We woke up to our last day and puttered a bit too long around the hotel.  Eventually we got put together enough to drive out to Rocky Mountain National Park.  It was a much further drive than I thought and I got so sick on the way.  Apparently, I have lost the ability to read in the car without having flashbacks of never-ending pregnancy nausea. 

But being the long suffering and humble heroine that I am, I still got some great pictures.

So crisp and clear.  The air here and in so many of the places we went was so much cleaner and fresher than home.  It was glorious.

We stopped at this waterfall for one last climb of the trip.

It was the perfect time to witness the burning gold of the Aspens in Autumn.

And yet more creek play

Brian, John Paul, and Luke made it much higher.

Taking a drink of the ice cold mountain spring water

John Paul found a small piece of silver mica.  He was sure that his cousin Sydney would be impressed.

The huge blue jays kept trying to lunch with us.  

And some elk spotted!

Security and metal detectors to get in

It was held at the Air and Space Museum in a huge airplane hangar.  It was so crowded but it was refreshingl to see that we were among many others who brought children (so we didn't feel like weirdos bringing our kids...or at least, we were in the company of other weirdos).  Unfortunately, we didn't get any of the limited bleacher seating so it was hard for the boys to see anything but legs.  They took turns on Brian's shoulders.

Oh, I know.  Some of you are cringing right now, aren't you?  I have a bit of my crazy eyes going on here.  It was a wee bit chaotic with the four children amidst a sea of people.  Despite the pic, you'll have to trust me when I say we could think of candidates for president we would MUCH prefer to Romney. But we also are convinced that he is the best possible way we can use our vote this election.  Because there is no way Christians can validly support Obama and doing so places their soul in grave danger (there, I said it) and a vote for anyone else is a vote for him and the evil he supports.  And so we support Romney and we hope that his partnering with Paul Ryan means that his presidency will truly work to defend the right to life and religious liberty much much more than the only viable alternative.  The end.

John Elway introduced Romney.

John Paul was really into it.  I absolutely LOVE that he asks questions and cares and was excited.  And I love that we really do explain things to him and help him to think things through and not just tell him what to believe.  (Really.)

The speech was good.  I can't imagine how tired these guys must be while campaigning.

Oh, and we were standing right next to Tom Brokaw and Chuck Todd if that means anything to anyone.

See?

We left quickly seeing that it was already past bedtime and stopped at...wait for it...Chik-Fil-A for dinner.  I know.  How hateful and crazy and right wing is this family going to get???  ;)  And who ends their vacation like this even though it means getting to bed late knowing that you have to wake up at 3 a.m. to get to the airport in time?  And who closes their epic vacation documentation with a political rally and a picture of Tom Brokaw?  

Weirdos, that's who.