Colorado Bucket List

We can mark one more item off of our "Colorado bucket list".... going to a Meadow Lark Farm dinner. I think that it is the most difficult dinner reservation to obtain in all of Colorado! When you have to submit a lottery form in order to obtain a reservation and your party of 2 gets wait listed you know that it must be good:) We have been trying to get reservations since last summer and finally last week we got called up from the wait list and got a spot at the table for Leo's birthday! The dinner was held outside of an organic farm in Lyons, Colorado. The table was set by a river under the largest cottonwood tree that I have ever seen.  The setting was beautiful, the weather could not have been better, and the food was deeeee-lishious!!! They welcomed us to the farm with an aperitif, followed by a tour of the farm and dinner.  All of the food is focused on seasonal cooking that is picked at the farm.

The menu for the evening

 The pretty table

 The converted bus that is the chefs' headquarters and kitchen:)



 Leo enjoying his aperitif while watching the chickens and baby goats...

You could not call me a cardiac intensive care unit pharmacist if I did not take a picture with the field of digitalis (foxglove) plants.... a total dork move I know;)

The two of us sitting down to eat dinner

 The table full of good food and good company of new friends

Thank you to the Meadow Lark group for a night to remember!!  We hope to be lucky enough to come again:)

 ...and a post just would not be a post without my little people! 

Here is Adrian enjoying the mud between his toes when we went fishing the other weekend.

 Lorelei playing to her own beat at the zoo:)

Where did 5 years go?!?!

5 years, 2 kids, 1 residency and 1 fellowship later we are celebrating an exciting and happy 5 years of marriage!  This past weekend we celebrated our anniversary with a Memorial Day weekend getaway to Colorado Springs and the Great Sand Dunes National Park.  Where did 5 years go?!?

A random pic of my watermelon loving son:)

Our first stop over the weekend was the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo in Colorado Springs.  They have over 15 giraffes there that you can feed lettuce.  Adrian and Lorelei thought that it was a hoot.... although they were at times a tad concerned about the length of the tongue headed for their hand and the lettuce that was in it:)  I don't really blame them!

They had another exhibit where you got to walk through with all of the small kangaroos.  Adrian thought that it was great!

We also went on a little skyride in the zoo that was pretty much an old ski lift.  Here is Lorelei just kickin' back with daddy taking in the views:)

"Look over there Mom!! We are so high!!"

No trip to Colorado Springs would be complete without a hike around the Garden of the gods:)

Turns out Adrian REALLY likes staying in hotels:)

For our anniversary we treated ourselves to Sunday brunch at the Broadmoor:)  We were greeted at the entrance Sunday morning by 4 deer that were having a little morning snack.

Adrian was a big fan of the chocolate fountain with homemade marshmallows and the ice cream bar with every indulgence under the sun:)

A special dessert that was delivered to our table at the end of brunch.  It was a great end to an absolutely fabulous meal!

Lorelei working off her brunch waffles at the Broadmoor playground

This must be what heaven is like!!! The Broadmoor pool:)

During our walk around the hotel grounds

My men:)

The next stop along our weekend tour was the Great Sand Dunes National Park.  The day that we got there it was honestly not that great:( 

40mph winds + sand dunes + toddlers does not equal a great time

But we found a nice spot behind an island of trees that protected us from the wind and we were still able to play a bit.

Leo fighting the wind:)

So we got out of the wind and decided to go on a hike to a nearby waterfall instead.... Zapata Falls:)

You had to hike through the river into a cave to see the falls... this pic does not do them justice... it was amazing!

My little campers in our cabin before bed:)  They loved the cabin!  It was 4 walls, one full bed and one bunk bed with no sheets and Adrian was in heaven:)  It reminded me a bit of the cabins that my family use to stay at in Yellowstone... basic.... but that is all you need.

And with this view of the sand dunes from the front porch who can complain!!!

Adrian taking in his first sand sledding:)

Lorelei was a lady of leisure with her sand toys:)

Climbing up the sand dunes when you are 2 years old proved to be a challenge...but he pushed through!

Going down a bigger sand dune with daddy

Family pic at the dunes:)

Nothing brings a family weekend to a better end than sharing a brew with your bro in the back of the car:)

Happy Anniversary boo!!