Just Mommy and Samuel {Our Trip to Colorado}

Graham and Asher went on a trip with Chris to LA when they finished the first grade.  At the time, Samuel was sad he couldn't go, and we told him we would go on a trip with him after he finished first grade.  Well, he never forgot it and since he's now in third grade (some major life events got in the way), we figured it was about time.  We picked Denver, partly because I found very cheap airfare, but mostly because I have family there.  My dad's sister and her family live in Greeley and I'm close to all of them, but haven't seen them in four years.  My cousins Amanda and Melissa lived in Dallas for a year when the boys were little and were a HUGE part of our lives.  They served and loved our family in the day when we needed the service and love.  Graham was four when Joseph was born, and we needed any help we could get :)

Back to the Colorado trip...

We drove up to Estes the first day we were there.  It was picturesque kind of day.  Light snow, Christmas music playing in stores, snow covered the trees, little bells on every door you open.

Here is Samuel with Melissa.

My cousins, Seth and Amanda, with Amanda's daughter Grace.

Starbucks in the mountains!  It tasted even better up there!

True, I think.

There was this beautiful old industrial looking barn on the side of the road.  I made us stop and take pictures, even though we might have been trespassing.  It was the perfect color.

He wasn't overly enthused to get his picture taken, but he cooperated anyway.

Me and my blue barn :)

Samuel and I went to Boulder before we headed to the airport and hung out on Pearl Street.  

I wish I could have spent hours there.

A stop at the Cheesecake Factory to use the restroom.

And a few phone pics... 

Ready for take off.

We had Starbucks every day, because we were on vacation, of course.

Samuel was in love with Melissa and Scott, and their games :)

He had fun being the oldest cousin.

We went to the grand opening of Panera in Greeley.  They were giving away free coffee travel mugs to the first 1,000 customers.  Amanda and I were #999 and #1,000!  I'm not sure why, but things like that make me happy :)

The best toy store I've ever been in... on Pearl Street in Boulder.

Amanda and her adorable crew.

Second cousins, or something like that.

This note was his idea.  He wanted to make sure he thanked everyone.  So sweet.

I love Frontier Airlines.  They got us home and back when the DFW area was completely iced over.  This is Samuel's happy place... Monday night football on the plane while eating laffy taffy and drinking Dr. Pepper.

What a privilege to go on a trip with just one child.  When you have five kids, you tend to do what's best for the whole group of them.  They get used to it, but it's nice to be able to focus in one just one of them.  Samuel was my little travel buddy and I'm glad we have this memory together!