May 7, 2015 – Darais Days

I have no idea how Abe managed to blog while we were on our trip; I had internet issues the entire time. It was so frustrating, especially because every day I remembered to take pictures for the blog.

Saturday, May 2

After I passed my final(!!!!!!!), I came home and got myself ready for our trip. Abe got everyone and everything else ready. We set off for Steamboat Springs around 3 pm, and we took the scenic route through Provo Canyon. It was a gorgeous, gorgeous drive. We pulled into Steamboat Springs around 10 pm, and we are so grateful to Karin, who let us use her lovely time-share there.

Abe told me I would be so proud of Lydia. At the McDonald's play place, there were giant instruments the girls could climb on to make noise. First Lydia stepped on the piano, and then she went to the electric guitar. When she heard the sound the electric guitar made, she said, "Daddy, this one's broken!" — Abe told me I would be so proud of Lydia. At the McDonald’s play place, there were giant instruments the girls could climb on to make noise. First Lydia stepped on the piano, and then she went to the electric guitar. When she heard the sound the electric guitar made, she said, “Daddy, this one’s broken!”

We forgot to pack toys for the girls, so they were forced to twiddle their thumbs and stare out of the window for the majority of our trip. Thankfully, we always forget toys, so they are used to this deprivation. We were grateful for the Happy Meal toys--they were the girls' only playthings for the entire trip...until we caved in hour twelve and bought game apps on our phones for them to play. — We forgot to pack toys for the girls, so they were forced to twiddle their thumbs and stare out of the window for the majority of our trip. Thankfully, we always forget toys, so they are used to this deprivation. We were grateful for the Happy Meal toys–they were the girls’ only playthings for the entire trip…until we caved in hour twelve and bought game apps on our phones for them to play.

Sunday

We were really impressed with the ward at Steamboat Springs. It was small, but in testimony meeting it became clear that everyone had a lot of love for each other and the gospel. The girls were out of control from the previous day’s car ride, so we cut out of sacrament five minutes early and headed back to the time-share for a quick dip in the outdoor pool before lunch and more driving. We figured swimming on the Sabbath was justifiable because it felt only humane; our poor girls had been and would be pent up in their car seats for hours, and they so enjoyed splashing around in the sunshine and getting their wiggles out.

Riding the luggage "train" in Steamboat Springs. — Riding the luggage “train” in Steamboat Springs.

We had a wonderful brunch at the Creekside Cafe in Steamboat Springs. The whole time Lydia kept exclaiming that it was the best food she had ever had, and that she enjoyed it more than ice cream. (We ordered her a nutella and strawberry filled croissant, and we don't blame her for thinking it was the best thing she'd ever had.) — We had a wonderful brunch at the Creekside Cafe in Steamboat Springs. The whole time Lydia kept exclaiming that it was the best food she had ever had, and that she enjoyed it more than ice cream. (We ordered her a nutella and strawberry filled croissant, and we don’t blame her for thinking it was the best thing she’d ever had.)

Abe's omelette. We swapped food. — Abe’s tomato-feta-garlic omelette. We swapped food.

Riding in the car with her McDonald's toy. — Riding in the car with her McDonald’s toy.

In the evening, we had a barbecue with Abe’s family and picked David up from his relatives’ house. Then we drove to Estes Park, where Karin had gotten us all a cabin with her time-share. It was one of the most magical settings I have ever experienced.

Monday

On Monday we headed to the viewing and the funeral. In a way, we have been recovering ever since. I watched the girls in the church foyer so Abe could fully experience the funeral, and he was deeply moved by the funeral. His grandpa was a huge influence on him growing up, and it was hard for him to say goodbye.

After the funeral, we went to Abe’s other grandparents’ house to visit. I stayed in the car with the sleeping children, but Abe’s grandma came out and we had a sweet visit.

This is Mary sleeping at our hotel. She was tired. — This is Mary sleeping at our cabin. She was tired.

Abe and his brothers got a chance to visit with his other grandpa and grandma after the funeral for Grandpa Byron.

There was a lot of rain while we were there. Lydia thought it was tasty.

Between rain showers, we took the girls out for ice cream.

Tuesday

I took the girls to the park by the river and took a bunch of cute photos which are on my phone in my purse. After that, we picked up breakfast and headed over to the visitor’s center and Rocky Mountain National Park. This is one of my absolute favorite national parks now. My favorite landscapes–alpine mountains and lakes–make up the entire park. It was stunning. We want to go back when we are properly attired to actually hike some of those alluring trails. (I only brought one pair of shoes on the trip, and they were suede flats. They weren’t exactly made for hiking in snow. None of us had anything heavier than a sweater. Next time we will prepare better.)