J K Lai & A: Colorado whirlwind.

Sunday, 18 September 2011

Colorado whirlwind.

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:

Taking a stroll through campus (my apt my first yr is across pond...)

Relaxing in the shade of an aspen.

Red Rocks:

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...

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.)

Holly & Axel, 2 of my fav's...

BOULDER:

Aaaaaaaaaand, crossed another Diner's, Drive-In's & Dives hot spot off our list: Foolish Craig's. Amaaaazing crepes (singing "amazing")!

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.

Jeffery Allen Birt WA 27

Some Seattle Honor Guard with J & Lai

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!

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.

The snow/cloud covered peak in the back is Pike's.

Kissing camels.

The Ceremony:

Air Force Choir

Tom with Jeff's flag (center)

Melissa being presented the flag.

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.

Jeff's crew.

3, 000 seats & still standing room only.

Seattle families with SFD Honor Guard & Chiefs

Pipe's & Drums with the 3.

My kids & I with a~~n United Airlines pilot~~ super handsome guy.

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.