Kansas Trip-Day 2 (special surprise)

Monday was a hang-out and enjoy some family and friends kind-of day. I worked out with my "pain train partner". I used to work out with her twice a week, but since I moved to Boston I've been working out solo. It was good to have the company/laughs while sweating. But then after lunch I started getting a series of texts from Jake. He was scheduled to fly into Big Sky, Montana for a conference but due to snow (read BLIZZARD) his flight was canceled and he got rerouted to Wichita, Kansas. So our vacation, had a surprise addition... Jake got to spend the week with us! Can this week get ANY BETTER?

Kansas Trip-Day 1 (Travel Day)

Hanging out in Memphis Airport.

Allie on her old trike. She later went to her big bike.

Owen got on his bike, like he'd never been without it. We will have to buy the kids new BIGGER bikes when we return.

Last Sunday, the kids and I flew to Wichita, KS. Owen had a week off of school, so we decided to go home and visit our family and friends. I was a little nervous about flying with the kids (by myself). The flights were uneventful. There was a lay-over in Memphis, we ate lunch. We landed back in OZ at 3:30. My sister picked us up and we met my dad at Red Robin for some dinner. Then we dropped the kids off at home with dad and my in-laws (they are staying this whole week at a hotel). Jen and I went to Target to stock up on just about EVERYTHING! When we returned, the kids were in the driveway riding their bikes. The kids and I were very tired from our day of traveling, so we went to bed (in our OWN beds) and got some much needed rest. All in all, a great day to the start of a fabulous vacation.

FOUR!!!

That's right! In 4 months, we will be back in Kansas FOR GOOD! I have so many posts to get up from the last week or so... but all I can think of is 4 MORE MONTHS! We had a WONDERFUL trip back to Wichita, keep your eyes on the blog for photos and more.

FOUR!!!

Anticipation

(This picture is from 2003 trip to Smithsonian)

Have you ever had one of those weeks, where NOTHING special happens. It's slow and steady, everything is running smooth. Well, we've had a week like that (which is good before our trip next week). There was NOTHING to post, until yesterday (teddy bears, ice show, good behavior) but they'll have to wait! I had an idea of what to post today and NOTHING is going to get in my way. Here is the post.

TOMORROW!!! Tomorrow, the kids and I will be catching a plane and flying to Wichita, Kansas. We will be there for an entire week. We are so EXCITED! We've been packed for about 3-4 days. I'm a little nervous about traveling with the kids alone, but more anxious to get there and see family and friends. It will be a BUSY week, but a fun one! I won't be able to post any of the events of the visit until I get back. But get ready for a long series of posts starting in March!!! Until then, I will end with a quote from a favorite movie.

"There's no place like home. There's no place like home. There's no place like HOME!" (I'm clicking my heels together.)

Where does she get it?

My daughter is a bit of a "girlie-girl". Today she went shopping and got a nail spa set. She BEGGED me to let her paint her "own" nails. I told her that after bath, she could give it a shot. This is a picture I took of her. She has already painted the toes. One foot is drying in the nail dryer and she is painting the nails on one of her hands. Where does she get this? I don't paint my nails. In fact, my last pedicure was in July. Yet, as I type this, she is applying polish like a pro. She must have the "diva" gene.

She's got PERSONALITY

My beautiful daughter has developed her OWN personality. She likes the girlie things... make-up, dresses, dolls, etc. But she can handle herself! Since she's turn 4, she's shown us exactly who she is and who she will grow up to be. This is a video clip I took at lunch yesterday. She's working on "writing" a story and in annoyed with me bugging her with the camera. She's got PERSONALITY!

Ski Trip Vermont-Day 3

Monday was ski day! We got up and bundled and hit the mountain.

This is Allie's "ski face".

This is Owen's "ski face".

The kids were dropped off at their Mini Bear ski class.

They got fitted for ski boots. They both thought they were cool.

Sean (our snow board instructor) and Jake

Owen (in black) and Allie (waving) practicing on 1 ski.

Owen and daddy working on going down the declines.

My Snow Crew

Allie and Owen relaxing after a BIG day of activity.

Jake caught on to snow boarding, me... not so much! The kids really liked skiing and NO ONE got hurt. We are thinking of taking the kids skiing more often when we return to Kansas. It was a good day on the mountain.

Ski Trip Vermont-Day 2

I mentioned that we stopped for the night in Montpelier, VT due to some serious snow. What was really cool about this snow storm, was after we went to bed we heard/saw loud thunder/lighting! During a snow storm, WEIRD! We did get some good and much needed sleep after it stopped. We woke up and loaded up the car to continue our trip.

This is the capital building in the daylight.

This was a cool theater across from our hotel.

After leaving Montpelier, we drove to Stowe, VT. If you know me, you know that I am currently wishing to win the HGTV Dream Home (it is in Stowe, VT). We didn't find it, but I can tell you this, we LOVE the town of Stowe. We found a bagel place for breakfast before heading to the Ben & Jerry's Factory. (aka: HEAVEN)

The breakfast place. Catchy name!

The sign from the road.

The snow was covering half of this sign.

Do we look HUNGRY?

Choices, choices, choices.

A picture of us sampling some ice cream after the factory tour. YUMMY!

We had to go buy some more ice cream!

You'd buy ice cream that had these faces on it, right?

On the road, to Sugarbush.

We stopped at this (house) Green Cup Cafe for lunch.

The kids got new ski masks for the trip.

Strike a pose.

He's got MAD ninja skills.

We made it to the ski lodge and had an "experience" at this pizza place for dinner. All I can say, is after all we had been through, we were READY for some outside activity. But that will come on the next post. :)

Ski Trip Vermont-Day 1

On Saturday, we got up and hit the road. Our destination, Sugarbush Ski Resort near Warren, VT. I will say this, they get A LOT of snow but it is so BEAUTIFUL! These mountains are very different from what I'm used to in Colorado.

This was our view as we were driving through New Hampshire.

Yep, Boo-Boo Bear made this trip.

Owen, playing on his DSi.

Just look at the view!!!

I couldn't believe the signs. MOOSE CROSSING?

We stopped in Hanover, NH for lunch and gas. Here is a shot of Dartmouth College.

We loved the name of this place.

Here is where we ate lunch. It was AWESOME!!!

Now this is when our wonderful journey starts to take some unexpected turns. It turns out that there are 2 highway 12a. Who knew? Well, we took the wrong one and drove 45 minutes in the opposite direction we wanted to go. However, (me the eternal optimist) saw some amazing covered bridges. Check out exhibit A.

Exhibit A

So we turn around and get back on the right road. But shortly after crossing the Vermont state line, it started snowing these HUGE snowflakes. At first, we thought, "WOW! This is really beautiful." Then it turned to, "WOW! I think we just entered a blizzard!" Not really knowing the area we stopped and asked (a few) locals what they suggested we do. So we drove, SLOWLY, into Montpelier, VT for the night. We ate at a nice pizza place and found the last hotel room. Apparently, we weren't the ONLY crazy people out driving in this weather.

View of the BLIZZARD!

Montpelier, VT Capital Building across from our hotel.

My tired crew.

And this concludes our Day 1.

First Time, for EVERYONE!

Tomorrow morning we are loading up the car and driving to Sugarbush Ski Resort near Warren, VT. The kids are signed up for a beginner's ski lesson and the adults (big kids) are signed up for a beginner's snow board lesson. Hopefully, nobody gets hurt and we all have a fun time. There are several small towns near where we are staying. So we will be visiting Burlington and Stowe as well. We won't be back until Tuesday, so the posts from our trip will have to wait until Wednesday. Pray for NO BROKEN BONES!

It's ON!

There's no turning back now! I have officially registered for the Chicago Marathon (October 9). I have my training schedule mapped out on my calendar, booked our flight and made reservations at the race HQ hotel. Jake has already asked off for the days around the race. We plan on making a big weekend of it. I've never been to Chicago and we have a friend who lives there. I know I'll be running 26.2 miles (my first marathon!) and I have 6 months of training ahead of me (during a Kansas summer!), but I am REALLY EXCITED!!! My first goal is to just finish the race (without needing medical assistance at the finish) and my second goal is to have a BLAST! I'll keep my training status updated for all my family and friends to enjoy.