Pictures from the first of several trips to Lair O' the Bear park. Jefferson County Colorado has to by my favorite part of this whole area. This park and its trails in particular are just beautiful, they run along the shallow creek with a bed of perfect river rock sitting under the clear, cold water. We're up a little higher than Denver and here where the ponderosa pines cast a lot of shade the snow and ice take longer to melt. This afternoon it was very cool when we arrived, but by the time we had our lunch the sun was out and we spent the rest of the afternoon exploring Red Rocks and Morrison, Co.
The bright yellow green shoots are new Spring growth....Spring comes later to Colorado than anywhere I've lived, but its just as pretty.
I'm not one for swimming in ponds or letting the mud of creeks squish between my toes, but these rivers, this river rock....I can't keep my shoes on!
"Taked my picture mama"
Yes, its algae, but its such a pretty color!
We were hopeful this was some kind of butterfly or moth, but Aaron says he's pretty sure its a plant killing fungus.....yuck.
If I could build a house on this ridge and let the kids play here every day....that would be just about perfect.
Playing 'Pooh Sticks' from the Winnie the Pooh books. We would play many, many rounds on each bridge we passed on our hikes.
Its a science lesson on water displacement, flotation, river currents, etc.
The ramp to the amphitheater was steep, the wind was cold, and I was wishing I had my inhaler.
More beautiful vistas.
Back porch of the trading post/museum.
I'm assuming these holed in the wall are for drainage, but a small child could crawl through pretty easily.
Silly girl! I wouldn't let the boys stick their heads through for fear they'd topple down the wall into the ravine.
Red Rocks Amphitheater.....natural acoustics from the angle of the rocks on both sides and the back wall of rock formations. We had planned to go to the Easter Sunrise service here, but a blizzard sort of changed everyone's plans.
More tunnels....The boys really get excited over tunnels.
Morrison, Colorado the cutest little town in Jefferson County. Refueling with ice cream before checking out all the little shops.
Something about this town screamed 'Radiator Springs'.
Continuing past Lair O' the Bear we found another pull off with a neat old bridge and stone pavilion.
That's a stone fireplace at the end of the shelter and we promised ourselves we'd return and put it to use someday.
Lots of Mule dear in the area and they aren't skittish of roads.
We took Aaron back out to see our new favorite haunt, but forgot to bring enough hats and gloves. Snow was coming in and the temps were dropping. We made do with one of the boys extra hoodies and teasingly called daddy 'Babushka' all evening.
Teaching daddy the finer points of 'Pooh Sticks'
and how to cross creeks without wetting your feet.
My handsome hubby....his shirt was perfectly suited to the background.
Some of my favorite pictures of Aaron!
The gate to a castle at the end of the trail.
Dunafon Castle built in 1941 as a private residence.
The castle is being restored and rooms that have been finished are let out for charity events and weddings.
The castle is built along Bear Creek with its own bridge.
The end of our evening walk and the snow was really beginning to stick.
We woke to a full 8 inches of white powder!
Finally, they got to put on their snow suits! Little Isaiah could barely walk he was so bundled.
First snow angel she'd ever made that you couldn't see the grass through the wings.
Thank you Residence Inn for putting fireplaces in your rooms! We loved the coziness of fires and hot cocoa this winter!
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