Day 4   We spent the morning in Estes Park.   We got groceries and bought t-shirts.   We decided to take a Horse back Ride for Dinner.   We booked ourselves for a Steak and Ride with Sombrero Stables.  Nadia was very nervous, but she did great.    In fact, it was her favorite part of the trip.  

Day 5   We decided that we could not leave Estes Park with out seeing the Historic Stanley Hotel. 

 We stopped in Boulder, CO at the National Center for Atmospheric Research.    The building was designed by I.M. Pei, an architect that Ethan wrote about for his biography book report this year.    The museum itself was extremely family friendly.   We spent several hours and enjoyed it very much.

 We ended the day at Chatfield State Park, south of Denver.

Day 6 - Today we explore 2 different parks around Denver.    Dinosaur Ridge and Red Rocks.    We learned so much about the layers of the earth at Dinosaur Ridge.     It was really interesting and they actually have dinosaur track fossils.    Really Cool. 

Red Rocks park  is a park full of red rocks, but the really cool thing is that they built a concert "hall" / amphitheater right in the rock.    It was only about 500 steps up to the stage and at a little higher altitude than our dear Iowa, so we were a little breathless when we got there.  :)     But worth the trek.    We were sorry not to see a concert.   

I have shared several photos in the previous scavenger hunt post.   But here's a summary of our 12 days on the road. 

Day 1   We left Iowa and head to Nebraska.   We stopped and spent the night in Johnson Lake.   We had time to spend swimming in the lake and building a fire before bedtime.   The sunset was perfect over the reflection of the lake.   

Day 2  The next morning we packed up and spent some time at the Heartland Military Vehicles Museum.   Ethan was enthralled.  This stop was definitely on Ethan's  favorite list.  The museum was very low budget, but that was not important.   It was basically a couple large metal building filled with trucks, tanks, a mask helicopter, etc.  

After the museum, we headed back on road toward Cheyenne, WY.      Cheyenne was a little out of the way, but we thought it would be fun.    Our final stop was Estes Park, CO.   We set up camp at Mary's Lake Park.  It was a beautiful campground with mountains surrounding us. 

Day 3  We took the shuttle from our campground to Rocky Mountain National Park and up Bear Lake where many of the hiking trails start.    Must to Andrew's disappointment, our family was not up for super hikes.    We decided to take the trail to Alberta Falls, mostly because of it's Canadian reference and it was only 1.7 miles round-trip.    Oh, and it was uphill toward the falls.    We were tired, but the view was completely worth it.   

We were rewarded with an evening ice cream cone and a stroll in down town Estes Park.

Our 12 day vacation from Iowa to Colorado, really helped us make progress on our Photo Scavenger Hunt.   We have completed  17 of the 21. 
Here's our list thus far.  

summertime-photography-scavenger-hunt

1. Open air market
2. Theater for performing arts (not a movie theater)
3. City Hall, Capitol or other similar civic building
4. Airplane
5. A sunset
6. Someone or something taking a nap
7. A sign that is intentionally or unintentionally funny
8. A tower
9. A photo with someone or something that is clearly out of place or doesn't belong
10. A bench that is outside
11. An animal in a zoo, aquarium, nature preserve, etc.
12. A cloud in the shape of something (please specify what you see)
13. A fence
14. A stained glass object or a mosaic
15. A fire truck or police car
16. A windmill
17. Candle(s)
18. Your local pub/bar, coffee house or tea shop
19. A fisherman
20. A dinosaur
21. A photograph of you with an artistic tool or craft supply (you cannot substitute for this item)
Bonus/substitute items. If you find any of the above items too difficult, feel free to substitute either (or both) of these items. You can substitute up to two items, but you cannot substitute Item #21:
A person wearing an outfit (or item of clothing) that symbolizes your country
A sundial

 #2  Theater -  at Red Rocks

 # 3 the capital building in Cheyenne Wyoming.

 # 4 Airplane -  The Denver Radio Control Airplane Club had a spot in the State Park where they practiced.    They were fun to watch.

 # 4  A B52 bomber on display at the Air Force Academy

 #5  - 2 of the many sunset photos that we took this week.

#7  A funny Sign - This one is only funny if you know that is was taken at the National Center for Atmospheric Research Center in Boulder, CO

We were following the signs to the museum.   This was a little difficult to navigate

#8 A railroad tower in Cheyenne Wyoming.   What caught our eye was that the highway was built around the tower.    Railroad was definitely there first.  

#10   Sitting on the bench and waiting for our horses in Estes Park, CO

#11 A stellar Jay in Rocky Mountain National Park and a snake at Dinosaur Ridge (thankfully not a rattle snake)   Why do I always see the snakes first?   The kids also suggested a horse photo for this one as well

#12  I was having a hard time with this one, so I asked for help.   Nadia found this cloud almost right away. A hummingbird with his beak in a flower.    I totally see it now, but I guess my brain does not work that way.   

#13  A fence - around the horse stable.

#14 The chapel at the Air Force Academy had small strips of stained Glass

#15  A Fire Truck at the Famous Stanley Hotel in Estes Park.   

#16  A windmill

#20  I made Andrew stop at this particular Gas station to ensure I got my dinosaur photo.    As it turned out, we saw dinosaur fossils and bones several times on the trip.

Summer has arrived, and we are in full swing here.    Ben has already attended a Band Camp for several days.  He got his first experience with marching band.    The camp was for percussion only, which I thought was cool, but he was pretty sure it was the most boring several days of his life.  

Ethan has been busy with Super Summers at the Middle school.   The School District hosts special class for Advanced Students.   He is taking video editing and cartooning.    I hope to share a couple cartoons later. 

Nadia has been taking swimming lesson.   She is enjoying the lessons and making great improvements, but has some confidence issues with the "test"   We will have to see how she does tomorrow. 

 

We have spent several afternoons at the pool.  

 

The garden has been growing fantastic with periodic rain and warm days.   The Rose Bush is in full bloom.

Enjoy!

 I found this Scavenger Hunt on a fellow blog and thought is might be fun to participate.   I even asked the kids if they wanted to help me and they thought it would be fun.     Basic rules are to find photos in our daily life the fit each category.      We have all summer to get all 21.  

summertime-photography-scavenger-hunt

1. Open air market
2. Theater for performing arts (not a movie theater)
3. City Hall, Capitol or other similar civic building
4. Airplane
5. A sunset
6. Someone or something taking a nap
7. A sign that is intentionally or unintentionally funny
8. A tower
9. A photo with someone or something that is clearly out of place or doesn't belong
10. A bench that is outside
11. An animal in a zoo, aquarium, nature preserve, etc.
12. A cloud in the shape of something (please specify what you see)
13. A fence
14. A stained glass object or a mosaic
15. A fire truck or police car
16. A windmill
17. Candle(s)
18. Your local pub/bar, coffee house or tea shop
19. A fisherman
20. A dinosaur
21. A photograph of you with an artistic tool or craft supply (you cannot substitute for this item)
Bonus/substitute items. If you find any of the above items too difficult, feel free to substitute either (or both) of these items. You can substitute up to two items, but you cannot substitute Item #21:
A person wearing an outfit (or item of clothing) that symbolizes your country
A sundial

 

  Our progress thus far:

# 6 Napping.   He often sleeps with his head upside down or with his paws over his face 

9. A photo with someone or something that is clearly out of place or doesn't belong.

I was surprised to see this big guy sitting by the front door at work today

 #19   By Ben - A fisherman.   Nadia's special fishman Bear.   Ben set him up in the bathroom to fish in the sink

It's the first Friday in May, Ben's birthday, I have to drive to Minneapolis and it's SNOWing!    Yes, It's snowing in May.    Big Sigh!