Trip to Colorado: Our Afternoon in Vail

Sunday August 24 was our last day in Colorado so we drove to Vail.  We walked around the villages and took the gondola up to the top of the ski hill.  

We were all experiencing the change in altitude but decided we could do a 1/2 hour hike across the mountain. 

We were very, very high up but took it all in.  The beauty of the surroundings was amazing.  I was feeling very light-headed but I wanted to take this hike because I may never get the chance again.  We took a different gondola down the mountain and roamed around the village again going through the farmers' market.  Ann and I found a cute little cowboy boot shop where boots where over $1000 per pair... a little out of our price range.  We drove a little farther to another town and stopped for a snack and a coffee while sitting on a small patio over looking more mountains.  It was such a great day - a perfect end to our trip to Colorado.

Unfortunately we had more bad luck with our flights the next day.  The airlines had a mix-up again and Ian and I flew separately from Ann and Jim back to Toronto and Ottawa.  Ian and I did some more fast moving through Toronto's airport but thankfully we made it home, with lots of stories to tell.  August 25 was my birthday and I spent it in 3 airports but at least I was with Ian the whole time. We came home to a birthday cake, our three awesome kids and my wonderful parents.
Happy 37th Birthday to me!

Trip to Colorado: Wedding Day

It's the big day - Wedding Day!  

For our stay in Eagle, Colorado, we were fortunate to stay in a house that Warren and Courtney rented for some of their wedding party and themselves.  The bride got ready in their room with her bridesmaids and I was able to see her walk down the lane to her "red chariot".

The Ottawa Valley (Renfrew) Crew:  Ian Costello, Chris Collins, Myself, Ann and Jim McGregor (Ian's parents, Ian was with the wedding party)
The day held glimpses of sun but mostly it was cool and rainy.  

The wedding ceremony music was perfect - these two girls are friends of Courtney and Warren's, which made it even more special.
 I loved their yellow dresses and boots!

I took this photo from my spot in the "Circle Ceremony"... a new experience for us.  All of the guests stood in a circle as the bride and groom walked around the circle, on their own, greeting all of us.  I loved this part of the ceremony. 

Warren waits for his bride as the ceremony continues.

Courtney walks towards Warren with her parents and the wedding party is behind her.

This isn't the whole wedding party... there is one more couple.  The bridesmaids wore a blue dress of their own choice and the groomsmen wore pants of their choice and with shirts, ties, tie-clips and belts from Warren.  The flowers were yellow and various kinds - it all looked perfect together.

Warren and Courtney spend a lot of their time biking, as do many locals in Eagle Colorado.  That theme was throughout their whole wedding and once their ceremony was finished, they rode off together by themselves.  It was raining but they went anyways... I just love this photo.

Many of the guests also rode bicycles from the ceremony, including Ian, Ian and Chris.
The ride was mostly downhill all the way to the reception hall.

This was my last good photo of the wedding.  Before dinner, the guests played games and socialized.  We threw a football around and it was so much fun.  I took off my shoes and played in the green grass.  It was very relaxing and enjoyable.  Ian and I sat together during dinner at their head table; the meal was excellent and the wine and champagne was good.  I put my camera away and spent the rest of the time enjoying it all...taking it all in.  We danced the night away on an outdoor dance floor to a band that played country and bluegrass music.  We had a great time.
On a side note, I was brought up to the stage to sing O'Canada, in honour of Warren.  I really hope no one got that on video.  

I love weddings.  Every wedding has it's uniqueness but this one seemed to suit the bride and groom perfectly.  Ian and Warren have been friends a long time but after meeting Courtney, we have a new friend in her.  She is absolutely lovely - a very kind person and I look forward to meeting up with them again soon.   We would like to thank Warren and Courtney for including us in their wedding celebrations.  It was a trip of a lifetime and an experience to treasure.

Trip to Colorado: Wedding Rehearsal Day

Friday August 22 was the wedding rehearsal day.  Ian was busy for much of the day helping to decorate the dinner and reception area.  I was able to go for a beautiful run...completely forgetting about the change in altitude until the end when I was exceptionally out of breath!  I felt like I would never experience scenery like that again during a run so I took it all in and it felt good.

By late afternoon, we were at the wedding ceremony site which was breathtaking.  It was high above overlooking the town of Eagle with mountains in the background.  It was a little park (which even included a play structure) with nothing else around it - very private but wide open.

Here is the bride (Courtney) and the groom (Warren) with some of their wedding party.

Warren was calm and cool just waiting for his bride.

The bride looks so beautiful in her cute green dress and fantastic cowgirl boots!

Warren, Courtney and the Officiant (Tom) and Courtney's sister (Addie)

I had to make sure we got a picture of us and the beautiful scenery.  I couldn't get enough of it all.

There were so many unique parts to this wedding.  At the reception hall they set up a games area - foosball, pingpong etc.  Right beside the hall was the largest play structure in a park that we have ever seen.  The wedding was so family-friendly and certainly belonged to an active couple and their family and friends.
Look at the backdrop!!!  Amazing!

My handsome date!

Three Renfrew Boys celebrating with Warren.  Ian, Chris and Ian thoroughly enjoyed themselves.

The happy couple.  

This is a real photo that I took... breathtaking!  Everywhere we looked, this is what we saw.

Day 2: We Arrive in Colorado

We knew we would get here eventually and by late afternoon we drove into Eagle Colorado. 

We boarded our flight early this morning. We stayed in the Fairmont attached to the airport in Vancouver. It doesn't get any more convenient than that but it doesn't come cheap. Air Canada will be helping us to pay for that!

Our flight was really good and we arrived in Denver by mid-morning and it was sunny and warm. 

The skies were gorgeous and the during decent Ian and I could see the landscape which was beautiful. 

Once we picked up our vehicle rental (which was the longest part of the day) we were on our way. 

The drive was breathtaking...and our ears were popping. We arrived in Eagle by late afternoon and met up with Warren and Courtney and many others that are part of their wedding. Ian left with the guys to head to a cabin for the night and Jim, Ann and I went out for a really great dinner, nice wine, a walk to a concert in the park and we wandered around town. It was such a beautiful evening. 

My first impression of Eagle is that it seems like a great place to raise a family. We saw people all over town enjoying the outdoors, riding their bikes, playing flag football, dancing to the music, enjoying a picnic, walking with drinks in hand and kids running everywhere. Eagle is a great town. 

It's going to be a great weekend!

Just a Little Detour

'So we headed out this morning with excitement only to arrive in Toronto and proceed through customs just a little too slow... And then we ran through the airport like we were on the Amazing Race show only to arrive too late for our flight to Denver. We missed it. 

We couldn't get a flight later in the day to Denver so we were rerouted through Vancouver to fly out to Denver early the next morning. This was going to be the fastest way to our destination. To make things even more interesting, we had to split up. I went ahead to Vancouver and Ian and his parents followed in a later flight. Oh boy. I ran through that whole airport today!

The airline tried to make us feel special and do something good for us but it didn't add up to much. In the end we shouldn't have gone to Vancouver. There were no hotel rooms they could book for us. We could have flown a much easier way to arrive in Denver. Not cool!

So I sit here, looking out to the mountains on the beautiful west coast of Canada (hey it could be worse) waiting for my travel companions. I found us a hotel attached to the airport to stay in for the night and then we are flying to Denver early in the morning. 

In the end, I am thankful for news that my newest nephew is doing so much better today, for two very nice airline customer service people here in Vancouver, for wifi in the airport and for my cell phone.  

By the way, I said in my last blogpost that it takes 30 hours to drive to Eagle Colorado...it also takes that long to fly. 

Day One: Our Trip to Colorado

Today is the day we leave on our much-anticipated trip to Eagle, Colorado. Ian, myself and Ann and Jim (Ian's parents) are travelling to a good friend's wedding. We have been looking forward to this trip for months!

It looks like it takes 1day and 6 hours (30 hours) to drive there so thankfully we are flying from Ottawa, to Toronto and then on to Denver. We like to travel but we don't fly very often...driving is our thing!  This is much too far to drive for such a short trip. 

I took some time to map it out:

Once we land, we have about a 3 hour drive but it will be a very nice drive and see what that part of our world looks like. Colorado has so many large National Parks. 

Our children are staying home between Aunt Janie and Grandma and Grandpa Garner. They will have so much fun but part of me still wishes they were coming along. Oh well...

Stay tuned for more on our big trip!

Grateful for a New Nephew

Gratefulness fills my heart today. 

I am most grateful for my little brother and his best girl Marieve's new baby boy, VICTOR and we are calling him Mighty Victor. He arrived six weeks early and has some hard work to do to remain healthy but he is strong and has amazing parents and great people taking care of him. 

Secondly, I am so grateful for my own little family. Three crazy kids, filling our home with love, noise and activity. 

I am also thankful for our health. Little Victor's arrival has reminded us of our experiences with Jean's birth.  There is not a whole lot we can say or do for Ben and Marieve right now except to be there for them and only time will change their situation and it will get better. I am sending them loads of love and hugs. I can't wait to cuddle that wee Victor. 

Summer Camping

Camping at Bon Echo Provincial Park 2014

The company was great, the weather was perfect and the scenery was amazing!  This continues to be a favourite place for us to go camping. 

We went on a hike to this small beach and beautiful rock formation. Our own little family had not ventured here before but we certainly will again. We jumped off the edge, swam in the clear water, sunbathed on the rocks, played in shallow water and had a picnic. It was a perfect summer day. 

Our crew... Three high school friends and their families (minus one mom who had to stay home and work)!  Hopefully we can make this an annual tradition.