3 month pictures

One Wednesday when Drew was at school McKinley and I went to have her picture made. She did a great job but got tired at the end as you can see...

Colorado Trip - Day 7-10

Day 7

Our mission for this day was to take a family picture. It wasn't easy. Not all of us are feeling our prettiest these days but we were determined to get a picture with all 4 of us suitable for framing. We had given Grandma Ruth a picture last time we came to the condo with the siblings and we wanted to do the same for this trip. I won't put all the pictures here - there were some pretty awful ones but here are the two we can stand.

After our picture session we had some lunch at Smokin Moe's and then tried to do a little shopping. Drew found a toy store and ran out with 2 toys when Jared told him we weren't going to buy them. I had a talk with him and he thought he could go back in and be nice in order to find 1 toy. After we had a repeat of the above (and a elderly man told me I was teachin' 'em young to shoplift...ugh!) we decided it was nap time!

A good nap put our little guy in a much better mood and he spend the rest of the evening enjoying Mr. Potato Head and the playground. Spaghetti and french bread for dinner and packing our bags finished off the day.

Day 8

We packed up the car and headed off to Denver to visit the zoo. Fun day. A little warm and there were a few stressful moments...finding a place to feed McKinley, Andrew getting hungry and tired, Mom getting hungry and tired (the night before was a little rough with sis) but all in all we had fun.

Drew said the carousel was his favorite

Huh?

Had to throw this one in...what a difference 2 years makes!!! Cutie!

~Success at the gift shop~

We left the zoo about 3pm and headed to Colorado Springs where we planned to stay the night. At 4:30 when we got there both kids were asleep and we decided to keep going. At around 7:30 we stopped in Trinidad and fed McKinley and ate dinner at Wendy's. We debated stopping for the night but honestly we were just ready to be back in Paducah so we kept on. A few hours later we stopped at a rest stop in New Mexico somewhere between Raton and Clayton and feed sister again. Drew was still awake and talking...wish we had taken video of that!! Anyhow, we keep on getting gas in Texline and a restroom break in Amarillo. We finally made it to Paducah about 3am and crawled into bed. Well it wasn't quite that simple but we all eventually went to sleep =)

Day 9 and 10

We all thoroughly enjoyed our time with MawMaw and Popi. We learned all about sunflowers, vultures, the four 6's and triangle ranches, Mr. Hart, Quanah Parker and so much more. We loved watching video from their honeymoon until their youngest was a teenager. Popi said of his 3 daughters "what cute little girls they were and what beautiful women they are" and he was right. It was so fun to watch my mom and her sisters as little ones!!

Mawmaw, Jared and Drew went to feed Spring, the horse and had a big time in "the country." Andrew got to visit the Paducah pool and we all had an excellent dinner at Longhorn Ranch Steakhouse to celebrate my birthday.

Andrew wanted to make sure he was ready to color when he woke up!

Don't ask =)

This morning MawMaw made strawberry shortcake, eggs and biscuits for bfast!! We were sad to leave but after 10 days we were all a little ready to spend the night in our own bed and see our sweet dog Harley. We had to stop once in Wichita Falls on the way home but the drive wasn't too bad.

So here it is Sunday night...loads of laundry to do, two sleeping kids and husband well on his way. I already miss the freedom of a small condo with no washer and dryer or bills stacking up or hot weather or places to be and things to do. I will always be grateful for this trip and the time it allowed me to bond with my family. The ability to play, laugh and talk with my kiddos without anything in the way. I am thankful to Jared for taking the last month off of work and for all that he has done to help me and to make caring for two children seem like a vacation!

I won't lie, part of me dreads the next weeks and all that they will entail but I feel refreshed and rejuvenated. So bring on the swim lessons, dr's appts, potty training (yep that's a whole other blog), p90 (exercise program,) dieting, overtime for J, and so so much more cause that's what life is all about. I just hope to remember to carve out some time to watch my children grow because you know what they say...they are only young once!

Colorado Trip - Day 5 & 6

Day 5

After seeing everything the winter park resort had to offer Andrew was ready to return. So after a lazy morning and some lunch at the condo we headed back to his favorite ride "the red thing that goes up high!"

After getting his ticket he headed to the bounce house.

Next was the Alpine Slide

Waiting their turn

Mom is holding her breath

Whew they made it!

Sis waiting on the boys

Down the mountain

Here is what Drew has to say about the slide

Next was the Leaps and Bounds Bungee. Andrew barely made the 35 lb weight requirement. I think the rocks Jared put in his pockets pushed him over...

Getting the Harness on

Listening to the instructions...or at least trying

Back Flip

All that practice on Gigi's trampoline paid off

Cheering on Brother

On to the human maze

Showing our ticket

Stamping the time. Under 8 minutes and you enter a drawing for a scooter. Pretty sure they didn't come anywhere close to 8 min =)

Jared told Drew "No buddy it's this way" but he protested. When they came to a dead end he told Dad "See Andoo was right!"

Up the stairs for the "Z" stamp (you have to find M A Z E and then your way out)

Small break during a rain shower at the Back Bowl Soup Company for a great sandwich, adult beverages and fun games and colors for Drew.

Back to the Alpine Slide for another ride and we call it a day.

Drew and Daddy headed to the car

Wait Drew didn't want to leave!

I think we wore him out =) It was one of our most expensive days even with a half day ticket for only Jared and Drew but so far it was our favorite! We had some enchiladas for dinner and after baths we all were worn out. Unfortunately, Andrew was not going to sleep. No matter what we tried he wouldn't give up, so we put him in our bed and turned on a movie. I am pretty sure Jared and I fell asleep while he finished the movie!! And that brings me to the morning of

Day 6

And boy did it come early. McKinley has been waking up at 4am but going back to sleep until 8 or so but today she just wasn't comfortable and even though Andrew stayed up late he didn't sleep in either. So Jared and I both had 2 cups of coffee and we were still slow moving! But after lunch we headed into Denver to Water World. We got there right in time for our half day ticket (not a bad deal at half price.) It was cloudy and a little cooler than the weatherman told us but it turned out to be okay. Jared and Drew enjoyed the smaller wave pool and the water "playground" while sister and I did a little people watching. Then we swapped and Drew and I went to the lazy river and sister got grumpy for Dad =) Since McKinley was hungry I took her to the car while Dad and brother enjoyed another kids area and then took a shower to clean up for the ride home. Not a lot of pictures for this day we had our hands pretty full. To be honest we had fun but I don't think we will be taking him to a water park again anytime soon. There wasn't a whole lot for him to do and the things he could do are similar to the Flower Mound CAC. But maybe our day was clouded by a trip and fall onto the arm of a chair that resulted in a double bloody nose...poor kid!

But we finished the day off well at our favorite restaurant

What a day! At least we got him in bed at a decent hour tonight, not sure if sister is going to be as easy...