Brady's Colorado Trip

So, one night, well last Wednesday night to be precise, mommy stuffed me full of spaghetti. I was like why such a fancy meal?

Then Daddy said we're going to Colorado, that's why!! Let's give spaghetti kisses!

And then I said, ok well since I am the best looking in the family, I will drive us to Colorado with my new car.


All aboard the Brady train, bound for Colorado!

Well, they said I had too much spaghetti and I couldn't drive so we got in the car and off we were to Colorado! However, I woke up in a strange place. Mom said we were in Ogallala, Nebraska. I thought it smelled like urine and I thought it would be best if I didn't go to sleep in case any creepy people came to get us. Mom and Dad weren't real thrilled. After a crisp 3 hours of sleep, we hauled back in the car and drove to Colorado. I slept.

Umm this is Colorado? We had to travel 8 hours to go shopping and then see a rock? Cool guys, real cool.

Then we went to Daddy's old school. I went to Mommy's school, so we thought it was only fair to see Daddy's too. And what did I think, you ask? Umm yeah it was ok. Not the greatest for scoping out chicks, which is high on my list of priorities, but yeah there were lots of rocks and snow, so cool school Dad!

Yeah it was bitterly cold out. Good thing I can pull off looking good in the cold too, no matter the elements or location.

I think the altitude got to me a little.....

So, I don't want to be a poor sport or anything, but I think that Rascal was trying to steal my thunder this weekend. I know you've been on so many vacations with Mom and Dad Rascal, but really? You have to steal Dad away every time I fall asleep, really?

See what I mean? He thinks he's so cool in that vest.

Hey everyone, look at me! I can sit on a rock too!

Then Mom made us sit on a rock together. Awkward!

Then Rascal told me he wished that I had just stayed asleep in the car. I was shocked. And hurt.

But I told on him, and he had to stay in the car so I could hang out with Daddy all by myself!

Help! I've fallen off a rock and I can't get up!

Ha! Gotcha! I didn't really fall, and I still look good. Hey ladies, want me to go on a hike with you and I can tell you all about rocks and stuff.

Then we decided to go hiking and I was pissed that Rascal came too!

Umm he swore at me and he still gets to go hiking? Nevermind the fact that he looks great while hiking, he has caused a rift in our friendship and our brotherhood!

What is that Rascal, an apology? I just don't think I can hear it right now.

Yeah read the shirt, still living at home and I am very upset about that!

There Rascal goes again, taking pictures at the Academy with Dad while I'm asleep. Guess what Rascal, you will never go to the Academy! You're too short, too hairy, and your breath smells way too bad. Take that!!


Then we went to the best place ever!!! It was called Little Monkey Bizness, and yeah it was the bomb! Babe central!!!

Hiiii, my name is Brady. Be my friend?

It was so cool. I got the climb all around and I think I may have found a Valentine. Or 2.

She may or may not have bit half my tongue off.

So then I climbed the wall.

And looked good sliding down the slide.

My Monkey Bizness mug shot. Great place! Best part, Rascal wasn't allowed in!

Enjoying a nice bottle after my workout.

Then we drove up a mountain. I fell asleep, and Dad and Rascal got to enjoy the top of Lookout Mountain without me.

Conclusions of my trip:

1. Colorado is just a bunch of rocks, some are red, and some have snow on them. That is it.

2. Rascal and I do not travel well together. Our relationship is TBC (to be continued..)

3. It isn't any harder to poop at 7,000 feet above sea level

4. Monkey Bizness is the real hidden treasure of Colorado

THE END!!

Colorado Trip!

Well the Ross family is back from their first family vacation (besides Minnesota)! We decided to go to Colorado because: 1. I absolutely love Colorado and would love to live there someday. I can't get enough of the beautiful mountains and the endless amounts of hiking there is to do! 2. To check out Colorado Springs and the Academy to see how things have changed. 3. To show Brady the Air Force Academy and 4. To take Rascal hiking! He is quite the hiking dog. (On a side note, we counted and Colorado is the 16th state Rascal has visited. I would say he is an official traveling man.) We left our travel plans pretty open because we didn't know exactly how it would go traveling in the mountains with a 9 month old and a small dog. It took us about 8 hours to get to Colorado Springs (we spent the night in western Nebraska the first night in a creepy hotel) and traveled at night so that Brady would sleep. Overall, the trip went pretty well. It wasn't as warm as they had first predicted, but it was a lot warmer than Nebraska! We got to see a lot of mountains, do some hiking, and got to see the Academy again. Brady didn't sleep real well so we cut our trip a day short and came back home last night. We're going to celebrate our 10 year dating anniversary today and Valentine's Day tomorrow. Brian has leave until Wednesday, so we're going to spend a lot of time together doing some fun stuff in Nebraska! Here are the pictures from our trip:

So excited on the way to Colorado! (Notice the two little teeth on the bottom!)

The beautiful chapel at the Air Force Academy

Brady and I at the chapel

The terazzo at the Academy. It looks the same!

See that rocky peak? I climbed that mountain 6 years ago!! It was very scary and I cried a majority of the way, but hey I climbed it! :) It looks so big to me!

We stayed at the TLFs (temporary lodging facilities) at the Air Force Academy and this was our view right outside our door.

Garden of the Gods.

Brian and Rascal hiking

Rascal, the king of the mountain!

Brian and Rascal with the Garden of the Gods in the background

Our family :)

My little man and me

My other little man and me

Brian and Brady at the Garden of the Gods

Pikes Peak. Breathtaking!

Brady loved the mountains!

Brady and I in the Garden of the Gods park

More Garden of the Gods

Brian and Rascal on balanced rock

Our view hiking at Red Rock Canyon Park

Hiking in the Mountains

My boys were tuckered out!

The Academy

Brady was asleep as we left the Academy. Here it is in the background. Possible graduate of USAFA Class of 2032? (Yikes!)

We then drove to Golden, Colorado. It's 30 minutes from Denver and is the home of Coors Brewery. We had never driven up Lookout Mountain, so we decided to make the trek up. It was an incredibly long and windy road. Not the best for my stomach, but the view was pretty!

Another view from the mountain

On this same mountain top, was the grave of Buffalo Bill

And then, the highlight of our trip: Overland Trail! Ok, not really. We had to stop for a potty/diaper change break and it was this crazy small town in northeastern Colorado called Sterling.

We decided to walk around to get us all out of the car. I don't think Brady cared where he was, he had fun on Daddy's shoulders! :)

And that was our trip! I'm sure Brady will blog later about his experience since I never seem to tell it right!

What a difference a year makes....

A few nights ago as I was up with Brady (teething) trying to get him to fall back asleep, I was thinking to myself that a year ago yesterday our life was way different.

A Year Ago:

*We were just getting ready to leave Mississippi (aka the land with the mildest winter!) for Nebraska (typical Midwest snowy, cold winter)

*I was 30 some weeks pregnant

*Rascal was an only child

*Brian was a new pilot

Today:

*We have an amazing active 9 month old. He is pulling up on everything, crawling around like crazy, (mostly to bug Rascal) and gets in to everything he can get his hands on. He can say Mama, Dada, good job, and gay (he says that whenever Rascal is around, which I think is his way of saying doggy, we hope). He also has 2 teeth now that are almost all of the way through (which has been a nightmare and a half!) I think we will wait some time before baby #2!

*We own our own home in Nebraska which we love. We love having visitors (come visit me March-June!) and entertaining our friends. I'm very fed up with the snow and the cold weather (staying inside day after day with a teething, crabby boy is just about as enjoyable as my root canal was) and am very ready for spring!!

*Rascal is annoyed daily by his little brother, but enjoys that Brady is now learning to throw his ball!

*Brian's an official co-pilot of the RC-135 and is getting ready for his first deployment. :( I can't really say too much about it (where he is and what he's doing) but just know that he's leaving sometime in March and will be back sometime in June. Keep him in your prayers (and us too!) as this 1st deployment for us is going to be hard. Brady and I plan on coming to Minnesota a few times while he's gone and will be having a 1st Birthday Party for Brady in April there as well!

Hope everyone has a fun and safe Superbowl Sunday! We won't be buying a new house today, as we did last year, but we'll be watching the Superbowl with some friends at our house. We're also going to Colorado for a mini vacation this week to enjoy some family time!! I promise lots of pictures my next post!