Beaver Creek Summer Vacation 2013 part 5

Today was so relaxing and wonderful. This morning Kley and I got a couples massage! How crazy! It was so nice and relaxing- what special treatment! This afternoon we hung out at the pool and read. Tonight we headed back to Vail, along with Brett, Elizabeth's boyfriend who arrived today. We rode the gondola to the top of the mountain, took family pictures, and ate a great family dinner.

Here are some pictures in Vail right when we got there. It's such a cool place!

Here is the gondola from the bottom.

The four of us- me, Kley, Brett, and Elizabeth.

Our tickets.

 Some amazing pictures from inside the gondola!

This is one of my favorites.

I also love this one, with the flowers and the gondola in it.

At the top- they had a hiking stick bucket. I thought that was so funny.

Views from the top!

This is my favorite one from the top. So so gorgeous. Reminds me of Psalm 19:1- "The heavens declare the glory of God, the skies proclaim the works of His hands."

Kley and I at the top!

Kley checking out the ski slopes sign.

Going back down!

Some more pictures of the city. The buildings are so unique!

We had dinner at Lancelot- it was really good!

The view from our table.

A group shot of all of us!

We tried mussels for an appetizer. So interesting!

Kley's prime rib- he said it was the best prime rib he's ever had!

My shrimp linguini- it was pretty tasty.

Unfortunately we have to leave tomorrow, but we are so glad we were able to come and have such a great time!

Beaver Creek Summer Vacation 2013 part 4

Here's to another vacation post! We are having a great time. This post is a combo from last night and today. Last night, when Brad/Elizabeth were still golfing and Jana was shopping, we snuck away for a mini date over supper. We walked around for a bit deciding where to eat- one place we were way underdressed for, another looked more like a bar, another we went to for lunch, so we ended up back at Blue Moose Pizza (where we ate Saturday night). If you love it, why not go again? :)

Eating outside is a great idea.

We were living large, so I ordered an arnold palmer. (It takes a lot for me to order something other than water at a restaurant. Drink prices are crazy! Also, this picture makes me look like a nerd.)

We were living so large that we even ordered cheesy bread. Once in a blue moon you have to go big! (Get it? "Blue moon" while eating at Blue Moose? Ha.)

Our yummy pizza.

After pizza we had to stop for gelato. :) Luckily we made it in right before it closed. Gelato shops are pretty neat.

Our choices. Kley got double dark chocolate. He loved it, but I thought it was just okay. It was so dark that it was pretty bitter. I got half oreo and half chocolate chip. It was delicious. 

A great mini date!

Today I didn't get many pictures. Kley, Elizabeth, and Brad went golfing, so Jana and I hung out. We visited the North Face store, talked to some locals (one of Jana's favorite vacation things!), had a great salad for lunch, and sat by the pool. I watched the Bachelorette at the pool, which was pretty awesome. It was a wonderful, relaxing afternoon.

When they got back from golfing, we had a great dinner! We went to Grouse Mountain Grill, which we heard was one of the best in the area, and we agreed. 

We sat outside, and the scenery was beautiful.

A whole group shot- yay! I am so blessed to have married into such a wonderful family.

Kley and Jana ordered appetizers- honestly, they sounded weird on the menu, but were so good! Kley's was something with lobster.

This was Jana's- look how beautiful it is! It was something with salmon, oranges, these cracker things, and edible flowers! Crazy!

This was my steak and asparagus. 

This was Kley's rabbit!

This was our chocolate mousse dessert. Everything was so good! 

Another great day here in Colorado- don't want it to ever end!

Beaver Creek Summer Vacation 2013 part 3

This morning we got to go horseback riding in the mountains! It was so incredible- definitely one of the most favorite things I've ever done. I wish everyone could experience it. I only remember riding a horse once in my life, and that was a long time ago, so it was almost like riding one for the first time. Riding a horse in itself was amazing, and the scenery was even better. It was absolutely gorgeous. Unfortunately, I didn't get any pictures of the actual ride, because I was scared I would drop my camera, or even worse, that I would fall off my horse. Some of those hills we went up were steep!

Here are a few pictures I took from the bus window on the way up. I am so pumped that I have a nice enough camera that I can take a picture out of a window, on a bumpy road, and they will still look that good!

Here are some of the horses right when we got there.

This is the sight standing right in front of the stables. 

Again, the sky here is so perfect. The green trees, blue sky, and puffy clouds are a magnificent combination.

This one below is probably my favorite shot of the day. :)

Kley and his sweet helmet. Brad, Elizabeth, and I declined the optional but recommended helmet, but Kley thought he needed it. :)

My horse was Twitter, Kley's was Chocolate, Brad's was Tomahawk, and Elizabeth's was Gator. I was a little worried about Twitter when I first got on, because he was walking all around the stable before we left and he did not like it when I pulled on the reigns, but once we got on the trails he was mild and well behaved. I was right behind Elizabeth, and her horse tried to veer off the path a few times and stopped to eat a ton of grass. Ha. They told us to try to not let them eat grass, as they were well fed, but Gator kept on chomping anyways. 

The views we saw were so amazing; I don't think I can even describe it. We went through woods filled with beautiful Aspen trees, saw colorful wild flowers, and walked along the edge of the mountain. One of the favorite parts was getting to trot on the way back! It was so fun. I am so glad we got to go- definitely a huge highlight of the trip.

Unfortunately, the afternoon didn't go as well for all as hoped. Yesterday Brad was feeling really sick, we think from the altitude change, so he missed out on the farmer's market and dinner. This afternoon, Kley, Brad, and Elizabeth were going golfing, but then Kley wasn't feeling well, so he stayed back. We think he had an allergic reaction to the horse- his eyes were so bloodshot and puffy, his nose was running, and his neck and cheeks were puffy with hives. Thankfully he took some allergy medicine and felt mostly better after a few hours. Hopefully tomorrow everyone will be feeling better!

I, fortunately, have felt great and was able to spend the afternoon at the spa while they were golfing/Kley was napping. Jana was at the spa as well and doing some shopping/reading. I got a manicure and pedicure, and it was amazing!

We are having an absolutely wonderful time!