Girly Times in Colorado

The Annual Hoffman Girl's Trip returned this year (never to die again!). I originally didn't think I was going to be able to swing it this year (big tears), but then wonderful things happened and it worked out for me to go. And let me tell you, I don't know if a break has ever been more wonderfully timed. We've all been running ourselves into the ground here trying to keep up our breakneck work schedule. This getaway was delightful -  four kid free days, a beautiful location, a break from the grind, good girly activities, AND quality time with some of my favorite ladies in the world. Pretty darn wonderful.

I may or may not have been packed a week in advance- I was a little excited. After more sleep than I usually get the night before an early morning plane ride (turns out it pays to pack early), I got up bright and early to catch my plane. I was out like a light about the time that plane was off the ground and slept the entire time and woke up for the last ten minutes of the flight and chatted with the most delightful couple who shared my row. That's a pretty perfect plane ride, if you ask me. In the Denver airport, I enjoyed a quiet, leisurely breakfast -all. by. myself. :) And then met up with Julie and Kristi and baby Ellie and we began the trek up to Estes Park. Let the girl's trip begin!

Kristi, who is living in Colorado right now, scored us a stay in this beautiful condo in the mountains. (FYI, most of these pictures are Christy's. Just about all of them. :))

There was a funny bit where Julie and I went on a run into town to try and track down cotija cheese for my dinner that evening. I think the people at the Mexican restaurant we ran to thought we were insane tourists. But it was good fun. And we got to run right next to a mostly frozen over mountain river, which was super awesome. All the gang was assembled (from Utah, Arizona, and Indiana) by the evening and we had dinner and stayed up way too late doing what Hoffman women do best - talking our heads off. But I love it. :)

Friday morning, I got to work out with one of my favorite workout buddies (It's been too long, Ju!) and Bob Harper kicked our trash. 

I know I look like I'm really working hard. But I was just giving Julie moral support for a minute. :)

And everyone got ready and headed out for a little shopping in downtown Estes Park.

Although there was no snow (kind of surprising!), it was frigid. So, we all got bundled up:

Baby Ellie

Amy and Abigail

Jen, Mom, Kristi, and Me

And Julie and Abigail

The downtown area was really cute (although some places were burning a little too much incense for our liking... Hello Colorado!)

When the sun went down, it was officially FREEZING, so we stopped into Starbucks for hot chocolate and steamers. I found out on this trip that Kristi and I share the same obsession for Starbucks beverages. Eric has tried throughout our marriage, but just doesn't understand the love. Finally, someone who does! :)

The locals always know the best places to go eat, right? We asked one of the baristas in Starbucks who pointed us towards a yummy Italian restaurant just down the street.

When we got home that night, we tried out the head massagers Jen brought for everyone. And were all laughing pretty hard at how ridiculous we looked.

Jen stayed with me and watched a good girl movie while everyone else took a subzero dip in the hot tub. When everyone was back, a bunch of us sat by the fire and played games and talked and laughed ourselves absolutely silly until about midnight. Definitely one of my favorite parts of the whole trip.

Saturday morning, we woke up to this! 

It was perfect though, because it was enough to be fun and pretty, but it didn't stick to the roads. Couldn't have planned it better.

We lounged around on Saturday morning and waited for a visit from Danny and Jack (who just might be the cutest thing in the world).

And here we shall pause for a little documentation of the babies! Because they are super cute. Ellie and Abigail kept us pretty entertained all weekend.

Jen and Ellie

Danny showing off with Ellie

Abigail's smiles just about killed us

Look at those cute girls

The big happening on Saturday was the old western photo we were determined to get. After lunch we headed back downtown and got in line at the studio. Some of us were more enthusiastic than others at the start, but in the end it turned out to be really fun and completely silly.  

When we got home in the evening, we settled in for some games before dinner.

Amy introduced us all to Spot-it, which is terribly addictive and fun.

Some of us were responsible and did dinner prep...

While others of us were less helpful and played Bang...

And were a little silly...

After dinner, we sat down and worked on the craft Kristi organized for us - this super cute Valentine's wreath.

With a bunch of pleading (that may have bordered on whining) for the already finished "model" wreath, so that I didn't have to go through the torture of trying to be crafty, I was the lucky recepient of Kristi's hard work. :) But if you had seen my attempts to help with the craft Mom was working on, you'd understand. After working on it for about half an hour, we figured out that everything I'd done was backwards. So, I got reassigned to cutting squares and eating double stuff oreos. I'm telling you - me being given the already finished wreath was for the best.

Sunday morning, we were up bright and early and headed back down the mountain. We spent the rest of the day until people's flights left at Kristi and Danny's. We took a driving tour and checked out some of the old houses everyone grew up in and then came back to the house for a yummy lunch and some more games. And then had to say goodbye. Which is always lame.

But here's to a fantastic Girl's Trip 2013! Thanks ladies! Until next year...