Vacation! - the Colorado part.

I was waiting to get some pic's from my sister before posting about this, but oh well, I'm anxious to tell you about our vacay!

As you all know by now, we went to Denver, CO to surprise my Grandma for her 94th birthday.  Yes, 94th!  Somehow she was surprised, even though we "surprise" her every year.  She's doing amazing for her age.

She was delighted {to say the least} to meet her Great Grandson and I was in tears that he got to meet her.  We went to Build-A-Bear Workshop and made a bear for Peyton with her recorded voice telling Peyton a message.  Every time you squeeze the bears arm, his Great Grandma is talking to him.  WAY COOL.

After 3 days in CO with Great Grandma and other relatives, Steve, Peyton, Laurie and I headed to North Platte, Nebraska where my other Grandma lives.  She was just as delighted {again, to say the very least} to meet her Great Grandson and I was so happy that he got to meet her and my grandpa.  What a memorable and special trip it was!

Of course we did lots, saw lots, and have lots of stories, but I'll let the pictures do the talking.  Here's all of the Denver awesomeness that was had: {WARNING:  Picture Overload!}

Peyton did great on his first airplane trip.  He was awake the whole time, loved all the action and behaved very well {PHEW.  If you talked to me before the trip, you know how nervous I was!}

 Here's our attempt to let him nap, but this was as good as it got... a few seconds of him laying down and WHAM!  He was back up!

 Riding the train at Denver International Airport {with my dad}

 As soon as we got in the car, he was OUT.

 We headed straight to downtown Denver for lunch at The Yard House...

 Where we celebrated my sister Laurie's 39th birthday! {and, in my mind, a successful first flight for P!}

In Downtown Denver.  Why can't Downtown Phoenix be this cool??

 We stayed at Steve's Uncle Brian's mansion house (who lets their nephew's in-laws stay with them for a weekend?  What a nice guy Brian is! {and brave}).  But really, he has an amazing home that is plenty big enough for all of us and then some.  We love staying here!!  :)  .... so here we are the night we arrived, celebrating Laurie's birthday some more and Gary's (my sister Julie's boyfriend) birthday too.

 The next morning.  Peyton of course was in love with Uncle Brian's dogs, Linus & Lucy.

 Julie and I took a run around the neighborhood.

 Peyton meeting his Great Grandma Cortney for the first time!!!!

 She loved him!

 My cousin and his daughter.

 My Uncle Joe {who looks just like my dad... no?}

 I love my sweet Grandma Cortney.  :)

 Cortney family shot!!

My sister Julie and I {and Laurie trying to get in the pic too, haha} with Peyton and Madison.

Four Generations!  {don't you love these shots?}

 Bored in the backseat.  :)

 The next day, eating lunch at CA Pizza Kitchen.

To Be Continued...

Vacation! - the Nebraska part.

So after a fun weekend with the Cortney's, we headed to Nebraska (about a 4 hour drive) to see my moms side of the family.  Again, I'll let the {bazillion} pictures do the talking:

As soon as we arrived, my cousins and Aunt's and Uncle's were at Grandmas waiting for us!  Peyton playing with my cousins son, Evan.

 My cousin Katie and Peyton.

 My cousin Katie and Aunt Carol, Aunt Dicki.

 My grandma, cousin Kelly and Laurie.

 My grandma's had this organ since I can remember.  It's one of those things that makes you feel all fuzzy and warm.  Here my grandma is with her great grandson's.

 Peyton was IN LOVE with Evan!  Seriously too cute!  He kept hugging and kissing him. ;)

 Anther thing about my grandmas house that makes the heart all fuzzy and warm is her backyard.  I've always loved it.

 My sister Laure and I with grams.

 We spent an afternoon at Cody Park looking at all the animals.  It was like a zoo, there were tons of animals!

 I just love this!!

 Goofy!

 Walking around Cody Park.

 Checking out the train at Cody Park.  We went inside of it, pretty neat.

 Peyton loved the organ.  We played it every day!

 Dinner at Whiskey Creek!

 My Grandpa and Peyton.  :)

 There was a bunny outside that HE saw first.  You can see it behind the chair...

 My Uncle Steve works at the railroad - it's the biggest train yard in the WHOLE WORLD!  He explained how it all works and it's very cool.

 At my Uncle Steve and Aunt Carol's for some American Idol and pizza.

 Peyton with Aunt Carol and Laurie.

 We had an amazing time with my family.  It was hard to leave, but as they say, all good things must come to an end... our plane ride home was a lot different than the ride there.  Peyton was exhausted from the trip and {thank God!} he fell asleep as soon as we took off {but the flight was 1.5 hours late and then once we boarded, we sat there for 30 min.  Yeah, like I said, Thank GOD he finally fell asleep!}

 Too bad this didn't turn out better, but here's a pic of Peyton with the pilot at the very end of our wonderful trip!

"Rejoice with your family in the beautiful land of life!"

-Albert Einstein

Pure Joy.

While the hubby's out for a guys night {seeing The Hangover 2, jealous!}, I might as well catch up on some blogging!

I was trying to get a good shot of Peyton wearing his "Star of Mommy's Blog" bib for my blog and ended up getting some super cute shots of him... not necessarily one of him and a clear shot of the bib, but that's okay.  He was playing with his truck, saying "vroom vroom," doing the "more" sign, and just being the darn sweet baby boy that he is.

"We must teach our children to dream with their eyes open."-Harry Edwards