a girls retreat

I got home from Estes Park Sunday, made dinner for the family, unpacked, and went to bed.  The next morning I got up, ate breakfast and packed for Estes Park.  Let me explain.  When my mom reserved the condo she did it for a whole week, well it turned out that no one in the family (but me) could stay for that long.  So they wouldn't go to waste, I decided to invite a bunch of moms up for a girls retreat Monday through Wednesday.  I was exhausted after having been away from home for the weekend but didn't want to miss out on this opportunity.  How many times do you get a chance to go on vacation with your friends?!?!!

Monday we all got up there at different times but once several of us were there we hit the main street shops.  We were quite the spectacle in the small town in such a big group with so many kids.  I think I was told, "Wow, you ladies have your hands full!" three times.  I think every shop we passed was just praying we wouldn't come in. :)

The first night after we got all 17 kids to bed (that's right; we had 17 kids in 6 bedrooms, it was crazy) we sat around, talked, and did our nails.  I love staying up late being goofy and talking, I don't think it gets any better than that.  Can you guess which foot is mine? (hint: my sisters call them my snake feet.)

Tuesday we ignored the rain and packed up for a hike.  Everything was so clean and pretty from the rain.  The kids loved the puddles on the trail and we were all fighting to keep their shoes dry, I think that overall, the kids won.  Here's the only shot we got with all 26 of us.

Left to right: Kathrine, Emily, Monae, Max, Susan, Paul, Kaleb, Ellana, Tracy, Harrison, Lilly, Mia, Liz, Brandt, Sophie, Mason, Me, Tessa, Ty, Brinley, Net, Leslie, Grayden, Trynity, Lauren, and Marie. 

Sophie was at her wits end, and wouldn't smile for the camera.  She's at this lovely stage were anytime I ask her to do something or just ask her a question she starts to cry and says "NO thank you!"  Do you love my hide-a-baby?  It's like being pregnant all over again.  I know I'm hot.

Brinley, Lily, Sophie and Ty.

After Sprauge Lake some us went back to put our kids down for naps while the more gun-hoe mothers did another hike.  I had planned to go for a run while my girls were napping but ended up taking a nap myself and then eating a large bowl of ice cream... pretty good trade off right?  Oh well, that's what vacation is for I guess.

That night a few of us went out to eat at a local place called the Big Horn Restaurant.  We sat all the toddlers on a separate table so we could all talk, it worked really well!  And the kids did pretty good, Sophie ate well, competition always helps. :)  Sorry no pictures of that.  Then we went home and had a DANCE PARTY for the kids.  Thanks Tracy for planning it and to Monae for providing the tunes.  We had a fog machine and a few princess wands with lights in them.  Sophie was in heaven!

And so was Monae...

That night we stayed up and watched Bill Cosby, Himself it's a movie of his standup comedy.  If you haven't seen it YOU SHOULD.  I love love LOVE that movie, he's so hilarious.

Thanks to everyone for coming up and for sharing their pictures. It was so hard for me to go up there without a camera, I miss mine SO SO SO badly but I'm glad I still had a few to use for a post.  I had such a fun time with these ladies.  I am fortunate to have such great friends and it was such a wonderful opportunity to spend a little extra time together.  Also a very big THANK YOU to my mom and dad for letting us go up and use the condos, I love you!

DISCLAIMER:  If you were wondering why I seem to be wearing the same shirt and hat in every picture, let me explain.  That's the only long sleeve shirt I brought, no jacket, because when I was up there with my family it was warm.  We even went swimming a couple times.  But the 2nd time it was COLD.  And the hat well... remember how I was talking about taking a vacation?

CAMERA UPDATE:  I know, you're all so worried about my lack of camera right?  (say yes) Well, I dropped it off at a camera shop on Friday to get a repair estimate and... I'm still waiting for them to call me back.  Ok, so that wasn't much of an update but.... whatever.  I have been doing a lot of online shopping to see what's out there in case we need to get a new one and I must say this camera along with the awesome 18-200mm IS lens makes me salivate.  Anyone want to spot me $1600?  I'm totally kidding.  No, but seriously...