Happy Monday, everyone! Hope you had a nice weekend!
As I mentioned on Friday, we headed off to my cousin’s wedding this weekend…in Denver! I can’t tell you how many days I sweated the plane ride there – Lincoln’s first – but thank the Lord, the little man slept the entire way. Hallelujah! (I cannot say the same for the return flight…)
The 6:30am take off time on Friday was absolutely brutal but at least he thought it was still time to sleep which saved the day – Â and our sanity.
My parents, older brother and sister-in-law went a few days early so we met them straight from the airport at one of our favorite Denver breakfast joints – Snooze. My little brother, who lives in Denver, sent Ben and me there a few years ago and no trip would be complete without a visit. This place is insane.
I mean, any restaurant that offers pancake flights is definitely worth a try!
That’s right, pancake flights. I stuffed myself with a Carrot Cake Pancake, Pineapple Upside Down Pancake, and a Cinnamon Roll Pancake, then jittered out the door. Totally worth it. The Pineapple Upside Down Pancake (center) is hands down one of the best things I’ve ever eaten.
Ben enjoyed Snooze’s Corned Beef Hash, his usual, along with a signature Bloody and side of baby. Multitasking at it’s finest. Ay yi yi!
Afterwards we walked off our breakfast with a cruise along downtown Denver’s 16th Street Mall, and reunited with our Larimer Square Bear. Reunited and it feels so go-ood! I can’t even begin to explain this.
It was a gorgeous, 60ish degree afternoon so we stopped by Ted’s Montana Grill for a light lunch a little while later. None of us had heard anything about the place but their outdoor patio looked fun and fresh.
And it was!
We snacked on Teds’ complimentary, bottomless “half sours”, aka cucumbers that are lightly pickled but really salty (and really good) with some cold drinks.
Soon enough our entrees arrived. My Ted’s chopped salad was just ok, but Ben’s “Canyon Creek” burger – a bison patty with cheddar, bacon, fried jalapenos, an over-easy egg, and blackberry jam was outstanding. Think I’m going to recreate it for you later this week. That good!
The wedding rehearsal followed later that evening then we were back out eating breakfast early the next morning at Sam’s No. 3! (Recycled pic.) Denver is FULL of amazing restaurants, many of which we’ve tried, but it’s hard to resist going back to our favorites, which definitely includes Sam’s.
The same Snooze crowd was in attendance plus my cousin Jason and his wife Ellen whom we love catching up with!
Lincoln did great…until our food arrived, naturally. (Who, me?!) ; )
Breakfast quesadillas were scarfed at record speed, but omg they were just as delicious as last time. Bacon, eggs, and cheese smothered in Sam’s No. 3’s famous green chili. The chili that’s so good I made a copycat recipe!
Ben also got the same thing as last time, a Colorado Burrito, but unlike last time he did not finish it all. The same cannot be said for my brother who did…and suffered.
The wedding was later that evening, so we all stopped by a local bar to watch the Iowa game after breakfast (hey, it’s always 5:00 on vacation!) then my Mom and I decided we couldn’t come to Colorado without seeing the mountains so we drove about 25 minutes outside of the city to walk around Golden for a bit!
Ben and I toured the Coors brewery in Golden several years ago, but at the time had just driven by the historic “main street”. Oh my gosh, it is so cute. Very wild, wild, west-feeling. Makes you feel like you stepped back in time for a bit. Wouldn’t that be cool? : )
I say it every time I visit Colorado – I could so move here. So, so beautiful.
Sigh!
A sign advertising gourmet pupusas (squee!) almost made us stop for a bite, but we had a wedding to attend so we put Golden in our rearview mirror and Denver in our sights.
Pausing for a little photo shoot on the balcony of my parent’s 14th floor hotel room at the Warwick Hotel. The place was really nice!!
Great views of the city, within walking distance to the 16th street mall, and close to lots of bars and restaurants. I would definitely return.
The main event, my cousin Elyse’s wedding, was held at the nearby History Colorado Center. So pretty at night.
Ben and I sat in the back during the ceremony to make a quick exit with Lincoln if need be, but we got a perfect view of my cousin and Brett on the way in as fiancees, and out as husband and wife. These two were made for each other!
Afterwards, while the couple were taking photos in the atrium, the family got to chit chat for a bit before the start of the reception which was just in an adjoining room. LOVE when wedding ceremonies and receptions are held in the same place.
Most of my cousins, with the exception of Elyse and her family who live in Colorado, live in Ohio and the chance to get together is very few and far between. Lindsay and I are the same age and despite not growing up anywhere near each other, it is shocking how alike we are. Mannerisms, the sound of our voice – everything!
Family photo opp! Can I just tell you that Lincoln was wearing a collared plaid onesie and I almost died he was so cute?!
Brett and Elyse met at Barnes & Noble so the reception decor was all book themed. So cute and clever.
Plus there were bags of candy at each table. They really didn’t need anything else beyond that, if you ask me! ; )
Dinner was catered by the center’s restaurant and everyone agreed it was one of the best wedding meals we’ve ever had.
Thick and rich mashed potatoes, a super sweet corn and squash medley, and really rare roast beef (my favorite) was all on point. My plate was piled ridiculously (rocky mountain) high. ; )
The little dude was tuckered out and we needed to leave before cake (traveling with a 3 month old was challenging, but I sort of feel like if we survived that, I can do anything now!) but we did manage to cheers to the happy couple. Although our 48 hours in Denver went insanely fast, it was full of fun and, most importantly, family time!
Speaking of family – my littler brother had to be back home to be in a friend’s wedding while we were in Denver. Horrible timing! The silver lining was that our flights matched up in such a way that we got to see each other as we arrived/departed and swapped cars for the weekend. I’ll take it! (Nice photo bomb, Ben!)
Well guys, that’s what we were up to this weekend! I hope you had a good one yourself, and have a wonderful week!
My husband and I are deciding if we should take our 3.5 month old on “vacation” with us to Tuscan, AR in the spring (baby is born end of November. We have been talking about how it will not be an overly relaxing vacation but when baby is awake and good, it will be fun to have the baby together. And his parents will be there for a little help. Hard thinking about leaving a baby behind. I know you like to travel so I started looking around your sight to see when you started traveling with yours. Looks like your Lincoln’s first plane ride and trip would be about the same age as our soon to be little one. Lucky for us we have a lot of time to decide. I just dont know if I can go without our baby, so I am trying to decide if it is even an option. Your post helped me to see other people making the trips with their 3 month olds and that it is possible. Thanks!
lovely family trip
Your baby is so cute
Love this type of post
Looks like fun! We are flying with our infant for the first time in a couple weeks and I remembered this post and wanted to ask you… What was your flight back from Denver like? You said Lincoln didn’t sleep… Did it go OK? Thanks!
Hi Gail! I saw Alex ask this question on Facebook and I was going to respond then got pulled away from the computer!
He slept about halfway through the return flight and we just distracted him with toys/books/funny faces/a bottle for the remainder of the flight. The bottle is what distracted him the most so just make sure you have plenty of milk with you (if you’re not comfortable nursing in public or if you’re not nursing.) You can take it right through security. I hope this helps – good luck!!! :)
Sounds great, thank you! :) So nervous for our first flight so gathering all the pointers we can!
[…] me taking turns eating dinner at my cousin’s wedding to tend to our screaming infant when we traveled to Denver a few months ago, that I actually said “we are never doing this again.” […]
Whenever The Bachelor is on, a group of girlfriends and I get together to watch every Monday night, and there is almost always a meal made from something on your site. We live in Denver and will totally be your friends if you ever end up moving here. Also, check out this awesome thing Snooze did for us last week: http://jennystockton.com/blog/2013/11/19/thanksgiving-party-success
Lincoln is just so cute, as everyone else has noted…I lobe all of these photos. I thought the one of Ben and Lincoln was the best, until I saw the one of you and Lincoln and you. I have to say though, my favorite is the one of Dad sipping his bloody, and Lincoln drinking his bottle. A prize winner for sure….thanks
Loved this post! You visited my favorite breakfast restaurant, Snooze, and my hometown- Golden. It’s great to see the pictures of home, like Lookout Mtn. with the School of Mines “M” on it, the sign welcoming you to Golden, Clear Creek, etc. Glad you had a great time! Beatuiful looking wedding, too!
next time in Denver yall should give Osteria Marco a try. its on Larimer near the 16th Street Mall. DELICIOUS Italian food, super nice but still family-friendly, and greatly priced
I’ve been reading your blog for about a year now. I’m an Iowa girl relocated to Evergreen, CO. I enjoy your posts about visiting Colorado because I feel that way ALL THE TIME. In fact, I had to go on the 4th of July hike you posted about previously. WHAT A GREAT HIKE!!! Your family is adorable, and I love your recipes. Thanks!
[…] when I told you about the burger Ben had at Ted’s Montana Grill last week in Denver? True to my word, I made it at home this week and ohmygosh, it is so good! I didn’t realize […]
My family and I were in the Denver airport Friday morning too! In the restroom (awkward) I saw you taking care of your little one who was crying and fussing! There was a lot of commotion going on and you were just as calm as could be! So awesome for a brand new mom-you are doing great!
Oh my gosh it was so sad – the hand dryers scared him so bad!!
Oh! Bless his heart! It was crazy busy in there!
Yeah!! I live in the heart of Denver. Love it and will never leave. You ate at some of my favorite places! So happy to hear you enjoy Denver. :)