Another trip to Houston

Sadly, I forgot my camera on our last trip to Houston.  I took some pictures with my phone and thanks to my friend Jennifer, have some from our trip down to Galveston but the trip mostly went without pictoral documentation.  :/

We stayed at Embassy Suites in Dallas on the way down and there was a big Mary Kay conference going on.  Ezra and Judith couldn't resist this throne under the arch of pink balloons.

The Houston Zoo gives a great military discount so we took our niece Armani to see the dinosaur exhibit.  It was miserably hot, but the dinosaurs WERE pretty cool.

This picture turned out even more awesome than I had hoped!  Watch out, Armani!  Hee, hee. 

We hit the mall one day...

and Mike and always try to take advantage of the free child care.  This night we attempted to ignore the Olympics while indulging in creamy goodness at The Cheesecake Factory.

Of course, now that we live so far from the ocean, we HAVE to go to the beach when we're visiting Houston-- even if it is Galveston with less-than-pristine water.  

Our friends the Bass family joined us for a romp in the waves.  Lily's first time at the beach was a huge success!

Ezra had a blast too!



Me and my water babies.

After, a very enjoyable day at the beach we had DELICIOUS dinner at Casey's.

On the way home we stopped in Capulin at the Volcano National Monument.  These were actually taken on our walk inside the crater.

Ezra at the top of the volcano.

We also enjoyed seeing a lot of Mike's cousins at a reunion (no pics--boo).  A long drive, but we had a pretty relaxing vacation.  It's always good to be back in Texas!

Aspen, CO

Last Saturday we didn't have anything going on, so we thought we'd head to the mountains.  We decided upon Aspen.  It's about 3 hours away and we thought it would be a nice drive for a day trip (or so I thought--as it turned out, Mike had different plans all along).

I am a planner, and I think Mike wanted to test my spontaneity.  I think I did pretty well (I maintained my sanity and did not even demand we purchase overnight toiletries).  After an hour or two the kids started asking when we were going to arrive at our hotel (they have this traveling thing down pretty well).  I said we weren't going to a hotel, but Mike was more noncommittal.  Then as we were driving through the harrowing Independence Pass, Mike nonchalantly mused, "This would be scary to drive back down at night...maybe we should see if we can find a room in Aspen." 

This is a picture of the kids (and bear) at our hotel.

We headed over to Snowmass.  A less ritzy (and more financially accessible) village just about 10 minutes away.  We checked into a room and then walked over to where we could ride a gondola for free.  It was a very short trip, but really fun for the kids who had never done anything like that. (Ezra doesn't remember the one we rode in Garmisch, Germany when he was 6 months old, ha ha.)

We walked around town a bit, sat in a giant chair,

watched a giant fire,

got some cuddles from a giant bear at Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory,

and dug in the dirt for dinosaur bones at the Snowmass Discovery Center. (Mike looks annoyed by my picture taking.  The look was intentional.  I can't imagine why...)

Then we stopped by a grocery store for some incidentals (diapers) and headed to Aspen for a bite to eat.  We ate at a ribs place that also had a handy bear for a photo op.  

Back in the room with no jammies or toothbrushes (thank the good Lord we DID bring Judith's "Dolly" and Jonas' "Woof-Woof") we climbed into bed in various states of undress.

The next day we headed to the Maroon Bells--the most photographed peaks in North America.  They did not disappoint.

Poor Judith was not feeling well.  We knew this before we left and did bring a thermometer and some Motrin for her.  She'd been running a fever for a few days but was fine after the meds took the fever down.  Sunday was really her worst day however, with very little energy.  :(

Ezra in front of the beaver dam.



You can't really see behind them, but there was a pretty creek rushing through there down to the lake.  Such fake smiles!  Looks like they're in pain.

Judith in an Aspen (with an untied shoe--not that it mattered...she was being carried the whole time anyway).

Forever climbing on rocks.  "See rock, must climb."

On our way to Aspen, we got out here and didn't even make it the quarter mile to the look-out before it started pouring rain.  We hightailed our soggy rears back to the car and headed down the road.  Sunday we were able to stay dry. :)

You might notice our clothes are the same in every picutre.  Argh.  I'm hoping the sweaters on and off shots are enough to vary it.  :)

It was really a beautiful drive.  I can't wait to go again in the fall when the leaves are changing!

Growing Butterflies

Nana sent Jonas a butterfly kit for his birthday.  We ordered the caterpillars and they came in a "Live Animals" box.  They ate the food that was in their shipping cup for about 7 days and they got bigger and bigger.  It was fun to measure them each day.

Then they climbed up to the top, hung upside down and made a chrysalis.  We moved them from the little cup they were shipped in, to the butterfly habitat.  There they hung for about 7 days. 

 

All 5 of our caterpillars emerged from their coccoons!  Since they came out at different times over 2 or 3 days, we never got to see one emerge.  I missed one by minutes, but got to see its teeny-tiny wings before they plumped up.

Jonas liked to feed them (sugar water squirted on some flowers from the yard).  He kept wanting to pet them. 

We kept them in their habitat inside the house for a day or two, then we decided to release them.  This was Jonas' favorite part by far.

Super fun!  I'm sure we will do it again some time.

4th of July

We took it easy on the 4th this year.  Since there was a serious fire ban in Colorado Springs, there were no fireworks to buy and even the community shows (one we had considered attending at the Air Force Academy) were canceled.  So we had to seek out the nearest place to see fireworks in Colorado.  Afterall, what is the 4th of July without fireworks, right?

We did, however, wear our 4th of July shirts all day.  This was taken in the morning out in the back yard. 

About 5pm we drove south to Pueblo.  We got some street eats and had dinner on the lawn by the river and enjoyed the live music.

With Jonas' allergies, about the only thing he could eat was MEAT.  One giant turkey leg for the boy.

The kids eating supper and listening to the band.

We had some time to kill in between finishing dinner and when it got dark enough for fireworks.

Ice cream is always a good time-filler.

And some wrestling.

Finally, the fireworks set to the music from the local symphany orchestra. 

Tech. Sgt. Allison!

Man, June has been a busy month for us.  A retirement party, 2 weddings, 2 birthdays, several trips to the zoo, Pikes Peak, a devastating fire (not for us personally, but for our community), and a PROMOTION!

 The boys enjoyed "punching" Daddy's new stripes on. 

Mike with his fellow promotees.

These are some bigger "boys" getting their hits in.

So proud of our Tech. Sergeant!