Spring Break Trip to Colorado

This year for spring break we went to Grand Lake Colorado with the Reagens for 4 days.

We stopped in Denver for pizza with Andrew.
Some of us.
The view of Lake Granby from our townhome.
Cam eating leftover pizza.

Our first day there we went for a hike at Adams Falls in Rocky Mountain National Park.

Elliot and Cam
Hope, Lucia, Susan and Rose
Rose enjoyed some climbing.
The hot tub.

On day 2 we went tubing at the Frasier Tubing Hill.

Susan and Rob
Windy Family Photo. It got really windy toward the end. Luckily we were about ready to leave by this point.
After tubing we walked about the Winter Park ski village.
Pretty mountain view.
Snowshoeing.

On day 3 we went for another hike, this time along the Colorado River Trail in RMNP.

Crossing the Colorado River
Elliot
Toward the end the snow was less packed and we found ourselves falling through the snow a lot. This is how we knew it was time to turn around. For most of the hike the snow was packed and we could walk comfortably.
This is where we ate a snack before turning around.

On day 4 we rented cross country skis and the shop recommended we drive to where Trail Ridge Road is closed in RMNP and ski on the road. It was awesome. The weather was grat. The views were good. The girls picked it up without a problem. It was awesome to be on the road that is so busy in the summer, but we literally only saw one other person who was out snowshoeing.

Getting started. You can see Rose and Lucia is way up ahead.
Lucia, Rose and Hope
Nate, Erin, Cam and Elliot
In the evening we played games.
Our drive out of the mountains was beautiful.

Our drive home did not go so well. There was a blizzard in Eastern Nebraska and I-80 was closed across the entire state. In this picture we are in a gas station in Western Nebraska trying to figure out what to do with our lives. We were going to drive the whole way home on Wednesday, but we ended up spending the night in North Platte on Wednesday and finishing the drive on Thursday.

Sun Valley Lake 2024

This weekend we made our annual trip to a lake with the Liess clan. A good time was had by all.

Hope and Mari
Lake Lounging
Des Moines Cousins
Susan and Rob
Lucia and Rose
Kathie and Gary
Liess Clan
Kathie, Gary, and the grandkids
Kathie, Gary, Susan, Erin, and Mary
Kathie being silly.
The Lieslands
Lucia and Rose
Rose and Lucia
Kathie in the hammock chair
Susan and Mary
The ladies

Orange Beach

For Spring Break we went to Orange Beach, Alabama. All of us went except Andrew, who is at college. Mari had some friends staying in a condo in the next complex over from ours and she spent most of her time with them-and had a blast. We enjoyed slow mornings, afternoons at the beach, and sunsets.

Playing in the water
Playing in the water
Football
Volleyball at Sunset
Sunset
Us
Sunrise
Condo Happenings
Shark
Workout time
Sandcastle
Rose Hearts the Beach
Soccer
Pointing
Piggyback
Mari and friends
Sunrise
Reflection
Breakfast with a view
Pirate Ship
Sandcastle 2
Sorry
Surf Style
Sandcastle 3
Beachin
The Hangout
Dancing on the table
The Hangout
Big Chair 2
Foam Party
Sunset Palms
Elliot in the Palms
St. Louis Double Rainbow

This Week

Susan and her sisters went to California.
We closed the pool for the season.
Susan and her sisters visited Uncle Ron

Cincinnati Visit

This past weekend we went to Cincinnati.

Dinner at my parents’.
After dinner walk.
Pre-FCC Skyline
FCC game. We are smiling because the weather delay hasn’t happened yet. Overall, the game was fun.
Sunday family party at Joyce’s
Pool day on Monday. I was at work.

Branson Trip

Trail lights at night.
Luke, Andrew, and Ian
Mari and Hope
Elliot and Cam
Game time
Poolside
Pool
Pool
Other pool
Nighttime Mini Golf
Lucia
Lake Trampoline
Lake Trampoline
Infinity Pool
Papa
Mini Golf Water
Group photo
Cousins
Andrew
Mari
Elliot
Boating
Female Boaters
Male Boaters + Rose

Friday – Jacksonville Beach

No college visits today, so after an early lunch we headed to the beach.

We made a sandcastle and menagerie.
Elliot and I watching the Xavier game on the beach.
Mari and Susan
Playing ball at the beach.
Family pic
Susan and Rob
For dinner we went to Mellow Mushroom, which had something everyone could eat.

Thursday – Jacksonville University

Candy Cane Lake at the University of Northern Florida. I was disappointed not to see an alligator during our trip.
Golf cart tour at Jacksonville University. I guess there was a lot of ground to cover.
Pool Time
Susan got in the freezing pool.
We made a sandcastle, just before the tide came in.
Shopping at a cool outdoor mall.