Two years ago, we trekked from Michigan to Iowa to Colorado and back with a 3 month-old in tow. We decided then that just may have been the worst decision we had ever made.
Two years later, we drove for two days from Oregon to Colorado with a 2 year-old in tow. We found that traveling with a toddler just might be worse than with a newborn. Why?
1) Toddlers don't sleep as much = more awake time in the car, and less resting time for parents.
2) Toddlers are quickly bored (at least ours is!) and rapidly move through a multitude of activities = exhausted parent (me) trying to rotate from painting to reading to iPad to coloring to snacks to sand art to iPad to singing to snacks to counting wind turbines to stickers to dance party to iPad to snacks...you get the picture. For two days there. And two days back.
3) No diapers. 'Nuf said. (Ok, let's just say what should have taken us 12 hours the first day took over 15 and we didn't end up getting to our hotel until midnight - MOSTLY because of potty breaks and attempted pooping stops.)
Suffice to say, we were greatly relieved when we finally arrived at Estes Park, Colorado, and while our time there was short and full and not very restful, it was filled with the beauty of God's glorious creation and time well spent with our wonderful relatives.
Our first full day there we took an aerial tram to scope out the terrain. And feed the chipmunks. Of course, Zoë had no interest in giving the chipmunks their peanuts. Instead, she filled her brown bag with rocks and sticks that she collected on the way. So, when mommy told her to give the chipmunk a peanut, she threw a stick at it. Whoops. :)
One happy Didi
Lunch with Auntie Judy and Hallie
Hallie loved hanging out with Zoë, and Zoë loved imitating her big cousin...
...especially when it came to riding THIS around.
The scooter was probably Zoë's favorite part of the trip!
All ready for the hiking in her cool new hiking boots
From Didi :)
Hiking up to Alberta Falls with Gruncle and Auntie Judy
THEN
and NOW
It was so fun to take pictures with Zoë in some of the exact (or close to exact) locations as we did two years ago. It is amazing how the scenery remains unchanged, and even I don't look TOO much older :), but that little girl - MY GOODNESS! How does this happen?!
On the rocks with cousin Brooke
Timberline Falls
Thanks to Uncle Herm (who carried Zoë down from Alberta Falls) and Didi (who watched her and put her down for a nap while we were gone), Zac and I were able to continue on to the gorgeous Timberline Falls, Lake of Glass and Sky Pond. SO cool!
Lake of Glass
As is tradition for the Nelson family, we stayed in the lovely Rockmount Cottages and Cabins - right next to a small creek for the kiddos to fish in and throw rocks into, and with a playground right in the center. In the early morning, deer and elk would wander right through. And sometimes bear (like one did two years ago!).
Fortunately, this was the only bear we saw this time in Colorado!
Ice cream with the cousins!
Nothin' better. :)
Our next hike was up through the lakes - Nymph, Dream and Haiyaha. Zoë did some hiking, lots of riding, and a bit of sleeping on the way down. Mommy got a work out! :)
THEN
and NOW
Nymph Lake - by the same bench
Dream Lake
Check out that reflection!
THEN
and NOW
Dream Lake again - two years ago, Zoë slept right through it. This year, she thoroghly enjoyed throwing the rocks Herm collected into the water. She kept him busy going back to find more rocks!
When we had finally made it to Lake Haiyaha and climbed over boulders to get to this view, Zoë was so terrified of the mosquitos that I decided it would be best to just turn around and take my screaming toddler with me. :*( At least we were there long enough to get a picture!
Lake Haiyaha
Zoë fell asleep shortly thereafter. All that screaming wore her out!
Walking stick!
More throwing rocks at the Alluvial Fan
Zoë was not a happy camper at this point, because she wanted to walk out on the rocks into the creek like mommy was doing to take this picture. *Sigh.*
With Brooke and "Gaka" (Rebecca)
Family Fun Center!!
This may have been Zoë's favorite part of the trip.
(I had a pretty good time myself driving that GoKart! :)
Super Slide
Our little cabin - "Indian Summer"
Thanks to Didi!
Matching p.j.s we got downtown from Auntie Judy
Zoë was SO proud of our matching pajama bottoms,
and VERY excited about all the "woo-wooo's" (owls)
Yay for family vacations!
(And, about two weeks later, we might have just recovered from our vacation.
Good thing they only come around once a year or so! ;)
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