Dinosaur Museum

Landon has been bugging us to go to the dinosaur museum for a while. It's on billboards around the springs and we drove by it when we went fishing last weekend. I told him that we could go when daddy is at work so we have something to do. It's chilly outside today, and windy, so I decided around 8am, We're going to the dinosaur museum! 

It's of course in Woodland Park, up in the mountains, about 20 miles (30 min) away. We got there and we were the only ones there! So we had the place to ourselves.

It's a pretty cool place. There's facts everywhere and bones all around. There was fossils, interactive things to mess with, a kids area, a movie theater, an underwater area and an archaeologist area where you can watch them work. Pretty cool. 

It was nice to have the place to ourselves for a while. The nice tour lady came and talked to us. I just followed Landon around, tried my hardest to pronounce the names of these things.....

Owen was good. He enjoyed hearing his voice echo through out. 

Once we walked through (quickly at that, we always run through things) we went stopped at the gift shop and then went back through. This time there was a bunch of people. We hung out in the kids area for a while where Landon checked everything out. 

I'm ready for Owen to start walking already. We try. He just doesn't care. I'm sure he will be walking before we know it. I just remember Landon at this age running around. So cute. 

Landon tested how far he could jump: 

They also had a spot where you could 'dig' for dino bones. Pretty fun. Then I made them take some pictures. Mean mommy. 

After Landon showed me all his favorite things we headed home! Back down the mountain into the springs. It's such a pretty drive. I just love it here. 

Owen is napping now. I am trying some new things with the boy. I'll blog about that tomorrow. He is eating now like I said, makes life so much easier. I am trying some new nap things and bedtime routines. Gotta get that stuff down now before he is like Landon and in horrible sleep habits that we couldn't break. Luckily Landon sleeps like a champ now, he knows how wonderful it is to sleep. When I get up with Owen and I walk by his nice dark, cool room and see him nuzzled under his blankets in the morning I always find my self muttering, "Lucky!"

Party Planning

Party planning for Owen's big 1st birthday is in full swing. I've been searching Pinterest a lot trying to figure out what to do. I'm not a huge theme person. Wait, I like to have a theme, I just don't go over board with all the 'stuff' you can buy to go with the themes. Does that make sense? I like to make things and have some homemade touches. 

I originally wanted to do a blue and green colored party with the mustache's. But, Greg didn't like it. Then we were kinda on a luau theme. Then decided against it. I kept seeing some cute Mickey things, and when Mickey Mouse Club House comes on, it catches Owen's attention. So Mickey it is. I am sticking with mainly red and black, some Mickey stuff through out. Mainly the Mickey head silhouette. 

My mom is making a super cute red and white chevron diaper cover, tie and hat for him to wear. I want to take pictures in that before his birthday and put those pictures on his invitation, and at his party when he digs in to the cake have that on. It's going to be so cute!

I've got my lists going, and things to do and buy. I've got some stuff marked off. Tomorrow I have to go make a stop at the cake shop to put in an order for his smash cake and cake. I also have to stop by the party store and place his balloon order. I've found the red paper stuff I want to use to be cheapest at Hobby Lobby, LOVE that place. I have a few things I am in the process of making. It's fun, and Landon is having a good time helping me. Now if I could just find a Mickey Die cut, I'd be good to go. I've seen them for sale on Etsy. And I've wandered through Joann's, Hobby Lobby and Michael's and haven't seen any. 

I've got lots of work to do. I need to really get my butt in gear!

Fishing at Farish

Greg and I keep saying how darn lucky we are to be stationed here. Both of us are outdoors people. (I do love shopping and that stuff as well, but I like to be outside) There are so many different things to do here, so many opportunities, all just around the corner. Most things free, some just a small fee. Just depends on what you want to do.

There is a Military place called Farish. It's for military only. It's in Woodland Park, about 30 mins from us. They have three stocked lakes (One is under construction) tent sites and trailer sites to camp at, also cabins to rent. There are tons of trails for hiking and like I said lots of fishing to do. It's really cheap to get in, and it's like you are in the middle of no where because it's so quite. 

Farish park is nestled in the mountains at a nice 9,000 ft elevation,

It's starting to get green and pretty, I can't wait to see it when everything is in full bloom. We found a nice spot with two picnic tables. It was chilly when we got there, but when you were in the sun it was warm. I had to keep Owen in the shade because I didn't want him to get burned, I have yet to try another sunscreen. 

Baiting the worm never bothered me before, Greg either. This time it was nasty and made us cringe. Haha. It took us a few times to get it on. I unfortunately didn't get to fish this time. I would have loved too, but I have a naughty little 11 month old who keeps me busy. 

This is one of the big cabins you can rent. Ahh, wouldn't that be nice?

We brought a picnic lunch.... 

And just enjoyed being outside. I love love love how quiet it was. I love that everyone out there was friendly, and military. I loved the smell, the trees and the smell of the water. I love the sound of the birds and guns way off in the background. 

I loved the excitement the boys had when they caught their first fish!

We loved walking the trail along the lake, checking out all the different spots there was. 

Such a fun morning of fishing. I was ready to go after a while. Keeping Owen happy and Landon quiet was challenging. Things are so different when you have children! (Not saying that in a bad way!)

And this is Pike's Peak, usually it's really big, but here because we were at 9,000 ft it didn't seem that large.

We love being in Colorado and exploring new areas and doing new things. I can't wait to see what our next adventure is. Camping out there sure looked like a lot of fun, but we need to get some equipment first :)

Birthday Week and California Trip

First I wanted to stop and say Thank You to all those who've served and lost their lives protecting us and our freedom. Without you and your sacrifices we would be here! Happy Memorial Day.

My birthday week was crazy. My birthday was on the 14th. That was also the same day Landon's class had a field trip. All the Kindergartners went to Bear Creek Nature center and then to a big park. It was hot, and we were up in the mountains, so it made it worse. Then as we went to have our picnic lunch at the park, it started pouring. I also discovered I'd lost my camera. My brand new camera. Wahhhh. 

I'd taken the 2 off the cake already, but Greg got me a mint chocolate chip brownie ice cream cake from Dairy Queen. It was nom nom!

Owen was snoozing when we first got to the center and were waiting. It was so hot. Did I mention that already? We went in the nature center where they talked about the different animals around and what we may see. They talked about the different senses and what the animals use. Then we went for a 'hike' outside. 

Yes Landon was smelling the tree. The guide was talking about how good this tree smells. I agree. Just like a pine tree. He told all the kids to smell it. Eventually all the trees he was pointing out most of the kids were smelling, lol. 

It was neat to learn about the different animals in the area. Inside the center there were all kinds of things to look at. Stuffed bears, skunks, squirrels, you name it, they had it. After that we went over to this really big park to eat and play. Like I said we got there and it started pouring, luckily there was covered pavilions so we were able to eat. I then discovered my camera was GONE. My stomach sank. I called the place when we got home. They didn't have it. What is with my luck and camera's? Luckily the next morning one of the other teachers handed it to me. Whew!

Wednesday I ended up with a terrible headache. One that made me throw up. It was awful. Greg had to come home to watch Owen for a few hours so I could rest, and then he picked up Landon from school. It was terrible.

Friday night we headed to Denver. We stayed at a hotel near the airport where the boys went swimming and had a good time. I was a nervous wreck about flying with the baby. I made sure he was good and tired. He was a champ. As soon as we leveled off in the plane he was out. I had to wake him when we got to Orange County. 

Cindy and the girls met me there, we stopped at my dad's house to say hi. Owen was not happy in the car, he needed a diaper change and to roam around for a minute. My dad lives 5 min from the airport, and Cindy is about an hour, depending on traffic. After that we stopped for In N Out burger (YUMMMMY) and then went to Cindy's in Riverside. 

We mainly hung out and caught up, laughed and watched the kids play and Owen bug the girls. Owen started having diarrhea. Great. And he was getting fussy. I figured just from flying. We went to the mall really quick so Cindy could get a new phone then went out to dinner. Owen was a mess. I was worried his ears were bothering him. He contiuned to have diarrea the rest of the night, and had a restless nights sleep. I decided to get a refferal to get him seen. We got up Sunday morning, at 5am mind you, and tried to keep quiet while everyone was asleep. We attempted to go to a walk in clinic, they couldn't see Owen because I did not have is social. A new thing for Tricare. Bummer. He fell asleep in the car and I got a tour of Riverside. It's changed so much, so many houses popping up every where, buildings and businesses. It's crazy. 

I also got to go down my old street where I grew up. It looked bad. I mean different. Here is my house.

You can't even tell it is our house. It was a small 900 sqft home, nothing special, but it was our home. It's where I grew up. Tons of great memories. Playing outside, parties, sleep overs, camping trips, the neighbors, friends, my brothers. So many memories. It's so different. There are a few people still on the street. 

The whole time we were driving around I had an upset stomach. Just that feeling. Here is my elementary school. SO many memories here too. 

It was good to see everything. It made me sad. Owen was seeming to feel better. He took a decent nap. But he still had the poops.

We mainly just hung out the rest of the day. Played outside, and inside then made some dinner.

Caitlin and Hailey are so cute and funny. Total opposites! They weren't so sure about Owen. 

After dinner I started feeling bad. My stomach was jacked. It hurt so bad. I was in and out of the bathroom all night. Looks like I got what Owen had. Great. My last night and I was not feeling good.

Monday we went back to my dads house. 

I had to say goodbye to Cindy and the girls. Sucks. I wish we were closer. Darn it. I still wasn't feeling great, but it was nice to be at my Dad's. Alma's son and his wife and kids came over for dinner and we hung out. The kids went it he hot tub, then my dad made a fire. A pretty nice night. Tuesday we got up and I flew back home. It was a quick weekend. Too quick. Sucks we weren't feeling well. But it was nice to be back. Made me realize how much I miss it. Owen did great on the flight, one bout of fussiness that worried me but he fell back to sleep. 

Wednesday we went to the park to have a picnic with our friends before they leave for their summer trip.

Thursday was rainy and cold so we hung out at home and I caught up on some house work. It was a crazy week. I wished I would have been feeling better, as well as Owen, and I wished I would have booked a longer trip. But, since it was so affordable maybe we can go back, this time as a family!

Happy Memorial Day.