Thanksgiving in Colorado

This year since I had the whole week off at work we decided to make the trip out to Colorado to visit my parents. We hadn't been out since our cross-country road trip over the summer of 2010. K was GREAT on the ride up. She hardly made a peep. She's so flexible, I love her easy going personality. It was cold and windy when we arrived but after being the car we knew K needed to go out and play so we had some fun playing basketball outside.

She also had to test out Grandma's trampoline- that's right- Grandma's trampoline. I wanted one so bad when I was young but my dad said they were too dangerous. Haha. Anyway, she LOVED it. She was squealing the whole time.

On Monday we decided to take K to Santa's Workshop at the "North  Pole". It was at the base of Pike's Peak in Colorado Springs. Of course, the scenery was beautiful but it was a little chilly. She was SO excited. When we pulled up she said "Look Mommy, a Playground!" She noticed all the rides. It was a cute little family owned amusement park. It has been around for a long time and even though it was dated, it was super cute and we had such a blast.

Here's Kayleigh on the Sleigh when we went in

Cute, cute place

Riding the train around the park.

Waiting in line to see Santa.

We weren't sure how she would do with Santa. Last year she was very excited to see him, but wouldn't sit. Even though she loves characters in costume, she wasn't too sure about Santa last year. This year she didn't want to sit in his lap. But she couldn't wait to show him her special Owl Gloves. She also had to do her little "Look, I fell down" routine to be silly. Then she realized Santa was AWESOME and she gave him a big hug and posed for a few pictures with him. Now we've been talking a lot about how Santa will bring her toys if she is a good girl and she totally gets it. It's so much fun.

Showing Santa her gloves

Hugging Santa

How sweet is this?

And...I've about reached my limit mom. Let's go!

After visiting Santa, we stopped by a huge fire pit (where they also were selling S'more kits) to warm our hands while mom and grandma went in the gift shop for a bit.

Warming hands

Now begins the ride portion of the visit. She LOVES rides. I wondered if she would get bored and want to get off halfway through, but she loved every second. She rode a carousel, a car ride, and a Christmas tree spinning ride.

Riding a reindeer

Riding the bus ride with Grandma

Riding the Christmas Tree ride.

They were really high up there. :) She loved every minute.

The next day we took Kayleigh up in to the mountains to see some snow. It was probably about 8 inches deep and nice and powdery. She wasn't sure what to do at first (it was up to her thighs) then she wanted to take her gloves off and spread it around. It was cold, so once we finally got her to keep her gloves on, she had a blast taking snowballs Grandpa made and throwing them. Our original plan was to sled, but we couldn't hike far enough up. My dad tried a quick ride down a steep hill. Kayleigh watched him and as he rolled off the toboggan, she said "Grandpa, you okay?" It was so funny. She loved playing with the snow.

Checking it out

What is this stuff

I love it!

With Grandma and Grandpa

Snowballs!

Hiking around

Family Pic, she wasn't cooperating

Hiking with Grandma

On Thanksgiving it warmed up and we took the opportunity to go hiking around my parents' house. There are so many rocks and things to see and Kayleigh loves being outside.

Hiking around

Group picture from the top of "Rocky Ridge'

K digging

Playing with the rocks she found.

My grandparents, K's great grandparents, also came down for Thanksgiving. This was the first time she has met them and she had a blast. They brought her 2 adorable bears that she has been toting around the house since. I was so sad I couldn't get her to actually pose for a picture, but it typical toddler fashion- it's GO-GO-GO! These are the only pictures I could actually get.

October 2011

Well, we've been slacking lately and I haven't had a chance to update the blog!

To start off, we had a great visit with Jourdan's parents who came down to visit to go to the State Fair. It was perfect to go as a group so we could all sample the fried goodness and not spend a ton of money. We have been to many fairs and this one did not disappoint. We went early to beat the crowd and to try and accommodate K's nap schedule. She ended up falling asleep while strolling around so it didn't matter but you never know how she will do. :) K's favorite part was the petting zoo. She loves animals and has no fear when it comes to them. As we were walking around, Jourdan pointed out a mean-looking Ostrich in a cage nearby. K runs right up to it and it pecks her hand. She was very upset and kept saying "Mommy, Ostrich not nice!!!" She quickly got over it and has since been to a petting zoo at the Celina Balloon Festival and she isn't scarred for life.

K enjoying the petting zoo

General Fair Silliness

And now for what you really wanted to know about- the fried foods. We tried a really random assortment of things that included, Fried Frito Pie, Fried Latte, Fried Bacon, Fried Cookie Dough, Fried Strawberry Waffle Balls, Fried S'mores, Fried Chicken Skin, and Fried Banana Pudding. The Fried Bacon was my favorite. Woohoo!

Sampling some goodies

Now on to Halloween.

Now that K is very opinionated, I knew that her costume had to be something she would agree to wear. I'm not big on some of those cheesy costumes from the costume shops so I figured I'd just go easy and get her an Old Navy costume since they have good prices and they're cute. J and I looked online one night and agreed we thought the monster costume was really funny but I would take her and let her pick out which one she liked because there were so many cute ones to choose from. She and I went to Old Navy one Saturday and she sprinted to the monster costume (which was the last one left and it was in her size- a sign!) She yelled "Mommy, Mostah! Mostah!" She had to carry it around the store and even on the way home. I let her try it on a couple times before Halloween and to practice her best monster "Rawr!". I ended up having to hide it in the hall closet because she always wanted to wear it. My parents and grandparents ended up coming down for a visit on Halloween weekend so they got to be here to see her Trick or Treating. She was barely walking last year and still had major stranger anxiety so she didn't really get much out of trick or treating. Also this year, we decided to step it up a notch and try to carve a Mickey Mouse pumpkin for Kayleigh since she loves Mickey. Jourdan was skeptical once he saw the pattern but it turned out awesome and Kayleigh loved it!!

On Halloween, which as you know was a workday this year, she was SO excited to go was ready "Mommy,  I go trick or treating!" We noticed other kids outside early so we decided to join too. She was going 90 miles an hour, at the first house she practiced saying "Trick or Treat!" and .... no one answered.... On to the next house, also no answer. Finally at the 3rd house, the door opens and a barking yippy dog sprints out at us. K lunges at me and I hit her in the head with the camera that was around my neck. Ahhh let the crying commence..... We go on to the next house where they were sitting outside. She wanted my to carry her (still shaken up). They give her candy and she immediately understands what's going on. "Mommy, open candy!" From then on she was good and wanted to stop and sample all the candy along the way.

asking for me to open the candy

Mommy, Daddy, and K

Ding-Dong

Showing her stash to her Great Grandma and Grandpa

Showing the goods to Grandma

The Great Pumpkin

I love this time of year!!!! Of course, in keeping with your annual tradition, we just had to take K to a local pumpkin patch. Jourdan surprised us with a trip to the Dallas Arboretum, which is known for their pumpkin displays. It was awesome! Kayleigh is SO in to holiday stuff this year and she LOVES to be outside so it was a win-win for everyone. Though, trying to get her to sit still to pose for a picture was not so easy but I still think we got some cute ones.

Here is K with her little pumpkin she carries around. She has a scratch under her nose that looks like a Cindy Crawford mole. :)

All the types of pumpkins they had by the entrance. Of course, Minnie Mouse had to come too.

Check out these pumpkins, mom!

Loving all the pumpkins

Look at this funny one!

So many pumpkins, so little time

Awesome pumpkin houses

Really cool

It was Cinderella themed- check out the carriage

K had to sit in it too

Peek-a-Boo!

Checking it out

Boo!

She was like a pin-ball running around.

Chillin' with some pumpkins

Awesome displays

Chasing K around- as usual

Which one do I want.....hmmmmm

So many pumpkins....

Checking out the walkway and taking a smoothie break as we check out the rest of the Arboretum

Having  a blast ducking in and out of the water. She didn't want to leave this area.

Loving the frogs

View of the lake

Checking out the Texas Pioneer area.

Pioneer K

This place is awesome! :)