Colorado Trip

Our Colorado trip left us wanting more! We had a great time with my parents. To my knowledge, no one got on anyone’s nerves. That’s success in an of itself! Not many people can be together for 12 days & be sad to split back up. Colorado was beautiful. We started with a few rainy days, but by the middle of the week, it was all sun & warm days. It was perfect!

We arrived to Avon on Saturday. That night we went to the grocery to get some things to eat in the rooms so we didn’t have to eat out each meal. I had been up since 2:30 AM, so I was exhausted for that grocery trip. By the time I went to bed that night, I had been up 22 hours! I was almost to the point of not making sense with my speech. Since we were so tired, our only outing of the day was grocery shopping.

Sunday we went to Vail, which was about 5 miles away. We got a great surprise & found out that they were having a huge farmer’s market. It was all really cool. Ryan and I had been to Vail 4 years prior, but they had changed so much it was like seeing a brand new place. For lunch, we ate at a favorite restaurant of ours from the time before. It was a really fun pizza place. After playing in Vail for the day, we headed back to the resort & let Sydney swim. She loved being in the pool!!! Everyday, she would say “water, water!” It was cute…& annoying! ;o)

Monday, we headed to Breckenridge. It is a very neat town. Along the main strip are little houses that have been turned into restaurants or shops. We shopped for a little while before it started raining. After it started raining, we decided to drive to a cookie shop that we had walked passed. It had delicious smelling cookies. Later in the day, the cookies proved to be as delicious as they smelled! After the guys picked up enough for all of us, we drove around for a little while enjoying the beautiful scenery that God has created there. Once the sun came back out, we stopped at a little park to enjoy our cookies. It was a nice place to stretch our legs & enjoy the beautiful weather.

Tuesday, we went on a really cool train ride in Leadville. It took us 11 miles up in the mountains. While we were on our way back, it started sleeting!! It was amazing how quickly the temperature changes when going up in the mountains. As soon as the sun hides behind the clouds, it can drop 20 degrees or more! Nothing like at home. The train ride was one of the highlights of the trip for both Ryan and me. Sydney slept through part of it, but the part she was awake for, she loved, too. After the train ride, we drove around to see the beautiful scenery. Later on in the day, we let Sydney swim again.

Wednesday we took the gondola ride up Vail Mountain. From there, we hiked to the top. It was a H-I-K-E! No, not because it was steep or strenuous. It was because of the high altitude. Our minds were telling our bodies that the climb we were doing was an EASY climb. However, our bodies were disagreeing. We were all out of breath at times. If we had been hiking the same thing but been in LBL, it would not have been a problem at all. It was a very weird feeling because our eyes were not seeing what our bodies were feeling. The view from the top was worth every step! It was absolutely beautiful! Since we had to get back to the gondola to get down, we didn’t get to spend as much time up there as we would have liked. It was gorgeous, though!

Thursday we decided to be kind to our bodies. So, we headed back to Breckenridge to see more of the shops. It was a beautiful day & was perfect for what we had decided to do. We walked around the town until we had seen everything we wanted. After that, we drove up one mountain so that we could look down on the city. We got a really cool view!

Friday was by far one of my favorite days. We made a loop that went from Avon down to Aspen & back up. It took all day, but was worth every minute. The views were breathtaking. We stopped at the Continental Divide at Independence Pass. It was a little windy for Sydney, but the rest of us were in awe of what we saw. Aspen was a little disappointing. It was very commercialized in our opinion. It was a bigger city than we expected, too. We were very thankful that we had spent most of our time in the areas we did, because they proved to be the prettiest. On the way to and from Aspen, though, was proof that our God exists. It was the most gorgeous place in the world. I think Ryan and I could have moved into any of the remote areas & have been happy.

Saturday we headed back to Denver. We spent the evening downtown. Denver has a really neat downtown. I had heard about it from several different people. So, I was glad to be able to see it for myself. I believe every big city needs a downtown like that!

Sunday morning, we headed back to the airport. It took us 3 planes, 4 airports, and one car ride to get us home. Ryan and I were thankful to be back in our own bed, but were missing CO already that night.

Yesterday, while grocery shopping, Ryan told me that he was sad we weren’t in CO and wished we could turn around and go back. How many husbands can spend over a week with their in-laws and call it a happy vacation? I am one blessed woman!!!

Also, since I posted a book, I decided not to post any pictures. To view pictures of our trip, go to gallery.mac.com/ryanandlesli. :o)

Vacation & Dora

We got home tonight from our Colorado trip with my parents. We had a BLAST!! It was beautiful! I think if Colorado was closer to Kentucky, you'd never get Ryan out! We all had a really great time. More pictures & info to come.

Before our Colorado trip, we took Sydney to see Dora & Boots at the Louisville Zoo. Thankfully, it rained that morning, so the zoo wasn't too busy. Being a holiday, we were prepared for the worst. The line took a little while, but it wasn't as bad as we expected. We got our picture with Dora & were able to see many different animals. The day was a complete success! Below are a couple of pictures of our little family with Dora and Boots. Hope you enjoy!

Pool Party

Yesterday afternoon, we got out the little pool at my parents' & put water in it. It was very cold at first, but warmed up quickly. Sydney and I played in it this morning. We had a blast!! It was a good way to keep her cool outside & to get me some much needed sun! Sydney LOVES to play outside, but since it's been so hot I haven't let her play out there much. This turned out to be such a good way to get to play with my little girl! I'll have to take some pictures & post them. She's a cutie in her little bathing suit!

Ryan is out-of-town again this week, so as long as the weather cooperates, it looks like we'll have some more time this week to enjoy the outdoors...we do miss him though! She would probably love playing in the pool with him much more than me. Daddy is much more fun...and that's ok by me!

Moving Nathan, No AC, & Sick Baby

Saturday, my parents, Ryan, and I helped Nathan move into what will be his & Kacey's apartment. It was very cool to be apart of that experience. My mom & I spent the better part of the day cleaning the old apartment while the guys moved his stuff to the new apartment. I think by the end of the day, we were all exhausted!

Since Sydney was sick, Ryan's mom kept her that day & night. It was great to know that she was playing & having fun instead of getting in trouble for getting into things while we were moving! She had a blast there. So, it was a win-win situation. Thanks, Mama Rita, for keeping her!

Yesterday, Ryan stayed home with Sydney while I went to church. After church, he worked on a paper for school while Sydney and I took a nap. After our nap, Ryan and I headed out on the town while my parents kept the little one. We went to dinner at TGI Fridays. After dinner, we saw the new Indiana Jones movie. We both thought it was pretty good. Even if it would have been horrible, it would have been worth it to have a date with my hubby!

After returning to my parents, my mom & noticed some spots on my parents' ceiling. Turns out, the AC was leaking on the ceiling! That meant it had to be turned off for the night & people called this morning. I began wondering if we were jinxing them by being here! (Our AC is still not fixed.) At 8:30am this morning, people were ringing the door bell. By 9:30 or so, they were gone & the AC was fixed. Yea!

That brings me to now. My baby is still sick. She is much better than she was last week, but she is still not feeling 100%. I think I have figured out that keeping the windows open at the house instead of turning on the AC is what did it to her. When she is inside, she is so much better. It seems her allergies caused the ear problems & sore throat. :o(

Since the AC at the house doesn't work, we are staying with my parents until it is fixed. I'm hoping it's going to be fixed quickly because we were planning on having a yard sale on Saturday! We have it all pulled out, but nothing is priced. We'll see. That yard sale may have to happen another weekend...I'm just not sure we have any other weekends this summer free!

So, that's our weekend in a nutshell. :o)

Sick baby

Well, things have not gotten better since my last post. Sydney hasn't been throwing up anymore, but she's still coughing. I called the doctor yesterday morning & they wanted to see her. The doctor said her throat & ears were really red. Ryan and I are fairly certain that she got this bug at the doctor's office Tuesday, because she was fine up until that point. Quite frustrating! 

She looks like she's just miserable. Her eyes are red and watery. She coughs like someone who has been smoking all her life. It's just sad. I really think we have allergies going on in addition to the ears & throat thing. 

This weekend we are heading out-of-town. We're moving Nathan from one apartment to another in Nashville. I really hope that Sydney gets to feeling better so that she can enjoy the time visiting with family...we'll see. Prayers for my baby are welcomed! Thanks!

Pics from the weekend

Smelling the flowers at Gigi & Pawpaw's

The Love Birds

Sydney's favorite person for the day!

Sydney & Kacey

Sydney & Pawpaw

Mowing with Pawpaw

Home...

We arrived home last night. I have to say, it is the first time that I have had that "Ah..." feeling when arriving home. Usually, I get that feeling when I get to my parents' house. Don't get me wrong, I LOVED every minute of being with them this last week!!!! It was an awesome week. However, it is nice to be home. I'm excited to get back into our routine & get back out in the yard. 

I'm thankful to have parents who are so willing to open their doors to us. Years ago, they gave us a key to their house & told us to come & go as we please. They mean it, too!! If they came in one day & saw Ryan asleep on the couch & had no idea he was coming, they would think "Oh, I didn't realize he was going to be in town. Cool." They would not be upset that he came in and laid down on their couch. It is cool that they accept us both with open arms! Of course, they adore Sydney...so, that makes it even sweeter. 

It was nice to spend a week with people like that. I'm lucky that I can also call them my parents! It is also nice to be home. :o) I'm not sure Sydney is agreeing with me on that last one, though. She loved all the extra attention! 

Fun but Busy Week

This week has been a great week, but it has been busy! So far, we have played outside with sidewalk chalk, eaten dinner at Grandma's, eaten dinner at Pizza Hut with family, gone to Wal-Mart, got Gigi's hair cut, got my hair colored & cut (for almost 1/2 the price I normally pay! Yay!), talked to one of my bestest friends for an hour and a half, met PawPaw for ice cream during the middle of the day, went for a walk around the subdivision, & played, played, played. It has been a refreshing change of pace! Today, if I can quit procrastinating, we plan to do a little shopping before picking up Gigi at work & grilling out tonight for dinner...yum!

In a few days I'll post pictures of this week. We haven't made a ton, but there have been some cute ones. Hope you're all having a wonderful week, too!!!

Paducah bound

Sydney and I are still in Paducah. Ryan found out that he was going to be in Evansville from Tuesday-Friday, so we decided to stay put. It is nice to have the change of pace & chance to visit better with family, but I do miss my hubby!! Love ya, Babe!!

On the Mend

Thankfully Sydney, Ryan, and I are all on our way to being healthy again. Ryan and I started getting sick last Wed/Thurs. It wasn't a fun week for any of us! Besides the lagging cough, we are feeling much better. I hope we all stay well for a long time!!

Saturday, we headed to Central City, KY to pick up Sam. We dropped him off on our way to IL a week and a half ago, but when our destination for that Friday changed from Paducah to Evansville, IN we weren't able to pick him up like we had originally planned. Luckily, my parents love Sam. So, they didn't mind keeping him. It is nice to have him home. :o)

We also picked up a lawn mower that my parents graciously gave us. Now that we're in a rental house, the yard work is up to us. We're not complaining, though. We're actually looking forward to it. We were very thankful to my parents!! It definitely saved us $$! 

When we got home from Central City, I mowed our yard while Ryan worked on cutting back 3 of the plants that were hugely overgrown. I wish we would have taken a before & after picture because it is a huge difference! Our yard was in desperate need of mowing! It looks great now & I can't wait until the weather warms up again so that we can get out there and play!! 

Thanks to all for your prayers for Sydney. It was a scary time for this mommy. Although the sickness itself wasn't a scary sickness, the fever was. It just wouldn't break at night. That part really had me freaked out. Now, she's fever-free & sleeping through the night!! Yay!! :o)

On a side note, Sara, you were right!! Once she got close to the 18 month mark, she began sleeping through the night with no problem. We still have to get up with her occasionally, but it's only a few times a week. That, I can definitely handle! Thanks for giving me hope! 

Easter 2008

Easter was a ton of fun this year! I wasn't sure that Sydney would get the concept of hunting Easter Eggs, but she did...sort of. When we clean up, I tell her to get one thing and put it in whatever it goes in. When she does that, she will put the toy in it's place and say, "Good girl". So, when she would pick up an egg & put it in the basket, she would say, "Good girl." It was quite cute, if you ask me! Then I started saying, "YAY!" When she would put one in the basket. She quickly changed from "good girl" to "yay!" That was cute, too. After she got all we would let her get, she decided it was time to hide them again & started taking them out of the basket and putting them back where she found them. Funny! 

After the Easter Egg Hunt, Nathan, my Mom, and me went out to the mall to hit the sales. I can't say that it was the highlight of the weekend for Nathan, but I had a ton of fun. It's not often that the three of us get to hang out, so it was nice being together. Plus, I was at a mall with others & no stroller! :o)

Saturday night we celebrated Nathan and my birthdays which occur next week. We had our favorite...lasagna! This year it was extra special because it was made by my dad! He doesn't cook things like that normally. My mom is usually the cook. Since Mom had a full day, he stepped up and made our dinner. It was delicious! Good work, Dad!

Sunday was great having our immediate family together. I love worshipping at Reidland, but it is extra special when all of us are together. That afternoon, we had another great meal at the Anderson home. The Williams came over to help us eat it all. It was a great time & we were all well fed. 

The weekend was almost perfect! Ryan's mom has been struggling with a really bad sinus infection lately & wasn't up for visitors. We were sad that we missed seeing them & hope that she gets better soon!! 

To see more Easter pics, you can go to our website.

I hope you all had a wonderful Easter & remember the meaning of that special day!

Opryland Hotel

If you know me at all, you know that I can be quite stubborn. So, although I didn't really feel up to going to the Opryland Hotel on Saturday, we went anyway. I'm not sure anyone was really jumping up and down to go, but thankfully they love me enough to endure the weather & boredom of a 4 hour car ride. We had a good time. The lights were pretty. It seemed like there weren't as many up this year as there have been in years past, but it could be my memory making more of it than there actually was.

It was really nice having everyone together. By everyone, I mean: my parents, my little family, and Nathan. Sydney LOVES her uncle Nathan!!! It is so cute to see her with him. She just can't get enough of him. And...I think he's a little fond of her as well. It was nice to have an evening with the family all together.

As far as my health goes, I'm still battling. I do not hurt near as much as I did the beginning of last week, but I am still exhausted. I'm hoping it's just the medicine that is making me this tired. We'll have to wait and see, I guess.