Georgetown Loop Railroad

On Saturday, D told us we were going to go crazy.  Since we couldn't go camping (due to the fire) we were going to go do something else fun.  M&D had 2 choices, but it came down to temperature and call for rain that made them choose the south option. So to Georgetown we went!  We got into town and found a very small pizzeria to eat at.  Then since we still had more than an hour until our surprise, we drove up Grunella Pass.  It was about 12 miles to the summit, which was a popular hiking spot.  M got out to take a quick picture just as the thunder roared, so in the car she jumped and down the mountain we went.

Now it was time for our surprise!  A really big train!

We stood on the platform and watched the train approach over the bridge on its way into the station.

 

Waiting somewhat patiently to board.  The cars behind us our the parlor cars--with tables and snacks.  We had tickets for the coach seating which was more open air (ie. better views!)

So excited for the ride to start.

The Georgetown Loop is called so because the track loops over itself as it climbs in elevation.  The stations are only 2 miles apart but a 600 feet elevation difference.  In order to keep the track grade at 4% or lower, the track was built in loops and curves.  So what is only 2 miles takes 4 1/2 miles of track to follow.  The other interesting thing about the Georgetown Loop is that it is the only loop railway whose loop is in the open.  In Europe, when they built loop railways it was all through tunnels, so you never saw the track below you.

We stopped at the turnaround station for about 15 minutes while the engine switched ends.  Because there is no place to turn the train around the engine switches rather than trying to figure out how to get the whole train flipped.  Enough time to get out, stretch our legs and get back on in a car all to ourselves.  There is a Silver Mine halfway between Georgetown and Silver Plume that the train stops at and lets guests off to tour.  So there weren't as many people on the ride back.

Crossing Clear Creek River. In the 4 1/2 miles of track you cross the creek 4 times.  Again just one of many ways they used to keep the grade at a manageable descent/ascent. 

Steam Engine #12 did a very good job leading us down the mountain.  On the way up it was assisted by a big diesel engine.  

The whole train in front of us as we cross the bridge again on the way back to the station.

The station below us.  We are over the track we started on, but the loop takes us around another mile or more before we pull into the station.

 

We had a great adventure!  A great way to get ready for my birthday party at the train park next week.  M just hopes that little park train ride is fun after such a big adventure on a real big train!

Backyard fun

On Sunday, after it had cooled down a couple degrees (enough for M to be able to stand being outside!!), we went and played in the backyard in our pool.  It kept us cool and M tried to stay cool in the shade on the patio.  If you look closely in the background you can still see the smoke from the High Park Fire.  It has already burned over 60,000 acres in just over 2 weeks and is only half contained.  M thinks it will burn until the first snowfall of the winter!

 

Can you see me in the tree?  Our tree has grown and so have i this last year.  This coming Saturday is my 5th birthday.  I get to go to Kindergarten next year.  M&D aren't ready for such a big girl, but I tell them I just can't stop growing!!

C hiding in the Willow tree.

Then showing off in front of the Oak.

All those clouds are the smoke.  The sky was clear blue otherwise.  Please continue to pray for the firefighters and all the displaced people as hundreds are evacuated and 189 homes have been lost already.  But as you can tell, we are trying to live life as normally as possible even with the smoke looming over us.

Just another day in paradise!

After sleeping in this morning and taking a couple hours to clean house and do laundry, D took the whole family on a hike.  We decided to stick close by and not drive too far, but we maybe didn't go high enough as it was still 89 degrees in the Big Thompson Canyon.  We made the most of it and it was a very good 2 mile nature hike to an overlook.

C trucking up the last steep hill to get to the overlook.  That little stretch really tuckered her out.  Just the dangle of a snack at the top kept her going.

 Waiting for D and C to catch up to us.

 At the overlook shelter, we took some time to rest and have some crackers for a snack.

 What great troopers in the mid-day heat.

 On the way down, C & I had some one-on-one time to discuss the upcoming Day camp season.  She starts a week from Monday and I am busy trying to teach her everything she needs to know.  This hike was good training for her since at Day Camp we walk everywhere all day long.  She has been practicing at home carrying her backpack around so she will be all ready in a week!

 After getting back to the car, we headed across the road to the park for our picnic lunch.  The parking lot was full, so we headed back to Loveland and found a great little picnic area right by the river.  However the view wasn't the brightest---the small smoke plume we had noticed leaving Loveland had grown to a billowing cloud in the 1 1/2 hour we had been hiking.  We decided to finish lunch quickly, go get ice cream for dessert and head home.

 This was the view from our backyard all afternoon.  Driving home, C fell asleep so M took a nap also.  When they got up we went outside to play in the pool and enjoy the 95 degree weather and sunshine.

 Staying cool in the heat!

Memorial Day camping

This past weekend we went camping in the mountains.  The first day was absolutely beautiful so we played outside most of the day. 

D kept losing us, so we helped him find each other.  Below C is showing D exactly where I was, but every time he turned around he couldn't find us.

C was having so much fun outside, her face even shows it!!

Waiting patiently for M to take us on a ride.

We had a whole big group camping with lots of bikes and people along.

What a great family--we all fit on one bike.

Being silly...

and being shy!

 

Even though the 2nd day was so cold and windy we had to stay inside all day, and M&D didn't get any sleep at all because of cold waking us up and the wind keeping them up, it was still a very fun weekend.

Bennett Preschool

A week ago I graduated from Preschool.  I am now ready for Kindergarten come fall.  We had a full night planned. 

P came up with D and C to watch my program.

We watched a short video of all the highlights of the year.  I sat with my classmates while the video played. 

Then we sang a couple songs and helped a teacher recite a story.

While a second video played showcasing all the graduates, we went out to prepare for our march down the aisle.  As you can tell from the below video, I was very excited to graduate.

Sitting quietly while we waited for our names to be called.

 When my name was called, I got to go stand up in front while my teacher read all the nice things about me.  The fact that I love art and writing and I would spend my days writing all my family member names and that I am going to be a teacher when I grow up.

Look how little I was when I started preschool back in March 2010.

Sleeping arrangements

I was  getting anxious to go camping a few weeks ago, so I begged to have a tent put in my room so I could camp out.

 Sleeping soundly all night long in the nice warm room!

 C also has different sleeping arrangements.  She was being a terror at daycare and was acting tired and irritable all day long.  M&D thought maybe it was because I kept her up at night with all my night noises.  So M took down the crib, put the mattress on the floor, piled up some pillows so C wouldn't get hurt when she rolled out of bed and put C down for the night.  The improvement in her mood was almost immediate.  So C has moved back to her own room permanently.

 

On Saturday we moved C's bed out of my room and redecorated that corner as an art area.

 C showing off her big girl bed in her own room.

 Getting ready for bed.  Notice my choice of pj's....I called it my jammie skirt!

Hopscotch

Playing hopscotch in the driveway is always a great way to spend a Saturday!

New house

Two weekends ago M&D went on a short trip by themselves and left C and myself with friends for the night.  Just as they were getting ready to leave, Uncle B stopped by with a new house for C and me.    So when M&D got back early Sunday afternoon, they raced to the house to wash the house and set it up for us before we came home.

After a good washing, the house needed to dry before it was put together.

The finished product, with a brand new bench to sit on.

M&D were so excited to bring us home and surprise us.  What they didn't realize is that I had a surprise for them at home.  Uncle B told us he had dropped off a house and I was ready to show M&D Uncle B's house in the backyard!

C and I trying out the house.....

and the bench.

Sisterly love.

 

We even had visitors that first afternoon.  C is welcoming them into the house--If you look closely, it is up on the roof.

A closer look.

As M laid on the grass enjoying the sunlight, she watched the 15 or so butterflies flying around the branches of the willow tree as we played underneath.

Gymnastics

Ever since my gymnastics class ended last year I've been begging M to let me go again.  In the fall the class times were not convenient for M as they were in the middle of the afternoon.  She finally told me that she would check down in the valley and see if something would be available on a Saturday morning.  At the end of April I was finally able to go to my new gymnastics class.  I have so much fun.  I actually get to do bars, jump on a trampoline, slide down into a pit full of foam and do all sorts of other fun things.

 

Below is one of the tumbling routines I was learning.  We even get to swing on a big rope at the end!

I won't be able to go all summer, but come fall M has already thought about maybe putting C in also.