A Just-the-Two-of-Us Getaway to the Mountains

I've mentioned in a few posts lately that Chris and I have finally realized just how important it is to put our marriage before so many other things in our life that suck our time.  After God, it's the priority.  Though our kids are little, our marriage still has to take priority.  That doesn't mean we ignore the kids when they need us; it simply means we carve out time regularly to make marriage a priority.  And sometimes with little kids, we have to adjust our plans.  Sometimes we don't have the money for a babysitter, but we plan a date night at home that is different than the time we'd normally spend together in the evening.  And we adjust our budget to find ways to get out for dates even if it's to take a walk just the two of us.  Sometimes we plan a date night out and someone gets sick.  But we plan another one.   And sometimes it means we leave the kids (with responsible people we trust obviously) entirely and get a break.  

This little trip up to the mountains was our third time celebrating our 9th anniversary.  I used to feel bad even going out at all if we were asking our parents to watch the kids.  I always felt like I was inconveniencing them.  But this year, something finally clicked.  I can't do it all.  It's humbling, but also freeing to admit that I need a break sometimes.  Desperately.  

 

And in my musings, I realized that we should have been making time for little trips and dates out regularly.   We should have found a way, made a way much sooner than we did. When you are already on the point of burn-out and you are drowning in tiredness and stress, you need more than just a life preserver. You need the Coast Guard.  One short trip or a date almost feels worthless at that point.  

I don't mean to sound ungrateful.
On the contrary, I'm so grateful for the people in our lives who have offered to watch our kids for us or said yes to our pleas for a night out.
Without them we would have drowned months ago, years ago even.

 

In the last year, Chris and I have made a huge effort to get out of the house regularly.  

We started up a mens/womens Bible study group with some friends of ours.  The guys meet once a month and the girls meet once a month.  We laugh, we cry (ok, probably the guys don't), we share.  And sometimes we have family parties to celebrate feast days too.  We are so grateful for these friendships.  

 

We joined a couples group at our parish.  There are 6 couples and we meet once a month to read and discuss the following Sunday's gospel together with a priest from our parish.  We share our hearts and our experiences and yes, even our struggles.  So grateful for these friendships.  

 

We make an effort to ask some of our friends if we can watch their kids so they can get out.  Not because we want them to feel pressured to do the same for us, but because we know how hard it can be to ask for help when you really need it and because we know and value making marriage a priority.  We know that if you have good friends in your court who want to help you out, it can make all the difference in your marriage when you are going through a rough patch.  Our rule of thumb is to pray for the Holy Spirit to lead, and then we just listen to our friends, and often read between the lines to know when they could use a night out and offer that to them.  

We've been blessed with some family members who have visited from out of town (we don't live near any family) and offered to watch the kids so we can have a date night and so many times it's been an answer to prayer.  Often it's just what we needed in the midst of a tiring phase of parenthood where you feel a little guilty leaving little ones behind but desperately need to feel like a  wife or a husband once in awhile and not just a housekeeper, provider, cook, nursemaid etc. 

One thing we have a REALLY hard time asking for is an OVERNIGHT trip.  Asking anyone to watch any number of kids overnight is daunting, but FIVE?  One of them who happens to be a baby??  Sounds like an impossibility in some ways.  

Fortunately my parents are able and with some asking (it may have been considered more pleading because of the desperation that I'm sure was present in my voice), they agreed to watch the kids for a couple nights so Chris and I could take a little trip up to the mountains this fall.  

Exhale.  

We were so excited.  

And nervous.  

And EXCITED!!!

The regular dates we've been trying to plan and budget for have been great- truly.  But we were still in need of some time--a longer chunk of time--away together.  Just the two of us again.  

 

And now I'll finally start telling you what all these pictures are....

We left on a Thursday mid-morning after Chris finished a work meeting.  We took the scenic route up into the mountains and stopped at a brewery along the way.  Breweries aren't my favorite, but if there is one thing I've learned in marriage, it is to find and take joy in the things your spouse loves whenever possible.  And my husband loves a tasty craft beer.  So breweries.  

Next we stopped at a trailhead up in Hoosier Pass.  We didn't get a picture by the Continental Divide sign, but we were there.  And the first set of hiking pictures in this post are all from that hike.  We had lovely mountain views, a steady climb upwards, and we spotted a lovely reservoir down below us, maybe two.  

 

After our hike, we ran into some fellow Catholics.  We know because the guy spotted my Theotokos sweatshirt and lost no time in talking to us about the rosary and praying with our family and visiting the gorgeous churches in Europe....you get the idea.  He was 75, I think he said, and he and his wife were just the sweetest couple.  They have started a camp for kids with autism and are working on some options for adults with autism.  Keep their ministry in your prayers.  

 

Our next stop was Breckenridge.  We got in and settled into our little condo and then walked down the main street to look around.  We found a cute place with some lovely happy hour deals (and delicious apps), and then headed to THE Breckenridge Brewery for dinner.  After our hike, we were both ready for a meaty sandwich, and we were both very pleased with our choices.  

An added bonus was watching the sun set over the mountains right out the window as we ate. 

(see pictures above- they're the ones with the lamp post)

We had a lovely evening just hanging out and relaxing 

(I realized I don't even know how to do that anymore!!)

The following morning we made breakfast and then headed to the Mohawk Lakes Trailhead just outside of town.  The hike was listed as moderate, but with the recent snow they'd received in the mountains, the trail was much more difficult than we'd originally anticipated.  The ice slowed us down a lot and covered the trail entirely for a good deal of the hike.  There were places that the climb was easier because the ice had melted, but as we passed the first lake, we were once again hiking in snow and ice.  

Chris was thoroughly impressed with that footprint above with the ice frozen treadmarks.  

But despite the snow and ice, we really enjoyed the hike.  Breathtaking views.  And it was so quiet.  I enjoy our family hikes immensely (except when the kids are whining incessantly), but it is a whole different experience of the beauty surrounding you when you are out there as a couple and have the ability to really take it all in.   

 

We noticed all sorts of things--obvious and less so.  Markings on the rocks (not manmade either! Crazy, right?).  Ruins from old cabins from miners years ago.  And even an old cabin that is still seeing a little use as a shelter for campers.  It was a bit of a shambles, but would still beat sleeping out in the cold anyway.  And the icicles hanging off the roof reminded me of a Little House book. 

 

At one point we heard a moose, but it was further into the woods, so we didn't get a glimpse.  And no, I don't know moose calls, but my amazing hubby recognized it.  Go figure.  The man knows everything.  

We took in the gorgeous views and trekked further and further up the mountain.  

Many places were a winter wonderland. 

 

These pictures are from the first lake.  It was fairly shallow and totally clear.  And it was still so cold that a good deal of it was iced over.  

 

 

Look at that hunk.  My hero. 

We hiked further and reached a second lake.  This one was clear and blue, but you could tell it was quite deep.  And the wind was blowing like crazy making it quite cold.  We did snag some lovely pictures, but we didn't stay to contemplate there as long as we had at the first lake.  Too chilly.  

             

 

The way back down was a little faster until the pure ice section.  That slowed us down again and just before we got out of the section Chris stepped on some black ice and got another war wound and a bit of a blow to the ego as well.  

 

 

 

And we made it back to the trailhead.  

We headed back to our rental and had a "happy hour" in.  Snacks and a drink before getting cleaned up proper and heading out for another dinner date.  

On the way out the door, Chris got painted.  Apparently they painted the doors in the complex but there were no signs anywhere!  So we accidentally ruined their new paint job and Chris had to go back inside to wash off the paint.  

 

I made Chris take some pictures with me.  

And we checked out Engine #9

(It literally just dawned on me that we were there celebrating NINE years.  How perfect)

 

He was a pretty good sport, but we were both pretty hungry....

Next stop was a fantastic meal.  I had a drink they called a Colorado Columbine, I think.  It was delish.  As was everything we ate there.  

Which reminds me of another thing I'm finally learning in marriage.  It's ok so spend anniversary gifts on you and actually have a nice dinner.  So we did.  Again.  Thanks, parents and grandma for your generous gifts this year.  We went ahead and spoiled ourselves for year #9.  

 

Chris played guitar back at the rental.  

Yeah, he caught me taking pictures.  

 

It snowed in the town of Breckenridge overnight on our final night there.  Just an inch or two, but it was lovely and our drive out that morning was a beautiful one.  

 

On the way home, we made one more pitstop.  Another brewery and this iconic waterwheel in Idaho Springs.  The brewery was about a quarter mile from the waterwheel so it was perfect.  

It was so good to relax and recharge together.  It was so fun to adventure together.  

We're better together.  :)

And then it was time to head back home to our little ones and all their excited squeals and hugs.  I love getting time away just the two of us.  We need it.  I also love the homecoming.  The smiles and bear hugs and excited chatter is a beautiful end to a wonderful 'holiday'.  

Thanks again, Mom and Dad, for taking such good care of our precious little ones.  We love you.