackson and Annabeth. I’ve been missing them. Adorable! The bows just get me everytime. I think I’d still be stickin’ in my girls’ hair, but perhaps that would be a bit over the top for college life. You think? Thanks for including us in your merry travels.
I was so excited to read this post and see that you traveled through the area where I live currently. I travel this route many times with my family since we live near Amarillo and have family in Colorado. Glad you enjoyed the trip.
it made me SMILE real big to see y’all have Psalty cd’s! we grew up with Psalty and now my girls listen to it. also, GT and the Halo Express!! all our relatives are in the Panhandle of Texas so that’s all i really know! Sometime you’ll have to go to the Cadillac Ranch and spray paint a car! 🙂 YUM! the BIG Texan! good memories!
While I a transplant to city girl and love the city. My hometown is colorado http://www.ouraycolorado.com/check it out there! I think that colorado needs more Jacksons and moores. I hope your friends give you lots more vacations to Vail. We need many high altitude siestas!
That’s so great that you had a nice little get away! I find it funny that you stopped off in Amarillo, which is where I am originally from, and that you ended up in Colorado, which is where I now live!
We just moved from Colorado to Houston – and have been on that exact same road trip! Gosh it is a LOOONNNNNGGGGG drive! And last time we ate at the Big Texan – some guy was doing the steak challenge! (The challenge is to eat a 72oz steak, salad, potato, shrimp, and pie, I think.)
Your pictures make me miss home. Glad you had a nice visit!
K
Beautiful Colorado pics! Haven’t been there since I was in high school. Now I want to take my family there! Were those pictures of Aspen or Vail that looked like a European village?
Karene (Hot in So. Cal!)
Aspen looked very American and the part of Vail those pictures were taken in looked like Switzerland.
Great vacation! It looks like you all had some wonderful times together and memories to share in the years to come. One suggestion: take more photos of you and Curtis togehter. The kids will love having them later on, so will the two of you as you enjoy your “older years” together. LOL love, Carla
How fun! I love internet travel journals, I get to feel like I went too. I have 17 and 19 year olds. We made the drive from College Station, Texas to Colorado when they were 7 and 9 (girl is the oldest). When we would drive to Texas Hill Country they kept asking “are these mountains” so we took them to Pike’s Peak. One of our favorite memories was when we finally got to the cold mountain air and rolling down the car windows and laughing at being cold in the summer, we had to have the car heater on it was so cold. The mountain Siestas are laughing at me I’m sure come to Texas you will do the same on your trip home! I am so thankful to the blessed Weir family for opening their home to you. Tell them I said thank you for sharing with others what God blessed them with. – great idea Amanda to hide in the backseat wish I had thought of that! One tip I share with moms of younger children. A small container (like a birthday favor) of playdoh. It is the very best purse item for restaurants. The kids can use the silverware to make their own food etc. This is after they eat of course, and it gives the mom and dad lots of time to enjoy their meal out. My children ate better too knowing when they finished they could play with playdoh. I always made sure we cleaned it up, restaurant tables are easy to clean. 🙂 Loved all the pictures.
You go girl…enjoy that family!
The pictures remind me of some of my childhood pictures of family vacations where only one parent is in the picture because the other one is TAKING the picture 🙂
From the looks of it, it looked like a grand time.
Great pictures and I’m glad you had a great trip!
Beauty upon beauty.
We leave for Colorado tomorrow to visit my parents and sister who recently moved there. You’ve whet my appetite!
Just curious ~ did they recognize you and Curtis (and the children) at New Life Church? I could just picture the lady carrying the Esther Bible Study having a fun fit! 🙂 Thanks for sharing…..the pictures are great!
Looks like a great trip – special memories you will have!
Amanda, Your pics are great. I didn’t realize how much Annabeth’s hair has grown. It looks like you had a great time in Colorado. I do know that it takes a few tricks to keep toddler and 4 year old entertained. I am usually the one in the backseat with my grands-same age. We sing ALOT. Of course we doodle with the doodle pads. Oh let me tell you, those Doodle pads were the best invention-EVER. I believe they are called MagnaDoodles. My grands have worn theirs out-pretty much with many car trips to and from Wyoming, Wyoming to Arizona, here to Southern Cali and so on. I think that it’s possible that they will be getting new ones soon-like Christmas.
Anyway, thank you for sharing your trip to Colorado with us. Cooler weather is coming our way soon-I think.
I’d pay good money to see the pic of you hiding in the back seat behind the toddler! I’m thankful you got some time away as a family!
Great pictures! That looks like the perfect family vacation to me! I have a picture in front of that same Continental Divide sign! I thought it was so funny when you said the wide open plains made you nervous…give me open spaces any day! The city makes me nervous! So funny how people’s preferences are shaped by location.
How much fun was that??? Thanks for sharing! I can feel the cool breeze – and pretty sure I can taste a taco, too. The Big Texan sounds like big culinary fun! Loved the pics! I, also, for a season of life, was a Psalty Mom. I could take him (Psalty) for about 30 minutes – then we had to switch to something else! Thanks for sharing ~
Warm in Alaska.
What a wonderful vacation for you & your family. MY husband & I just returned from visiting our kids in Edmonton AB, and we spent a weekend in Banff AB. Your pictures make me a little lonesome for those mountains. God is so awesome with His handiwork. May God bless you and your family as you take some time off to be a full-time mom. Enjoy every moment for it passes too quickly
Pat
Thanks for sharing…..what a great time to have together and a great way to see God’s glorious Earth! Thanks
Boy, Annabeth sure has gotten some more hair! She is looking like a very beautiful little girl these days!
I felt the peace of God just in scrolling through your photos, Amanda… and the smiles of Annabeth and Jackson, purest joy, glimpse of heaven…
I pray the fresh air of those mountains, and He Who lives in Mount Zion Himself, refreshed you in the deepest places, Amanda — thank you for returning “home to tell how much God has done for you!”
Your sharing refreshes too…. 🙂
All’s grace,
Ann
Amanda,
I live in the prairie of Kansas, and would not trade it for Big City life, no thank you, so I love how God places us right where He knows we would best thrive. 🙂
I’m wondering, did you browse or shop in Axels? We travel to that part of Colorado for one week each summer. When I walk in the door, I love what I see! To be honest, I’ve never purchased anything, but I surely do enjoy browsing then walking right next door for a dip of ice cream. 😉
Lovingly,
Yolanda
Colorado is beautiful! Love the pics. That’s a vacation to remember. Good for you!
Sounds like a wonderful vacation!
And the thought of playing outside without sufficating from humidity and heat sounds heavenly!!
Blessings,
steph.
Sounds like an awesome trip! I love Colorado. Pikes Peak was literally the coldest place I have ever been-and the windest, which is saying a lot considering I survived a hurricane in Florida:) Your kids are growing so fast-they are darling. Thanks for sharing!
You were so close! Fun to see your Continental Divide sign pictures. We have the same ones–multiples, because somehow we always take a picture no matter how many times we go past.
Love Vail! My husband and I used to go for lunch all the time when we were dating in high school. So hope you ate at the Sweet Basil in Vail–our favorite. If not, put it on the list for next time!
Joanne
It’s exciting to hear about your Road Trip… Especially since Brady Boyd is one of our favorite people in the entire world. He is from our neck of the woods, and New Life blesses us both with their heart of worship and their anointing for ministering God’s Word. Thanks for sharing and…
Blessings to you…
MB
What an awesome place to vacation! I’m glad y’all had such a good time. You were only 2 miles from our little Kennedy when you were at New Life Church! The Springs is a favorite place of ours now, such a beautiful part of the country!
Your pictures make me want to take a vacation!! The kids look like they’re having a great time. Thanks for sharing!
Amanda,
Love to read your blogs, I get them in my email, today it was hard to distinguish between you and your mom until I got to the point where you mentioned Jackson. You have a beautiful family. Thanks for sharing!
Oooh!! I want to go!! A few yrs ago we went to Taos (pre-children) after spending Christmas in Sherman with family. How can I convince the Hubby to drive me to Vail after Christmas this year??? Looks wonderful!
thanks for the link to Psalty’s website! My sister and I grew up listening to him (that was 25 years ago!) and have such fond memories of those songs! She has purchased some as gifts for my children, and now another generation is soaking in God’s Word with the help of Psalty the Singing Songbook.
Colorado is such a stunning and special place! I just got home from a 10 day visit to Colorado Springs, a week ago. I indentify with your mention of New Life Church; I went to several of their services during my vacation there and am SO encouraged by their ministry; I listen to some of their podcasts. The worship at their church is powerful and you can definately feel the presence of the Lord there!
Great to cheer on our brothers and sisters in the Lord!
Precious! We live in Georgia and our middle school youth group goes to Colorado every year for Great Escape… it is a three day bus trip… but the HIGHLIGHT is stopping at the Big Texan! Someone always tries the big steak challenge… did y’all : )
So happy you all got away!
We did not get to see anyone do it and I was so bummed! Our kids were acting crazy at dinner (which I don’t blame them for after being in the car that long) so it was kind of a weird experience. Maybe next time!
Great trip and wonderful place in this world- You deserve it- thanks for sharing with us- the temperature looked wonderful!
My dad drove us to Colorado when I was a kid, back in 1965, and I have never forgotten that vacation. The 2-day drive there and back, (we stopped in El Paso our first night), was awesome. I will never forget that trip as long as I live. Haven’t been back but have always wanted to. Thank you for the memory recall and for the pictures. Precious!