Zoo lights!

The call best time of year to go to the zoo is december because they have lights on!

February Video

We just got slammed here in Colorado with tons of snow! 26 inches fell in our part of the Denver Metro Area.

The boys are getting together our photos from 2011 and we will post a huge post in the next two weeks! Enjoy!

Sledding - Icing January 2012

So our new goal is to post a new video every month of our activities! Here is our sledding trip in January 2012! There is a cameo from a friend down the street, Issac!

So we had a blast! One of the funnest things to do in Colorado on a day not safe to hike or drive is to go sledding. If it hasn't snowed in a while then the snow turns to ice. It is quite dangerous so you can see that I made the kids start half way down the hill. They didn't understand why, so I let them go to the top and they soon found out why, "Dad is always right!" All I have to tell them remember Cherry Creek Bike ride. Thats another story that I'll tell another day!

2011 Video

This is a video that we found we never published. It is a day in November 2011!

We sure love making movies. We use Windows Movie Maker. We should keep the sound on for some of the videos I guess. They are just fun with a little music!

Here is Jake and my stop motion animation movie entitled Area 51. Enjoy!

Enjoy! There is one more video in the works! Enjoy this Warm February!

Denver Zoo

We made it to the Denver Zoo this summer...actually we joined! For $70.00 you can become a member. And with a Jr. Veterinarian in our home it was important to donate a little and give back to keep the Denver Zoo looking good.

Check out their website: www.denverzoo.org


This raptor was looking quite American! So we had to capture his majesty!


Great shot of the pacing Cheetah!

General J with the Cheetah in the background!

Captain R had to see his namesake Rhino!

General J and Captain R are singing at the top of their lungs: "I just can't wait to be King!"


We can't wait to go back before it gets too cold! Five Stars!

Startarting Back Up!

So the boys and I have been slacking on our blog posts so here we goooooo! Our first post is out favorite picture of Laynie! So enjoy our picture of Layine during one of our fun Sundays where we many times will dress up and do some Supervisory Visit. See Supervisory Visit Report on the left hand side.

Rock It Baby!
Laynie in Captin R's Buzz Light Year Snuggie, a lai, and her diva glasses!

Georgetown Loop

Georgetown Loop
Georgetown, Colorado

Georgetown Loop Railroad is an old fashion railroad that was purely built to take tourists around the mountains. Very fun hike down to the old mine house. The train is still functioning and for a fee you can ride down to the Georgetown Mine and back. It is only a 45 minute drive from Denver.

This is the Mine House that is just 1/2 mile down the bike path!

This was the view of the railroad from the hike!


This is the railroad engine and cars which are still in good shape.

Check this place out! It is a lot of fun! Plus you can hit Beau Jo's Pizza in Idaho Springs on the way back through town.

Georgetown Railroad Loop: http://www.georgetownlooprr.com/
Beau Joes: http://www.beaujos.com/

Aurora Resivoir

Aurora Reservoir
Aurora, Colorado
$10 Entrance Fee

First Catch of the day at Aurora Reservoir

Mr. Jake is taking care of business.

Ryan's hooked our biggest one!

We had a blast at Aurora Reservoir today! Wonderful place to come and fish. It was a little windy, but we showed up in our flip flops for some relaxing fishing! We caught four fish in three hours. Had a blast! Daily pass is $10.00 or a season pass for 55.00 for resident and 65.00 for non-residents.

Stay tuned! Hiking the Y is on its way!

We will be posting next week about our hike up to the Y in Provo, UT!

Garden of the Gods

A little piece of heaven!

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Location:

This park is located in Colorado Springs. The address is 1805 N 30th Street (at Gateway Rd.) Colorado Springs, CO 80904.

From I-25:
Take Exit #146 (Garden of the Gods Road)
Go West (towards the mountains) for 2.5 miles
Turn Left onto 30th Street
The Visitor & Nature Center will be on the left (a little over a mile)

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Park Hours:

May 1 - Oct 31 5am - 11pm

Nov 1 - Apr 31 5am - 9pm

Garden of the Gods Visitor & Nature Center is open from 9 am to 5 pm in the winter months and 8 am to 8 pm Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend. Both the Park and Visitor Center are Free and open to the public.

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Our Experience:

This was an all day trip for our home in southeast Aurora. We arrived in the morning when it was nice and cool and braved the heat and took a hike that went all over the park. Beware of snakes. We said yah yah, but quickly found out that snakes are real. There are several marked hikes. we spent about four hours doing a hike and then went to the visitor center where we were able to watch a great video about the formation of the red rocks which has some really cool interaction.

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Crew Reviews:

Ry Ry : Four Stars (4/5) - I liked it but they need more kid's activities. We needed to be able to climb on all of the rocks.

Jacob : Five Stars (5/5) - I was tall enough to be able to climb on the kid rock. I loved this place.

Dad : Four Stars (4/5) - I enjoyed this park. I think that more climbing activities for the kids would be great. I know that this is a city park and not a state park. Bonus that it is free. Great time! Research the hikes in the area before you go.

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Website:

http://www.gardenofthegods.com/

Come Close and Touch Colorado's Past

Dinosaur Ridge

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Overview:

Dinosaur Ridge is a set of small mountains where many dinousaur tracks and bones have been found. There are many ways to get around Dinosaur Ridge (bike, car or on foot). We suggest that you get some good shoes on and a camelback or a good backpack full of water bottles and set out on foot. Sunscreen is a must. Not too many places for shade on these little mountains. There are two different hikes you can make during this adventure. One of the hikes starts at the visitor center and goes up and over the Morrison Formaiton. The second and our facorite hike on the mountain is the one that goes to the top! It is the Dakota Ridge trail!

Favorites:

Dinosaur tracks all over the side of the mountain. We saw petrified dino bones in the rocks. We also saw a portion of the mountain that the researchers think that Dinosaurs sunk into the mud as they walked along the banks of Lake Bonneville. Great geology site to see. We also were able to learn about oil wells in the Denver area. We went when it was high school day so they had volunteers out to help explain a lot of what is out there.

Directions:

The address is 16831 W. Alameda PkwyMorrison, CO 80465. You take the same exit as Red Rocks Ampitheatre (Where Johnny Cash once performed!). Turn on Alemeda Parkway to your left and you are now entering into Dinosaur Ridge. Have Fun.
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Reviews:

Ry Ry: Five Stars. This trip was so cooooool!

Jacob: Five Stars. I loved the Hike! I loved the dinosaur tracks!

Dad: Four Stars. I needed more shade and more water!
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Website:

http://www.dinoridge.org/
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Photos!!!!!!!!

We're at the Top! Don't look down!

Dinosaur Ridge

Dino Bones in the Rock!

Uncle Sam Dino @ Store Area/Visitor's Center

Our Hike to the top of the Formation!

The Rest of the Formation

Tragedy Strikes!

Overall we had great day! We got home just in time for dinner, bath and early bed. We all needed it!

See next post of Garden of the Gods!!

Getting Started - Many Things to Do in Colorado

This blog is the fun things the Stohl Boys do during the summer. I want to give y'all some ideas of fun activities. Hopefully this will be a fun exprience. I will update the blog when we do things or when I hear of cool things to do in the area. I am going to start to archive things we have already done. Some those will be Dinosaur Ridge, Red Rocks Ampitheatre (the place Johnny Cash sang!), Garden of the Gods and many more! Hope you enjoy this blog and Feel free to commment on these and other places to see.