I’ve learned to pay careful attention to what it might mean when I wake up with a wrinkle between my eyebrows in the morning. I might call it a frown between them. It doesn’t happen often, but when it does it means I need to break free from the norm planned for the day and do something that might be a little more enjoyable. Today I did just that! 

Sometimes I forget that I live in the same city as this! Garden of the Gods is only about 20 minutes west of my house! This is practically in my backyard and I forget about it? There’s something wrong with that!!

But obviously it is so good for us to make our way over there! Seemingly endless rocks, trails, sidewalks through hills and spires to explore! It never gets old! Each time I do go there, I am amazed as if it were my first time seeing it!

Today was Eli’s first time exploring Balanced Rock. Whether our recent exploring is a walk through the neighborhood or here, at Garden of the Gods, we remember to pack our imaginary maps and binoculars. We periodically remind each other to consult our map and pull it out of our pockets then announce the direction to head in!

Here, at Balanced Rock, Eli picked up a tiny pebble from across the street where this photo was taken and insisted we climb back up under the rock. Once there, he placed the tiny pebble down and declared with much satisfaction, “There! He is with his dad now!”

Aren’t kids the best?

Ah, yes! This is the spring I needed to see today!

We love to go over to the Garden of the Gods Trading Post where the kids can empty a pre-assembled bucket of sand into a  stream of water that unveils beautiful rocks which were planted under the sand!

You see, the whole thing looks like this. Right up there!

I also couldn’t resist this vintage stove that someone left out side the Trading Post. Makes me wonder who used it last and how long ago that was!!

I’ve decided that Garden of the Gods will be my go-to place for when I feel like I want a vacation! You see, I always feel like I’m on vacation when I go there! There are so many tourists there already and so many touristy-friendly items for sale in the trading post that I can’t help but feel like I want to fit in! I even bought this sticker today! To which Chris just laughed and called me a nerd! I know I am! I love this stuff!