Four Peas in a Pod: 2021

As one of Sarah's gifts for graduation, we thought it would be great to take her on a trip, just the three of us! A few years ago when we started planning it, she and Bryan wanted to go to New York, but then the past year happened. So, we all decided on Colorado--a place that we love--with our main objectives being to spend quality time together and hike. So, we dropped Jackson off at school and headed out. Well, first we stopped to get coffee, obviously. Then, we headed out!

Our stop to and from Colorado were both New Mexico. First up, Albuquerque. It was beautiful. The hotel was lovely, and the food was amazing.

We usually take snapshots of our food, so this was nothing new for us.

After eating, we decided to walk around the city to explore...and work off dinner.

I love it when other tourists offer to take a picture of all of us, and this one is one of my favorites of the whole trip!

After a good night of sleep, and more exploring and picture taking, we went back to our food stop for breakfast.

After another wonderful meal, we set out for Colorado. To get to the sleepy little town that we were staying in, you take The Million Dollar Highway. It is terrifying in the best of conditions because they don't really believe in little things like guardrails in Colorado, so all you can see and think about it falling down the side of the mountains. After being on it for a bit, a blizzard started. It was crazy. There was a lot of praying and holding onto things in the car.

Soon, we came upon this scene--a Ford Expedition, the exact model of my car--stopped. They could not get going again...2 wheel drive. After several minutes of cars lined up in either direction waiting to go, they got the car moved enough to where one side could pass at a time. So, we forged ahead, all the while praying, and all the while thankful that we were in Bryan's 4 wheel drive Jeep.

Once the snow subsided and you weren't so scared of eminent death, the drive really was beautiful.

Finally, we made it to Ouray--the cutest little town nestled in the mountains.

When we were booking the Air B&B, they always ask you about why you're traveling, so Bryan told them it was for our daughter who was graduating before going on to UT in the fall. They had this waiting for Sarah.

After our first night, we woke up pretty early the next morning to begin our first hike! On the way to the trail, was a rainbow.

Bryan loves tunnels.

LOVES them.

Everywhere you looked, it was so unbelievably beautiful.

Not too long after we began on the first trail, we ended our journey. The next part of the path looked like no path at all! There was no way--in my mind--we were not going to fall off of the side of the mountain and die. It was inevitable. So, I said I thought that was a terrible idea, and that we should go back down. Sarah and Bryan agreed, but I was so scared, that I was sitting on the mountain and was going to go down the mountain on my bottom. That's the only way I could envision it happening. Well, Bryan being the amazing husband that he is, took my hand, helped me up, and continued holding my hand the rest of the way down.

The start of our next trail overlooked Ouray.

Just like the first trail--the Trail of Death--the views did not disappoint.

After we'd been walking for a bit, we sat down at the sweetest spot overlooking the town.

When we went shopping in preparation for the trip, Bryan bought 2 pairs of pants that could turn into shorts--and he was so excited when he was able to take half of them off while hiking!

As we were exploring this creek, a sweet coupe offered to take pictures of all of us together, and I'm so grateful that they did!

I totally packed the tripod, and it was totally worth it.

I think this is my favorite picture of us from the trip.

At one point, we came upon a waterfall, and Bryan was so excited!

He took these pictures while standing underneath it.

After 7 miles of hiking, we were finished with the trail that takes you all the way around the town. It was amazing. We were exhausted. So, we showered, had thai food, watched a movie, and called it a night.

The next morning, we got breakfast and walked around town.

Something we do on every trip, is find a bookstore.

Sarah loves bookstores.

Then, it was time to go off-roading.

Bryan had been planning this and looking forward to it for months.

This is Bryan's new favorite picture.

That evening, we had reservations at the Italian restaurant in town, but I wanted to get a couple of pictures first.

The next morning, we got to the trail just as the sun was peeking out over the mountains.

I can't even count the number of pictures I have of Bryan and Sarah pointing while hiking.

It's so funny because she used to point all the time at everything when she was a baby.

We said goodbye--or actually see you later—to Ouray. See you later because Bryan now wants to move there. And we headed for Durango.

Where we stopped at another at another bookstore.

Then, we made our way to Santa Fe, New Mexico. We loved Albuquerque, we hated Santa Fe. Here we are, adorably walking to a Mexican restaurant, where we had to pay for chips and salsa. I've never heard of such a thing! Anywho, that was just one of the many reasons why we were not fans of Santa Fe.