I’m not even sure where to start. Our trip was incredible and I could honestly write for pages and not cover everything. So I’ll stick with snapshots and thoughts; things I don’t want to forget…
Driving with two kids for two days is not that bad if you have enough entertaining crap in the back seat, you take the back roads and you stop at lots of parks.
Nebraska is actually quite beautiful when you get off the interstate; desolate and amazing. Just don’t assume that because there is a town on the map they will have food, gas, or more than a population of two. (Seriously: two. It was on the sign).
Fiber festivals are tough after you’ve been driving for two days. It’s best to say “hi” to the bloggers, do a little weaving, and send the boys back to the cabin and shop for a few hours. (Shopping update another day).
A Bed and Breakfast quality cabin is an awesome place to reconnect with long lost cousins, hang by the river, and just enjoy the peace and quiet, connectedness and absolute lack of anything necessary to do.
Getting the stomach flu on vacation sucks. And not the “I’ll just sit here and knit all day” stomach flu, but the “I think I’m going to die and I can’t even manage to crawl down to the lawn chair by the river to sleep” stomach flu.
I try to stay postive and realize I could be home with the stomach flu in a messy house with a husband stuck at work all day.
We were absolutely stunned at the beauty and vastness of Rocky Mountain National Park.
We spent so much time just out in the middle of nowhere, taking the boys on their first long hikes and enjoying the wildlife. The absolute best was watching it all through their eyes: Knittybaby discovering he can throw rocks in the water. Little Man struggling through his first long hike and being so proud for making it on his own. Watching their excitement at absolutely everything we saw and did.
Elk are everywhere. Everywhere.
Being up in the tundra is just incredible and I really don’t have the words to describe the absolute beauty that we saw…
It was difficult up there (the Trail Ridge Road takes you to the tundra areas) as it was not that easy to get away from the “tourist trap” part of the park, and while most people were respectful there were plenty that weren’t (like the man letting his dog run around precious, delicate tundra wildflowers; I’m still pissed at him) but we managed to have enough quality time somewhat to ourselves. And like I said, the beauty that is the tundra is just incredible. The wildflowers are stunning. I couldn’t get over them.
See the RV? There were a million of them, all on that road. This sad thing is I think a lot of people get up there and never get out of their vehicles.
I can honestly say this was the best vacation we’ve ever been on. We didn’t have much downtime and it was actually physically exhausting. But spiritually it was restortive in a way that we badly needed as a family, and I feel that even though they boys are little, this trip will always make up a little piece of who they are.
Knittymama 
Good for you, having an excellent adventure with your kids! Your pics are great. Can’t wait to hear more.
Sounds like a wonderful trip. Glad you got back safely.
OMG. I want to go and see it all now! Next time… would you like to strap a stranger to the roof of your car? Look at that snow-wall! Wow… those pictures are stunning. Glad you had fun.
(Surfed over a bunch of random links through knitting blogs & thought I recognized you from KR Forum.)
OMG what a beautiful trip! i’m so jealous!
What a fabulous trip!
It sounds absolutely beautiful. The pictures are lovely, especially the wild flowers. And I guess your children had a fantastic time too! Our holidays seem much more fun now we have two little people to see it all through new eyes.
Welcome home. Beautiful soul-nourishing photos. Thank you for thinking of us.
What a beautiful trip. Definatly one you’ll all remember forever!!
Sounds like overall you guys had a good time. What a horrible time to be sick though. Ugh.
Oh, it sounds wonderful! (Well, other than the stomach flu/food poisoning thing – hope you’re feeling yourself again!) I wish I’d taken a picture of you at Estes – it was really so very funny for us both to be there. 🙂
Rocky Mountain National Park! Oh, yes, we lived only a couple hours from there for the first half of our married lives together. When our daughter was small, her first backpacking trip was in that park. She had a small little day pack that carried her bear. Absolutely stunning…you took some great pictures. I do indeed miss Colorado. Every fall, we used to go to the park to listen to the Elk bugling (during rutting season). It is a unique experience. I am so glad you were there and thank you for sharing the photos. It is very spiritually cleansing to be in the high mountains.
Sounds like a fabulous time. Personally, I think I’m meant to live in Colorado. I love it there.
Sounds wonderful! I’m interested in hearing any advice you might have as me and and my family are taking the same drive ourselves on Saturday AM. We’re driving to the Estes YMCA park for a family reunion. Any recommended stops on the way? Any recommended yarn stores? Our kids are nearly the same age as yours.
It sounds like a wonderful trip – and the pictures are gorgeous!
OH, I am jealous! We go to the mountains every year, except this one! 😦 I miss the mountains and hope to someday live in the western part of the US. If you love the Colorado Rockies you will have to go into Wyoming sometime and explore the Shoshone National forest above DuBois, WY….breathtaking, stunning and too beautiful for words! (and there’s even a fiber co-op in the small town of dubois!) Your boys would love it!
Gorgeous! I love Rocky Mountain NP…so incredible. I’m glad you had such a fantastic family time and I’m glad you’re back! We’ve missed you at Tuesday night knitting. 🙂
Your photos bring up memories of my own trip to RMNP several years ago. (Then, too, there were people letting their dogs run across the tundra. Grrrr.) Your kids are lucky to be building memories of amazing places like this. Sorry to hear about the stomach flu (I had a bout of it myself for a week–which included a flight to Amsterdam with a one-year-old–last year, and I can certainly relate!); hope you’re fully recovered now!
Welcome back! Beautiful photos – with the exception of the stomach flu it looks like the whole fam had a great time. Looking at your photos makes me want to go on a road trip, but unfortunately it’s not in the cards for me this summer 😦 Look forward to hearing more about your trip.
Oh wow! The pictures are beautiful and the narrative makes me want to pack up and head out right now! (except for the stomach flu part…) I’m so glad you had such a wonderful family vacation.
Beautiful. *now* I see why DH and his parents went there so often. I’m glad you had such a wonderful trip!
Looks like a wonderful trip! and I love the pictures of the elk, and the mountains are just stunning.
Great photos! Looks like you had a great time with your kids. I have 2 questions, what is the yarn you are using in the first photo of the sock on the dashboard? And, when is the next coffee swap?
WOW! Stunning photos. Sounds like a great vacation. Sorry to hear you were sick but it sounds like you did okay.
I loved the tundra pics.
Welcome back. Looks like you had a great time, love the pictures
more please!
lovely photos but I’m sure that you have more!!
As to the man-with-dog … well don’t forget the quote from Red Dwarf : “Like German tourists, the stupid are everywhere”
…and… gastric flu is hideous at any time esp on vacation but then as you pointed out, at least there was another responsible adult around to help with the kidlets.
I am glad you had a good trip, it looks wonderful!
What absolutely stunning photos, can see how this trip would nourish your souls, how wonderful for you all!