Day 3 - Elitch Amusement Park, Denver, July 27, 2009

We decided to spend our first day in the Denver area at Elitch Amusement Park. Small but sufficient I would say. Both Sarah and Travis said this was what they wanted to do but neither showed much enthusiasm while we were there. So we enjoyed ourselves as much as we allowed ourselves to, I suppose. I think I need to throw in the towel when it comes to roller coasters. Severe dizziness and body pains are not fun. I only went on two roller coasters but that about did me in. There was a water park side to Elitch that Sarah and I enjoyed for a little while. Travis wasn't into it. We left in the early afternoon just before a big downpour hit so I think we timed it right. It was sunny the whole day up to that point. I think we were all just tired today so we had trouble enjoying ourselves as much as we thought we would. Travis thinks maybe it is because Tyler and Dad aren't with us. Sweet of him to say!

One of the cool water features! (Sarah in blue bathing suit)

Travis in the third from the back row, at the end of this ride, looking whipped!

We all got wet on some of the rides!!

One of the wet rides! (I skipped this one!?)

At the entrance, on our way out! Wiped out we were!

Day 2 - Arrive in Englewood, Colorado, July 26, 2009

After a restful night in Green River, Wyoming (in spite of dreams about bedbugs) and a very nice "free" breakfast at the Inn, we actually got on the road around 10:30 am. The rest of the drive through Wyoming was pretty boring until just after Rawlins where the landscape started to change with trees and rivers. We arrived in Denver around 5 pm but came upon quite a bit of traffic. So it was good experience for Travis, who had been driving since Rawlins, although his strategy was to get behind the slowest moving vehicle and stay there. So I think we got into Englewood a little later than we could have, around 5:30pm. The Comfort Suites Inn is very nice and we feel we will be very comfortable these next few days!! We decided to have pizza at a local pizza joint and it was very good, but as you will see by the pictures below, we ordered too much. It said "6 slices" so we imagined normal slices but these were King Kong slices. It was very good but no way could we eat it all!! Luckily we have a small refrigerator in our room and a microwave, so I think dinner is covered for the next few nights!! Looking forward to a good nights sleep!

Way too big pizza slices !! But, yummy !

Our suite !!



View from outside our window !

Day 1 - trip to Colorado, July 25, 2009

We left Meridian this morning around 9 am on the first leg of our trip to Denver, Colorado. Travis helped drive, a little, from around Rupert, Idaho to the northern part of Utah. All in all, it was a pretty uneventful trip. We arrived in Green River, Wyoming around 5:30pm for the night. We had reserved a room at the Super 8 motel but the moment I walked into the office area, I realized I would not be happy. There was a strong odor of Curry and it had very old and outdated carpeting and peeling wall paper. So I came up with a "story" and asked if I could cancel my reservation. At first she said I had missed the 4pm deadline to cancel, but changed her mind after she disappeared for a moment into the back room. So that was a pleasant surprise!? After stopping at a local gas station to ask for a phone book, we decided to try the brand new Hampton Inn down the street. The owner of the gas station recommended it and/or one other motel. So here we are in a beautiful room, with a beautiful view and I don't feel like I'll have to check the mattress for bed bugs!? (worth paying almost double for the room than we would have paid at the Super 8?!) That Super 8 would have creeped me out if I had to stay there. Anywho, here are a few pics. We should sleep well tonight!! Till tomorrow !!

From the Hampton Inn parking lot, looking south.

Travis, our car and a beautiful butte !!

Time to relax !!

The view out our window, love those buttes !!

The Hampton Inn, Green River, Wyoming.

10 on Tuesday

July 21, 2009

1. This is harder than it looks. Coming up with 10 things a week to write about is challenging sometimes. Sometimes I'm just too busy, or tired, or what ever ... Anyway ..

2. I had a really nice birthday (June 29)! Thank you all for the birthday cards !! I spent time with my family, my visiting brother David and his family, my visiting sister Wendy and her boys and my mom and dad! Swimming, games, pizza, cake and ice cream ! I am so blessed !!

3. Bobby has been really busy at work. This is the time of year when he "walks the corn" checking for disease and other problems with the seed crop.

4. Travis has recently returned from a 4 day backpack hike and water rafting trip up in the mountains with a group of boys and leaders from church. He said it was tough but he was glad he went !? Sure missed him while he was gone.

5. Tyler is preparing to go to scout camp next Monday. Meanwhile he's been keeping busy riding his dirt bike and hanging with friends.

6. Sarah swims a lot and plays with friends. Her and I go to the water park frequently. It is especially nice when it reaches 100 degrees.

7. My sister, Carol, and her husband, Ross, just finished up a visit from Tennessee. They stayed with my parents and did some traveling down to Utah to visit Ross' family. Her daughter, Jenny, also came out for a visit. It was great to see all of them!!

8. A nice perk, living near my Mom and Dad. I get to see my brothers and sisters more frequently!!

9. Travis, Sarah and I are planning to leave for Colorado this Saturday. My nephew, Corey, is getting married near Denver. We are going to vacation on the way there, while we are there and on the way back!. I've never been to Denver, so I look forward to seeing the Zoo and other attractions. Tyler will be at scout camp, and Bobby is too busy to go.

10. Have a great week, everyone !!

Movie Review - Harry Potter

We went to see the new Harry Potter movie. As usual, it is well made and visually pleasing (although it could always use a few more Stud Muffins). But I have decided, finally, that I should probably have read the book first. I had trouble understanding what the "death eaters" were and I had trouble understanding what Dumbledore was up to. It was like watching a James Bond movie, where the action is great but the story is confusing?? My advice, read the book first !! I won't see the next Harry Potter until I've read the book. Good movie, otherwise!!

Sarah's favorite boy, Nick Jonas ...

Jonas Brothers Experience

On Friday, June 26th, I took my daughter, Sarah (my resident tween) to a Jonas Brothers concert near hear in Nampa, about a 15 minute drive. I only decided to buy tickets just three days earlier (I had been hoping they'd sell out !?) Sarah had been so good at trying to win tickets on-line or with radio stations that I decided she deserved to go so I forked out the money for some third row tickets that had just been released for sale that day. (I guess they reserve some seats for giveaways and such) So we had great seats !! She was so excited!! She wanted to get there early so she could sign their tour bus ?!



She ran into her friend, Savannah, in the parking lot so she had someone to share her excitement with !! I would say there was an equal mix of 'tweens and teenagers in the crowd and a lot of mom's and a few dad's!!
Here is a picture from our seats:



The stage had a rotating center so all in the arena would/could have an equal view, but I personally think we in the side "bleachers" had better views than those in the chairs on the floor, just because we were up higher. Anywho ... first to come on stage at 7pm was American Idol winner Jordin Sparks, who only sang for around 20 minutes but she did a great job and she is beautiful!! I love a woman with curves, whose not a size 0 !! Yeah for larger women !!



The brothers arrived on stage about 8pm and we were ready, earplugs in hand (at least for me), for all the screaming minions!! Sarah didn't scream so much but was ready to dance !! I have to hand it to Disney, they run a good show and didn't spare any expense !! The boys sounded good and I find their music tolerable !! They played for about 75 minutes, which was long enough !! It was a good show and I am glad I decided to take her !! She had fun along with thousands of others!!

Okay, so I'm going to post some of the pictures I took, and video, but I must preface it with a little note that my camera faked me out !! A few hours before we left for the concert, I had checked my camera to see if the battery was fully charged, and it showed it was !! I even had Sarah verify !! So when I turned it on in the parking lot of the Nampa Center and it showed that my battery was almost dead, I was extremely upset !!! So I tried to conserve my picture taking but still was only able to get a few good shots and video before it died. I tried taking some with my cell phone but the quality leaves a lot to be desired. So here is what I got :






Check out this link to a youtube video. Jordin Sparks and the Jonas Brothers did this number together at the concert we saw. It looked just like this except she had a black gown on during our show :

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8F3GmGYEMoI