It's been exactly 10 years since I moved back to the NW from
ColoRADo. So, when we were given the opportunity to attend the
International Association of Firefighters, Fallen FF Memorial in Colorado Springs - we packed up the fam & headed to the Rockies. There were a handful of things I had to do/see
with my family by my side:
Denver:
Red Rocks Amphitheater
Colorado Christian University
eat at Beau Jo's
Drive up I-70 into the foothills
cruise through downtown
Boulder:
a stroll on Pearl Street
Colorado Springs:
Garden of the God's
Drive up Pike's Peak
Manitou Springs
The kids were AMAZING travelers. We were able to see everything plus squeeze in a full day at the Denver Zoo,
hang out with the Tiemann family, & see Lo Lo, (on top of everything related to the Memorial). Whirlwind indeed.
DENVER - CCU:
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| Taking a stroll through campus (my apt my first yr is across pond...) |
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| Relaxing in the shade of an aspen. |
Red Rocks:
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| That's J, Lai & A on the stage... (a stage I once came & studied on at midnight with some candles & friends in college). Little do they know the amazing artists that have stood there... |
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| Playing after such a long day of travel. The elevation didn't effect them at all... |
We then snuck in
Beau Jo's & quality time with
Holly's fam before hitting the zoo the next day.
(Check out the Beau Jo's link to see how to honey your pizza crust.)
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| Holly & Axel, 2 of my fav's... |
BOULDER:
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| Good 'ol Pearl Street - sadly we didn't see Zip Code Man. |
COLORADO SPRINGS:
We arrived in the Springs along with a huge rain storm. But, that didn't stop us from visiting the site of Saturday's memorial.
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| Jeffery Allen Birt WA 27 |
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| Some Seattle Honor Guard with J & Lai |
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| The 343 on the 9/11 wall. |
Laurel drove up to see us for a super quick visit. It was so great of you, Lo to come all that way!!!
We love you & miss you!
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On Friday night Jack Quinn's was the place to be. Great conversation, drinks, T-shirts
& the Seattle Pipes & Drums played for a packed house. Here are some of Jeff's crew that RV'd down. |
Up next? Garden of the God's:
I've been here many, many times & I still can't get over the beauty of this national treasure.
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| The snow/cloud covered peak in the back is Pike's. |
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| Kissing camels. |
The Ceremony:
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| Air Force Choir |
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| Tom with Jeff's flag (center) |
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| Melissa being presented the flag. |
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Jesse Youngs' widow being presented a flag. Next to her (seated) is another Seattle widow from last year.
It was an honor getting to meet both of these amazing ladies. |
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| Jeff's crew. |
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3, 000 seats & still standing room only.
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| Seattle families with SFD Honor Guard & Chiefs |
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| Pipe's & Drums with the 3. |
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My kids & I with an United Airlines pilot super handsome guy. |
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| We ended the evening with a fabulous dinner (at which time Axel may or may not have wandered off without me even knowing & was returned by strangers) & watching Pipes & Drums play the streets of COS. |
Pike's Peak:
I've summited a handful of Colorado's
fourteener's (14,000 ft mts) in my day by foot & have driven up one (Evan's). On a whim, we drove up Pike's before heading for the airport. We obviously were not prepared for snow but,
threw caution to the wind & had a great time.
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| View on the drive up to "America's Mountain" |
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| Dream come true - family by my side on a 14er!!! |
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| View from the top |
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| Drive down - many scenic stops... How's your aspen? |
Farewell Colorado. Thank you for the memories!
