Shelley's pictures

Shelley and I met back in Estes Park four years ago when the wives were brought in for the sales meeting. She posted these pictures to Facebook and I wanted to share them here. Steve and Shelley went to the top of the mountain and snapped these pics. I had to share the continental divide picture (Hi Steve and Shelley!) so y'all can read the sign they posed near. So cool!!

Art Camp

Theo went to Lake Castle's art camp this week to get accustomed to the school. He'll be going there with Jack this Fall. Theo had a great time and made tons of neat projects. Best of all, he feels comfortable at his new school and met a friend that will be in his class :)

2nd swim meet

Jack had his 2nd swim meet on Friday while we were in Colorado. Mimi and Gigi both rooted him on and switched off to take Theo to art camp (the swim meet started at 7 am). Jack got 2 first place ribbons for freestyle and back stroke and then a personal best for freestyle. Go Jack!!!

Grand Lake Lodge

Dave had a sales meeting for one of the manufacturers in Grand Lake, CO this past week. The wives were invited for this meeting (last time wives came was back in Estes Park, CO four years ago) and the company put everyone up at the Grand Lake Lodge. The Lodge just reopened after being closed for a few years so everything was newly updated. We were up in the Rocky Mountains and really had just the most breathtaking views you could ever imagine. The Lodge had a sweeping front porch with swings and a huge fire pit inside with more swings. Christy and I shared coffee one morning on the front porch and just soaked in the scenery. The temperatures dipped down in to the 30's and 40's at night so you can imagine that it was a bit chilly that morning on the porch :)

The cabins we all stayed in were definitely no-frill (no tv, closet, clock or luggage stand) but were updated and clean. We all were out of breath just walking up the walkway to our cabins each day due to the altitude (around 9000 ft). Definitely a change from sea level here in Louisiana!!

The Lodge originally opened in 1920 and they displayed the old cars from back then. We rented an economy car and sported around town in a Kia Soul. It naturally was a running joke between us all (the commercials for the Soul feature the dancing hamsters). That Soul did right by us and was a good little car though :)

I snapped some views just from the edge of the Lodge before we left yesterday. There was still snow on the mountain tops and it had snowed the day prior to our arrival as well! It was fun getting to wear sweaters and my Northface jacket in a time of year that is strictly tank tops and shorts here :)

A huge thank you to Gigi, Dada and Mimi for holding down the fort here in Mandeville and shepherding the boys to swim practice and art camp for us. Dave and I really enjoyed this trip and couldn't have done it without y'all!!

ATV

Jerry, Christy, Dave and I all rented ATVs on our last day in Grand Lake. I had never even been a passenger on one before so it was a real experience for me! We followed a trail in the mountains and enjoyed the beauty of the Rocky Mountains. We did lose our trail at one point and ended up on a pretty advanced path which frightened us all. I drove my ATV in to a tree (didn't wreck it, just pulled off the trail) and had to get Dave to turn me around and drive my ATV down that path. It was uneven and steep and just way too advanced for my liking! I'll stick to flat ground for my next ATV ride, thankyouverymuch.

People on our trip

Since Dave and his family all pretty much work together we had the pleasure of having some of my favorite people at the lodge with us! "Aunt" Kit and "cousin" Christy were my partners in crime for 4 days :) We ate breakfast together, shopped in town and ate meals together. We posed for pictures in front of the rapids of the Colorado river. Christy and I also had to stick our heads in the precious gingerbread men in front of a candy store. Aren't they just too cute??

We also visited the log cabin of the President of the company and that was super neat! I love log cabins and really enjoyed seeing the inside (sorry no pics) and the rustic decorations.

Grand Lake scenery

Here is the gorgeous scenery that I captured in town, outlooking the lodge, driving up in the mountains and riding around in the ATV. The Rocky Mountain National Park bordered our lodge and we saw moose all the time! I never saw any other wildlife but there was a black bear that employees had seen recently and deer around. The views were breathtaking!!!