Friday July 16 Garden of the Gods

Friday morning we got up and drove out to Garden of the Gods. It was a hot, but beautiful day. The rock formations were amazing.











We saw quite a few people rock climbing while we were there. If you look closely, you can see some climbing up this rock.


Our family plus one. Erick Ashe


Enjoying the little bit of shade

More rock climbers...look closely.




In the first area we visited, there was a great rock just the right size for the kids to climb.
Lauren




William


Jacob




Spencer










Even the little guys wanted to get on top.
Tanner


There were also some nice tight places to climb through.


William, Craig, and Aunt Sheri












John, Kevin, and Eliza taking a break. Bryce is there also. He really did not enjoy Garden of the God. It was just too hot and boring for him.


This is the place at the end of the scenic drive where you can get out and climb on the rocks. We decided that we had already climbed enough and so we didn't stop.


Instead we went to the park for lunch.




Cute little piggies...Lauren and Spencer


Annalise loved exploring


and swinging with Aunt Sherri


Then we went back and had naps and of course more swimming before dinner in the pavilion.


William and John


Spencer




nice dive William


Emma and Spencer


Mom prepared some smores using the sun instead of fire for our dessert/treat on our last night in Colorado.


Pizza is always a hit!








John and the boys played some horseshoes before heading in for the night.




Craig gave everyone a run for their money.

July 15 (Cont.) Candy and Auction

After a picnic lunch, we headed to Patsy's Candy Factory for a free tour. The kids all had fun seeing how all the candy was made and seeing so much candy all in one place. I must admit though, after growing up near the Hershey Chocolate factory and touring it many times in my life, I was not very impressed with Patsy's. I wish Hershey still did tours. There is nothing like the smell of literally tons of Chocolate all in one place. That was great!



These are bins full of different flavored popcorn


Nathan and the taffy


Everyone enjoying their treats outside of the candy factory.


Then back to the lodge for swimming, playing, dinner, and a family auction!










Watching the games. Porter and Uncle Ryan


Nathan and Bryce


Tanner


Nathan and Porter






All lined up and ready for the auction. My brother Kevin started this tradition (actually, I think he got it from his in-laws) with our family a couple of reunions ago. Everyone gets 20 beans and we can "buy" small toys and games and items that have been donated, mostly by Mom, for the auction. There is also a twist with a yellow bean which can count as the high number of beans and take whatever the item is...unless you are outbid by the red bean...which wins above all beans! It's a lot of fun for everyone.


Bryce with his beans. He was very excited to get them.


No Bryce, the beans are not for eating!


Kevin, the auctioneer.


must have been a popular item.


Spencer and his auction face. Every time he would bid, he would get this look on his face. So funny!


Jacob congratulating Spencer on his win.


Bryce with his prize firetruck. We would put this on his lap and he would kick his legs until it would fall. He would laugh and laugh and then want to do it again. He loves this truck.


not much excitement about the book






There is that face again.




The girls heading off after the auction. It is so fun to see how fast all the kids became such good friends. They all got along so well.


After the auction, Mom had all of the grandkids come back to her place and choose a book from her collection.







The end of another great day!