Linden Reunion

This year's Linden reunion was in Des Moines. There were many fun events planned for the weekend. 

It started with an Iowa Cubs game.  Where we celebrated Grandpa Linden's birthday.

The game ended with a fireworks show.

The next day started with a Big Yellow Bike bar tour. 

Everyone sat on this mobile bar and had to pedal from bar to bar for some tasty beers. It was a lot of fun.

That evening we all met at a park for some fun family time.

Unfortunately, Patrick wasn't feeling well so I had to leave early but I heard it was a great time. Thanks for all those that planned such a fun weekend with family.

Training like a Bronco

Instead of a movie at the stadium this year, the Broncos invited the Broncos Bunch to their training facility for some football fun. They separated the kids into age groups and then let them play some fun games. 

Even Miles the Mascot was there.

It was a fun way to spend the afternoon.

Green Dragons

Patrick signed up for his second year of t-ball. This year he was on the Green Dragons. 

He started the season off strong. He was really into it and enjoying himself. 

Then about halfway through, there was a lot of laying around.

I think he really did enjoy himself. Baseball might not be his sport though.

Thanks for the great season, Green Dragons!

Rafting

The next day we woke up bright and early to go on a rafting trip we had scheduled. After a quick lesson and a short bus ride, we were off. 

Patrick was too little to handle and oar so he sat next to me in the middle. You can't see him in most of the pictures they took. 

After one really big drop and during a smoother part of the river, our guide asked how everyone was doing and all you heard was Patrick saying "not good". I don't think he enjoyed the big waves very much. Once the river calmed down, he seemed to enjoy himself. At one part of the trip, we pulled off to the side and could jump into the water for a quick dip. Since the water was 62°, I passed but most of the kids and Fun Uncle Joe took a dip. 

It was a really fun trip and a true Colorado experience. The Feulings were already talking about what they wanted to do on their next summer vacation to Colorado. Thanks for visiting.

Hanging Lake

When Kerry told us she was coming out for vacation, we wanted to give her a "Colorado experience". So we did some research into nearby hikes. We found one called Hanging Lake. It also happens to be in my favorite part of Colorado, Glenwood Canyon. 

Even the drive to Glenwood Springs is amazingly gorgeous. 

Saturday morning, we hopped in the car and drove straight to the Hanging Lake Park parking lot. They only allow a certain number of vehicles into the lot at a time and we were just too late to get in. But Joe was talking to the ranger long enough that a car exited and we got in and got a parking spot close to the trailhead. Then we started out on the hike. 

It was a 936 feet climb over 1.2 miles. After climbing over rocks, past streams and waterfalls, up a crazy set of "stairs", we made it to the top. And saw this view.

We took some time at the top and a few photo ops then headed up higher to see the Spouting Rock waterfall. 

Then we headed back down. 

That evening we found a place to eat in Glenwood Springs called Smoke (where Joe got us a table right away instead of a 2 hour wait time) and celebrated Shaylin's birthday. Then we all crashed at the hotel. There was talk of a pool but everybody was so tired, we ended up going to bed right away.

It was a very Colorado thing to do and was worth the hike.