Baseball, Books, and Buildings

BASEBALL

Monday night we went to the Rockies vs. Braves game at Coors Field.  The stadium is super cool, very modern.  It sits on 76 acres, so it's a pretty BIG offensive ballpark!   Andrew danced the whole time, while Drew spouted stats, and I laughed and snapped photos.

 We got to "the house that beer built" about an hour early so we could check everything out and enjoy a good hot dog!

We had great seats at the Mile High Stadium!

 I took this for Mimi, she wanted a shot of her boys chowing down on some ballpark dogs!

 Fun Fact:  A ball travels 9 percent farther at 5,280 feet than at sea level.  It's estimated that a home run hit 400 feet in sea-level Yankee Stadium would travel about 408 feet in Atlanta and as far as 440 feet in the Mile High City! 

 Fun Fact #2:  The thinner air at this altitude also has an influence on pitching.  Curve balls will be a little less snappy, and fastballs will get about an extra six inches of giddy-up due to the decrease in resistance the thinner air provides.

BOOKS

Tuesday night after a prime rib dinner at The Keg Steakhouse in Denver's LoDo district we walked over the the Tattered Cover Bookstore in the historic Mercantile Building.  Besides the Rocky Mountain Nation Park this was my second favorite place in Denver.  I love old buildings and I love old bookstores!  This bookstore is quaint and cozy, full of history and great architecture.  

 Andrew and I found a great spot on the second floor. :)

 

BUILDINGS

 Union Station:  Built in 1881 by architect A. Taylor of Kansas City

In it's heyday it served six different railroads and 80 trains a day.

 This building was built in 1903 as a cold storage warehouse for Beatrice Creamery. 

Wings Over the Rockies

Air & Space Museum

Since we bought our Cessna and his Daddy became a pilot, Andrew is pretty obsessed with all things the fly.  Birds, airplanes, rockets, jets, kites, Big Chill, you name it if its soaring through the air Andrew has 100 questions about it.  And Drew is the exact same way, our coffee table is covered in flight magazines that Drew reads and Andrew looks at and cuts pictures of planes out of.  So far we've taken Andrew to the Southern Museum of Flight in Birmingham, the National Naval Aviation Museum in Pensacola, and now to the Wings Over the Rockies Air & Space Museum.  My boys were in hog heaven!  Andrew wanted a picture with everything...especially anything that had a missile, bomb, or gun attached to it! :)

More than anything else the sensation is one of perfect peace mingled with an excitement that strains every nerve to the utmost, if you can conceive of such a combination.  ~Wilbur Wright

The Mile High City

Denver in July is amazing!  I recommend all of the snow bunnies out there to make a trip to the Rockies during the summer.  While the snow covered Rockies may take your breathe away, their beauty is no doubt covered by the alpine snow.

We took the early, direct flight out of New Orleans at 6:45am and we were in Denver by 9:30 mountain time.  So we headed off in our rented Charger to find some grub on the infamous 16th street downtown.  We came across this little jewel of a diner, which had been featured on Food Network's Diners Drive-Ins and Dives:  Sam's #3. 

I got, The Naked French Canadian Swiss Melt:  two scrambled eggs with Swiss cheese & Canadian bacon, inside two pieces of French toast.  It was yummy for my tummy!  Andrew of course ordered Pan-Pan-Doody!  Which is what his Mimi calls French Toast.

Next we did a little shopping and site seeing on 16th Street!

(Mom, I didn't get a very good picture of the cow.  But that's one of those "ugly cows" that you collect, except life size!  I think Dad should get you one for the yard!)

We were pretty worn out from traveling so after dinner at the Rock Bottom Brewery we headed for bed at the Westin.

The next morning we were up bright and early headed to the Rocky Mountain National Park.  All I can say is God is amazing and the Rockies are truly one of his masterpieces.  The pictures speak for themselves!

The drive

Andrew and I loved feeding the chipmunks!

This chunky fella was our favorite, he had about 20 peanuts stuffed in his cheeks!

It was a comfortable 83 degrees at the bottom of the mountains.

Andrew was a little nervous walking on the ledge.

I love this picture, my family is such a handsome crew. :)

My love!

The snow melt was rushing down the sides of the mountains.

"It's freezing!  I mean it is snow water."

I know right....

At the highest point on Trail Ridge Road we were about 12,300 ft above sea level!  It was a wonderful 55 degrees and hard to breathe!

We stopped beside a beautiful alpine lake for a picnic lunch.

Drew and Andrew pretty much freaked out at this point!

The elk were beautiful and SO close.

My boys standing on the Continental Divide.

Andrew told the man who took our picture, "I'll never forget this, but just in case we need a picture."  There are some things you just know you're doing right when your son says something like that. :)

I don't think any of us will forget this trip, it was an awesome experience and I'm so blessed we got to share it together!