Colorado Adventure, Part 2

Bailey and her New Orleans friend

Uncle Wes with his adoring nieces and nephews.

Wes and Rebecca gave us a tour of Denver on our first day there. Our first stop (not counting Starbucks, of course) was the mall that has both the Lego Store and the American Girl store. Isaac and Bailey had both been saving for a long time to make a big purchase, so we made that stop first.

We then headed downtown to check out a beautiful park. Denver has an amazing system of parks and bike trails. It is quite the healthy city. We spent time checking out the scenery before heading into the REI sporting goods store. REI was a really neat place. However, our pleasant visit was interrupted by "The Incident." We will forever remember REI as the place where Daddy got into a fight on the playground. Ask him about it! All in all, it was a good first day in Denver!

Colorado Vacation-- The Drive

Rest Stop Lunch!

We were all fascinated by the windmill farms!

We embarked on our Colorado Adventure on September 1. Mark worked until lunch and then we loaded up and headed out. We drove 100 hours (or maybe it was only 8 hours that seemed like 100) to Kansas City to spend our first night. By the time we got there, Olivia said, "My bottom is dancing to get out of the car!"

We headed out early the next morning for the biggest part of our trip. I taught the kids the alphabet/sign game and the licence plate game, which I consider an important part of their education. Eli pointed out every tractor and piece of construction equipment in Kansas (there are quite a few, by the way). We had decided that it would be frugal to pack a lunch for some of our meals, so we headed to a "fancy" rest stop for lunch. I felt like I was getting back to my roots (minus the potted meat).

We crossed over into Colorado a little before dinner time, and we all gave a cheer and started looking for a place to eat. We passed up the first exit or two because there was not much restaurant selection. We later realized that was a big mistake! There is very little between the border and Denver! We ended up eating at Burger King in Denver a few miles away from my brother's house. We were all thrilled to finally arrive and see Uncle Wes and Aunt Rebecca.

Eli

Taking Eli's picture can be quite a challenge! Stacy worked had to work hard to get a smile!

Muffins with Mommy

We had Muffins with Mommy at church a couple of weeks ago. We had muffins, fruit and juice for breakfast right before church. The Daddies helped serve. It was great to eat breakfast with my five blessings!

PS I did not include my picture of Isaac because he said it made him look like an alien creature!

Patches Visits the Vet

We took Patches for her first vet visit last week. Her vet also happens to be our good friend and a fellow homeschooler, so our appointment was quite a treat. His wife Valerie and their two children gave us a grand tour so we could see all the inner workings of the clinic. Then Dr. Matt let the children "help" with his exam and see him give the vaccinations. He gave them a quick lesson on cat care, and then let them see some x-rays of various animals. Patches and Eli both behaved very well, which was a blessing. We will be visiting Dr. Matt again when it is time for Biology! I am thankful for good friends who care about our children!

Olivia's "Pretend" Birthday

Olivia's "Real" Birthday is May 15, but we celebrated her "Pretend" birthday with friends yesterday. In honor of our new feline friend, Olivia chose a cat themed birthday party. Our birthday parties tend to be laid back affairs, with lots of food, friends and playtime, and this one was no exception. We had thirty-six people, which included about a hundred children (That may not seem mathematically possible, but if you were here, you understand!). The menu consisted of p,b & j sandwiches, various chips and dip, carrots, homemade bread and cupcakes. Olivia was thrilled with the presents she received, and she loved being the center of attention! I am thankful for our sweet birthday girl and all of the friends that made her celebration special!

The Johnsons Go Feline!

Patches and Anna Grace our good buddies!

Her favorite spot (which could be due to the crumbs that live under our table!).

Patches loves Eli (when he is asleep!).

After years of putting it off, we officially became pet owners last month! Patches Ruby Johnson joined our family on April 18. The children had been asking for a pet on and off for the past couple of years, but the idea of adding pet care to my plate had been overwhelming! Olivia finally talked us into it last fall, and we told her we would get one after Christmas. She had been asking since January if it was after Christmas, so we finally bit the cat bullet. My friend Melissa's grandmother's cat (how is that for genealogy) had kittens, and we "adopted" our sweet Patches.

So far, cat ownership has been much easier than I had anticipated! She already knew how to take care of bathroom issues (I am hoping she will teach Eli!), and she has been great with the kids. She is smart enough to be afraid of Eli and she hides during playdates, so I think she may fit in well here!