Out and About

We had a really busy weekend!  On Saturday, my HOM group had a get together at a horse ranch located in a state park.  It's always nice to be around other triplet and quad families.  They don't ask dumb questions.  The kids who attended ranged from 8 years old to 8 weeks old.  There were hot dogs, smores and wagon rides.  We had a great time, but 19 months is such a difficult age.  They are running in all directions.  It's hard!

The girls in the background are actually quads (4 girls - 1 missing from the picture).  They met my girls over the summer at our zoo outing.  Apparently, they've been talking about the girls ever since, and they were excited to see them again.  So cute - they're 6.

Izzie-B had some time with Patrick on the wagon ride so Robin could take pictures.

On Sunday, we decided to take a long car trip so Robin could photograph the changing leaves.  I'm not usually one to agree to car trips, but I don't know where else we can go as a family.  Total miles: 200; total time: 9 hours (9am to 6pm).

Our first stop was Estes Park.  We wanted to have a look at the Stanley Hotel, which is the setting in the movie The Shining.  However, they charge $5 for parking if you're not a guest, so we didn't go.  I've been to Estes Park so many times, but I've never been to that hotel.  Maybe next time.  I really wanted to get some salt water taffy, so we parked on the main street and walked around.  I got my taffy, and we also had lunch.  We ate on the patio.

 
Then we drove along Trail Ridge Road, which is the highest continuous highway in the US.  I think the highest elevation (on the road) is 12,178 feet.  The girls' premature lungs got a workout.  I wish we had a pulse ox machine because I would have loved to have tested all of us.  It was just too dangerous (and frankly too much work) to take the girls out and take pictures.  Robin got lots of great shots though (none of them posted here unfortunately).

Next stop - Grand Lake.  We walked around town and let the girls play on the dock.  They had been strapped in their car seats for so long, they really needed it.  It also worked out perfectly that we arrived in Grand Lake right at their snack time.  After playing on the dock, we stopped for some ice cream.  The girls had cotton candy ice cream - their first taste of ice cream.  Needless to say - they LOVED it.  It was an absolutely gorgeous day.

They would not cooperate and all sit on the bench - so this is the best we could do.

We left Grand Lake, went over Berthoud Pass and made our way home.  It was fun, but it's amazing how exhausted one can be after sitting in a car all day.