Vacation - part 1

We just returned from a nearly 2 week whirlwind trip through NM and Colorado.  While we were gone, we were informed of the big rains in Flagstaff to find out that our house had some minor flooding.  Fortunately, we have great friends and family who were able to help us out with moving furniture, taking up the carpet and drying things out.  By the time we came home, most of everything was dry though the kitchen floor will need to be replaced some day.  Thanks to everyone!

Well, let's go in chronological order of our trip.  First, we headed from Flagstaff to Albuquerque, NM where we stayed with some friends (house #1).  They have a girl a bit older than Kale'a and a boy a bit younger than Titus.  The girls enjoyed dress up and tea parties while Titus enjoyed gadgets.  They have a great garden where kids decided they like cherry tomatoes after all.  Dinner was scrumptiously healthy and yummy, complete with burgers of grass-fed cows!

We stopped at a park for lunch on the way to CO.  The driver is not particularly intimidating.

Up early, we headed for Colorado Springs which took most of the day.  I kept thinking about Louis Lamour books and the cowboys who herded cows across that land.  Sounds romantic, but as Caleb reminded me, must have been very boring day after day on rocky, prairie grass with nary a tree in sight and the mountains in the far distance.  Days when they probably wished the Ipods were invented.

House #2 friends have 2 foster kids - a boy a few years older and girl about 7 months older than T.  The kids ran amuck and had lots of fun chasing and screaming.  Our friends kindly gave up their master bedroom which has a California King bed - one that Caleb can actually fit in!  In the morning (my birthday) we went to the local zoo which not only has great animals but is on the hillside with a great view of the city!  The kids thoroughly enjoyed it and crashed as soon as we got back in the car.  We went straight to another friends house for a few hours (they have 3 kids) where Kale'a learned how to drive a battery operated tractor!  There was also an outside playhouse where K immediately started making the other kids play house.  :)  That evening we went to ITZ Pizza that had an Italian (mostly pizza) buffet.  I like buffets when I'm pregnant as my cravings change. :)  When we got back to the house our friends had made a delicious Ghiradelli brownie with a hint of orange - yum!  It was a great fun filled birthday!

On a walk at Garden of the Gods when we first arrived in CO Springs.

Handsome Daddy in his element. :)

K freaked out but T enjoyed feeding the giraffes.

Her first time on a merry-go-round.  Scary at first but she finished the ride.