Our epic cross country journey started with a drive to GA where Thomas got to meet Pa and YaYa.
We crashed at their house for the night and then woke up bright and early and headed to Nashville TN where we picked up Rachel who flew in to rescue us from a long drive all on our own. We left the house around 7 am ish and ended up getting to Nashville about 30 minutes early because we hadn't taken into consideration the time change. oops! Since we had 30 minutes to kill I quickly made the decision to go see if I could visit Craft South, the new fabric shop of my very favorite fabric designer Anna Maria Horner. I had looked it up on line before and knew that it wasn't too far from the airport. Unfortunately when we routed the address, I had accidentally noted the address of Anna Maria's actual home. We drove back and forth on her street a couple of times a bit confused before I realized the mistake I had made and recognized that it was her actual house I had caught glimpses of from her blog photos. I should have snapped a pic but at this point we were running short on time, there were cars behind us and I was a bit afraid of looking like a stalker, I mean I had met her a quilt market a few different times, I would feel a little silly if she suddenly drove in/out of her driveway as I was photographing her house. We made it to the airport in time to find Rachel's flight was a little late, but we got her and continued our journe
Mer practiced using the new Go Pro camera and the boys all traded around devices the whole day.
A few more hours passed and we made it to St. Louis, This is as close as we got to the arch, much to the kids dismay. The day had just become too crazy to stop here and enjoy the sites.
We did have to stop here and there to nurse the exasperated baby. He did just so good most of the time but sometimes he had had enough of the carseat and we just had to get him out.
Along with other untold goofiness.
We drove by hundreds and hundreds of these windmills. We were kind of fascinated by them. Jack had just finished a science research project about them a couple of months before so it was really fun to see them in real life. They look like they are out of this world. So tall. After about 8-9 hrs of uneventful driving we finally made it to Boulder. Those mountains never looked so good.
And of course Grandparents. Thomas got to officially meet them too.
We saw a fun concert in the park of FACE, an a capella group. They were awesome.
The kids had fun playing cards, basketball and arm wrestling. This face off between Jack and Eli was just too cute.
These eyes! His eyebrows and long lashes are the best.
For our big event my mom held a carnival. We each were responsible for coming up with a game to play. Jack and I made this Shape Attack from an old sheet. easy!
There was also a jail you could pay with the tickets that you earned to lock someone up. Look at these forlorn prisoners.
Jer gave dad a griddle a couple of years ago and its fun to have the boys to all the outside cooking.
I couldn't help get mer to snap a photo of us all one morning when we all found ourselves standing on the deck. Even if I was still in my PJs and Tob in a girlie apron. It's just so fun to all be together.
There is a museum inside at the top. We parked right next to it but had to trek all the way down to the bottom and then all the way back to the top to get to it. I think the pedometer built into my phone said we hiked 6 miles that day including more than 24 flights stairs. It was crazy and exhausting.
This large safety pin through the nose was Max's purchase, It might come in handy at Halloween.
The day before we left Colorado, Doug flew into town. We did a little sight seeing in Boulder with him. Pizza and Pizza Calore, wading in the icy Boulder Creek, and visiting a farmer's market.
Have you seen Liberty puzzles? Mom had one. They are amazing. All intricate wood cut pieces. They are amazing.
Doug taught the cousins how to play Mastermind.
And then the next day we were of to UT!
