Madsen vacation

 Our first vacation of the year! ❤️

We spent 3 days with Tyler Madsen family, making memories and enjoying some much-needed time together.

Day 1 was our adventure on the historic train from Durango to Silverton, Colorado. We spent about 3.5 hours on the train each way, with 2 hours to explore the beautiful little mountain town of Silverton before heading back to Durango.

It made for a very long day—about 7 hours on the train—but the views were incredible and the experience was one we'll always remember. The kids did amazing, and it was fun to slow down, take in the scenery, and enjoy the journey together.

As much fun as we had, there were definitely people missing. We missed having Makenzie, Braxton, Ashleigh, and Jackson with us. Family vacations are never quite the same when not everyone can be there, and there were many moments when we wished we could have shared them with all of our kids.

Still, we are grateful for the memories made, the time together, and the chance to enjoy this beautiful adventure. Thank you Jay Madsen for the fun trip. 

#weareonatrain #findingthehappypart

Day 2 of our family vacation was packed with adventure and history!

We spent the day exploring Mesa Verde National Park and took two incredible tours: Balcony House and Cliff Palace.

Balcony House definitely pushed us out of our comfort zones! We climbed a 32-foot ladder, crawled through a tiny tunnel, and made our way up a steep cliff face using stone steps and ladders. It was challenging at times, but also so much fun. The kids were amazing, and we all felt pretty accomplished by the end!

We also toured Cliff Palace, the largest known cliff dwelling in North America. Walking through a place that was once home to over 100 people was incredible. It's hard to imagine how the Ancestral Pueblo people built these amazing structures into the cliffs over 700 years ago.

One of our favorite parts of the day was learning about the Ancestral Puebloans, who thrived in the region from A.D. 600 to 1300. Seeing their homes up close and hearing their story gave us a whole new appreciation for their ingenuity, resilience, and way of life.

Between the ladders, tunnels, breathtaking views, and fascinating history, Day 2 was one we'll be talking about for a long time. We had such a great time exploring together and making memories as a family.

#findingthehappypart #FamilyFirst #family vacation

Our last full day of vacation took us on one final adventure at Mesa Verde National Park—the Long House tour.

Long House is the second-largest cliff dwelling in Mesa Verde, stretching nearly 300 feet from end to end. As we explored, we saw over 150 rooms, kivas, granaries, a large plaza, and even an active spring. It was amazing to walk through a place that once held such a thriving community and imagine what daily life might have been like centuries ago.

Getting there was an adventure of its own, with a steep staircase on the way down and two 15-foot ladders to climb along the tour. After all of our Mesa Verde adventures, we were starting to feel like ladder-climbing experts!

One of the things we loved most about visiting Mesa Verde was learning about the Ancestral Pueblo people and seeing firsthand the incredible homes and communities they built into the cliffs. Their ingenuity, craftsmanship, and resilience are truly remarkable.

We also had so much fun at the Airbnb—just relaxing, hanging out together, and enjoying the slower moments in between all of our adventures.

It was the perfect way to wrap up our vacation—spending time together, learning something new, and creating memories that will last a lifetime. ❤️🏜️🪜 #findingthehappypart #familyvacation