Trip to Colorado

Almost Home!

2007-06-28T07:13:00.000-07:00

Our last few days at the Cooks in Sturgis, including a trip to KZOO air museum, including lots of interactive rides for the boys.
It is great to be back with Sam and Andrew - The family is complete again!

To Grosse Pointe Park later today.

Navy memorial to fallen comrades at KZOO air museum

Second night on the way back

2007-06-24T21:19:00.001-07:00

Although we had some hope that we could make it back in two days, our short first night, combined with a LONG second day found us staying the night at the Best Western in Davenport, IA.

Tomorrow we go to Sturgis, MI (God willing) to reunite with Sam and Andrew and spend a few days R&R with the Cooks (Jennifer's parents).

First night on the road back

2007-06-24T21:13:00.001-07:00

We left after dinner at the reception to begin our 1400 mile trip home. On the first night we hoped to go 300 or 350 miles, but as we called ahead to hotels on I-80 into Nebraska, they were all full! So we stayed in Julesburg, CO, about 3 miles from the Nebraska border and only 260 miles away from Copper Mountain.

It was a Budget Host motel. Generally we steer away from motels with outside room doors and no free breakfast, but this one was very clean (newly painted and new carpets) and we were grateful to have a bed for the night.

In the morning I said Mass for the family and we had communion before setting out on the road. Before we left, I had to snap a picture of this sign in the motel room!

Afterwards....

2007-06-24T21:07:00.000-07:00

Meg dozed off during the service and I took a turn holding her.

Will spent time skipping rocks into the lake
Mom Kelly and Meg
At the reception - Uncle Dave, Aunt Emma, Emelia, and Liam Kelly
Mike, Mary-signe, and the proud Kelly Parents

Scenes from the wedding ceremony

2007-06-24T20:58:00.000-07:00

Mary-signe and her parents coming down the aisle

Uncle Mike and Mom and Dad Kelly
Deb leading the service. Note the sailboats on the lake behind her!

Getting ready for the wedding

2007-06-24T20:53:00.000-07:00

The wedding was outside, along Lake Dillon. We set up the "kids table" near the back to keep from being too loud and in the way. Along the back were picnic tables, so the kids could draw, color, etc.
My sister Deb, who got herself licensed Online to do the service (LONG story).
Will and my godmother, Aunt Jeannie

An easier day today

2007-06-22T19:33:00.000-07:00

We took it alot easier today after the excitement of yesterday's activities.

We had breakfast with Mema and Grandpa, and played on the playground with Meg. Will and Daddy played catch between rain storms. And Daddy did a load of laundry.

Deb and Bill came over and hung out in the afternoon.

In the evening there was a Barbeque at my parents condo. We ate Bison Burgers and Bison Hot Dogs - the bison having been shot by Uncle Mike (the groom). It weighed 1175 lbs. and yielded 535 lbs of meat! It tasted great.

And we are starting to recover from Altitude Sickness, finally!
The party in the backyard, just behind the golf course

Mom Kelly and Mary-Signe's mom at the BBQ (Deb in the background)

Will and Uncle Bill

Will has his first ride on a bus - the shuttle btw where my parents are staying and where we are staying

Dad Kelly holding bitty-baby, with Uncle Dave

On the way to breakfast - Dad and Mom Kelly, William, Meg and Liam

Jennifer and Mary-Signe at the party.

One more adventure on Thursday

2007-06-21T21:22:00.000-07:00

Will and Daddy rode the ski lift to the top of the mountain.

At first Will (and maybe even Daddy) were a little scared

At the top we found lots of snow!
Look at the bigger mountains across the way!
Coming down was not as scary - Will even put his hands up long enough for this picure
This one was taken 1/3 of the way down - the resort is way down at the bottom!

Rehearsal Dinner - and the approaching storm

2007-06-21T21:15:00.001-07:00

The dinner was held in a bar in Breckenridge called FATTY'S.

Meg really liked the full-sized stuffed bear in the corner!

As we were leaving a storm was approaching - which when you are in the mountains is especially scary looking!
It was nice to see a rainbow!

Will makes it to the top

2007-06-21T21:06:00.001-07:00

After an earlier attempt went about half-way up, Will decided to try it again. This time, with some extra encouragement from the worker, he made it all the way up.

Notice there are not rubber, colored grips to grab onto! It is shelves and cracks in real rock!As he gets further up, Mommy can't watch!
Ding, Ding when the bell, and then he heads back down!

Will has an AWESOME day!!!!

2007-06-21T20:57:00.001-07:00

Will jumps on the trampoline with bungie cords attached around the waist. Cool!!

He got up really high!!
He rode these scooters around the village for a LONG time!!
And he's off . . .
And no blog entry would be complete without a cute picture of Meg!!! SHe figured out how to get up on this slide and go down all by herself.

Today

2007-06-21T20:51:00.000-07:00

A bunch of us at breakfast. Notice grandpa, Uncle Dave, Will, Uncle Mike and Mary Signe

Will in a REALLY big chair
Daddy and Will riding a paddle boat. They switched over to the motorized ones with squirt guns after Uncle Dave and Liam squirted them.
Meg enjoying her minstrone soup at lunch today

We arrive - first views of Copper Mountain

2007-06-21T20:44:00.000-07:00

The view out our window.

The view of the village from our room
Taking a walk after first arriving
Read the sign on the right!!!!!!
Mommy and Meg - can you believe there's still snow on the ground????

More photos from day three

2007-06-21T20:39:00.000-07:00

An interesting sculpture at the rest stop - note the catapillar at the bottom, and the butterfly at the top

Yes, we watched a LOT of Barney in the car!

Finally the mountains in Colorado come into view!

And yet, still 2 or 3 more hours to go!

Day three begins

2007-06-21T20:34:00.000-07:00

Day two begins....and is Meg happy to be back in the carseat?

You decide for yourself!!!!

We stopped just over the border into Colorado to have a picnic.

On the way - second day of driving

2007-06-19T19:33:00.000-07:00

Here are some photos from our drive today, from Benton Harbor, Michigan, to York, Nebraska

Meg, playing with Mom's pretty anklet (her 'pretty'). Hey, you gotta' do whatever will make her happy!!!

Pumping gas in Iowa. Did you know here that all the gas contains ethanol and is cheaper!!!

Meg did a lot of this in the car.

William really, really liked his ramen noodles for lunch today!!!

We stopped at a state park in Iowa for lunch. This is Will throwing the baseball with STeve.

Crossing the Mississippi River. This is where Will thought we were 10,000 feet up in the air.

This is the little play area at the state park. Meg loved it.

Meg discovering a bug on the ground.

My big toe after dropping a can of tuna on it. OUCH!!!!!

We thought this one was particularly funny. Daddy was getting Meg a drink. From my direction, it looked like something else!!!

Will is very proud of his artwork!!

Meg did a little bit of this too.

Fashion Meg!!!!
Will's new camera. He took 14 pictures of the Mississippi River!!!

Will, at the start of our second day.
Daddy at the start of our second day.

That's it for today!!! We'll take more pictures tomorrow!!! We love and miss you guys!!!!

Love, Mommy and Daddy and William and Margaret