Colorado Vacation 2016

August 1-6

We had planned on taking Mollie to the beach this year…. But as summer was coming to a close we were, as always, exhausted and tired of traveling.  The beach seemed too far away and too expensive.  We’ll go next summer.

So, for the last 11 years my dad has been asking Nate to go to the mountains with him, and my Papa, brothers and nephews.  This year, Nate decided to go for it and Mollie and I tagged along.  We camped with Dad a couple days and then stayed in Colorado for a couple days just us.

We decided to drive through the night and just get there.  It was so dark when we got there, we couldn’t find the camp site and there was no cell service to get help, so we slept in the jeep.  It was a memory-making start.  It wasn’t the best sleep, but it was fun…. and we enjoyed being cold!

Dad found us the next morning and our mountain adventures started.  We camped in Pitkin, CO and drove all around, every pass there was.  I couldn’t believe Mollie was ok with all the bumpiness, but she was just perfect…. hanging in there all day, riding in the ranger with Uncle Brian, Papa Bill, Landry and me.  Papa and Brendan were in the razer, and Nate and Tommy were on 4-wheelers.  It was quite the journey to two different continental divides and Mirror Lake, but I loved being with my girl and all my favorite guys.  Plus the mountains were beautiful… we weren’t used to seeing them with no snow.  It was a lot of fun!

After we left the fam… we ventured to Colorado Springs.  We spent a lot of time in the hotel pool.  That seemed to be all Mollie wanted to do, but that was ok.  Chill time was great!  We checked out the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo.  It was our favorite zoo ever!  We fed the giraffes, walked with the kangaroos and found out I was terrified of ski lifts when there is a bear cage underneath you instead of nice fluffy snow.

We also went downtown for some ice cream and souvenir shopping.  It was awesome!  We definitely want to go back sometime and check out some other places.

Then we drove back home with our happy girl!  I am so blessed with my sweet little family.  Love spending this sweet time together!

Christmas 2015

First, we celebrated at Grandmamma’s and Granddaddy’s house with a very windy hayride, the Christmas story, presents, and fun with cousins.  This was also the day Kristen and Landon told us they were expecting baby #3!

Next, we stayed the night at Grandma and Papa’s house, and went to church with them the next morning.  Grandma always loves to have all her kids and grandkids at church with her on Christmas.  Mollie was a little sleepy but really enjoyed seeing her best friend, Hope, at Union Hill!

Then, after lunch we got to open more presents and play with more cousins (and their new puppy)!

Then for Christmas, we were home, just the three of us!  It was a perfect morning opening presents and playing.  We also made a rainbow birthday cake for Jesus!

And, last…. We went down to Texas to Mamaw and Papaw’s.  It was a little different this year, with Papaw recuperating from knee surgery in the nursing home.  But, the whole family got to celebrate with him there and then go on to their house.  It was also a lot of fun to give Mamaw the new TV Nate worked so hard to get.  She loved it!