Adventurous week!

My parents drove out to see us for a week at the beginning of October. It was a fun week which brought us heat and freezing cold conditions at the same time. Colorado is just Bipolar, it's too bad the weather can't take a pill to make it happy. :p

 They got in Sunday night after the kids went to bed, but Monday was like a huge party. Like most grandparents Nana and Opa came bearing gifts! They got color books galore, their own rayon roll ups for church, and a curious George matching puzzle. Riley Played the matching puzzle at least once every day with Opa. Here are some cute pictures I got of them spending time together! :)

Our first adventure on Tuesday took us to Garden of the Gods in Colorado Springs. It was a gorgeous day (around 70 degree weather) and the kids loved running around and exploring.

The next day, Wednesday (I was not able to get pictures), we explored downtown Castle Rock. It got up to 80 degrees. It heated up fast causing us to shorten our day quickly! We were able to stop by the Republican party office to stock up on our bumper stickers and yard signs. Even though my parents know they're vote doesn't count in the state of Oregon, they were happy to finally be somewhere where they could get some representation. My mom and I also got to explore the antique barn store, which is my current favorite place to frequent.


Thursday was an excursion to Golden Colorado. This day ended up being around 50 degrees with a nice arctic wind. We were definitely not prepared for this weather and found ourselves running into a sports shop raiding the clearance rack for warm coats. We had fun wandering around some old homesteads, a school, and chicken coops. My mom and I even attempted to go inside a quilt museum until the ladies at the counter began to talk. I overheard one of them say "When I was working in the Littleton school district I couldn't believe how suppressed the young girls of the Mormon church are. Their parents don't let their girls become what they want to become. When they would come in.... " That's when my mind tuned out and I found my self saying louder and louder "that's not true, that's not true, that's not true. I am Mormon and that it not true!" The  ladies then said they were sorry and the one who started the conversation then said "Well the more devout Mormons.." I don't know why I didn't give them more info and my mom didn't even hear them until I blurted out. I just had the feeling to let it go and we went on our marry way. I wish more people knew that it is a choice that we put our families first and our career second. Instead of career first and then family. I know every one has different circumstance, but I am thankful that Brandon's job gets us by each week so that I can be home.:)

This picture has a great story to go with it. It looks like Riley is having fun running around. In all actuality he is trying not to pee. There was no bathroom close by and the inevitable happened. We got outside and he peed standing next to Opa. Luckily I had brought him a back up pair of clothing. Thinking that he would not do it again we went back to exploring. As we were wrapping up our time at this park he decided he needed to go again. This time I found a secluded place along the trail for him to pee. Unfortunately he decided not to aim and soaked himself again. Needless to say I was a very unhappy mommy and everyone in the park knew about it.

School House

School house teacher.

Me taking a picture of my mom who is taking a picture of me through the chicken coop! :)

Lorelei was crying at my feet and did not want to be in the picture.

Here is a small series of Lorelei crying. This happened throughout our adventure and very frequently. She wanted Mommy to hold her the whole time. Add this with the pee and you get a really cranky mom.

 

 After Riley ran out of clothes we packed up into the car headed to Arvada for our German Bakery. I stayed in the car with kids while my parents got the goods. Luckily Lorelei feel asleep and Riley for the most part stayed in his car seat. Thank heaven for tinted windows because Riley was not appropriately dressed.

Friday I was ready for anything. We had coats, two pairs of clothes instead of one, and I gave Riley less water to drink. I am proud to say that our day at cripple creek was a success. The kids behaved, Riley had no accidents, and we tired them out! Our first stop in Cripple Creek was the Molly Kathleen Mine. We learned that she was the first women to own her own mine and we got to go down and see it. I was totally fine at first, being slowly taken down a dark hole into mother earth. Then the tour guide told us that we would be descending a 1000 feet underground. Once in the mine we heard explosions, it was a little creepy. Over all it was fun and the kids actually enjoyed it. Riley loved wearing the miners hat and the ride on the air powered tram-air-locomotive. Brandon was sad he missed it due to deadlines at work, but I made him feel better when I brought him home a raw specimen of Gold.

After a bite at a small pub in town we headed to the the Bull Hill Railroad Station. The kids had a lot of fun on the Steam locomotive and the adults had fun learning about how cripple creek came to be and about the mining towns that once existed. 

 Did you know that Cripple Creek also had the first American Doctor as well? Her name was Dr. Susan Anderson.  Doctor Quinn Medicine Women is loosely based off of her life.

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

Unfortunately like all fun vacations they have to come to an end. Saturday morning we had to say goodbye to Nana and Opa. Now we are just counting down the days until we see them again! :) Thank you for spoiling us and patching the whole in our wall. You guys are lifesavers!