Rocky Mountain National Park

***Warning: This post is very photo heavy - ahem, 160 + photos - so you may need to let your computer load for a few minutes and pour yourself a cup of coffee or make yourself some tea while you wait. :)   Just thought I'd give ample warning!

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Soooooo, I missed another Flashback Friday post yesterday.  Oops.  I have a good excuse though!  Johnny and I spent all of yesterday hiking around Rocky Mountain National Park with my friend Jenny and her adorable little kids Lucas and Lauren.  It was an awesome ten hour playdate and once we finally got home (after bedtime) I was too exhausted to even remember that I needed to do a Flashback Friday post.  I apologize to anyone who was looking forward to that. I will try really hard to remember next time. :)

Jenny has an annual pass to Rocky Mountain National Park (we are thinking of either getting one of these - $40 - or a national park pass - $80) that she wanted to use again before it expired, so we planned a day trip with the kids.  I drove because I could fit all of us into my car.  We got to the park late morning and found a nice place for a picnic.  Luckily I had thought to pack some food in my backpack because I totally forgot the cooler at home - the one that I spent half an hour filling with fruit and veggies, sandwiches, cheese, crackers, juice boxes, yogurt, granola bars, etc.  Yep, I'm that awesome.  But I did have some energy bars and other snacks in my backpack along with tons of water and Jen was very kind and shared with Johnny too, so it wasn't a huge deal in the end.  Just sort of annoying for me. 

After our picnic, we cleaned up and packed up and drove up toward Bear Lake.  However, the parking lot at Bear Lake was full, so we were directed to park at a big parking lot that is a couple of miles down the hill from Bear Lake and other destinations.  Once you park in the lot, you take a shuttle up to the destinations and catch one on the way back down too.  We went up to Bear Lake first, which was the last stop.  It was a small little lake, but absolutely gorgeous!  It was a short little hike around the lake too, so it was perfect for the little ones.  

Bear Lake:

 On our way back down on the shuttle, we decided to stop at one of the other stops - Glacier Gorge - and do that hike as well.  We had been told it was an easy little hike and great for toddlers.  Well, the toddlers were able to make it to the top to see the waterfalls, but it was nowhere near easy.  Most of the trail was uphill and steep.  It wasn't that difficult of a hike for adults, but for small children it was a major hike.  Lots of rocks and bumpy trails too.  The kids did great though and we did eventually make it to the top to see the waterfalls.  On the way back down though, it was evident the kids were starting to wear out.  We had been hiking for several hours at this point, so I didn't blame them.  Jen gave Lauren a piggy back ride down the first part of the trail, and then Johnny the Brat decided he wanted a piggy back ride too.  He's lucky that Jen was such a great sport about it and offered to give him one!  She carried him for part of the trail and then I took over and gave him a piggy back ride for part of the trail too while Jen carried my backpack (with all the necessities - water, first aid kit, sweatshirt, energy bars, sunscreen, etc.).  Johnny did eventually walk the rest of the trail, which was good.  It was good for him to get a bit of a break though.  Our kids are troopers!  None of them complained about hiking the whole day and they loved all of the outdoors. :)

Glacier Gorge/Alberta Falls:

We took the shuttle back down to my car and then we drove to a different part of the park to do our last little hike.  It was the alluvial fans and waterfalls and it was a very easy hike compared with the rest of the day and at the end we reached some waterfalls and a stream, which the kids dipped their toes into.  Well, her kids dipped their toes into the frigid water, mine splashed around in it and soaked himself. Typical Johnny.  It was a nice refreshing end to a long day of hiking in the warm sun though.  Except that Johnny had to hike back to the car in wet jeans and he didn't like that in the least.  

After everyone dried off and we got the car loaded again, we finally left the park.  We had a lot of fun hiking around and taking pictures all day and the kids loved climbing on rocks and playing together too.  Surprisingly, they were all still getting along even after having been with each other all day and everyone being exhausted and hungry. :)   

Alluvial fans/waterfalls:

 We stopped in Lyons, CO on the way home and I introduced Jen to Oskar Blues Grille - the restaurant I ate at with my parents when we went to Rocky Mountain National park a month ago.  Jen and I both got the OB Green Chili - basically slow cooked pork, green chiles, potatoes, spices, and cheese with tortillas on the side - and a salad.  It was just as delicious as the first time I got it! :) The kids each got different meals off of the kids menu.  Johnny was asleep for the first half of us at the restaurant - he had passed out in the car and didn't wake up when I carried him inside, but he did wake up halfway through dinner and then gobbled down his food.  It is an awesome blues themed restaurant with amazing food.  Jen loved it too!  It was a wonderful end to an amazing day in the mountains! :) 

 On the way back home, Lucas and Johnny got into a balloon fight in the car.  It was all fun, but Johnny did say "Lucas Bop!" at one point (allow me to translate: "Lucas stop!").  It was really funny because of how clear Johnny was and because this was the first time he had ever said Lucas' name.  Then they ended up fighting each other with balloons again and all was well. :)  Lucas even came up with a song: "Johnny William Star Commanderrrrrr!  Lauren Diannnnneeeeee!" (and repeat over and over).  It was super adorable and sung with such passion! :) Johnny cried when we dropped them off at their house, because he wanted to be with Lucas, but once we got home and both of us showered and were clean, he was sitting in bed reading books and then he just collapsed into a deep sleep.  So deep he didn't budge an inch and was lightly snoring.  He was one exhausted - but happy - little boy!  What a wonderful wonderful day! :)

We love to hike and be outdoors, so this playdate was definitely a fun day for us.  I've also come to grips with the fact that Johnny needs a haircut after looking through these photos...good thing we already planned to get his haircut before he turns three next month! :)

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Some of Jen's Photos:

In no particular order...