Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Vacation and Staycation
We had a great trip and had some nice, quality time with family in IL and IA. We started the trip with a 12 hr drive (including stops) to see Aunt Sue in Des Moines, IL. We met my cousin Matt and 2 of his kids at All Play (food and arcade). The kids had a great time. I have pictures but haven't scanned them yet. They enjoyed the video games, collecting tickets and most of all the Rock Wall. It was nice to visit over lunch and then have some fun! The next day Aunt Sue came with us to Blank Park Zoo in Des Moines. That was fun but half the park was under construction so we made due with what was available and had a GREAT time! We fed the goats, a llama and a TON of Koi. Lexi and Aunt Sue even rode a camel! Nathan had fun watching all the excitement but didn't really understand this time around. He will enjoy all of this in another 6 months or so. The afternoon after the zoo, Lexi wanted to spend the night with Aunt Sue so we let her. Aunt Sue was thrilled! The next day we all loaded up and headed to the Living History Farms where we learned about farming from the 1800's and 1900's. We walked around and saw a lot of live exhibits and animals. That was the end of our visit with Aunt Sue so we had to say good bye! NEVER EASY!!!
I drove the 3 hrs to Moline, IL where we met my cousin Stephanie for dinner and then went to her house and met her dog and boyfriend. Then it was bedtime so we headed to the hotel for some much needed rest. The next morning we picked up my grandmother and went to see my great aunt Mary. It was so nice to see her again (it had been 13 yrs since I visited last). It makes me sad to think that this might have been the last time that I get to see her. After that, we went to Whitey's for some yummy ice cream and let Lexi play at the park for a bit. Then we headed to my grandma's house where the kids played and we visited while we waited for Aunt Kay to get off work. When she was home, we headed to her house for pizza and fed the ducks in the lake by her house. We also got to meet her husband, Kevin. It was so nice to have a full day to just visit with family. The next day we woke up and headed to Bettendorf to see my cousin Edson and his family. When I saw them last it was him and his soon to be wife and they were pregnant with their first child. They now have 5 children (4 girls and a boy). The kids played while we visited. Lexi LOVES that she as so many cousins and that most of them are girls! After we left there, we headed to dinner at a Hibachi grill with Aunt Kay, my cousin Steph, her brother Jared and his girlfriend Brandi. We had a nice time and Lexi told Jared he had to come home with her. He loves CO so we may just see him again this year! That would be nice! Then our trip comes to a close and it is Friday. We head to an old prairie village where we learn about some more olden days and have a picnic lunch that Liz prepared (so nice of her). After that we head to Buffalo Bill's childhood home and see real buffalo. The kids loved that! It was tough saying good bye, especially for Lexi but I will be sure that she keeps in touch with all her cousins! That night we met Steph and her boyfriend, Marc for dinner and a community carnival. Lexi rode all the rides that she was allowed to and Bill rode some too. He learned that Lexi doesn't need him anymore and I think that made him a little sad. I reminded him that Nathan will need him soon! The next morning we had breakfast and then hit the road. We were going to stop for the night in Nebraska but decided to push on through and with my help, we made it home about 10:30pm. It was a long day but so nice to be back in our own beds.
We took Sunday to relax and then on Monday and Tuesday, Bill and I had dental appointments. We have a few other appointments and obligations to take care of. On Wednesday, it was suppose to rain so we headed to the Denver Children's Museum. That place is SO fun! We explored, built things, painted, imagined and went to a few story times. We can't wait to go back another time. On Thursday we went to the Sunflower Farm. It is here in Longmont and is a working farm that is open and built especially for kids. There is a HUGE tree fort that goes across 4 HUGE trees, tire swings everywhere you turn, an old silo that is now a large sandbox, a zip line made just for the little ones and so much more. Then there are animals everywhere. Some in pens and some roaming free. There are buckets of corn to feed the goats, chickens, and pigs but there are also cows, horses, a donkey, a llama, a pony and sheep. Lastly, there is a craft barn where the kids that attend the summer camp can create and make believe and a camp fire with a ton of seating so that the entire camp can sit around and reflect on their day. I am seriously considering sending Lexi next year! (She has to be 6 yrs old to attend.) After this fun, we headed home to rest a bit and then headed to the zoo for a few hours so that we could beat the traffic downtown to go to the Rockies game. They played the Arizona D-Backs and unfortunately lost. But not for lack of cheering! Lexi was cheering just a loud with her #1 Fan FINGER! She learned "Take me out to the Ballgame" at school and was so proud that she knew all the words at the 7th inning stretch! After a fun filled day, we headed home to get the kiddos in bed. It was a tiring and exciting day! On Friday, we decided to head to Golden to go to the Heritage Square Amusement Park. We rode the 1 hour drive and stopped for lunch. While we were driving my phone had rung in the back of the van and so when we finished lunch at Jack in the Crack, I checked for messages. It was a neighbor that had our dogs. The gardener had shown up without our knowledge of his coming and let the out. I called the man back and he had sent the dogs to the pound. I called them and we decided to stay and go to the amusement park afterall, we just had to be back by 5pm. Well, even though we had a wrench in our plans we were determined to have fun. BUT it wasn't in the cards. We get inside and there it is like a desserted ghost town. I find a lady there that tells me the park doesn't open until the next day! We walk around Heritage Square for a bit and visit a few shops but at that point we decided that we would just get home and get our dogs out of the pound. (It cost $60 by the way, on top of a wasted 1 hr each way trip.) But we had a fresh day on Saturday! It was the day of Jr. Jam. A community event in Fort Collins where kid bands play and there were several community vendors all having something to do with kids. Lexi went on the inflated slide 4 times, bounced in the bouncy house, had her hair braided and played some instruments from a local music instructor. We stopped at Jason's Deli for lunch on the way home and then took it easy the rest of the weekend!
We don't have another vacation planned until the week of Thanksgiving when we will head to California again! I am very excited to see friends and family, it seems like forever (even though I was just there the beginning of March). I miss everyone terribly! Thanks again for reading and hope to see you soon!
I drove the 3 hrs to Moline, IL where we met my cousin Stephanie for dinner and then went to her house and met her dog and boyfriend. Then it was bedtime so we headed to the hotel for some much needed rest. The next morning we picked up my grandmother and went to see my great aunt Mary. It was so nice to see her again (it had been 13 yrs since I visited last). It makes me sad to think that this might have been the last time that I get to see her. After that, we went to Whitey's for some yummy ice cream and let Lexi play at the park for a bit. Then we headed to my grandma's house where the kids played and we visited while we waited for Aunt Kay to get off work. When she was home, we headed to her house for pizza and fed the ducks in the lake by her house. We also got to meet her husband, Kevin. It was so nice to have a full day to just visit with family. The next day we woke up and headed to Bettendorf to see my cousin Edson and his family. When I saw them last it was him and his soon to be wife and they were pregnant with their first child. They now have 5 children (4 girls and a boy). The kids played while we visited. Lexi LOVES that she as so many cousins and that most of them are girls! After we left there, we headed to dinner at a Hibachi grill with Aunt Kay, my cousin Steph, her brother Jared and his girlfriend Brandi. We had a nice time and Lexi told Jared he had to come home with her. He loves CO so we may just see him again this year! That would be nice! Then our trip comes to a close and it is Friday. We head to an old prairie village where we learn about some more olden days and have a picnic lunch that Liz prepared (so nice of her). After that we head to Buffalo Bill's childhood home and see real buffalo. The kids loved that! It was tough saying good bye, especially for Lexi but I will be sure that she keeps in touch with all her cousins! That night we met Steph and her boyfriend, Marc for dinner and a community carnival. Lexi rode all the rides that she was allowed to and Bill rode some too. He learned that Lexi doesn't need him anymore and I think that made him a little sad. I reminded him that Nathan will need him soon! The next morning we had breakfast and then hit the road. We were going to stop for the night in Nebraska but decided to push on through and with my help, we made it home about 10:30pm. It was a long day but so nice to be back in our own beds.
We took Sunday to relax and then on Monday and Tuesday, Bill and I had dental appointments. We have a few other appointments and obligations to take care of. On Wednesday, it was suppose to rain so we headed to the Denver Children's Museum. That place is SO fun! We explored, built things, painted, imagined and went to a few story times. We can't wait to go back another time. On Thursday we went to the Sunflower Farm. It is here in Longmont and is a working farm that is open and built especially for kids. There is a HUGE tree fort that goes across 4 HUGE trees, tire swings everywhere you turn, an old silo that is now a large sandbox, a zip line made just for the little ones and so much more. Then there are animals everywhere. Some in pens and some roaming free. There are buckets of corn to feed the goats, chickens, and pigs but there are also cows, horses, a donkey, a llama, a pony and sheep. Lastly, there is a craft barn where the kids that attend the summer camp can create and make believe and a camp fire with a ton of seating so that the entire camp can sit around and reflect on their day. I am seriously considering sending Lexi next year! (She has to be 6 yrs old to attend.) After this fun, we headed home to rest a bit and then headed to the zoo for a few hours so that we could beat the traffic downtown to go to the Rockies game. They played the Arizona D-Backs and unfortunately lost. But not for lack of cheering! Lexi was cheering just a loud with her #1 Fan FINGER! She learned "Take me out to the Ballgame" at school and was so proud that she knew all the words at the 7th inning stretch! After a fun filled day, we headed home to get the kiddos in bed. It was a tiring and exciting day! On Friday, we decided to head to Golden to go to the Heritage Square Amusement Park. We rode the 1 hour drive and stopped for lunch. While we were driving my phone had rung in the back of the van and so when we finished lunch at Jack in the Crack, I checked for messages. It was a neighbor that had our dogs. The gardener had shown up without our knowledge of his coming and let the out. I called the man back and he had sent the dogs to the pound. I called them and we decided to stay and go to the amusement park afterall, we just had to be back by 5pm. Well, even though we had a wrench in our plans we were determined to have fun. BUT it wasn't in the cards. We get inside and there it is like a desserted ghost town. I find a lady there that tells me the park doesn't open until the next day! We walk around Heritage Square for a bit and visit a few shops but at that point we decided that we would just get home and get our dogs out of the pound. (It cost $60 by the way, on top of a wasted 1 hr each way trip.) But we had a fresh day on Saturday! It was the day of Jr. Jam. A community event in Fort Collins where kid bands play and there were several community vendors all having something to do with kids. Lexi went on the inflated slide 4 times, bounced in the bouncy house, had her hair braided and played some instruments from a local music instructor. We stopped at Jason's Deli for lunch on the way home and then took it easy the rest of the weekend!
We don't have another vacation planned until the week of Thanksgiving when we will head to California again! I am very excited to see friends and family, it seems like forever (even though I was just there the beginning of March). I miss everyone terribly! Thanks again for reading and hope to see you soon!
May Update
We are having fun now! The weather is warming up (for the most part) and we are getting out and doing things. Lexi is still enjoying Karate and we have signed her up for Micro T-Ball too. We are still waiting to hear when her practices will be. I need to know because I want to sign her up for swimming too but can't until I know what our other obligations are. I signed Nathan up for AquaBaby swimming. We start on June 1st. I think he is going to love it. I will post pix when I can. I am in the class too so I will have to get Bill over there on a break one time to take a few pictures. On top of our regular routine, Bill took 2 weeks off. We went to IL and IA to visit my dad's side of the family and had a great time. (A separate post on this to follow shortly.) We also did a week at home where we had some dental appts, met with an insurance guy, went to the Denver Children's Museum, visited Sunflower Farms, the Zoo, saw a Rockies game and went to a kids concert event in Fort Collins. We also tried to visit Golden but it wasn't open yet. We will save that and Estes Park for another day. Lastly, we had our first Tornado Warning on Memorial Day. Lexi was watching her cartoons and all of a sudden it flashed on the screen and it was in our county. I about freaked but Bill got on the computer and saw that it was a few towns over about 30 miles from where we are and it was heading east, away from us. I swear if I had been home alone, I would have just headed to the basement! Thank goodness for my calm hubby!
The kids are great! After 2 weeks home with mommy and daddy, she was ready to go back to school today! She has made friends with the kids behind our house. Finally, some kid friends in the neighborhood. Before now, her only friends were the couple next door that are grandparents. They are sweet but she needed kid friends! Lexi is also a very good Big Sister! She helps whenever asked and plays with him all the time. Although, her idea of playing with him is to take his toys away and play with them herself but we are getting there. For now he doesn't mind, he just loves to watch is big sissy! Nathan is great. He is eating lots of foods now and loves to try and feed himself too. He just doesn't have the pincher grasp down yet. The doctor said that doesn't usually develop until about 9 month and can be later in boys. He is rolling and sitting up. He has a new toy that he loves. It is a race track for babies. He sits and watches it go and has figured out how to make it spin on his own. He makes it spin and then tries to stop it with his hand. It is really cute. He gets up on his hands and knees and rocks but no movement yet. He has 2 bottom teeth coming at about the same time. They are almost there but haven't pushed through just yet.
Well, we will see what June has in store for us. For now, we have the Taste of Fort Collins and the Boulder Jewish Festival in June. And I am starting to make some homemade baby gear. I am going to make blankets, quilts, taggy lovies, burp clothes, bibs, and more... More to follow when I have my first thing made.
The kids are great! After 2 weeks home with mommy and daddy, she was ready to go back to school today! She has made friends with the kids behind our house. Finally, some kid friends in the neighborhood. Before now, her only friends were the couple next door that are grandparents. They are sweet but she needed kid friends! Lexi is also a very good Big Sister! She helps whenever asked and plays with him all the time. Although, her idea of playing with him is to take his toys away and play with them herself but we are getting there. For now he doesn't mind, he just loves to watch is big sissy! Nathan is great. He is eating lots of foods now and loves to try and feed himself too. He just doesn't have the pincher grasp down yet. The doctor said that doesn't usually develop until about 9 month and can be later in boys. He is rolling and sitting up. He has a new toy that he loves. It is a race track for babies. He sits and watches it go and has figured out how to make it spin on his own. He makes it spin and then tries to stop it with his hand. It is really cute. He gets up on his hands and knees and rocks but no movement yet. He has 2 bottom teeth coming at about the same time. They are almost there but haven't pushed through just yet.
Well, we will see what June has in store for us. For now, we have the Taste of Fort Collins and the Boulder Jewish Festival in June. And I am starting to make some homemade baby gear. I am going to make blankets, quilts, taggy lovies, burp clothes, bibs, and more... More to follow when I have my first thing made.
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