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 an 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.

View on the drive up to "America's Mountain"

Dream come true - family by my side on a 14er!!! 

View from the top

Drive down - many scenic stops... How's your aspen?  

Farewell Colorado.  Thank you for the memories!  

Holly.

I've been blessed to have a plethora of amazing people in my life.  Holly is one of them, a real unexpected ray of sunshine.  We roomed together in the Big House (what! what!) senior year.  After college we only exchanged emails about once a year until reuniting on Facebook.  Over this last year we created a deep bond as we both walked through major trails.

As J & I were planning our Colorado trip, Holly & husband (B) insisted we stay with their family in Denver.  This turned out to be SUCH a treat.  With her sweet girls, C & A we shared amazing family time, tackled the Denver Zoo, laughed, loved on each others kids, cried together & prayed for each other in person.  B took a day off work, the girls skipped a day of school.  It was an epic-ly (is that a word?) blessed time.

Thank you H & Company for such a needed retreat.  You blessed my family.  Please know we continue to pray for you often & you will always have a place to stay when you visit the NW.  H & B are walking a hard, hard road but, doing it well - with integrity, love & realness (I know, I know - probably not a word either...)  Their daughters are lucky to have such amazing parents.  (I want to be like them when I grow-up.)

Here are some shots from our day at the zoo:

J was a real trooper & volunteered to take the girls on the train.  

H returned the favor on the carousel. 

I still cannot get over the hippo exhibit at this zoo.  They are TOO SO close!
I just didn't trust the little wall keeping us from this killer animal.     

Buds

T fam with Denver's polar bear.  

My little polar bear on Benadryl.  

After 2 minutes in the car.  

One of my favorite memories was going to check on L the last night in town & finding her & C asleep side by side in the top bunk.  I pray it won't be another 10 years until we see this great family again.

The LORD bless you and keep you; 

the LORD make his face shine on you 

and be gracious to you; 

the LORD turn his face toward you 

and give you peace.

Karch.

Meet Karch.  Laila has fallen in love with this dog & lets everyone know that this is her dog (even though he sleeps somewhere else...)  Kathy & Mike, (his owners) are always so gracious with my kids, letting them practically crawl all over Karch & they now let Laila walk him.  It's always a good day when sweet 'ol Karch comes by for a visit.

Swim lessons.

The 3, 3 year olds took swim lessons together this week.  They did great & had so much fun (probably too much fun).  Their sweet swim teacher probably would have preferred them to be in separate lessons however, in true Birt form we had them in the same class & took over an entire bleacher section with family cheering them on...

Sweeties with sweet peas.

Gram showered us with bunches of these fragrant flowers again this year... As you can see, this continues to be some of L's favorite flowers.  Thanks Gram!

Melis!

Melissa's birthday celebration will not soon be forgotten.  Celebrating a beautiful person, with no kids, perfect weather, laughter, great food, & a yacht.  

Our captain (& chaperone...), Walt  :)  

Bill Gates' house

Mountlake Cut 

University & Ship canal bridges

My old stomping grounds, Lake Union

Gas Works Park 

Sleepless in Seattle house

Melis & her dad 

Our world traveler, Lynette :)

Abri Bleu

Pisco fam

Love you Melis!!!  

THANK YOU WALT!!!

Bed bug.

L is now the proud owner of a big girl bed.  This frame was my mom's when she was little!  I'm still looking for the perfect bedding.  In the meantime, she's loving it & hasn't rolled out.