Madylin's First Vacation!
7.29.13-8.2.13
Madylin got to take her first vacation this summer! We went to Durango, Colorado! The destination was chosen because Grandpa & Grandma Koehn were taking a summer vacation down to Durango. They invited us to come along! We were so excited!! Both Patrick and I needed a vacation and we were so excited to take Mady on her first vacation. It would also be Madylin's first plane ride. Fun Fact: it took me 29 years to get a chance to fly on an airplane. It only took this little cutie 15 months to get on a plane for the first time.)
Day 1:
Monday, July 29, 2013
We arrived at O'Hare Airport at 6:30am. GrandPahnke drove us to make sure we got there on time and take our car to their house to store while we were away! We kept busy in the airport with books, toys, and Baby Signing Time Videos until we could board the plane. It was SO nice of Patrick's parents to take all of our "big" luggage with them on their drive to Colorado. We really only had to worry about Mady, her nebulizer, my purse, and two carry ones. We were very blessed to have Patrick's parents drive so we could give them most of our belongings, including a car seat for Mady. :) Our plane was on time and took off at 8:30am to head to Denver, Colorado where we would catch our connecting flight to Durango.
We are just about to board the plane to take Madylin's first plane ride!
We are on the plane and ready for take off!
Mady got a change of clothes on the plane and she was as happy as could be! We played and watched "Baby Signing Time."
Madylin even took a nap on Daddy on the way to Denver. She slept about 45 minutes.
A view from the airplane window.
We arrived in Denver about 10:45am. The Denver airport was huge and very crowed! There wasn't a whole lot of places to sit but we finally found some seats. We thought we'd just grab a quick lunch and get to head to Durango but our plane got delayed THREE times. So frustrating!! Mady was tired and had a hard time napping because well, we were in an airport! After letting her play with toys on the floor I bounced her on those moving sidewalks and finally got her to sleep. We waited for our flight to Durango, hoping for no more delays! We finally got the call we could board our plane to Durango around 2:45pm. The plane we took to Durango was a small plane called the Bombardier. Patrick joked about the Bombardier because it was so small but I thought it was roomier than the first plane. The walk from the so called gate to the Bombardier took forever as well. I felt like a celebrity boarding the little plane from outside. :) The ride was a lot bumpier than the first plane. We didn't get our drinks because there was so much turbulence. :(
Playing in the Denver Airport.
Madylin is happy we finally boarded the Bombardier and we are on the way to Durango to see Grandpa and Grandma Koehn!
Mountains from the plane's window.
Another happy plane ride!!
Madylin & Daddy outside of the Bombardier.
We finally arrived at the Durango airport around 3:45pm. Patrick's parents were picking us up there. We were so glad to be done with delays and flying for the day. We got settled into the hotel and fed Madylin dinner before heading into downtown Durango for dinner. We ate at Cuckcoos Chicken House that night. Then it was off to bed to get up for our train ride to Silverton.
Dinner at Cuckcoos Chicken House.
Daddy & Madylin on vacation!!
Day 2:
Tuesday, July 30, 2013
Today was our train ride to Silverton, Colorado. We were very excited to see all the beautiful scenery on the way to Silverton. This would also be Mady's first train ride. It was about 3 hours each way and of course Mady did amazing! The scenery was absolutely breathtaking and we could not get enough!
Madylin aboard the train! She is excited about her first train ride!
Wildlife spotting! A prairie dog!!
Of course Madylin caught a nap on the train ride.
Having a blast on her first train ride.
This is actually a picture of a picture. The train photographer and I made friends and he made sure that he got us a good shot! :)
Madylin having so much fun on her first train ride to Silverton, Colorado!
After about 3 hours we arrived in Silverton, Colorado. The town looked like a little Old Western Town. We ate lunch there and shopped in their little shops.
We ate a yummy lunch here and then it was back on the train for more beautiful scenery!
Madylin caught another nap on the way back to Durango.
Day 3:
Wednesday, July 31, 2013
Today we had plans to visit Mesa Verde National Park. Even though there were mountains everywhere the scenery here is much different than when we went to Canon City, Golden, Breckenridge, and Estes Park two summers ago. The scenery kind of reminded me of what I would think Arizona and New Mexico would look like. I've never been to either of those places but I picture red dirt and desert. That is what the scenery looked like in this part of Colorado. We grilled hamburgers, did a little hiking, and sightseeing. Madylin found a little pin on the picnic table that we were using that said "Mesa Verde Junior Ranger." The joke of the day was that she always wanted to be a Junior Ranger. She wore the pin all day. :)
Madylin fell asleep on the way to Mesa Verde National Park.
Find the lizard in the picture! Not the type of wildlife I think of when I think of Colorado!
Lighting up the grill for some burgers.
Mommy & Mady hanging out after lunch.
Madylin & Daddy hiking!
Beautiful scenery all around us!
We were kind of disappointed that this was the only wildlife that we saw in the park. We were hoping for at least some elk!
After Mesa Verde we headed to the 4 corners. I was so excited about this place! I am sure that I learned about the 4 corners where Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, and Utah meet in history when I was in school but I must have forgotten about it because I was so excited to see this! The drive there was not to scenic. If I thought Durango looked more like Arizona or New Mexico the drive to 4 Corners really looked like those states. When we stepped out of the car it was so HOT! There was no shade and we were not literally in the desert. I thought it was awesome though. So worth the drive to stand in 4 different states at one time!
Madylin's on her way to see 4 states at once at 4 Corners! She still had her Mesa Verde Junior Ranger badge on too!
We were hoping Madylin would take a nap on the way to 4 corners but she decided she wasn't going to. She had so much fun laughing at nothing!
Standing in 4 states at one time! Awesome!
Our little junior ranger has had a long day.
Bye 4 Corners!
Heading back into Colorado from 4 Corners!
We were exhausted from our long day at Mesa Verde but Patrick and I got to have a date night in downtown Durango. We ate at Fired Up Pizzeria while Mady spent time with Grandpa & Grandma Koehn in the hotel.
Day 4:
Thursday, August 1, 2013
We took it easier today and enjoyed the town of downtown Durango. We did some shopping and ate lunch at Ska Brewery.
After lunch we headed back to the hotel for some fun times in the pool. Madylin finally got to use her ladybug float!! We have seriously waited all summer to use this thing. Every time we were going to get the chance it was either not warm enough or we got rained out. It took 3 Koehn's to blow this ladybug float up but when we finally got it Mady was one happy little girl!
"See you later Mom! I'm driving my ladybug float out of here!"
Later that night we went back into Durango to hit up a few more shops and eat dinner. We had an amazing dinner at Mutu's Italian Kitchen. We are sad to have to leave tomorrow!
Day 5:
Friday, August 2, 2013
Our vacation is over. :( We are so sad that we have to go home today. Before we left though there is one more thing we had to do...
That's right Mady had to stop and get some "Old Tyme" pictures as souvenirs from her stay in Durango, Colorado. There was NO WAY Mommy was passing up this opportunity. Of course Mady rocked the photo shoot and the photographer told us she was the easiest baby she ever photographed.
After Madylin's photo shoot it was time to head to the Durango airport. We were greatly disappointed when we got to the airport to find out our plane was delayed!! Then we arrived at Denver to find out our plane was delayed there too!! We didn't have very good luck with our planes being on time. :(
Good-bye Durango, Colorado!
Madylin is ready to go home! Thanks Colorado for giving Madylin a wonderful first vacation!!
We landed at O'Hare about 8:00pm. Granadine was there to pick us up and bring us home. Madylin was happy to be home, sleeping in her own bed!
