Sand Dunes

While preparing for their trip out here, Jana made a request to visit the Sand Dunes. I had no idea what she was talking about, so I googled it and found out that about 3 1/2 hours south of us were these natural sand dunes. In fact, it's called Great Sand Dunes National Park. Of course, we all wanted to go and check them out.

It was a long drive, but eventually, we saw this at the end of the road:

The kids were so excited! Elisabeth wanted to roll around and make sand angels. Ethan and Julia both wanted to dig! dig! dig! (we made a special trip to Target before we went to stock up on shovels and rakes and buckets) Owen just likes to stare at all of us and smile, so he was pretty stoked about going too.




Elisabeth led us to the "sand mountains" and we all diligently followed.
It was kind of chilly and super windy, so Kyle and Owen ended up going back to the car to nap and hang out. Owen wasn't a fan of the wind in his face. The rest of us kept on trudging up the sand dunes.
Sand dunes are deceptive and what looked pretty close was actually over half a mile away. But, once we got there, the sun got brighter and the temperatures went up. We ditched our coats and shoes (I had made a poor shoe choice anyway, so I'd ditched mine well before everyone else). Then the kiddos started rolling and sliding down the dunes.


I don't think I can adequately describe how completely awesome this place was. It was beautiful, it was mesmerizing, it was exhausting. We scaled the tiniest portion of those dunes. These are the tallest sand dunes in North America and I would have loved to have climbed the tallest one, but with 3 small kiddos, that wasn't an option that day.


Eventually, though, Jana and Elisabeth headed towards a pretty steep dune.
This is the view from the bottom. Elisabeth climbed up this 3 times!!

This picture cracks me up!



We had so much fun! We were there for probably 2.5 hours. It was definitely worth the drive out there. And, for a very brief time in the summer when the snow on the mountains have melted, there is a small lake of water and you can actually splash and swim in it! I really want to go and see that!!

On the way drive home, we had to stop so a few elk could cross the road. The kids super liked seeing them!

This was one of my favorite days here in Colorado. So glad that Jana mentioned going because I would have been very sad to have missed this opportunity while we were living here.

Nina and Papa visit and bring some extra people along

Evan's parents had planned on coming to visit us over spring break. We had some things planned and were most excited.

Then, Evan's sister, Kyle, asked if we cared if she and her boys could tag a long since her husband, Matt, would be on a work trip the whole week.

Of course, we said yes! We're not going to give up opportunities to smooch those red-headed nephews!!!

Let me tell you how thankful I am for a bench on our dining room table. Three kiddos fit perfectly on it!
Oh, and these two?
Are nothing but trouble when they get together. Lord help us when they are teenagers.
Nina and Papa came bearing gifts for the girls: Baby doll beds! Julia put her pink and purple babies in there pronto.

Kyle got to celebrate her half birthday while at our home!

Poor Ebeth was stuck in the middle of Flopsam and Jetsam.



I don't remember why this occurred...

We had a lot of fun and did a whole bunch of things. The weather was pretty cooperative for most of the week they were here. I'll share some of the trips we made soon, but for now, I have some cleaning to do and some sunshine to enjoy!!!