Raised by Wolves???

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On first glance, the title of this blog will make no sense. Bear with me. Or is it "bare"? I always forget. No, that means naked. Please read this fully clothed!

Sorry. I digress. Anyway...

Labor Day Weekend we were invited by the Lewis Family to join them at Great Wolf Lodge. We are not ones to miss a chance to 1. Head to GWL or 2. Hang with the Lewis Family. So, we headed up that way...

Our first stop was at Aunt Megan's house for some Brown Family Fun. We got to see Megan and her Family, Russ and Helen, Mike and Jordan, and Cousin Jessica even made the trek from Hood River to come up and join in the fun!

The kids had a great time playing in the back yard and the adults had a really good time catching up and eating and drinking and eating and drinking and laughing. You get the point...

Here are a few photos I captured of the evening. Cute kids - if I do so say so myself!!!







Andy soon (well not really it was after 8pm) tired of all the fun and decided to cuddle on the couch w/Jordan and watch some Football. She was nice and let him believe it was a Beaver Game even though it was the Seahawks.




Cousin Jess and us stayed the night there and we attempted to get some cousin photos the next morning. Not as good as last year. Better than the year before. At least they were all in the same place and looking?




They did liven up a little when I let them make "crazy faces". All I have to say is 1. Lorenz better hope they don't ask Aunt Dani to provide the Sr. Class slide show picture for him, and 2. Andy was adorable. He had no idea what they were doing, but eventually caught on - see bottom right photo - priceless!




The adult cousins were a little more cooperative. But, they did give me a little bit of lip as well! ;)




Our final attempt at a family photo. Again. Everyone in the same place. Someday they will all thank me for making them take these photos. Or at least they had better! :-)




After a fun-filled time at the Lotuaco Home, we headed to GWL. I honestly don't have a lot to report on this one. We went. It was awesome - probably one of my favorite trips there. But, we didn't really take any photos.


Abby was finally tall enough to go on the "Howling Tornado", or as she calls it, "The Corn-nado". It really was too cute to correct. Her and her friend Kaitlyn were a really good match-up. They both were tall enough to go on all the rides and they even went down some of them sans parentals!!! Big step, but they had so much fun being granted that privilege!


Andy was a trooper - like always. If he was tired, he found a towel, a chair, and took a nap. It was super cute.







Us in our "ears". Andy was a "howling" fool.




So, that is is. Nothing too exciting to report. But at least now you get the "wolf" tie in, right?
No?
Really?
The kids were acting crazy for pictures and then we went to GWL. See? Clever. Right?
No?
Oh well...
I tried...

Beverly Beach Camping - Aug. 2011

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Our third camping trip of the summer was the Beverly Beach Bex and Brown Bamily Bampout!!! HaHa. I'm a dork...

So, anyway we packed up the trailer, the kids, the dog, and the Bex Family and headed to the Beach. Abby didn't get to play at a REAL beach when we were at Honeyman, so she was excited to go to the beach to play. Andy was excited to see Brynn and I was personally excited for two of my favorite things - April and Nutella - heehee.

First night there Brynn taught Andy how to ride his Strider Bike!!! Everyone told me that the way to get him to ride it was to have another kid show him. Sure enough. He watched her for like 10 seconds and he was a super star as well - thanks Brynn. I can't wait to tell Andy that a GIRL taught him to ride a bike someday. I hope you are there when I do!!!

Here are some photos of our little biker babies - they were SO proud of themselves. The giggles were priceless:




What else do you do while camping you ask? Well, play Beauty Parlor of course - duh! The look on Laci's face is priceless. I swear I was VERY gentle! But, the photos along the top are worth it if you ask me (of course it wasn't my head). They are just adorable together:




Next it was Brynn's turn. She couldn't have cared less. Except for the fact she was very confused by the entire thing. Which, of course, the big girls thought was funny:




Morning #1: Cook and go to Beach. April and I cooking in our PJs and coats. We're cool like that:




The kids entertained themselves, Trav ran the camera, the dogs begged for food, and Marshall schooled us on the importance of tinfoil while camping - who knew? ;)

In the Top Left photo of Andy and Brynn they are picking "flowers" and giving them to each other. Ahhhh. Sweetness I tell you. Sweetness! Then, you ask? Well then they started flinging themselves "belly flop" style against the side of the Bex's Tent. It was so adorable and so bad at the same time. I couldn't help but just laugh. What nuts.




Next we hit the beach! The kids were very excited and it only took us about 2 1/2 trips and four adults to get all their crap to the beach. But, it was worth it. Just look at their happiness! This is why I go camping in the cold and the wind once a year - my kids love it! And really, why else does one camp but to make their kids, and husbands, happy? Well, I guess there is the wine as well...

What did April and I do you ask? Well, NOTHING. It was WONDERFUL. We sat on the beach and played "Words With Friends" and read books on our eReaders. Because, what else do you do while "Roughing It" camping? ;)




Thanks to the Bex Family for joining us! It was a ton of fun to watch the kids play together and invent new yummy s'mores over the campfire - mmmm Nutella...

Honeyman Camping ~ August 2011

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Well, I sat down to do a little "Birthday Blog" for Andy and/or Abby. Given the amount of whining that has been going on around here the last few days, I decided it should wait. Instead. Let's talk about camping, shall we?

This year we scheduled FOUR camping trips. I think that might be a personal best for me. Not IN LOVE with camping, but now that the kids are a little older, and we have the trailer, and some fun family/friends to do it with, I'm liking it more and more! I even like a three night trip better than a two night trip now - BIG step for me.

We started of Sunday with some Sand Sledding - Abby loved it! Trav's phone? Not so much. :(





Andy on the other hand, would NOT try it. Unless it was on HIS terms I guess:





We spent most of the Day on Sunday at the lake. Windy, but so fun!!!

This trip was BY FAR my most favorite so far this summer. I have enjoyed them all actually, but this one ROCKED. We went to Honeyman Campground and I'm sorry Beverly Beach, but you might have been bumped off of the list for next year. Honeyman beat you - hands down. Beverly Beach has great Beach access and a playground. But, Honeyman has a LAKE, DUNES, SUN, and ATV Riding!

Oh, and bears!!! Aack!!!




We ran into this guy - almost literally - on our way to scout out a riding place for the day. Oh yeah, did I mention that I FINALLY got to go riding on sand dunes again!!! I was excited. I have really missed it!!!

Everyone, not just me, seemed to enjoy it. All the little kids got to have rides as well. Sorry Sarah, I couldn't resist...




Inbetween turns we used the sand right by the parking lot for some fun and adventure. Belle was determined to fly a Kite, Sled down a hill, and catch a fish. There was no hill, no lake, and no wind at the parking lot. The child is determined. I will give her that

Yes, that is Sarah on the same trip as us. Under a blanket. In a sweatshirt. Notice how everyone else is dressed.

Also, please note that there were TWO Tinkerbell kites. One for Trav and one for Dave. Dave just got fed up with his and took a break.





This was Andy's first trip to dunes. He seemed to figure it out pretty quick. Ride. Drink. Eat. Lounge. Ride. Repeat. Notice Puppy tucked into his sweatshirt, getting ready to head out with Papa. Well of course he needed a security item - he had heard about trips with Papa in the sand!!!





Here are a few more cute shots of the "kids" from the weekend:




Oh! And Belle caught a fish - 1 for 3 ain't bad! I told you she was determined!

Honeyman Camping - Take II

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So, today I sat down to do a little blogging on camping and/or birthdays and/or first day of school, etc. Instead I got lost in Honeyman pictures again. Found some cute ones that were filed away under "July" because technically, they were taken in July! That is what I get for being too organzied!

We have this little warm water outside shower on the side of our trailer. Comes in VERY handy when we camp at a sandy place. And, Andy doesn't care that he is showering in the middle of a campsite - he down right enjoys it!

Our version of the "kid table". The best photo of all three of them I cut Andy out of - sorry buddy. But, in my defense, I don't think I was taking a picture of him because I had given up and decided that if he wasn't going to smile, I was going to just take one of the girls. Little turkey...

Great Wolf Lodge - Hooooowl

This last week we went to Great Wolf Lodge w/the Bex Family. We had a BLAST and I have to say I think it was my favorite trip to date. This time we stayed two nights, Andy was a little older and able to enjoy it, and we went w/the Bex Family. All those things made it very enjoyable for ALL!

Staying two nights was nice. No rush, had our room to go back to the second day, and just more relaxing overall.

Andy was old enough to walk around and actually have some fun! Last time we were there (March 2010), he did enjoy the kiddie area some, but he wasn't walking yet, so he was very limited and one of us was always "stuck" holding him for a lack of a better word!

The Bex Family joined us this time. Laci is one of Abby's PS Friends from last year actually. Laci has now gone off to another school (sad), but the girls have both told us that they are BEST friends. So, April and I have been trying to keep them in touch and coordinate play dates as often as our schedules allow. Wasn't it a nice surprise when they decided to join us for the mini vaca!?!?! They have three kids: Marshall (3), Laci (5), and Bryn (16 months). Our kids match up well, and it is always so cute to watch them interact.

None of my pictures turned out great - the lighting in there is not that 'camera friendly' and let's face it - it is wet in there, so you don't want your camera out a ton to actually attempt to get the best shots! But, I did get a lot of shots and you will get the point!

Here are some shots of Andy and Bryn the first day. They found the pool w/the Balls in it and they were in HEAVEN. They sat on that little stump and played catch w/me for a quite awhile! Until Andy fell off - head first - he was done! :)




Abby and Laci are VERY cute together. They hug, they squeal, they hold hands, they whisper in each others ears, it is cute. Here are some photos of them in the pool and coming off of various rides w/their mommies - we are cool moms dang it! :)

Trav spent A LOT of time sliding. I mean A LOT. ALL the kids loved the slide and I swear they spent at least 50% of their time on this slide! Trav was a good sport and slid - about 150 times - in the three days we were there.

Andy and Bryn are CUTE. That is the best I can do to describe them. April and I commented multiple times about how cute they were and how they interacted w/each other. It was like they KNEW that they "belonged together" for a lack of a better term. They would wander around, but always check in with each other, follow each other round, and just reach out and touch each other as if to say "Hey, I know we are supposed to keep an eye on each other. I'm going to wander off here, but I will be back in a few to check in". Like, seriously... it was really cute!

And, of course is there anything cuter than two little babies, wrapped in towels, sharing a snack and water? I don't think so!

They both walked around in the 18" pool like they owned the joint. They would take off to that play structure, climb the stairs (even though they couldn't see their feet and it is apparently HARD to climb stairs when you are 15/16M old and can't see your feet), wander around the play structure, pull the knobs to squirt water, twirl the knobs, etc. Then, all of the sudden they would walk over to the top of the slide and want to go. There was no rhyme or reason to it. One, or both of them would just decide and then go to the top and wait for someone to go w/them or catch them at the bottom. It was so funny. At first I thought it was because they were bored and wanted down. But no... They would immediately take off around the slide and head up the stairs again!

Abby and Laci spent some time going on a "Magic Quest" around the hotel while the little kids (um, and me) had a nap/quiet time back in the room. They are so cute!

Then there was story time. Abby could NOT wait to take Laci to Story Time the first night we were there. I mean, seriously... she asked me no less than 5 times if she could go and if Laci was allowed to go as well. I have NO IDEA what the draw is, but apparently it is cool when you are four! She even had to take Uncle Austy to check it out the second night!

Here are some photos of the girls, and moms. We had a great time having our buddies there w/us! Oh, and NO - April and I DID NOT plan that... But, we have discovered that 1) we shop at the same places, and 2) we have similar taste in clothes! This is the 5th or 6th thing that we have discovered that either we, or the girls, have the same of!

Here are just a few more random shots. It is late, I'm tired, and this is a LONG post! I'm running outta stuff to say! :) The top photos are just some of Trav and the kids. The bottom ones are Andy and Abby on the last evening there. I think Andy was pooped...

We had a GREAT time and can't wait to go back. I personally think GWL is worth every penny you spend there - especially if your kids are water lovers like mine!

Denver Trip - Day FIVE

Day #5 in Denver was a "Flying Day". Nothing much happened - which is good when you are traveling w/two small children! My kids were angels on the plane - just angels. I couldn't have been more happy w/them considering that they were overtired and ready to get home. Here is a picture from security. Abby is just awesome - enough said...



A VERY special thanks to the Wheelers' for hosting us. We are very blessed to have you guys as friends and now family! I mean really - Abby doesn't call all her friends "cousins", so apparently you guys touched her too! Until next time - we love you and can't wait to go back!

Denver Trip - Day FOUR

Day #4 in Denver started off w/a piano recital by none other than my two kids! They were so dang cute sitting there together it made me want to run out and buy a piano - almost. Do you know how loud, and bad, and loud, and bad, and loud two kids can be on one piano in one house? Wow. But they were cute. Very cute. I love the smile on Andy's face - so proud of himself!




After that, we took a day trip up to Estes Park. Now I have been to Denver four times. I have also been to Estes four times. In fact it has been the one constant to all my trips. Each time I have visited Courtney, she has lived in a different Denver area. But, each time, somehow... we end up in Estes!

Estes is a cute little touristy town. It has the Stanley Hotel from the "Shining" there. Now, I know what you are going to say "No Danielle. The Shining was filmed at Timberline". Yes, it was. But, they used the Stanley Hotel as well. So there.

We have done numerous things there. Once we took pictures of the hotel and the Elk that were walking around outside of it. One time we found a Swedish Shop and stocked up on Diam Candy Bars - random. Once we ate at the Estes Park Brewery. Um, let's just say they should leave the Microbrews up to the NW and stick to Bud and Coors in Colorado! :) Once, the first time, I don't think I left the touristy street w/the 10,000 candy and t-shirt shops. But, each time we have done something different - so it is fun!

This is the view as you are driving into Estes. It is just so cool - views like this are why I always have to get to the Rockies when I visit Denver. It would be like going to Oregon w/out visiting the Beach - you just can't miss it!

Once in Estes proper - and by that, I mean Touristy Row, we HAVE to stop and get our "old time" photo done. I'm not sure why. The first time I went w/Trav, we did it for fun. Both of us had always wanted to do one...

This was March of 2005 - Right before we got married...

The next time was November of 2007. Little Abby was 15 months old and just as cute as a button! To this day, this photo is framed in my living room. No small feat for those of you that have seen the number of photos I cycle thru my frames!

This time we added a 4th to the picture and I have to say, he gives the "button" a run for her money! :) But, I have to say she looks adorable in this one as well - this is up on my fireplace as we speak!

Next was Pizza at this hole in the wall place that I WILL go back to some day. It was so yummy, next time I might go to Estes just for that!

After lunch we did some "high speed" gift shopping. Hard to do w/four kids that want to hit the candy store and have nap time looming. But, we did it and we headed up to the Ranch for horseback rides. Definitely a highlight for Abby, and I have to give props to my iPhone on this one. I just randomly Googled "things to do in Estes w/kids" into it and wha-la. Pony Rides. Duh, what can be more Colorado-ish than a pony ride in the Rockies!?!?!?

Abby picked out Duke and I have to say, that this, her new "cousins", and the Kangaroo at the Zoo, are they three things I hear about from this trip. Her and Duke toured the resort area and the barnyard for close to 1/2 hour. She LOVED it and was pretty darn cute as well.

Andy was SO interested in what Abby was doing and showed NO fear of the horse. He kept toddling after her down the gravel road and I could NOT keep him out of the dust and grime and from tripping over rocks. He had to get to her. Not that the grassy area was much better I discovered. Can we say Deer Droppings? OMG, what do they feed those Deer in Colorado - it was everywhere!? Anyway... Off topic... Andy got to sit on the Pony as well and was just so happy to be like big sister!

After our 1/2 hour was up, we bid Duke our good-byes and headed back into Denver.

This was our view as we left Estes. Again, just pretty. Kids slept on the way home, so Trav and I got to enjoy the scenery and the quiet drive!

We got home from Estes, packed swim suits, and headed off to the Greeley Funplex. Yes, we crammed all of this into ONE day. The kids were GREAT and we wanted to take them swimming because 1) I knew they would love it, and 2) we had already told them we were going. So, off to the Funplex we went and it was COOL! It is like a Mini Great Wolf Lodge - complete w/dumping bucket - the whole works. It was so much fun and I'm glad we went!

Denver Trip - Day THREE

Day Three in Denver started w/a lazy morning at home followed by a trip to Cracker Barrel for Brunch. I mean really, you CAN'T go to Denver and NOT go to Cracker Barrel! Well, you can. But then we wouldn't have our tradition of the remembering why Travis "never wants to go to another Cracker Barrel again", now would we?

Trav went on a family vacation once and ate at the Cracker Barrel and Applebee's enough times to last him a lifetime. He came home from that trip and said "never again". So, last time we went to Denver I told that to Courtney. So, of course, we HAD to go there! Keeping w/tradition, we HAD to go there again this time! It is just our little torture we put him thru! Because, I can.

Andy apparently hasn't been there enough times - he was pretty impressed w/it! He had hash browns and a pancake and sausage and... Well, you get the picture. He liked it. He started hamming it up for me when I pulled out the camera, so I took FULL advantage of that - as most of you know, he usually won't look at the camera when I'm behind it w/out MUCH coaxing. So, like I said, I took advantage!




Next, we had to take some Rocking Chair pictures outside... Oh, and Abby had Cherry Topped Pancakes. Interesting choice in my opinion, but she liked them. Logan and Abby were really cute playing Checkers as well. They had NO idea how, but had fun making patterns on the squares!

Next, we got back in the car and headed to a Dairy close by to buy some fresh ice cream for dessert and check out some farm animals - yummy! (the ice cream, NOT the animals)

Andy got to see a baby cow up close and personal - he was happy.

Then, back in the car, back to the Wheelers' for about an hour, then back in the car and headed up to Fort Collins to check out the Budweiser Plant. Trav took the "behind the scenes" Beermaster tour while the rest of us took the regular old tour. Both ended at the Clydesdale's and the Bar. So, all parties involved were happy.

Thanks to Jeremiah and Courtney (non-drinkers) for being good sports and giving Trav this time - he really enjoyed the tour - and the beer! :)

The kids, of course, didn't care much about the tour. But, they were really good considering it was at 2pm in the afternoon, it was boring to them, they outnumbered the adults, and they were promised "Rootbeer" at the end of the tour and had to settle for Sprite - seriously, they didn't have Rootbeer! They did, however, eat their weight in free pretzels. Serves them right for not having Rootbeer on tap!

Oh, but Abby did think the Horses were really cool - as did Andy actually. If he could have said it, I think he would have said "Woh". He just stared at him... forever.

Here are some "behind the scenes" pictures Trav took while on the tour....

Then, we got BACK in the car and drove to Loveland and had dinner w/Trav's old boss and his wife. At a NICE restaurant. My kids were ANGELS I tell you. Angels. I couldn't have been more proud of them - especially after the long day they had had.

Next, we got BACK in the car and drove home to the Wheelers' house, put the kids to bed, watched the Beaver Game - go Beavs! There were board games and dessert involved as well - noticing a trend? :)