Parent's Weekend at USAFA, 2016...

Chris and I flew to Colorado Sept. 1 to be with Brandon for his very last Parent's Weekend at the USAF Academy.  We spent 7 days galavanting around Colorado Springs, Manitou Springs, Denver, and few other cities in Brandon's dirty, but cute, jeep…

We saw some beautiful sights just walking around…Colorado is a beautiful state..

Brandon took us to some of his favorite places to eat…if you are ever in Colorado Springs, the Skirted Heifer is a must visit...BEST BURGERS EVER!! ( and the local root beer and was amazing too!) 

Brandon and I enjoyed syrup shots at Cracker Barrel…the lady at the table next to us wanted to know what we were drinking…she wasn't happy when she was told syrup…I think she wanted something with a bit more punch :)

 We found a new favorite place to visit…the cupcakery :)…mmmmmm!

 On Friday, we attended the Parent's weekend Parade…the campus has such a beautiful setting...

 …this is a favorite event of mine…I love watching all the parents find their cadets and reunite with them after months of not seeing them…I also love finding my cadet :)

For the rest of that day, we toured the campus…had lunch with Brandon's squad at a BBQ…went to an informational gathering in the math dept. (Brandon is an applied Mathematics Major)…and toured Brandon's dormitory….

 On Brandon's floor of the dorm there is a "Guess which baby is which cadet" bulletin board…can you find my Brando?

On Saturday, we attended a tailgate BBQ, and the USAFA football game… 

This is one of Brandon's best friends, Brett…he and Brandon are waiting to hear if they will be given a pilot slot from the Academy…they are supposed to find out Sept. 15...

Brandon got this email shortly before our visit…

I will keep you all posted...

I love going to the USAFA football games…they are so much fun!!

And…USAFA kicked some booty!!

On Saturday, we headed to Denver to go to a Rockies vs Diamondbacks baseball game…

but stopped at Glazed and Confused first, for some amazing donuts...

 Chris bought tickets for the perfect seats...we relaxed in the shade for the entire game...

 On Monday, we visited a friend of mine that is now living in Denver.  Brianne's sister Shannon is one of my best friends…and her brother Clinton is an FBI agent...when Joshua was a baby he named Brianne "Bibio"…even though she is now married with a beautiful baby girl, and another on the way, she will always be Bibio to me :)  It was so good to see her!!

 After our visit, we headed to the Denver Museum of Science and Natural History...

Chris had us climbing and posing everywhere so that he could get the perfect picture...

 We were amazed to learn that there is a dinosaur named "Oreodonuts"…or at least that's how we pronounced it :)...

After Brandon headed back to the Academy, Chris and I had some time to waste before our flight…so we went and saw some sights.

We went to the Buffalo Bill Museum...This is Buffalo Bill's grave sight…

 Chris had fun in the shop...

 We headed to Dinosaur Ridge…a hiking area where dinosaur bones and footprints have been preserved where they were found so that visitors can hike among them..we actually didn't hike the area…we only went to the museum…we will hike it with the kids in the future :)

We did see the fossilized dinosaur eggs though…truly amazing!!

 My hubba and I had a great vacation…it was so good to spend time with Brandon…he is an amazing young man…we are so incredibly proud of him.