The perks of being a stay-at-home mom include tagging along with my husband on business trips. We went on an overnight stay to Saint Louis and a day later traveled to Colorado. We had family time in between Joe's inspections. It was a lot of travel with two little kids but I want them to be used to road trips. I don't think kids prevent us from having a life as long as we train them early!
We stayed near quaint Saint Charles, MO and spent the day shopping. It was founded in 1769 and the brick streets are lined with shops and restaurants. I found some old dairy crates and took one home as a souvenir. It was a nice overnight trip!
After a night in KC we headed west for Colorado. The plan was to stop in Manhattan for football games on each end of the trip. I planned to tailgate in our RV with the kids. It was really hot so Nola needed some shelter. The poor RV wasn't running when we got there so plans changed! I was trapped in the hotel room while Joe had a good time at the game. I took the kids for a walk to dinner but was going a little stir crazy.
At 11:30 pm they were still up and partying in the hotel room. You can imagine how thrilled I was when my drunk husband came back and asked why the kids were still up. The start of our trips always involve little sleep because Louis is SO excited!
We finally made it to Colorado Springs to see my cousins. We had a really nice time with them and felt right at home! Here is a pic of Shannon and her family. I didn't get one of my other cousin Heather and her five kids! I get so many pics and end up kicking myself for the ones I miss!
Louis had fun at the "beauty salon" with his older cousins. He also loved playing with Adeline and her mermaids in the tub. We have a book with mermaids and he has always loved them. (I love messing with Joe when Louis likes girl stuff.)
Can you tell they are related?
Louis introduced Adeline to super heroes.
Isabel was like a little babysitter for Nola.
Shannon's husband Kenton grew up going to the Colorado Balloon Classic. Apparently it's one of the biggest balloon events in the U.S. We rolled out of bed to get there bright and early and it was so worth it!
Shannon made Nola a tutu which I was super excited about!
Louis is getting to the age where he isn't excited to pose for me anymore.
We were sad to leave and got one last pic of the kiddos before we hit the road to Denver.
We stayed downtown in Denver and my friend Mollie spent the day with us while Joe worked. I didn't get a pic so I decided to post a Labor Day (Mollie's birthday is September 2nd) picture circa 2007.
Denver was fun! We went to the aquarium and then to my friend Sarah's for dinner. I also missed a pic of Sarah and couldn't find a good one of us on my computer.
Louis was terrified of this mechanical orangutan at the aquarium. Mollie and I agreed it was pretty scary.
Then he saw real mermaids!
Small happy hour downtown before heading to my cousin Erin's for dinner.
On our last night in Colorado we stayed at a B&B in Woodland Park, CO. We brought home some pottery as the owner is an artist and potter.
It's always good to get your hands dirty in the wilderness.
We had fun exploring the property but there was a mother bear and cubs in the area so their dogs stayed with us for protection.
Apparently the bear cubs like to play in this pond. They don't eat the fish but take a little dip!
We had some yummy eggs for breakfast. Once again I was fantasizing about living a life like this.
Louis had a little "a hiking we will go" song he sang. That is Pike's Peak in the background.
We went into town for dinner and found a dinosaur museum although it was closed at that time.
It was a fun trip to wrap-up summer! By the end Louis was sleeping like a baby in the car.
We stopped in Lindsborg, KS for the night on the way home and had a Swedish breakfast in the morning and shopped a little. It's a cute Kansas town. We dropped Joe off at the game and headed back to KC. The kids and I were so ready to get home and Joe hitched a ride back with his friend.
