Vay-cay!

I have reluctantly decided to return to life with society after being in denial for a week.  We returned from a fabulous trip to Denver last Monday (has it really already been almost a week since we've been home?) and it's taken me about that long to shake off the post-vacation blues.  Denver was awesome- sixty degrees and sunny everyday and we were outside more than we were inside!  We returned to my beloved Midwest and found out that winter is definitely still here.  Yep.  The big snow we had a couple of weeks ago is pretty much all gone (amazingly enough!) but we get a dusting about every other day and the temperature refuses to get out of the thirties.  I have loved winter and accepted it lovingly with open arms, but I think the gloomy skies are getting to me!  I sure hope that groundhog was right.

But I digress... back to vacation.

We stayed with the lovely Boyer family and Jacob enjoyed spending time with their grandkids that are the same age.  The three of them were so cute together and I think Jake developed a little crush!  We too Jake on his first zoo trip (sidenote: the Denver Zoo is awesome by the way) and although he didn't really notice many of the animals, he loved riding in the stroller and his first go around on the carousel.  Looks like he's going to be an amusement park thrill-seeker like his mommy and daddy based on the huge grin he had on his face the whole time.   Josh's dad came out and met us for a night, joined us at the zoo, and treated us to a great night in the mountains.  Josh skied Breckenridge one morning while I pampered myself at the spa.  I actually knew he'd have more fun without me because he'd feel like he needed to stay with me and is a much better skier than I am.  Plus, as a mom, I will pay someone anyday to have an hour of peace and quiet while someone rubs soothing lotions all over me... it was pure bliss!  Plus, my ski clothes are really not up to par, so that sounded way better than literally freezing my tush off.  We did lots of shopping (another sidenote: downtown Denver is amazing!  Streets are blocked off for pedestrians and it's shop after shop, indoor/outdoor malls, and every restaurant you could ever want!), ate great meals that we don't get here like Cheesecake Factory and Brio, got Jake his first "big boy" haircut, and spent a really fun afternoon bowling at Lucky Strike.  Josh and I get away every now and then, but we usually come home feeling like we weren't really "away."  Often this has to do with all of the running around, especially if we're visiting family with our uber-popular son, but this trip was truly refreshing.  We were truly away, unplugged, and disconnected.  There are not many sights on this planet as breathtaking as the Rockies and the sunshine did us some good.  Now if we could only figure out a way to get out there more often life would be good!  Sigh.

So without further ado, here are some trip highlights:

He offered to help us out with the 13-hour drive.  Tempting.

Jake loved the snow in that still lingered in a shady spot of the yard.  Playing in snow while still warm?  It was the best of both worlds!

Miss Julie and her precious grandkids showing us around the zoo.

Pawpaw met us at the zoo!  It was such a good surprise for little Jake!

Wheeeeeee! 

Getting a haircut at Kool Kuts for Kids.  Such a fun place and Jake loved sitting in the little car!

Our cheering section at Lucky Strike.  Getting three kids to look at the camera at the same time?  Impossible!

Proof that he is my son... he can sleep anywhere!  Even at a bowling alley! 

So where are these pictures of our time in the mountains?  Ummm... let's just say that I was SO on vacation that I didn't even pick up my camera.  Although I would've liked to come home with a snapshot or two from that beautiful mountain town, it was kind of nice just being in the moment rather than worrying about capturing it.  We'll just have to go back!