Chapel Choir Tour: Denver! Part 2

Monday morning we got up and drove to Estes Park, Colorado. It was about an hour away from Denver and the drive was gorgeous! Again...I apologize for these pictures since I took them from inside the bus. Eww bugs!

I'm pretty sure I've said this already, but the weather was incredible while we were there. 

It was WONDERFUL. Estes Park was simply a play stop for us. We got to spend a few hours there doing whatever we wanted. We started with a long lunch and this was our view.

We made our way down to the river to snap a couple pictures. 

Bear hats. Because sic 'em.

Everywhere you looked the scenery was beautiful.

Ready to explore Estes Park!

I am so glad that our besties were on this trip! 

That afternoon we went to a Salvation Army music camp outside of Estes Park. We put on a little carnival for the campers complete with a photo booth.

There was this beautiful mill on the property. They can actually grind their own wheat!

On our drive back to Denver we spotted a couple elk on the side of the road. So awesome!

Tuesday morning we went to downtown Denver to Harbor Light. 

The choir sounded amazing as usual.

After the concert we served lunch and then had dessert outside. The tables were hot. :)

Me with some awesome junior girls!

That afternoon we drove way north to Harvest Farm. The students got to spend some time exploring the farm...after the insane storm passed and then had a concert. 

On our way home there was the most incredible FULL double rainbow! I've never seen a full double rainbow with colors that vibrant. Unfortunately...the iPhone can't even come close to capturing how amazing it was.

Late night freshman girls party in mine and Brittany's room. It was our last night in the dorms and these girls are awesome!

Wednesday morning we were back in Colorado Springs. They sang at Focus on the Family.

Then we got to taste the WoFaChoSo (World Famous Chocolate Soda). It was so yummy!

That night we were supposed to go to a dude ranch but because of the bad weather, the highway to the dude ranch was closed. We ended up having California Pizza Kitchen cater dinner at our hotel and then took the students to a local mall. Of course, we rode the train. :)

Our last morning in Colorado. So beautiful!

#woodslifeeveryday2014 week 30

Day 204: I made a rookie mistake this morning by telling Hudson and Emma that E&B were coming over for dinner tonight. So when they finally got here H&E were beyond thrilled. Such a fun night with friends that are like family.

Day 205: Roller coaster fun!

Day 206: We took the kids to their first movie at the theater today! Emma lasted a little over an hour. Hudson probably would have made it through the whole thing but he noticed we were gone so he was done too. Still a fun family outing! Also, Emma's face. ha!

Day 207: My little fish is getting so good at swimming!

Day 208: We LOVED getting to see our best friends today! These 3 were so sweet together. 

Day 209: Hudson: Hey Mommy, this Lego is a train. Emma: choo choo Abby! Also, Emma saw this faux fur vest in her closet and threw a fit over it. I put it on her and Hudson says, "Mommy, Emma is wearing a bear jacket." ha! #neveradullmoment

Day 210: There is construction going on by our house and every day Hudson asks to go see it. Little boy heaven!

Chapel Choir Tour: Denver! Part 1

We had the best time on the Chapel Choir Tour! This was my first choir tour ever since I didn't grow up in a youth choir. We've been in Birmingham for a little over a year now, but I still didn't feel like I knew many of the students that well at all. We have a few that babysit for us but that was it. I was so excited about getting to know the students and the sponsors. 

A couple days before the trip we had a big dinner and meeting/rehearsal. Hudson got to lead the prayer for dinner. He sang "God Our Father." It was SO PRECIOUS.

John's mom came into town the night before we left. Hudson were so excited that Susu was here but they didn't really understand that we were leaving the next day. Mostly because we hadn't told them yet! ha! Emma would have had no clue and it would have just upset her to keep telling her that Mommy and Daddy were going bye bye. If we had told Hudson earlier, he would have expected Susu to arrive immediately and for us to leave. The concept of time is still something we are working on with him. So the night before we left we told Hudson. He was excited to be Susu's big helper!

Bright and early Friday morning our whole team gathered for prayer before we left. This is about 6:15 am. #allthecoffee

Denver or bust! As we were leaving town we drove by our house and whoa the waterworks. It also didn't help that John started singing, "Butterfly Kisses." haha!

Our first day was the.longest.day.ever. Seriously. We left Birmingham at 6:30 am and arrived in Oklahoma at midnight. This bed was the most beautiful thing I could imagine at this point.

Colorado! Ignore the bug stained windshield. 

A debriefing meeting our first night in Colorado. We were in Colorado Springs and I was so thankful for the Eddie Bauer across the street from our hotel. I didn't pack a jacket of any kind so I purchased 2 hoodies. It was much colder in Colorado that week than I expected!

The view from our hotel.

On Sunday morning, the choir sang at the chapel service at the Air Force Academy. It was GORGEOUS in there with all the amazing stained glass. 

Me and B :) We explored around a little before the service started. It was so so beautiful. 

After the Air Force Academy we changed at lightening speed. I'm talking 106 people (76 high school students and 30 adult sponsors) changing out of suits/dresses and putting on tshirts and shorts in 22 minutes! Oh and we were all crammed into 1 small room. Well 2 small rooms. Guys in one room and girls in the other. Then it was off to Denver for the Rockies game!

The students sang the National Anthem and ROCKED it. Seriously...they did amazing. The crowd went nuts!

Busted taking a selfie. ha!

John and the students went in a separate entrance since they were singing so he missed our photo op.

Only the choir and director were allowed on the field. 

Here was my view...

Oh here's the actual selfie we took! ha!

It was such a gorgeous day. 

That evening we checked into the dorms in Denver where we would be staying the next few nights. We had lots of free time so the students did everything from a giant game of Apples to Apples to enoing (have y'all heard of this...it's what they call just hanging out in hammocks. I felt so old not knowing this was a "thing." ha!) It was a fun and relaxing evening.

The weather in Colorado was amazing. Such a nice break from the crazy heat in the South!