The North Pole

This summer, we took a family vacation to Colorado with my entire immediate family. A friend of mine encouraged me to visit a spot called, The North Pole in Colorado Springs. It's a small, Christmas-themed amusement park filled with over two dozen rides for kids of all ages. It was built on the slopes of Pikes Peak in 1956 after an 8 year old girl told a former Walt Disney artist what she believed Santa Claus' home and village looked like. 

Fun fact: In the center of the park stood the "North Pole," which was made of ice and never melts.

Above: this was an enormous slide that swirled around a tower. It was actually one of the kids favorite rides!

Above: Here's a pic of all the cousins together! Ahslynn with Bryson, Kenadee in the middle, and Makylee with Brode.

Annoying fact: these motorcycles had the most irritating horns. Kids... loved it. Adults... hated it! :)

Above: Daddy was brave and went on all the fast, spinning rides with Brode. I can't believe the lack of fear our boys have!

Above: Santa's reindeer!

Above: I'm surprised I got them to pose as many times as I did together! :)

Above: Makylee "Rae" was such a sport and took care of Bryson so he could go on all of the rides!

Above: Here, the kids are waiting for the train ride.

Above: The park also had a Sky Ride, where we could float high above the ground. I have to admit, I was most nervous with this one - the thought of one of my boys falling out scared me to death!!

Above: Here, the kids are posing on Santa's sleigh.

Above: I actually think the kids liked this one a lot too. As "Rusty, Cocoa, Silver, and Trigger" they rode their bucking broncos like professionals!

Above: Secretly, I think this was Andrew's favorite part! He's gotta have his cotton candy... :)