Vacation in the Mountains, Day 5

We began Day 5 with a family hike; just the 4 of us.  As we walked around the resort I found this flower that looks very much like a bluebonnet.  I don't know that it actually is, but it certainly resembles the Texas state flower.

Steven and the girls trekking up the mountain.

Audrey is very adventurous and asked to go on a long walk,

while Madeleine kept asking to go home.  She was convinced a mountain lion was going to jump out of the trees and kidnap us.  Now that's just preposterous.  I don't know who puts such silly ideas into her head.

Never the less, we headed back to the cabin.

I love this picture because it accurately represents how remote our cabin was and that it was smack dab in the middle mountains.

When you're the one taking pictures, you sometimes have to take a picture of yourself.  At least, that's what Steven does.

I love this picture of Audrey taken on the back porch of our cabin.

On the agenda for day 5 was a visit to The Garden of the Gods.  We actually went last year as well and you can see those pictures here.  It's a national park with natural red rock formations.  This one is called Balanced Rock.

Just as I finished commenting on how many people were breaking the rules by climbing the rocks, and that some people think they are above the rules, I looked up and saw them:

That's my dad and Natalie.  Then I said if they can do it, so can we.  Tee-hee. 

I yelled down to Steven (who is a rule follower) to take a picture of us.  Natalie kept trying to steal the spot light.

Papa helped Audrey down,

while Madeleine devised her own way down.

The Kissing Camels viewed from a distance.

Some rain showers that started off in the distance but eventually moved our way.  It rained off and on all day.

The following pictures were taken at a scenic pull off.  We got out and walked around a bit.

Gracie being . . . well . . . Gracie.

After driving around the park we concluded our trip with a walk around the Siamese Twins Trail.  The following pictures were taken during that walk.

Exploring

Many birds call the red rock formations home.

Audrey and Scott sword fighting with their water bottles.  Truth be told, I think Audrey has a little crush on him.

The girls had their picture taken with Grammy and Papa in the same spot as they did last year.

She plopped herself down on that rock and sat there, contemplative, for awhile.

Tickles and snuggles from dad.  Candid pictures are my favorite.

After we had seen all that Garden of the Gods had to offer, we drove to Manitou Springs for ice cream.  Audrey really enjoys ice cream!

Later that night, once we were back at the cabin, we got to bear witness to the most beautiful lightning show.  There was a thunderstorm and the lightning illuminated the mountains against the black sky.  Steven tried so hard to get a picture of the perfect zig zag lightning, but our camera isn't quite quick enough.  Instead we have the memory of it freeze framed in our minds.

It was the perfect finale to a wonderful vacation; that was our last night in Colorado.  Tomorrow I will conclude our vacation chronicles with some final pictures, including some of the cabin we stayed in.  To be continued . . .