White Water Rafting

One of the main things I wanted to do while in Colorado was go white water rafting.  I wasn't sure how that was going to work with so many kids.  But as is turns out I was brave enough to take 8 kids, including Tasia who was more like an adult in this setting, on a half day rafting trip.

What a crew I had!!!

One small section of the rafting was a level 3.  You had to be 8 years old or older to do it.  So Hunter, Kiersten, Tasia and myself stayed on the raft.  The other kids were escorted around this part by some of the crew from the rafting company.  

It was thrilling to say the least!!!

We got even more vertical than this shot.

We all loved it!  We want to go back and go on a level 3 trip some day.

I have to admit some parts were a little scary since there was so many little bodies and only one me.  Plus this was at the beginning of the summer when the water is the highest creating the most rapids.  But it was super fun at the same time.  The older kids were a big help and really got in to the paddling.

There were a couple of other rafts in our group and I am pretty sure those people figured I was a crazy lady!  I guess you'd sore of have to be to take 8 kids white water rafting……..even with a guide!

Hunter loved visiting with our guide.  He asked him so many questions.  Our guide was wonderful and never acted annoyed with the questions.  He seemed to like explaining things to Hunter.

The water was pretty darn cold so I was very grateful I had invested the extra $12 for everyone to have wet suits.  It would have been miserable other wise.

These two were quite the rafters.  Well Jack was a little less into it, but Grant absolutely LOVED the rapids!!!

I can't wait to do this again!

I think Justin would have loved this……..maybe not with this many kids but he would love to try it someday.

We stopped about 2 hours into the trip and they fed up oranges, granola bars, apples and drinks.

Everyone gave it a thumbs up!!!

It was really neat to hear the history of the areas we were rafting past.  We did the Lower Animas River tour.

These girls were experts by the end of the trip.  The guide would tell us when to paddle, how many times to paddle and either forward or back.  The older kids liked being involved in the rafting.

Such a fun experience and my prayers were answered no one fell in.  Heck Jack even fell asleep the last half, so that was one less kid I had to worry about since he was in the middle of the raft pretty secure.

Ouray, Colorado

Ouray is also called the Little Switzerland of America.  That name is perfect to describe this amazing little town!!!  One of the first days the Paull's were there we made a little road trip to Ouray.  It was an amazing drive on what is known as the Million Dollar Highway because of it's million dollar views.  We traveled through the town of Silverton which is also a cute little place.  There is a train ride you can take from Durango to Silverton up through the mountains which would be fun to do sometime.

Much of our trip to Colorado was off of ideas from Jenny Rogers.  Her husband, Issac is from Durango and they go there at least twice  year.  It sure was nice to find out all kind of great things to do from someone that knows the area so well.  

She made me a whole list of things to do……..it was great!

One place they recommended was eating at Maggie's Cafe while we were in Ouray.

It was a cool little place……..you get to sign your name on the walls or tables, which the kids just thought was awesome!!

While eating lunch I realized we would get LOTS of funny looks with 10 kids and two adults in our party.  I can't even count the times during this week that we were asked if they were all our kids!

We just had to laugh!  I told Angela I was going to start telling people we were both foster parents. :)

Grant had been wanting a "Real" cowboy hat for quite some time.  You can imagine his excitement when we found one for him in Ouray!  Great souvenir choice I thought.

One of the things Ouray is known for, besides being gorgeous, is it's natural hot spring which they have turned into their community pool.  It was so awesome!

I was so glad I bought a water proof camera for this trip.

The pool had different areas that were different temperatures.  The main pool area was kept around 92 degrees, then there was a huge "hot tub" area which was a warm 106 degrees.  There was a lap pool section which was much cooler at 80 degrees and then a deep section where they had the water slide and some water toys for kids.  It was also kept much cooler around 80 degrees.

The water is all naturally heated and they actually have a very sophisticated water system which allows them to cool the water down to the temperatures they want.  The water naturally coming from the hot spring is up to 150 degrees so it needs to be cooled down.  Pretty amazing!

The kids had a wonderful time!  Look at the view we got to enjoy while enjoying the warm water.

Kiersten, Tasia and Olivia

The kids had fun taking pictures under water!

If you ever get a chance to go to Ouray please do it.  Such a fun little town.  There was snow on the peaks of the mountains surrounding the town.  I could have stayed at that pool all day.

Jack, Calin, Angela, Joe and Olivia

The kids thought this blow up race course was fabulous!

Hunter and Kiersten having fun racing each other.

Wow it's neck n neck! 

I have to admit I even took a couple of turns racing on this.

There is Logan having his turn.

I'd say by the looks of Hunter's face he thought Ouray was a pretty awesome place….wouldn't you!

What cute kids!

I sure enjoyed experiencing Ouray!  It way exceeded my expectations.  We have to go back some day with Justin for sure!

Calin, Jack, Olivia, Grant, Hunter, Tasia, Logan and Kiersten

What a group we have…….and we are missing Joe and Issac from this picture.

Before we went to the community pool we enjoyed walking Main street and looking in all the cute little shops!  The kids all got to pick out a candy a the candy store.

Love my "two girls"!

It's nice when you can please a kid with a tootsie pop!

Hunter had never seen an Astro pop.  When I told him they use to be my favorite sucker when I was a kid he was thrilled to get one.  He wanted me to take a picture and send it to Justin to show him as well.
So glad we made it to see Ouray!

Durango Mountain Ski Resort

After having a fulfilled weekend in Utah, Justin flew home and the kids and I made the drive over to Durango Colorado.  The drive went really good even though I was feeling pretty nauseous.  

It was great to have Tasia Shupe come with us to help with the kids.  Mostly I wanted someone a little older than Kiersten so I could feel comfortable not being right next to all four kids.  Not that I felt them for long but even being in a gas station and using the restroom, with Tasia there to stay with the kids I wasn't as worried.  

We spend our first day at the Durango Mountain Ski Resort.

It was absolutely beautiful!  Tasia and Kiersten loved the zip line!

Hunter thought the zip line was awesome as well.

Surprisingly Logan didn't want to try it.

Grant surprised us all when he got on this……….the higher the guy helped him go the happier Grant was!  He even learned to do flips.  People watching Grant could not believe he was only 3 years old!

Logan enjoyed the jumping as well.

The kids sure enjoyed doing flips and having the guys help fling them high.

Kiersten showed off her gymnastics skills for sure!

Grant loved taking the ski lift up the mountain.  It made me a little nervous because it's not like there is anything really holding him secure.

But look at that face…….it was so fun to see his excitement!

What a gorgeous view!

It was just beautiful!

We all had a BLAST on the Alpine Slides!!!!

Grant and I were slide partners………he was mad he couldn't go by himself but he got use to riding with me.

Hunter and Logan were crazy on these slides.

I had several people comment to me on how fast the boys raced down.

They had no fear!!!

I am pretty sure they never used the breaks the whole way down and there were some pretty steep parts. 

Kiersten enjoyed having another girl in the mix.

Having a blast!!!

It was so fun to listen to the boys describe each trip down the slide.

Tasia thought the slides were great as well.

Kiersten was a little more cautious than the boys but still beat Grant and I each time we raced.

Grant didn't like that though!

It was such a fun day and a great way to start our Colorado vacation!
We stayed at a resort these two  nights before the Paull family came to spend the week with us in a house we had rented together.

Utah Trip to see Grandma & Grandpa B

We made the long drive to Tooele, Utah to celebrate Grandma B's 80th Birthday!

We had yet to make that drive with our kids.  Surprisingly it wasn't bad at all.  We broke it up into two days which probably helped a ton.

This is the whole Cluff group that made the trip from Safford.  Brian and Tif and our families were the only ones that drove.  Everyone else flew.

We sure love Grandma & Grandpa B!  

We are glad we could make the trip up to see them.  They are so sweet, fun and friendly.  Just the kids of grandparents every grand kid wants.  

The girls helped take peoples plates when they were done eating.  Grandma B sewed them these cute aprons.

Nice photo bomb Tif!

What beautiful girls!

My sweet Kiersten is so little and petite.  I hope she gets to be a least taller then me.

Logan wanted to dance for Grandma and Grandpa B.  So did a little solo for them.

Complete with break dance moves and everything!

He was a crowd pleaser for sure!

Uncle Gary really got a kick out of Logan's skills!

So sweet to watch them dance!

Just such a beautiful and loving couple.  They have taught us all so much!

Happy Birthday Grandma B!

We are so grateful for you and the example you have shown us all!

All the kids enjoyed the DJ and dancing around.  They even got Grammy Cluff to sing Toodi Ta!

It was a great quick weekend trip!  After all the celebrations Justin flew home and the kids and I headed over to Durango, Colorado for a fun vacation.