I turned 30!

I had a wonderful birthday this year. The entire week around my birthday as wonderful. Four close friends planned a baby celebration for me at the Rise and it was a perfect evening. I was incredibly touched by their thoughtfulness and it was great getting some quality girl time in before the baby comes. My friend Brooke decorated our table with vases of pink peonies that we each got to take home and Jami, Brooke, Erin and Carin each gave me one of their favorite picture books for the baby. We talked away the evening until the restaurant closed. My actual birthday was lovely too. Norah and Alice were both so excited for me that they came in my room as soon as they woke up to say Happy birthday. Norah put one of her Tiara’s on my head since I was the birthday girl and they both spent the day drawing pictures for me and taping them to my door. The three of us had a great time making a cake together and celebrated when Bryan got home from work.

The rest of our week in Colorado

After coming back from the Rockies Bryan telecommuted to work while the girls and I enjoyed some fun outings with Grandpa and Grandma. We got a glimpse of what Grandpa has been up to in retirement   Grandma spent a lot of time playing and crafting with the girlsWe took the girls for a short walk and some playground time at Aurora Reservoir. When they saw kids playing on the beach they couldn’t resist joining in. I didn’t have any swimsuits or extra clothes on hand and I complained that we were going to have to put them back in the car soaking wet but my dad promised they’d be dry by the time we walked back the car. He was right! I can’t believe how arid Colorado is compared to Texas. They were truly soaked and after just 10 minutes in the sun they were completely dry.

We spent our last day in Colorado at the zoo with Grandpa and Grandma and Ashley and Matt’s family Andrew, Alice and I all took naps at Ashley’s house while Matt, Bryan and Dean cut branches off a tree in their backyard and Norah and Louis played in the sandbox. You can see a glimpse of the pretty garden boxes Matt built.

Garden of the Gods

Alice was a little too fearless and really gave Grandma a work out So strong for such a baby face

RMNP and Garden of the Gods Flashback

Bryan and I hadn’t visited Rocky Mountain NP or Garden of the Gods since 2007. I wasn’t blogging back then and since I use this blog to back up of my photos so I’m going to indulge in posting photos of our younger, better looking selves.

Rocky Mountain NP  I still have the same pair of Chaco's but Bryan is on his 2nd pair and I think also his 2nd Ithaca is Gorges shirt. . . Garden of the Gods / Colorado Springs Grays Peak

Rocky Mountain National Park

Looking at beaver dams and the beaver lodgeNorah led the way on our second hike and kept a fast pace – Louis amazingly kept up on foot until the way back! Alice conked out in the back pack and slept.

It’s fun to stay at the YMCA

My mom planned a weekend getaway for our family up in the Rockies and we had a wonderful time. We stayed in the Speargrass Cabin at the YMCA of the Rockies and enjoyed a spectacular view And a nice big fireplace The cousins (except Baby Andrew) loved getting to sleep in the same room together and doing important cabin chores like stick hunting together So that they could roast marshmallows together         which resulted in them all needing a bathAndrew has a very very strong preference for his mama but he did let Grandma Lorraine snuggle him to sleep – which is why she looks so triumphant in this picture We saw wild turkeys around the cabin, both on the ground and up in the treesWe also celebrated Norah’s 5th birthdayand saw more wild turkeys  And enjoyed the YMCA craft center and indoor pool when it was rainy