A Colorado Rocky Mountain High

A couple days before we left Kansas, Wade & I decided we would take the time to drive through the Rocky Mountains on our way to Yellowstone.  We had already paid the eighty bucks for a NPS national pass so there wouldn't be a fee, and the drive would be a nice break from the monotonous highway.

So after our bagel breakfast we headed out of Denver toward the mountains.  We could see snow on them there mountains, and the kids were bound and determined to play in it.  I only hoped getting to the snow didn't require hiking boots, because then it would only be a pipe dream.

We stopped at the entrance town of Estes Park.  I had been here before, a few years back for a Vineyard worship leader's retreat.  That was in January when it was cold, but now in the summer warmth the rivers ran freely and the cottonwoods blew little puffs of cotton through the air.  So much that it looked like snow itself!  

We stopped at the visitor's center for a bathroom break, and then took the opportunity to skip stones in the river that ran next to it.

Annette found a ladybug that she REALLY wanted to take with us as a pet, but I reminded her that ladybugs don't live in vans, they live in grass.  So she let her go. But not before I snapped a picture.

The drive up was quite the climb, and the kids would yell "SNOW!!!" every time we passed a small patch on a mountain 1/2 mile away, and then start in with their grumpy talk that mom & dad are passing by the only reason we would go on this long, windy, tedious drive.  What party poopers we were.

Forget the beautiful scenery, the gorgeous mountains, the tall pine trees and tremendous blue sky. Snow was all that mattered to their little minds.

We stopped a couple times on the way up, quickly realizing that the summer warmth we experienced down by the stream didn't quite reach this high. 

The view was amazing.  Absolutely amazing.

I'm packing my bags when I get home.

So packing my bags.

A little farther up the road there was a traffic delay.  And it wasn't due to road construction. This beauty was enjoying an afternoon snack along the side of the road, giving all passersby the chance for a great shot.  What a sport.

Come out, come out, wherever you are...

Okay, this guy knows he's being photographed. And he's loving every minute of it. Just look at that profile.

And as we drove further on we hit another traffic jam. This time we knew it was probably due to a wildlife sighting, so we parked and got out of the car.

Sure enough, there was a herd of deer grazing in a nearby pasture.

And Lucas caught this little dude running across the street, probably looking for his mama. He did look a little out of place among all those deer.

We kept driving, and finally -- FINALLY -- we found some snow right next to the side of the road. By the time we put the van in park the kids were already halfway down the hill.

The kids were over the moon, out of their skin, giddy to no end.

To these desert rats playing in the snow is like being on Mars. And they can't get enough of it. That's why they could not even remotely comprehend why mom was ready to move on after 10 minutes. THAT was a downer.  But they got over it.

The drive was beautiful, even though we did hit some major road construction that caused some delays. Eventually we were ready for some lunch, so we found some picnic tables and made some sandwiches as a last stop before leaving the park and making our way to Green River, Wyoming.

It was a beautiful day. The kids got some snow time, and I got my Colorado fix.  

Yellowstone, here we come.