So we rolled out of our house at 5:45 am, put the "sleeping" kids into the already started, already packed car and took off. Lily stayed awake for about 30 minutes before crashing back out and Wade was wide awake for the day. Good thing I prepared and prepared, because he wanted new stuff to do every 30 seconds. I tried to limit his tablet and movie watching time, so I brought a ton of books (including a few new ones) which were a big hit with him. I also brought some new dollar store toys that I had wrapped and let him open one every once in a while, a couple light-up things, the super cool "I Spy" bags that I had made (he didn't think they were as cool as I did) a bag of pom poms with some cups and a pill sorter (both kids LOVED playing with these for some reason) and a few other random stuffed animals and toys from home. Lily woke up after a good 2-3 hr nap and I climbed in the back (where I spent a good portion of the trip) to feed her the breakfast I had made that morning and we kept on going. Pretty much most of the drive consisted of me handing out toys and snacks and drinks, hooking up DVD players and reading stories. But they were pretty good at enduring the ride for the most part.
We stopped and stretched our legs a few times, stopped and had lunch and dinner and FINALLY arrived with two wide-awake, wired and crabby kids around 10:30 (we gained an hr, so it would have actually been 11:30 our time). The owners were nice enough to say, "You guys must be tired, here's your keys, stop by in the morning," and we headed to the cabin. It was perfect. Nothing fancy, but totally kid-friendly. Two small bedrooms (Lily and I roomed together and Wade and Mark stayed in the other room), a kitchen/living area and a bathroom. The kids could run back and forth from the bedrooms to the kitchen and back again, which they did. Frequently. The kitchen cabinets were built without doors, which was actually kind of fun for them since all they had in them was a few pots and pans and Tupperware that they could drag out. Outside we had a small sitting area and a fire pit. And our view was amazing. Right on Vallecito Lake with the mountains in the back ground.
We explored the town of Durango (which we loved and went back to a few times) and visited the hot springs in Pagosa Springs. We took a 6 mile(!) hike to a river where Mark could fly fish (didn't catch anything) and fished off the banks of Vallecito Lake (caught a pike and two rainbow trout- Mark grilled one and it was delicious!). We visited with the locals (who are just as friendly as Texans) and ate at a few good restaurants and breweries. We swam in the heated pool where we were staying nearly every night (it was 90 degrees during the day in Vallecito Lake, but got down into the 40's at night, so I'm glad it was heated!) and had spotty phone service, so we turned our phones off :) We cooked a few meals at our cabin and ate out quite a bit (there goes the diet), and mostly just relaxed and unwound. We LOVED CO and will definitely return.
The trip back home was very similar to the trip there, just a little more subdued and sad to be leaving. It was definitely just as long (especially since we were losing an hr), but both kids decided that this time it would be ok to go to bed in the car and fell asleep sometime when it was dark out (who knows what time it was!). We carried them in when we got home and they stayed asleep :) That was quite possibly one of the best parts of the trip ;)
On the road
Lily was formally introduced to the Baby Einstein movies on this trip. She loved them and completely ignored my ghetto handiwork to hold the falling-apart DVD player together.
And then it would be suspiciously quiet and she'd be asleep.
Crafting
It got so hot in her carseat, she hung out in just her diaper the entire way there.
We're here! The view from our cabin
Little sitting area out back
I asked Wade what he thought of CO and he said, "It's HUGE!"
Campfire
S'mores. Wade's not a fan, he'd really just rather have chocolate, graham crackers and un-toasted marshmallows separately.
Early morning playing in the kitchen
Watching the train in Durango
Visiting the Fish Hatchery and Wildlife Museum in Durango
Feeding the fish
Chimney rock
Wade's view of the mountains at lunch in Vallecito Lake
The start of our hike. Already Wade's backpack is too heavy, so Mark has to double up.
Snack break
Crossing a little stream
My load. Just before she fell asleep.
Still hiking...
We made it!
Lily was fascinated with the river
Wade stripped down and wanted to go swimming. Until he felt the ice-cold mountain water. Then he was content just to throw rocks into it.
Mark in his glory
Heading back
Lily's ready for some shore fishing at Vallecito Lake.
Got one!
Rainbow trout. Lily loved touching the fish.
