Living Wild and Free

Full time RVing: Vacation 365 days a year
Retirement: Every day's a saturday

Sunday, April 17, 2016

Colorado Springs with Family

4/10/16 - 5/22/16:  Back home, Colorado Springs with family.  We arrived back in Falcon, CO. at our home RV pad at our daughter's house.  For the next 5 months we plan on using this as our home base for making short trips to Utah, Minnesota, South Dakota, and who knows where.  We are looking forward to spending time with our family after our 4 month hiatus through Utah, Texas, Alabama, and Florida. We have had our first snow storm since being back.  The past couple days we've seen blizzard conditions and low temps.  Almost makes ya want to head south again, but we know these snow days will be few.


Since arriving back in Falcon, CO. at my daughter’s house, or back yard, we have been very busy with family activities.  Grandkids are in soccer and baseball, school band musicals, gymnastics, and going to the swimming pool.  It’s true, grandkids keep grandma and grandpa young.  We did make a trip to West Jordan, UT. to see our son graduate from Salt Lake Community College.  That was a joyous occasion and we are very proud of him.  Eric’s wonderful wife, Marlo, played an instrumental part in his diploma.  Not only was she a super mom while Eric was working, going to school, and playing GI Joe, she was also his tutor and teacher throughout his schooling.  We had a wonderful time with our three grandsons (Lawson, Ethan, and Logan) while out there visiting.  Roberta and I and Marlo all got food poisoning on Mother’s Day and were quite sick for a few days.  It’s been great being with family, but it’s also nice to take a week here and there with the motorhome and be to ourselves again.  We made our first branch out to Lathrop State Park near Walsenburg, CO.  If you every get a chance to spend a few days here it will be well worth it.  The scenery is beautiful, the lakes are great for fishing, and this is the only state park in Colorado that has it’s own golf course.  You will love it.  Below are some pictures taken since arriving back in Colorado and trip to Utah.  Enjoy…..


Our son Jared (background) coaches his son's
(Bryce - red head) soccer team.  Brings back many memories.
It's great watching our grandson's play soccer
Our grandson (Carter) on the sideline cheering his brother on.
He is ready for the possibility of rain.
Carter enjoys reading Star Wars books.
Sometimes it's more interesting than the game.
Jared's wife Rebecca (left), grandma Melanie (center), Rebecca's mom,
and grandma Roberta all enjoying a cold day of soccer.

Spending a beautiful day with Roberta's beautiful mother.
Enjoying Bryce's soccer game.
Enjoying Carter's soccer game.  He's second from right.
Here's little Ethan playing baseball.  So cute.
Our son Eric graduation day.  So proud of him.
Graduated with "High Honors" and military recognition as well.
Eric with the greatest wife, mother, and tutor.  She's just as amazing.
Lawson and Ethan at the movies seeing the new Captain America movie.
Went to the Colorado Springs zoo with grandkids.  So much fun.
Super dad Adam and his son Rowan.  Macie catching a free ride.
Great day for grandma and grandpa.
Rowan riding the gator or is it a crockadile?
Rowan and Macie having fun.
Adam and Rowan in a huge bird nest and egg shells.
Our daughter Jennifer with her knight in shining armor.
Our trip to Lathrop State Park in southern Colorado was awesome.

Roberta doing a little rock hopping.
Bruce trying his luck at fishing.  Will take a lot of fish to pay the out of state fishing license.
Our view of Twin Peaks from our motorhome.
Another gorgeous view.  Beautiful weather.
Roberta enjoying the view.
Breathtaking views in Walsenburg, CO.
Bruce with his limit of trout (4).  Good day.
Driving  back to my daughter's house and we ran into this hail storm.
First time we've seen hail come down in sheets.
"Hello, can anyone hear me.  I need to order my dinner."
Rowan enjoying his trip around the zoo.
African prairie dog on the alert for hawks flying overhead.
Macie at the controls of an old bomber and Rowan navigating.
Mr. Peacock strutting his stuff.

Jennifer trying to communicate with Mr. Lizard.
Grizzly bear.  A little bigger than the one we crossed paths with in Alaska.
Nitro and Trent both wanting to be my co-pilot.
Our view from our campsite in Lathrop State Park, CO.
Another view of Twin Peaks from across the lake.
Logan Dwelle showing his stuff.  cutest little guy in the world.


Friday, April 8, 2016

Orlando w/Jennifer, Lily, and Macie

3/21/16 - 4/5/16:  Orlando, Florida
We cut our stay in Cedar Key short by 10 days so we could spend a week with our daughter Jennifer and two granddaughters Lily and Macie in Orlando.  They wanted to come to Florida for spring break and wanted a pool and go to the beach.  Cedar Key doesn't have either.  So we packed up and went to Clermont, FL which is west of Orlando by 40 miles.  We stayed at the Clerbrook Golf and RV Resort and had a swimming pool within 50 yards of our camp site.  Our granddaughters lived in the pool every day.  We made a couple two hour trips to Coca Beach one day and Cape Canaveral Beach another day to enjoy the beautiful beaches.  It was a great time.  Bruce had to fly back to Minnesota to spend time with his parents.  His mom had emergency surgery and he wanted to spend time with them both while she recovered.  He spent a week up there and had a nice time with his parents and siblings.  After putting the kids on a plane back to Colorado, we packed up and started our slow trip back to Colorado Springs for the summer.  Looking forward to seeing all the kids and grand kids again.  It's been a long 4 months.  Pictures of our stay in Orlando and Bruce while in Minnesota.

Granddaughters Lily and Macie with us in Orlando
Bruce enjoying a swim in the park pool.
Little bald spot there.
Roberta enjoying a relaxing day reading and diet pepsi close by
Walk around the park and saw this little gator in the pond.
Bruce's foot and curious gator.
Coca Beach Florida.  Beautiful beaches.
Enjoyed taking the kids to a natural spring for a swim.
Cool clear waters.  Tubing was great on a hot day.
Grandpa, Jennifer and Macie enjoying the cool waters.
Bruce enjoying a little cool down
Natural springs coming out of a rock cliff.  Clear and cool.
Roberta, Jennifer, and Macie tubing the river
Macie getting a free ride from Roberta
Girls at the head of the river on their tubes.
Grandpa and Macie
A group selfie.  Great day.
Grandpa and his girls tubing the river.
Jennifer, Macie, and Lily at Crayola Experience in Orlando
Roberta and her high school friend Carmen.
40 years since they've seen each other. 
Lily and Macie enjoying the ocean at Cape Canaveral, FL.
Bruce went to Minnesota to spend time with his parents (Glenn and Angie).
Unconditional love for these two.
Bruce took his mom out to lunch while visiting angels
came in to take care of dad.
Bruce and his brother Glenn.  "My best friend".
Bruce's dad - Glenn Sr.  Love this guy a lot.