4th of July Celebrations

WARNING: This post is long. It contains a lot of pictures. Consider yourself warned.

We started the party early by driving up to Estes Park on Saturday. Gorgeous! Man, we have missed the mountains, they are just amazing.

First we went to an Arabian Horse Show. Not only did we get to see lots of horses, but we got to meet a few! The kids were able to pet the horses, ask questions about them and take lots of pictures with them. They all got to pet the horses, but Madelyn and Rhys were definitely the most captivated.




Arabian Horses are pretty small compared to what we are used to seeing. They are historically used in battle. They are very strong and can run with the greatest endurance. They are the only horse that can run 100 miles in one day and then get up and do it again the next day. They have incredible stamina. They have a reputation for being kind of wild/out of control, but the owners talked about how they are actually very good with people and are very mellow.


This horse had originally been owned by some not-so-nice owners and as a "baby" had been thrown and broken a leg. The leg was so badly broken that when it was repaired it required a metal plate and 13 screws. He has gone on to win races and people would never have guessed what he had been through. Not to mention that after that sort of treatment by owners, he is very good with people and very calm.

Then we grabbed some lunch.

Next we went to Rocky Mountain National Park and drove up Trail Ridge Road. It goes up to over 12,000 feet in elevation. I could go on and on about how amazing it was and what we saw...but I'll just let you look and enjoy.

Ok, so the elephant in the room...well, it's me. yes, that belly is big, no I am not due today. In fact I am not due for another 5 1/2 weeks...even though I am already measuing full term. Whuddyagonnado?

You know a day trip is successful when the drive home is silent...

We actually woke them all up when we stopped at the Cherry Stand to buy a pie, cherry butter and cherry cider. All very delicious.

On Monday we celebrated with the best Greeley has to offer. We met up with some friends for the day. We watched the parade, had a big lunch and swimming in the afternoon, and met up again for fireworks that night. We actually arrived a little late for the fireworks cause we were at home firing up some fireworks of our own.
That's us sitting with the umbrellas on the bottom right of the picture.
Adah and Madelyn had their first experience jumping off a diving board...and then could not get enough.