A Treasure Hunt

When Ted and I thought through the time that we would have with the kids home from school, we started to hunt. We hunted for a great location to play, we hunted through airbnbs, we hunted for the right gear. When we landed on a condo in Crested Butte, the treasure hunt became a different sort. I was hunting, or rather enjoying, the little moments that made this trip unique.  

The alien shack that stood alone in a gorgeous valley with one creepy old couch nestled inside. It was such a unique and cool find, and inspired a lot of strange activity.

The beaver damn that was perfectly constructed. We all paused to admire the craftsmanship of a group of animals. How is this even possible? For a moment, our minds were blown by God's perfect design.

We were just a couple weeks late to see all the red and yellow leaves dangle from the trees. Most of them had fallen, but the ground was covered with evidence of a brilliant fall. The girls searched for their most favorite leaves, and we celebrated another aspect of God's amazing creation.

Watching Ted lead the kids into a picturesque landscape was really special. I cherished having him with us. He is usually buried in work while I make memories with the kids, but this trip we had him, and he took his place as the leader of our group. 

Discovering old remnants of a land that used to support a large mining business. 

The waterfall washing down on an otherwise dry mountainside.

Making the kids hike longer than they would have chosen, but seeing them laugh and bond over sore feet and hunger. 

Then came Daley's line that will forever characterize our Crested Butte trip:

Ted: "Daley, when I held you up to go pee, I really didn't expect you to poop too..."

Daley: "Well, life is full of surprises!"