Birthday Week 2014

FFM and I have birthdays just a few days apart. They coincide with a big national holiday so at our house we have declared an entire week off of work, etc and have cleverly dubbed it "Birthday Week."

This year marked an, ahem, significant birthday for me. Travis and I talked about what sounded good and quickly landed on a plan to retreat to a famous resort here in Colorado as a special treat. FFM, however, had plans for a huge bash with every single person he knows. We did throw a big (not birthday) bash, nearly 70 people in our backyard and greenbelt, and had a great time. Took ZERO pictures, but we played in the water, ate and drank well, and enjoyed the company.

Right after cleaning up the party we headed south to Colorado Springs. We stayed through the holiday weekend and enjoyed relaxation and pampering and amazing food. The boys had never been to Cave of the Winds, so we spent half a day exploring the cave and riding the new rides that have appeared. FFM surprised us all by being an expert on the ropes course, he even ventured out onto the top most level that juts out over the canyon. The ropes are far enough apart there that it's not really meant for someone his size, even Travis had to stretch a few times, but by being creative and swinging his little body around (my mom senses tingled mightily and I mumbled over and over that the safety equipment really was safe) he tackled every single run on the course. I enjoyed the lowest section, managed the upper section, and quit when it got time to go over the canyon.  FFM loved the cave AND ropes and we're already making plans to see some bigger and better caves in the west and hit the ropes course in Vail.

Ready for spelunking!

View from the ground of the ropes course. F in center, waving

The section over the canyon. F reached by swinging to the next rope loop.

STRECTCHING to reach the platform.
It took 4 tries but he made it on his own.

I do believe this is where his aspiration to become a tight rope walker comes from.

The section that sticks out over the canyon.
It's further down than it looks! 

The resort figured out it was my birthday and I had little treats left for me in the room and a lovely Baked Alaska birthday cake with dinner.

We stuck around the resort on the 4th and partook of the various resort activities that were available (it's a bit like a cruise, you can hop from one thing to the next all day if you like). The pool was packed so after a short swim in the morning we played all afternoon and enjoyed the family carnival. We finally got to eat at the traditional (not quite) English pub and enjoyed a rowdy lunch. While the menu wasn't anything like any English/Scottish/Irish pub I've ever been in, the decor came straight from an old English pub that had been dismantled and shipped over.

4th of July family carnival. All you can eat cotton candy and sno-cones!

Finally getting to have some Irish lager at the Golden Bee

We discussed where to watch the fireworks from, and after deciding we were one of a few rooms that would have a good view we stayed upstairs and watched out our window. We could also see fireworks in nearby Colorado Springs, we think maybe from Fort Carson.

Fireworks from our window, a lucky treat!
 They opened so we got all the noise, too.

Our hands down favorite activity (tied with the cave) was the new bowling alley. T and I loved the adult beverage milkshakes (s'mores milkshake with Frangelico and whiskey anyone?) and FFM enjoyed the "bar" foods (waffle batter dipped buffalo corn dog)  and his kid friendly black and white milkshake. We ate, drank, bowled, boogied and had an all around fabulous time.

 After a leisurely Sunday brunch buffet this morning we headed back well rested, well fed, and happy to be headed home.