Telluride/Staycation 2014 was amazing. Amazing!  

Telluride was so pretty. We stay in an awesome suite. And it was amazing fun. Let's explain.

Here are a couple of pictures from my runs in the mornings. Must say the runs were incredible. Look at that pretty sunrise.

  

There was  a gondola that you could ride for free from the little cities to little cities in the mountains. beautiful and so so fun. Here we are waiting to get on!

It was awesome. It is the first and only free transportation like this in the US. So fun and pretty!

We went on Bear Creak Hike. 5 miles and NOT ONE LITTLE complaint the entire time!! These girls are rock stars!!!!! It was one of the most beautiful hikes ever!!! And Andrew didn't ever give one little complaint either and he carried Emily almost the entire way! :) What a trooper :)

I think the hike was too beautiful and fun to not do anything but love it. The girls loved using their hiking sticks :)

AT THE TOP!!! Beautiful view and beautiful falls!!!

One of the days we had fun at the free sports center they had there. Amazing Castle Playground...Baseball...soccer....basketball....swimming. A lot of family fun! And what amazing surroundings around the sports center. Just take a look!

 

One of the days of our staycation, we camped in the backyard. Tons of fun! 

Driving around. What a goof-pot. Feet in my face as we drive ;)

One of the days we went to Boondocks!! Bowling, race car driving, indoor playground, arcades and prizes, etc! What a day!

Carolyn's first strike without it bumping the bumpers!

One of the days we went icestaking. It was amazing. Here Angela is. What a go-getter. Here she is with out-stretched arms "spinning." :)

Emy and I were buddies on the ice.

We had read it a book that icestakers put their arms out to slow down. She was so cute and pretty to watch! :) What a grace-ful staker!

Carolyn was doing awesome as well! Look at those two go!!! They loved the ice and it was so fun!

Staycation also included....a trip to the temple (on Andrew and my 9th anniversary==yay! :) We walked around the temple and had a lesson about temples...and a picnic. We went to the cheap movie theater to see "Maleficent." On the last day we went to water World!!! That was cool because the last couple of hours (or so) we had to leave so we got a raincheck and got to go twice (1/2 day). It was awesome!

Today was the first day of Henderson.

Angela says she loves her teacher and thinks she's the nicest teacher she ever has had.

Carolyn is lucky enough to have Sophie (someone from Turnberry) and Matthew (someone from our ward) in her class. She had a good first day of school.

Angela was so tired at 7PM...must be exhausted from a full day of school.

During the day, Emily and I made big plans. Very big. An all day date while the girls were in school. We went to the zoo and then out to icecream. Emily's favorite animal is the peacock. She handled it well, but disappointed that the giraffes weren't inside in the zoo (just outside). We checked twice. No luck. We heard a peacock "honk" a few times. Which surprised me. I thought it was a goose but Emmy knew it must be her favorite animal, the peacock...she was right! :) It was a fun date with Emy. So sad my two girls are gone for most of the day but so grateful for the time I get with Emy. Three cute things Emily Said:

Me: "Why do you think the giraffe's neck is long?" (expecting then to have a conversation about how they need to be able to reach the leaves).

Emily: "Because that's the way Jesus made them."
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(While look at a zebra that was upclose) Emily: "Is it a girl or a boy?"
Me: "I think it's a girl."
Emily: "I don't see eyelashes."
(When Emily draws girls she puts eyelashes on them to show it's a girl- obviously the zebra must have been a boy because she couldn't see eyelashes)
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 Angela and Carolyn wanted to take the bus as part of their Henderson experience. Angela is nervous about getting on the right bus after school. After Emily said her personal prayer tonight, she said, "I prayed Angela would find the right bus." So happy Emily is looking out for her sissys.

Today the girls had assessments for Henderson. Not a first day, but a first time in their classrooms. During Family Dinner prayer, Carolyn gave thanks for Henderson and that she and Angela could go there. Amazing example of looking forward with faith. She used to cry when she thought of going there...and she has been able to find thanksgiving admist her trial. I love you, Carolyn. Thank you for your beautiful example of being grateful in any circumstance!