A quick trip to Colorado!!

Dad and Cheryl flew to Colorado to see my Grandparents for my Grandma's 80th birthday Easter weekend. Since we're "only" an 8 hour drive from them, we decided to drive over and see everyone! It was so good to be there and I'm so very glad we went! Here's the pictures I managed to take from our adventure.

We stayed the nights we were there with my Aunt and her husband. At first Colton was quite afraid of this cat, but as you can see, he warmed up to it. 

Which one would you rather meet while walking in the woods?

from shoot number two, wearin' one boot and one tennis shoe heeeeeeears Colton!

Time to ride some horses!

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Centered in this picture is my Dads younger sister Therese and to the right saddling the horse is her husband Roger.

Ready to go!

Yeeeee-haw!!

At one point Dad let the horse trot a little bit and chloe's immediate response was "goooood job!" with a giggle of course. :)

Despite what it looks like, Colton was actually enjoying himself... until Grampa turned the horse around and they were heading straight in to the rather cold breeze!

There's my man! Rather cute on a horse I must say!

It was pretty chilly out so we added some layers.

Despite soreness due to a shot i had to get in the.. eh ghem! I did manage to get up on the horse, yay!!

Chloe and Uncle Roger were fast friends!

There's my Gramma!

And there's my Grampa!!

Chloe had a blast with my cousin Stevie! I think it was cause she got right down on the floor with her :)

My Dad, (back row center) with his parents and all but one of his siblings.

There they all are with their spouses... and Chloe and Colton :D

I'm so thankful for each moment we get to spend with my sweet Grandparents and that they get to hold and love on my children!

Chloe had just as much fun with another of my cousins, Sadie. Probably for the same reason. What kid doesn't love horsey rides down on the floor!?

Playing with Grampa's magnets

My Dad's brother Bill loves kids. It took Colton a little bit to warm up to him but a game of peek-a-boo helps!

He finally let Uncle Bill hold him!

Since that day that we were there was also our Anniversary, Dad and Cheryl offered to take the kiddos so we could go out on a date. It was so nice to get out alone! Our first real date since before we moved! Mt cousins recommended this place so we decided to try it out.

The chicken wings were A-MAY-ZIIIIIING!

Here's our meal that we, thankfully we got this to share because it was a LOT of food! (There's two layers of ribs there)

Add a salad to that and you get very full tummies!

Happy Resurrection Sunday!

I just love trees filled with blossoms!!

As Chloe likes to call it, she's got "Monster hair!"

After church Sunday morning we went to my grandparents for lunch and took some time to tour their farm where my Daddy grew up!

Meet Sam, my Grandpa's dog.

This is an irrigation ditch, in the summer it's flowing with water. I used to play in this ditch when I was little.

Learning to trust Daddy

For modesty reasons I didn't take a picture of it, but at one point Chloe noticed that the sprinklers had come on in the yard. Our pretty much always warm daughter reeeeeaaaaally wanted to run in them. So, we took her dress off and let her have at it. Though she's always warm she's also pretty finicky about cold water so I knew she wouldn't last long. The weather was probably in the low 70s with a breeze (Dad told us later the water, well water, was probably 33ish degrees. Yikes!) Chloe picked a sprinkler, the kind that spray out in a moving arc one direction and then go back the other direction. Following as it moved away from her she seemed to feel in control of the amount of water getting on her, pretty much just little specks here and there. All of the sudden the sprinkler turned to rotate back the other way. Chloe, realizing it was coming back at her, turned to run from it but the sprinkler moved just a little faster. Catching her right in that extra sensitive part of her back she experienced the true temperature of the water and, i think, a moment of panic as she realized, not only how cold the water was, but that despite the fact that her little legs were moving as fast as they could go, that freezing cold water was following her!! After a couple seconds she managed to pick up enough speed to get herself out of the line of that icy flow, but it was enough, the shivers promptly set in and a little tiny "mommy... I'm cold" quickly followed. Brian and I couldn't help laughing as she learned one more tiny lesson in life. I saw it coming, knew that I could have called her back, but I didn't. Why? I'm learning as a mother that there's a lot we can't shield our children from. Sometimes they learn the best when they experience discomfort or even pain, I know that water would turn and chase Chloe, I knew it would get her wet and shock the life out of her. But I also knew that in the end she would be OK. She would be more than OK. She would be a little wet, which is what she wanted and she would have a memory and a better understanding of sprinklers to tuck away in her little brain. I guess our Lord knows the same thing about all of us. He knows i learn best when put through a crucible of some sort. And in His great love for us he refrains from shielding us from the uncomfortable, shocking, unexpected and sometimes even painful times in life. 

My Grampa's tractor. He got this from somewhere... (not sure where) and it was a piece of...junk. But after a few replaced parts, a fresh coat of paint and some new John Deer decals it's as good as new! ...or is it better?

Chloe loved riding it!

Learnin' to drive the tractor.

Farmer Brian

My Grandma... oh and me :)

Chloe had to have another ride with Daddy!

Our boy... is definitely all boy. Dirt and rocks are treasures to be discovered and tasted and experienced to the fullest.

...as are tractors!

Colton quickly picked up on the purpose of the steering wheel!

So... my Dad decided I needed to learn how to drive the tractor. I entertained the thought of just being the wife and mom content to watch and take pictures, but in the end I just had to get in on the fun.

It was fun!!

Back in the shop, Colton took one more imaginary ride.

My Dad said these are cottonwood blossoms.

After lunch we wandered through the barns and outbuildings that I grew up playing in whenever we would go visit.

Colton, Grampa and Chloe

Gramma and Colton

Gramma and Chloe

I took this about 5 minutes after we got on the road to head home. I wonder... do you suppose the romp through the farm, run in the sprinklers, rides on the tractor and large lunch had anything to do with it? ;)

On our way back!

That look says... "just get me out of this car"

When we stopped for dinner we found an amazing thing. A cinnabon! Which, as far as I know, doesn't exist in Nebraska. My sweet husband bought one for me! Ahhh! It was so yummy!