4th of July Trip

Our friends, the Hsin family (pronounced "Sheen"), invited us to go with them to the Ritz Carlton Club in Beaver Creek/Bachelor Gulch for the holiday weekend.

WOW.

We had a spectacular time! I have never been to any place so luxurious where they spoil you so very rotten!!! We arrived on Friday and were immediately made to feel at home. Anything we needed they provided within minutes. My favorite part? They come clean your suite and do all the dishes twice a day. YEAH. BABY. We did not have to wash one dish, even after feeding 12 people 3 times per day!!! So we would eat and head out to the pool or spa and come back later to find everything pristine. It was fabulous.







About to head out!!!!!!!








You can even get married at the Ritz!








Not only do all the adults have fresh robs, but they have them for the kids as well!!!!!









So sweet!!!!!











First day at the pool. It was heated to the perfect temperature so one can swim at any time of the day or night.










At the spa they have "the Grotto" where adults (no kids allowed!) can go relax....and relax we did!!! The waterfalls feel like a massage on your back/shoulders, so Christy gave her pregnant back a small break.












My boys LOVED the bathtub!!!!!! All the bedrooms have private bathrooms with heated tile floors. SA-WEET.








The beds were all so soft and comfortable that little Laz slept and slept! It was after 9 am here!








7 of the 8 kiddies.










Pres wall climbing on the rocks in the lobby :) That's my boy!


On the 4th we were shuttled to Vail to watch the parade from the private balcony of the Ritz sales center. They also fed us tons of food and gave free face painting to the kids!





The beginning of the parade!!!







Watching from the balcony. Typical Presley here!








Face and hand painting :)









Sam and Tarin sword fighting on the streets of Vail.








Silly picture.....







Nice picture!!!!
Sam, Kell, Olivia, Laz, Maddie, Ethan, Tarin and Presley



























Fascinated by the 'mime' sitting SO STILL.






Enthralled!








Christy is more woman than I. At 7 1/2 months of pregnancy she walked around Vail all day long in the hot sun! Thankfully we hit the spa as soon as we got back to Beaver Creek!






Josiah and Laz











Tarin :)









Waiting for the Ritz shuttle to take us back to Beaver Creek.






MMMMMM....dinner!!!








Playing games out on the lawn.










The building behind us is where our suite was.




Every evening the Ritz people would light these 'camp fires' and provide materials for Smores!!!



Getting ready to roast marshmallows.





Olivia and Laz. She was a GREAT babysitter and will SO enjoy her new little brother or sister!!!






Me watching the kids roast.







Me and my Hubbalicious :)






Sam and Ethan loving the Smores :)




Mom, Dad and Lazzers






Making the *perfect* marshmallow.













The view from our balcony. The tiny people on the trail would be our husbands and kids going on a hike. Christy and I decided to lay at the pool :)





Ethan....just days before he is to turn 12! AAAHHH!!!!






John, Josiah, Sam and Laz.






Presley Solomon







Laz LOVES the water!








The kids playing games while the Ritz people loaded the cars. SO COOL. They do everything for you!!!!





Christy and Tiff ready (?) to head home.
*sigh*




We loaded up both families, all the kiddies and said goodbye to the Ritz. That was around 2 p.m. We drove about 15 minutes before we were engulfed in dead stopped traffic on I-70. Seems everyone in Denver decided to head on home at the same time!!! After about 4 hours in traffic we stopped to eat...so the 2 hour trip turned into about 6 hours!!!







This was the traffic just trying to get into the Eisenhower tunnel!!! I think we sat here for about 1 1/2 hours.






Texting while dtriving is okay when you are sitting still!!!






More. Traffic.






At least the scenery is beautiful in our traffic!




We stopped at Beau Jo's for some famous pizza!!!! It was delicious!





The waterfall at Idaho Springs looked a little...dirty. I think it was from all the people stopping by the side of the road to pee after sitting for numerous hours in traffic (after drinking a Grande' Java Chip Frappachino).





Almost home as the moon makes it's appearance.