Life with the Bauers: 40th Anniversary Trip

My parents celebrated their 40th anniversary this year. What an accomplishment!! I am so very grateful for them and the legacy they are leaving of family, marriage, commitment, sacrifice, and a lot of fun. It will impact our family for generations to come. We decided to go to Vail, Colorado and were even offered a house from my dad's cousin to stay in. What a blessing- it was a perfect fit for our family!!

Heading to Colorado with the fam

One night we were walking back late from Vail to our car, so we took the bus back. We sang songs the whole ride and had a blast.

The cousins walking through Vail together.

There was a little park down the road from our house. Anniston climbed right to the top of this thing and was so proud of her accomplishment.

One of the first days they saw a moose family.

Ben found a book at the house that he loved to carry around and pretend to read.

The kids loved their ranger ride adventures.

So so dirty.

The ranger rides were fun, but they sure wore the kids out....well most of them.

One day we went to the adventure park at the top of the mountain. We got to ride the gondola to the top, and then the kids did the zipline, tubes, trampoline, and ropes course. It was so much fun. Also, for my parents anniversary we had shirts made. They said "Lagniappe 2017" on the front and "40" on the back. Lagniappe is a cajun term for "a little something extra". We felt this was perfect to describe that on top of my parents marriage, all of our lives and the blessings in them were a little something extra, and then this trip was a little something extra too!

Playing tag waiting for the gondola ride.

Gondola ride.

You had to be 30 pounds to get to do the adventure stuff. We were nervous Ben wouldn't make it. He hopped on the scale and weighed 30.0! What a relief! He was thrilled to go and everyone who saw him doing the adventures loved it!

Eiley didn't go, but she wanted a helmet anyway!

Anniston was so brave and determined- she finished the whole ropes course!

Tube rides

Eiley getting some cuddles in with Uncle Craig.

Watching Ben on the trampoline was one of the highlights. He squealed with delight the whole time. It was awesome.

Afterwards, we took turns taking the kids on little dates. Jake and Ben went, then Anniston and I went. Little treats and toy hunting in Vail.

The big boys.

The little boys.

Waiting for dinner.

I really wanted to take a hike with everyone all together. I love the adventure and I think it feels bonding to walk through the woods together. Unfortunately the hike was a bit challenging and it was hot and pretty much everyone hated it but me and Jake...so we turned back pretty quick...but not before I got at least a few pics!

Jake got to meet up with a couple of his roommates from college while we were there. He lived with Ben and Adam while we were dating and hasn't seen them in years. It was fun for them to get together.