This was the vacation to end all vacations. It had a little bit of everything. Where to start. Ah, the much anticipated plane ride. We talked about this plane ride for DAYS beforehand. Figuring out who would sit where, what we would eat, how long it would take us to get from the baggage counter to the plane, what time we would leave the house, would we actually be on the plane when it was bedtime!, you get the idea. Well, it did not disappoint. We had a great flight.
They had the TV's on the seat backs where you could pay to watch shows. Ashley saw that it costs $6 so Andy told her she had to use her own money. This was the struggle for the next 10 minutes:
She's trying to slide her dollar bills in the credit card swipe. Awesome.
The kids got to spend some great time with their cousins Keelyn and Karis. It was so awesome to see them all together!
Day one included crafts and playing with Grandpa's technology.
I think the heat started getting to Grandpa (or maybe it was the fact that 5 kids had invaded his house) and he started belting out to the Barney song.
Day 2 was a visit to Mom & Bills. The kids hadn't seen mom since last November when she was in Portland. This was pre-any indication of what was to come. They agreed that she looked the same "just without hair." It's growing back though!
Mom pointed out several times that Charlie was the first kid to play with any of the toys she had been saving for 40 years. (this would be Alli's age, not mine) :) Mom was maybe a little bitter, but she did a good job hiding it. :)
Next adventure was the boat. This is always a blast. The weather was excellent!! This was Charlie's first memory of the boat. Last time he wasn't even 1. He had a great time once he got over the fact that he had to wear the barbie life vest.
The girls taking turns driving:
And everyone got wet!! Charlie loved it!!
Here is a video of Ashley jumping in. This is typically the thrill for kids on the boat. I think they thought the water was a little cold this time. I thought it was great. (I was wearing a wetsuit though) :)
Captain in training:
Next event - the triathlon!! This was amazing in and of itself, and to do it with Marge, Alli, Laurel and Eliza made it even sweeter.
Dad was our cameraman/equipment manager. It was an un-paid position and required getting up at 4:15am. He played the role very well.
We may looked dazed, but we were ready!
(to be done)
Marge made Eliza a veil to wear during the race since it was only 5 days until her wedding!
After the race - very relieved!
Once we left the triathlon, Andy and I decided to take our crew to a traditional stop at the Blue Parrot restaurant in Louisville. (which is near Boulder - where the Triathlon was) The kids were beat from the early morning though, so this was their level of excitement when we got to the restaurant:
Andy introduced me to this restaurant while we were at CSU. It is a fourth - soon to be 5th - generation Italian restaurant and it is amazing. The homemade pasta is fatter than a pencil and they bring you a jug of extra sauce for drowning it all. The kids clearly did not appreciate this though and ordered breakfast.
Oh well, it was definitely a worthwhile stop.
Day - whatever we're on - was another cousins day. They pretty much did whatever we told them and sat quietly at this table all day. Or something like that.
What is a cousin's day without a trip to the pool!! Marge pretty much watched them all. :)
Abby found my swim cap and goggles from the tri and started training. She's shooting for Ironman 2012.
My aunts and uncles got there on Tuesday night. Jean entertained the kids with playdough on the first morning. By 10am she had the colors mixed. She doesn't really like rules. :) The kids had a blast.
Here are Ashley and Abby working on their replica of my aunt Lydia that Jean put them up to creating, and then telling Lydia she had to pay them to keep them from posting it on Facebook. That pretty much wraps Jean up in a nutshell.
Notice the money on the table. That was from another one of Jean's scheme's where she told my dad to judge the kids creations, connived him into picking one of each of theirs as winners, and then making him pay each one of them for winning. When Charlie was unfazed by the money, a lesson in understanding the possession of money followed. It was pretty entertaining.
After Grandpa's pockets were empty, we moved onto Wii. This is Abby boxing. I heard she had quite a few knockouts. Not surprising.
The WEDDING!! The whole reason for the trip (and this long post). Andy had to go back to Portland the weekend prior for school so it was just the
kids and me. All dressed and ready to go!
September 1st, the date of the wedding, was also the date of mom's last radiation treatment!!! We made a quick stop on the way to the wedding to celebrate and sing "happy last day of treatment to you."
It's hard to believe her treatment is completed. She has a few remaining tests and then will hopefully be given the all clear. I will miss the monthly visits, but I'm sure mom will find something to fill her time instead of all the hospital appointments!!
We then made our way to the wedding. It was outside at Hudson Gardens. Me arriving with my date. :)
The girls:
The b-e-a-u-t-i-f-u-l bride:
The whole wedding was great. Eliza and Chan were great. All the kids there were great. It was all great. Mr. & Mrs. Park!
Charlie enjoying cocktail hour on the lawn:
The girls dancing with Alli & Ian:
Charlie in his first dance ever!
By 10:30 or so the kids started to fade.
It was hard to put an end to an amazing evening, but it was so great to see Eliza and Chan so happy. They are now in Fiji living it up. Congrats guys! Here's to many, many happy years of wedded bliss!
On the day after the wedding, Eliza & Chan came over for a mandatory Skyline chili meal. Nothing better. Lydia brought the bibs. It was excellent.
Table of trouble:
Some water fun:
Some water not-so-much fun:
That night we went to a restaurant called White Fence Farm. This is another must stop in Denver. You get to feed the chickens and then go inside and eat them. Ok, maybe not that blatantly, but close. Here are dad and Charlie feeding a goat:
Ashley sharing her food with Charlie and the goat.
And then the next day, the final day, the cousin's send off. If the stairs were the only thing in the house it would have kept them entertained all day.
What an amazing trip! It was so great to see everyone. Lots of great memories to bring home. :)
