Shrine Ridge Trail

Another fun day in Vail where we decided to check out Shrine Ridge Trail.

Before we go, a nice sit on a boulder in the stream in Vail.

Shrine Trail time.

Wildflowers.

Dexter enjoying every rock he finds.

Lulu.

Beautiful.

At the top.

Selfie.

Chipmunk.

The whole crew.

Dexter from afar.

Look - Trail.

Rock children.

Up To Vail

Sadly Todd had to go back to work and so we drove him and Crystal to the airport the morning after the Beck concert and they flew back to Santa Fe. Then Kearsley, Maya and Dexter headed up to Vail to meet up with Lulu and Pop. 

Heading up the gondola for some fun on Vail mountain.

Hiking across the ridge.

Lulu and her grand daughter.

Mountain girl.

The views!

Bench and view.

Dexter on the alpine slide.

Then Maya.

Through the woods and down the mountain.

Mountain people.

Beck Concert

After Casa Bonita thrills it was back to Colorado Springs for a Beck show with the Colorado Symphony orchestra - which was the inspiration for this adventure to begin with. 

Look at these cool kids heading to the amphitheater.

In the show. Maya and Momma are the hugest Beck fans.

Beck, in the flesh.

Really amazing show.

The excitement level is high.

Casa Bonita

Kearsley grew up with the amazing Casa Bonita in her life. After the South Park duo bought it and restored it, she's been waiting for the right moment to share it with the family. Today that moment arrived.

In a strip mall, the glorious facade welcomes you. 

In a bit of luck that cannot be explained, we were selected to sit in the best spot in all of Casa Bonita: in the gazebo on the side of the cliff by the diving pool. 

Our view.

Let's just say we had a very good view of the divers and Maya and Crystal were quite pleased. Check out the videos below for the full experience.

Ordering our meal.

These girls are having a good time. 

Black Bart's Cave.

Cartman is a new addition.

Facepainting necessary.

Photobooth.

Extremely successful afternoon.

Adventure to Colorado

We decided to make a little pilgrimage to Colorado for a Beck concert in Colorado Springs. For Maya's birthday we got the tickets and said she could bring a friend. Crystal came along on our wild adventure. First stop, Garden of the Gods. 

Dexter climbing in the rocks.

Crystal and Maya.

Enjoying the cool formations.

The crew.

One more time.

Maya at 18 Years

 

Here are the current stats:

Height: 5’6”

This will be the last post with birthday stats as our young lady is now an adult (at least on paper). 

Maya's now single, artistic, social, and very talkative. She graduated at the top of her class and had a leading role in both the play and the musical for her senior year. She was busy volunteering at the local hospital and decided to take up guitar. She loves hanging with her friends, painting, getting outside, taking pretty notes for her classes, and making cool foods.

While we are sad that our lives are about to change with her heading off to Northwestern in the fall, we know she is ready. 

Back At Home

After Japan excitement. We are getting back into daily life.

Well, Dexter has officially surpassed Mom and is now the tallest in the house.

The truth hurts.

captionLandscapeMaya and Crystal having fun on the V at the house.

Dad and Dex check out the Isotopes baseball in Albuquerque.

Having fun at the game.