Tent- check, Sleeping bags- check, a loaded cooler with delicious food- check
The Hillan family was off to have an amazing adventure at the Colorado Sand Dunes. A chance to unplug, connect with each other, and get dirty. Really dirty.
It was a huge success and was an amazing way to kick off the lazy, no schedule summer. Unanimously everyone voted to go back and do it year after year.
Our top favorite things about this family weekend together:
- I loved being with the family and seeing the kid's excitement when they were able to start the fire without any help from me.
- I did not like hiking to the top of the sand dunes, but I loved it because I got to be with Nathan and Kendall and running down the dunes together with the boys was totally worth the hike up.
- I loved seeing the look of joy on Cardon's face as he was running through the sand and bending down every few steps to scoop some up and throw it in the air.
- I loved the delicious meals that Alisa prepared, all easy and ready to go.
- I loved all of us in the same tent in the night, being together as a family was the best, even though Cardon ended up on the air mattress between Alisa and I. I remember waking up when he put his head on my chest at 2:30a.m. and feeling so grateful for that little boy.
- I loved the talking. Oh, the talking. The little conversations going on in the back seat about how much fun this was going to be and was as we drove 4 hours. The conversations of hopes, dreams, and future plans going on with dad. The little two-year boy laughing, squealing, and jabbering with the feeling of excitement.
- I loved our walk lit by the moon and one star with Nathan and Kendall. Dad was laying next to Cardon to get him to sleep so the bigs and I took advantage and explored the campsite. We could see the beautiful silhouette of the dunes and the flickers of each individual campfire. Again, more talking and laughing.
- I loved playing games with the bigs while Cardon slept. We forgot flashlights and had to use our phones but they illuminated the area and Dad and Nathan played chess while Kendall and I played several rounds of Blitz.
- I loved watching Cardon as we pulled up to the dunes. This little boy was made for the dirt. His eyes were huge and he hit the ground running. He loved to dig and held onto his neon green shovel as if his life depended on it. When the wind would pick up, he would climb into his tent... aka my dress and wait out the storm. He had no fear and would run down the sand as fast as his little legs would go. He was COVERED with sand. I'm pretty sure that he took half the dunes home with him and we washed them down the drain after his bath.
- I loved waking up at 2:30 in the morning and laughing with Justin because our air mattress was flat and had to be blown up again and Cardon was in the middle of us thrashing around. We joked and wanted to go home but it was too far away.
- I loved eating roasted marshmallows with the boys after breakfast.
- I loved taking time to tour the visitors center on our way home with no time restraints.
- I loved sitting in the sand with Dad and watching our three amigos have a blast.
- Hiking up to the top barefooted.
- Running down the dunes and tumbling.
- Playing chess with Dad.
- Eating mom's delicious food.
- Hiking to the top of the sand dunes barefoot and running down barefoot.
- Playing with Dad and Nathan.
- Being there and playing.
- The drive with my family.
- The food and game night.
The food we ate {in case we want to make it again}
Lunch- ham & cheese sandwiches, chips, watermelon
Dinner- Chicken and apple sausages, Mexican street campfire corn, and s'mores
Snacks- cowboy caviar, apples, beef jerky, and sunflower seeds
Breakfast- campfire scramble {eggs, ham, peppers, and hash browns}and roasted marshmallows
Lunch- repeat of the day before
We stopped at Coney Island on the way home in Bailey for vanilla ice cream cones
