We took our first official family vacation this week! We have, of course, taken many vacations but they've always been planned around school breaks. This last week we used the first of Jonathan's accumulated "vacation days" and flew down to Colorado to spend a week with family and friends. We were reminded just how much we LOVE Colorado (and the people there, of course). Sometimes I think life would be so much less complicated if we'd just stayed here all along and then wouldn't feel torn by loving two places so much. As soon as I start thinking that way, though, I kick myself because our years in CO were some of the best of our lives. I wouldn't trade them for anything, even if it means feeling like two places are home.
Clara turned four months during the trip and I must say, 3-4 months has been my favorite baby stage so far! She is laughing, talking, rolling over, grabbing for toys and checking out the world around her with gusto:)! She was even a champ on both flights. She nursed and slept both times and I was so thankful!
We have so many pics to post, so I thought I'd organize by day:). Here goes...
Tuesday
*We spent Tuesday evening with Jonathan's great aunt & uncle, second cousins Nancy & John + cousin Greg & Sarah. We had a yummy dinner & great time spent together.
Clara with her great great Aunt Marj
Wednesday
*We spent a family day in the mountains! We ate breakfast at our favorite spot in Breckenridge, Daylight Donuts, then strolled through downtown, took a 3 mile hike near Frisco (our home for four months during Jono's Vail clinical) and then spent the afternoon at the outlet malls (trouble!!). On the way back to Denver we swung by Evergreen HS volleyball practice to visit Katie and the girls. Many of my JV ladies from two years back are now on varsity. After practice we had a late night dinner at my aunt Gayle's. She is a fabulous cook so it's always a treat!
Thursday
*We visited my grandma at her nursing home and went out for a lunch at a nearby Mexican restaurant with her and my grandpa Don. My grandma is suffering from Alzheimer's and although she wasn't quite sure about Clara (I kept saying "this is your first great-grandchild!"), she sure loved her! Then we headed up to Evergreen to see teachers at Bergen and the Roth girls (I spent two summers nannying for them).
Friday
*After a leisurely morning out to breakfast, we met up with Hayley and the girls (Grace & Bella) for a trip to the zoo. Clara was awake for about 10 minutes and we captured one picture with the giraffe before she snoozed. Maybe next time she'll know she's at the zoo:). Grace on the other hand loved all the animals and asked lots of questions. It made me excited to take Clara back someday!
*That evening we had dinner at my Cousin Barry and his wife, Alyssa's, house before hitting up a Rockies game. They won in the bottom of the 8th = great game! Their little girl, Kendyl, is just a month and a half older than Clara and it was so sweet seeing them together. We had quite the photo shoot with them on the couch together. Except for Kendyl's hand on Clara's knee, I'm not sure they were aware of one another's existence!
Saturday
*We saw our good friends, Shane & Stephanie, for breakfast. Since we moved they bought a sweet house in NW Denver. That afternoon we saw Andrea & her new place too! It's a cute little condo in Colorado Springs (oops, no pic)
Sunday
*We spent the day in Estes Park...shopping, 7 mile hike, dinner with lots of family!
Monday
*We spent a relaxing Labor Day with Ed & Hayley and the girls before heading to my aunt & uncle's for a BBQ.
So this post may have been a bit much. Nothing quite like a play by play:). It was the only way I could think to organize the madness. We are now officially in the swing of FALL. Jono's working. I'm coaching volleyball (more on that later) and loving spending time with our little girl! Life is good!
