Family Vacation to Colorado!

Last summer, Mom, Dad, Josh, and I all took a road trip to Colorado! It was one of the best experiences ever. I'm so glad that I didn't pass up this family vacation, unlike the one I passed up when they all went to Florida! :( all because I was an immature high schooler who would've rather had the house to myself at the time- if u know what I mean hehe!

We went on our family vacation in August of 2007. We had alot of fun and took some really good pictures! We drove up in the mountains and actually reached the top without any car troubles, sicknesses, ect! lol... I do have to say, it's the first time I've seen snow on the ground in August!! I didn't enjoy the cold too much but it's all good... Josh had a blast climbing further up the mountains to the tip top and finding elk droppings lol... and to top it off, he thought he had to take pics of it! It was a curvy ride back down the mountains, times like that is when we really tested our brakes!! :S

We also got to visit the hotel where a scene from Dumb and Dumber was played! We sat up by the bar where Lloyd and Harry sat and Josh and I "raced eachother to the top" like Harry and Lloyd did in the movie hehe <---- see picture :)

Also, this really turned out to be a good vacation in the long run because.... when we were touring the Caves, they had one of those aquariums that when you drop a penny or an item off of you in the aquarium and if you get it to land perfectly on the rock, you are 'guarenteed' to find your true love, but if it drops off the rock, you get nothing out of it... well, let's just say I didn't have a penny, so I took one of my bobby pins out of my hair and dropped it in, and it landed on the rock!! & about exactly 1 month later I met my true love!! How crazy ♥

We took the barge to Pike's Peake one of the days while we were there. Now let me tell you, that was pretty nerve recking! It went way too fast for me, who hates heights. I tried to avoid looking 'down' but it was hard not to when I had my lovely brother right there telling me to look at all the cool stuff below! lol... Once we got to the top it wasn't too bad, it was weird to think that I was at the highest point ever! :) We browsed the shops and got a bite to eat once we reached the top so I felt much better!

Also, we got to go to the Cubs vs. Rockies game! Josh was really happy we got to go. It was a good time- Mom and I just kept the beverages by our sides throughout the game lol it was hot out didn't want to get dehydrated! ;-)

By the end of our vacation, we were ready to come back 'home'... after sleeping in a hotel room for 6 nights straight, I was ready to be back in my own comfy bed! But until then, the car was okay as you can see :)

A nice Fall weekend back home

Mark and I headed back to Granville the weekend before Halloween! We try to make it back there as much as possible with our hecktic schedules! We usually try to keep it very simple and relaxed!

Saturday Mom, Dad, Mark and I all headed to Sioux City for the day to get the final fitting for my bridemaid dress for my friend Sarah's wedding! Then of course, Mom and I suggested heading over to the mall ;-) I think the guys knew we had that in the back of our heads the whole time so they agreed to it! We made it a short shopping day though, nothing like what Mom and I are used to that's for sure hehe... On our way home, we stopped at another one of Mark and I's favs... Taco Johns! :) We don't have a Taco Johns in Fort Dodge so it's a treat to us when we go back home and get to eat there! We made it back in time to hand out candy to the little trick or treators and make suzi filled cup cakes for the guys! (by request, I know, we spoil them too much:)) Oh and Josh had a pumpkin seed craving soo we emptied out one of Mom's overly sized-deformed pumpkins and baked pumpkin seeds!

Once again, Sunday came too fast. We grilled out for lunch and relaxed after lunch and then, unfortunately, had to pack up and head back to Dodge.

Mark's Birthday Weekend in KC!

For Mark's birthday, which was August 16th- same day as my mom's by the way and 9 days before mine!- we headed to Kansas City for the weekend! It's always nice going there, we've been there a few other times together also.

We left Friday morning and made it down there mid-afternoon. Friday afternoon we went to Worlds of Fun! It was such a good time! Mark made my chicken butt go on all of the different roller coasters- even the upside down ones!! Ah... Now when I look back at it, I'm glad I did! It was a great experience. To top off the day, we ate supper at one of mine and Mark's favorite restaurants ever! - Smokehouse BBQ :)

Saturday morning we ate breakfast in our Hotel and sat in the hot tub. So relaxing! We just took it easy that day and rested up for the big night ahead of us... We got to go to one of the Chief's pre-season football game! After the game, we went to Hooter's to get a bite to eat. I told our waitress that it was Mark's birthday and what they usually do is make the birthday person stand on a chair and all the Hooter's girls in their little tanks and short shorts(lol) gather round and sing happy birthday! But, we agreed that Mark could sit on a chair and they all gathered around and sang to him! He loved every minute of it- as much as he didn't want to admit it!

Sunday came way too fast! Before we knew it we had to pack up and head back to Fort Dodge... but, before doing that, we got to go to one of the best malls ever in Independence! They have some of the best stores and even have a pet store! Yes, I pretty much fell in love with the Yorkies that were there... Mark says, "someday". :-)