Family for the Fourth

We are so excited to have so many of our family members start visiting us now that we're in Colorado. I'm sure they would've loved visiting us when we lived in Hawaii, but so far, a quick road trip over to CO has worked out a lot better for everyone.

For the Fourth of July this year, we had Tyler's brother, Thad, and his wife Jenn come to visit with their four kids. Our kids had so much fun with "the cousins" and it was a great weekend.

I spent a good amount of time researching the local attractions, doing some reconnaissance work around the area, and re-making list after list to come up with the best weekend agenda we could for the family. The funny thing is, that on Thursday afternoon when our first rainstorm of their trip came through -- I was reminded of what can be most entertaining for kids: playing in the rain.

These cute kids had never played in the rain. how is that possible? Just live in a place where it doesn't rain - and have all your family live there too - so it just doesn't happen. Liza and Landon were more than happy to take their cousins out to do some puddle stompin' and good old fashioned rain playin.' They came in soaking wet and very proud of themselves.


On Friday, we took a drive down to Colorado Springs to check out the Garden of the Gods.

It was super cool - and had a few spots in particular that fascinated me.

We hiked around for a bit, and then realized that all of my planning failed to consider something: the source of the visitors. Thad and Jenn live in St. George, so red rocks and a nice, warm day are nothing new to them.

They specifically said they leave every year for the Fourth to get away from the heat.

Sorry guys. At least it was only our version of hot. 90 degrees :)

So, on a nice act of balancing it all out, we drove up Pikes Peak and got to see the view from the top of a fourteen-er.

Up there it definitely wasn't hot or sweaty - and there was plenty of snow.

A the end of the day, I was pleased and surprised to hear that my kids' favorite part of the day was going to the top. "going up and up and up!!"

That's a view worth hiking for - maybe next time ;)

yeah - I was too cheap to pay for the cog wheel train - but not too proud to pass up a photo op.

Remember, my son is obsessed with trains - I was just being a nice mom - - and saving hundreds of dollars in the meantime (though only Landon would say I was being nice - note that Liza was so mad about having to come off the train that she wouldn't pose for another picture).

Saturday was the Fourth of July and we had plenty to do here in Highlands Ranch. It wouldn't be the Fourth without a trip to Town Center and a ride on Vern's train,

a jump at the bounce houses,

-and darn those silly pony rides.

AND, it wouldn't be the Fourth without a barbecue. Thanks to Tyler's sweet new iphone and craigs list app, he kept his sensors out for a new barbecue, and got a great one for a killer deal. So, we grilled burgers, dogs, and corn on the cob, and had ourselves a veritable feast.

I'll have to get a copy of it from Jenn, but the irony of the meal was that the rain had come again at cookin' time, so Tyler rolled the grill up to the back screen door, and stood inside the house while he grilled outside.

The kids cracked me up during the fireworks. Liza and Landon adopted a line from their cousin Trevin, which apparently they learned during the fireworks display. "TOTALLY WICKED!!" Nothing like a 3-year old calling something totally wicked.

Finally, a shout out to the sweetest little baby we've had at our house in a while. Brayden is such a happy boy, and Liza, the lover of all things baby, was more than happy to dote on him all weekend long.

All in all, we had a blast and were super glad our cousins and family came to spend the long weekend with us!