Via Christi Bike Trip 2010: Part 1

Every September, the first and second year residents and their families in the family medicine program at Via Christi take a bike trip to Colorado together. We just got back from this great vacation, where we enjoyed lots of outdoor time, fun activities with fellow residents and their families, good food, and beautiful weather. Bryan and I (and Makenah too, I think!) love to visit Colorado, so we have been looking forward to this trip very much. We spent several days in the Breckenridge/Frisco/Dillon area, and it sure was relaxing! It was a great mix of group activities and family time.

We arrived Friday evening and met up with other residents who had arrived in Dillon. We had a great dinner while sharing stories and laughing. We slept well Friday night after a long day of driving!

On Saturday morning, we decided to take the Jeep up into the mountains and do some exploring. I enjoy jeepin', because you can cover a lot of ground. We drove up Boreas Pass and got out several times along the way to take pictures. The pass has an elevation of 11, 480 ft. and is a climbing and winding unpaved road with amazing views.

Along the way, we came to Bakers Tank, a historic water tank that steam locomotives used for resupply.

(I think Makenah was wondering where we were!)

We made it to the top of the pass, and got out to walk around and check out the area. The pass used to be a high railroad pass between Denver and Leadville, and there are still remnants of the railroad.

The drive back down was much faster, but we stopped to get more pictures!

The aspen are just breathtaking this time of year. I couldn't believe how beautiful they were, and what a bright shade of yellow they turn!

The rest of our time Saturday was spent doing group activities (with some continuing education lecture time for the docs:), as well as enjoying a catered dinner at the hotel. Plus, there was a rousing game of medical pictionary and charades. It was very entertaining! Ha!

More to come on some other highlights from the trip!!

*Bryan has been to Bakers Tank several times before! What a good looking group of Stucky boys from 5 years ago :)

Congratulations!

Our dear friends Vance and Danni just welcomed their new baby girl into their family!

Congratulations to them on the birth of their little one!

Remi Cheyenne was born yesterday, and she is so sweet and precious.

We'll have to take Makenah and Remi to the slopes someday...

Down the road

Where can you get views like this driving down the road?

Colorado of course!

We are home from our wonderful trip, and I am so excited to tell you all about it! 

Daredevils

The Stucky/Wiens boys are daredevils!

They are exciting, adventurous, go get 'em kind of guys!

Sometimes I shake my head when I hear about what they are doing while they are together... 

Bryan, his three brothers, his dad, his uncles, and his grandad are into so many cool things. When they get together there is never a dull moment. We are always wondering what they will plan next. Often, us ladies will do something less dangerous, and wait to hear what kind of excitement they got into this time. They also come home from their vacations needing a vacation. They are busy, tough, athletic guys!

Labor Day weekend in Garden City was no exception. I already shared about some of the calmer activities that we did while there, but I thought it would be cool to show what some of the guys were up to while we were there. The guys took these pictures of each other with Brandon's camera, out at the river in Garden City. Bryan, Brandon, Blake and Steve were having some fun during this outing! 

Bryan

(above picture taken by Aunt Cristal)

Blake

Steve

Brandon

They are all so good on those machines!

Labor Day

This year we spent the Labor Day weekend in Garden City with all of Bryan's family. It was such a nice weekend, and there was always something going on. Delicious food, sharing and visiting, reminiscing, friday night football, playing with the 5 family dogs, the zoo, snow cones, home videos, homemade ice-cream, stunts on 4 wheelers (the boys!), and lots of laughing. 

Makenah with two of her very sweet cousins Ashley and Allie...

My girl and I...

Grandad making some delicious homemade ice-cream...

All the girls--we were missing Granna in this photo shoot though. I am guessing that she was taking care of someone or something inside--she is an amazing hostess!

(back left--Aunt Cristal, Makenah's MeMe Debbie, Makenah and I, and Aunt Pam...front left--Cousins Alexa, Ashley, Allie, and Rachel)

A family moment...

This is one corner of Granna and Grandad's bea-u-ti-ful backyard. We spent an evening out there after dinner, and it was a perfect night for playing in the yard.

Off to the zoo...This is the entrance to the Garden City Zoo. I was impressed with what a nice zoo they have in town. I am sure that we will take Makenah back there often! 

Bryan's cousins Alexa...

Jack...

and Allie...

Bryan's brother Blake (Uncle Blake!) and cousin Rachel...

Making our way through the zoo...

It looks like we wore out Makenah again...

It has been so fun spending time with all the family! Great-grandparents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, brothers and cousins--what a fun crew! It's so fun seeing Makenah bond with everyone--she just soaks it all up. We're looking forward to seeing everyone again soon!

Splish Splash

Last week we took Makenah to the pool in our neighborhood before we let summer slip away. It was another one of those great "firsts." We spent some time in the baby pool and then in the main pool together. I had a feeling she would enjoy the water, since she loves taking a bath! 

Bryan caught us coming up out of the water

Afterward...

"If I could just get that in my mouth..."