Colorado

We had a blast in Colorado.  It was everyone's first time getting to meet our Ellie Bean and everyone loved her and can't believe how big Adam is getting.  We couldn't have chosen a better name for Ellie than Eleanor, which means "shining light".  She really does bring light into our lives.  She is always so happy and smiley.  Even when she is teething or not feeling good, you can always get her to smile.  Love that girl!  And Adam was such a great boy.  He had so much fun playing with his cousins. 
Meara said that him and Marek were "BFFs".  So cute.  They were so adorable to watch going everywhere together and playing.  At Aunt Cindy's house we all played "Simon Says" and "Red Rover, Red Rover". 

Adam and Marek hangin out.

Meara was so great with Ellie!

Ellie has a blast with Brixton too. He is much bigger than she is but they played really well together. They are both pulling themselves up on things and walking along things. Next time we come out to visit, I'm sure they'll be running around together. Of course, the first thing ellie did was go give him kisses. She is such a lover.

Marek, Adam, Melia, Meara.

After we were done running around the kids sat down for a few minutes to rest and watch Ice Age.

All the cousins that were there.  (except Ellie-- she was napping)

We also got to hang out with Van quite a bit.  When we first got there, Mom and Dad took Adam and Ellie to Van's baseball game while I got some rest, since we drove through the night and I only got about 40 minutes of sleep. 

Adam slept a little on grannys lap and woke up in time to have his big cousin Van teach  him how to run the bases.  He loved it. 

We also got to go to the park with Van and to the Butterfly Pavillion, which Adam absolutley loved.  You have to be 3 years old to hold "Rosie the Terantula", so Adam just stood close by while Van and I got to hold her.  Adam and Van pressed their very own pennies too.  Adam got to touch 3 different types of crabs and starfish also.  He said it felt "weird".  We all loved the "Rainforest" with all of the butterflies and turtles and fish.  At first Adam w3as afraid of the butterflies, but Van told him it was okay and that they don't attack.  Haha.  Even Ellie was amazed at all the beautiful butterflies.   They have signs up that say not to touch the butterflies because you can shorten their lifespan.  But, sometimes the butterflies will land on you and that was really cool.  Adam wanted me to get one to land on him so bad, and we tried.  He is so funny.  At one point, there was a butterfly on the ground that he was really close to and looking at and he told Nana, "I wanna step on that one", hahaha... she told him that he better not.  I'm glad he asked first and didn't just do it.  They also had a play area with some fun games.  Adam climbed a rope web all the way up to the top and there was a bean bag toss game, where you toss the bag through the caterpillars mouths.  We were going through the maze and Adam really wanted to try it.  There was an older boy trying to do it and he was standing on the stool because the holes were pretty high, and the boy just couldn't seem to get it, next thing I knew Adam walked up to it and grabbed some bean bags and not even getting on the stool made his first 4 he threw through the hole.  hahaha The kid and his dad both looked at him like "Whoa... how did that little kid do that".  Needless to say, I was pretty proud of our little athelete!!

The first week we were there Tom was in Vegas because he had to work.  I missed him like crazy!!!  During the week, my mom and dad and Seth helped clean out Granny and Papa's basement.  Which let me tell you was a HUGE job.  We should have gotten a before and after.  I was on kid duty- while they all worked, I got to hang out with Adam, Ellie, and Van.  We had a lot of fun together.  I think Adam wore Van out.  Everyone except for my dad (who worked tirelessly) took naps every day. 
We went to Billy and Kristy's house for dinner on Wednesday night when Luke and Kyle got back into town from Texas.  Adam and Ellie had a blast.  They had a watergun fight, wrestled, had a picnic dinner, released ladybugs into the plants, and Adam even got to drive a jeep, that was just his size.  Billy was all worried about Kyle hurting Adam when they were wrestling because he is so much older and bigger, but I think he soon realized that Adam could hold his own.  Kyle was like "that kid almost ripped my head off" Adam also put Luke in an arm bar.  Tom would have been proud.  :)

Once Tom got to be there with us we spent the rest of the time at his sister's house.  Adam loves hanging out with Grandma, Aunt Jessica and Uncle Aaron!!  We went to the Children's museum (not sure who had more fun Aaron and Tom or Adam/ haha it was such a blast), Aaron taught Adam how to play the guitar a little, and we even got to go to Ikea for the first time ever.  What an experience!  I think if I was rich I would spend ridiculous amounts of money there!!  It was so nicce to spend time together and to relax with family!! Love Vacation