ROCKY MOUNTAIN NATIONAL PARK

 We had a fun day exploring Rocky Mountain National Park.  When we lived in Fort Collins, this was our go to place and I forgot how Massive and Stunning the mountains are here.  This was August's first time exploring this park.  He was SO excited about riding the bus to the trail head.  

We started our journey hiking back to Emerald Lake!

 The trail and scenery was magnificent the entire way. 

 The trail was super crowded...not by this picture, but it was hard for us to "share."  We typically find places that are less traveled, but today we had to join the RMNP carnival and enjoy the trail with about 300 others.  

 Lilly Lake was a quick stop on our way to Emerald Lake.

 The mountains are so jagged and grand here.  

 Lilly Lake

 The boys.

 August is such an amazing hiker.  We started him young but boy he can climb with his little legs.  

 Thank you to the kind man who offered to take this photo for us.  Rare family shot.

 The colors were changing and were so bright against the dark skies.  

 We were so grateful to be able to see the mountains despite the snowy and rainy weather we had move in.

 My colorful crew.

 Watching these two....my favorite thing to witness.

 I believe they spotted a chipmunk in this photo. 

 Canyon Gregory

 Sawyer John

 August Vernon

 When nature calls and you are a boy....you just drop and go for it regardless of who's watching.  Sawyer trying to block him.

 Dream Lake was another huge lake we hiked by.  

 We missed the hail storm that showed up about an hour before we started hiking but we got to see the aftermath and enjoy some snowfall on our way.

 A great trail system.

 Super wet and cold but thankfully we were well dressed and prepared.

 Those mountains!!

 My Loves.

 His quiet spirit listens to the mountains.  

 Winter Wonderland.

 We made it to Emerald lake and had lunch with the chipmunks.  They are pretty aggressive here since they are well fed. 

 Sawyer

 Emerald Lake

 We were cold by this point so it didn't take long before we decided to head back to the trail head.

 Heading back out.

 This view.

 My climber.  We always find him on a nearby rock:)

 Landscape Crush.

 Color Crush

 After our hike, we made it back to the lower part of the park and searched for elk.  There is one hiding in the grass behind the boys, but hard to see her head.

 Some cows.

 It is always fun to see the herds and find the bull that won his ladies.  You can see a few bulls in this photo and the one who got his cows:)

 During our hike to find the elk we got poured on!!!

 We were all so cold by this point that we couldn't wait to get to the truck and head home.

Soaked and happy!  It was a very long day and it took us a long time to get out of the park with backed up traffic but we made it to a coffee shop and met up with a friend of mine I hadn't seen in 7 years.  What a blessing this day was.