Lame cow = Cool town name

So I've been slacking a little on the whole blogging thing lately, but a few weeks ago Grandma and Grandpa E. made a trip out here to visit. They will be heading out on a one year mission for the LDS church next week and wanted to see the kids before they left. We always love when they come out and visit us. As a special treat this visit, Polly taught Josh how to make her delicious homemade bread. Yum.

While they were here the main activities were going up the canyon, showing them our property, and taking them to Cripple Creek. While there we rode the Cripple Creek/Victor Railroad. It was a short little train ride (45 min) but it was packed with fascinating info. For example, did you know that they have pulled over 3 billion dollars of gold out of the mountains of Cripple Creek, or that they think there is so much gold there because it is the top of an ancient volcano that when it exploded it brought up all the gold and silver? Who knew? Also Cripple Creek got its name when an old farmer once commented on how this stream running through his property was a "cripple creek" due to his cows getting hurt while crossing it. Folks liked the sound of it so much, it stuck. Funny the things you find out when you take the time.

Sophie so excited to ride the train.

This is Anaconda, a small town just a few miles away from Cripple Creek. Once this little place was a booming gold town, but after a fire went threw in the early 1900's all that is left is a few buildings. In the background you can see the still-active pit gold mine.