Austin has really wanted to fly on an airplane for so long. Shantel and I really really wanted a chance to take him. We were considering it around the time COVID hit and that obviously put a stop to it. With things improving on COVID we were talking about it again and figured out the perfect thing. Bruce moved into his new house in early July and Austin said if he could go anywhere it would be to Colorado to visit Uncle Bruce. We took Lydia when she was 6 to visit Bruce in New York and so this was perfect. We found good prices on plane tickets and we have been so excited to go. When we were out there Shantel and I were talking and determined that this was the first time we had gone anywhere with just Austin since he was born. We go individually with just him, but not with both Shantel and I. There were so many highlights on the trip, but the biggest was just that one on one time with Austin to listen to him and talk with him and see how much fun he was having.
We had a really early flight on Friday morning. We dropped the other kids off at Jenna's house Thursday night and then woke up around 4 am to get to the airport for our flight.
Austin loved being able to see our plane and watch everything happening at the airport. He was really happy and content the whole trip with anything going on. Although he definitely had his favorite things.
As we got on the plane the pilot was standing there and we mentioned that it was his first time flying and they let him go and set in the cockpit and look around and touch some of the things. It was so cool (there's a great video of it). Austin loved the airplane ride. He was so excited to be right in the middle of the clouds and he loved looking out the window. He also loved that he could slide the window open and closed.
Bruce had to work on Friday morning and we had a tour scheduled for 10:30. So we decided to take trax downtown so we could see downtown and then catch a bus out to the Hammonds Candy Factory. It was cool because across the whole trip we took so many different kinds of transportation: Airplane, Tram (underground train), trax train, bus, shuttle bus, car and train.
Shantel found the candy factory tour and knew it would be the perfect thing for Austin who loves most of all 1) Candy and 2) machines. It was amazing to go see both. Hammonds Candies is one of the oldest candy factories and still hand makes all of their candy. It was incredible to see them work. They were making lollipops and it was so cool to see the process. Austin loved it and was glued to the glass watching everything. He had saved about $15 for vacation and when we got to the store he spent most of that on a variety of candies and was so happy.
We went to McDonalds and got Austin a hamburger after while we waited for Bruce. He came and picked us up. Austin was really excited to go back to see how house, but we told him we would go back later.
We went to visit Garden of the Gods. It was so interesting because it was the deep red rock like you were in southern Utah, but it just sticks out of this forest landscape. It was amazing and so nice to get outside and climb around on the rocks. Austin fully embraced it and was climbing everywhere.
When we got to Bruce's house that night Austin was so eager to explore and see everything. His favorite thing was definitely his huge 75 inch TV. We watched Raya and the Last Dragon which is Austin's favorite movie right now.
Bruce also had prepared a special room for Austin and had a cool voice activated lamp that made Austin so happy.
The next day we went to Cog's railroad which is a train that climbs to the top of Pikes Peak. It climbs at an average grade of 16% which a normal train can't do, but it has special cogs so it can. We loved this so much because the train had big open windows so it really felt like you were out in the forest. There were so many beautiful vistas and views as we climbed the mountain. At the peak we got to look out over the vista.
Austin working on some puzzles on the ride back down.
We did dinner and games that night and then the next day we had to had to the airport. We were so grateful to Bruce for hosting us.
One of my favorite moments of the whole trip was on the way back to the airport. Shantel and Austin started playing a little game in the back and were giggling and laughing so hard.
Austin is bright and fun. We loved every moment those few days spending time with him and listening to his thoughts. It is so fun to hear him tell others about what he got to go and see and so. As I mentioned, our very favorite thing was spending that time with Austin. It was also nice to see Bruce and spend time with him.
