The Denver Zoo

Last weekend we took advantage of a beautiful weekend in October (well, Sunday was beautiful and Saturday was rainy and fall-ish) and headed down to Commerce City to visit Grandpa and Gigi.  We left home after nap on Saturday afternoon and got there a little after 5.  The plan was for us to leave the girls with Grandpa and Gigi so that we could go out for a little bit of a date, courtesy of a gift card that Tim gave me for my birthday.  Unfortunately once we got there Junie started having a tough time.  She was so upset!  I haven't seen her like that in a long time (since the last time she was at their house, Grandpa said).  I fed her and she still wouldn't calm down.  It was looking like we were going to have to skip our dinner; however, I managed to rock her to sleep and put her in her bouncy seat (it goes everywhere with us).  With the encouragement of our babysitters we ran out the door and went to dinner.  I spent most of the time worrying about June (I know I shouldn't, but what mama doesn't?!), until Tim got a text from Grandpa.  We had been gone an hour and a half or so, and June was still sleeping!  She NEVER naps like that in the evenings!  We ran with that good news and had dessert.  :)  She was still asleep when we got back, but Ava was still up bouncing off the walls.
We spent the night there (much better than driving home late like we've done before) and had a fabulous Sunday morning breakfast a la Gigi.  Then we headed off to the Denver Zoo!  Grandpa and Gigi had been wanting to go with Ava and we hadn't been there with her yet.  The weather was amazingly warm and sunny, without being two warm.  There are lots of mature trees around the zoo, so the fall colors were beautiful.  We saw LOTS of animals.  In some ways it was better than the San Diego zoo.  You can get closer to the animals and the size is not quite so overwhelming.  We spent around four hours there.  It was a lovely day.  Then we headed back home and got ready for the week.

Ava and Gigi checking out the giraffes.

Ava liked watching the seals swimming around.

So stylish in Gigi's sunglasses!

Of course, Ava had to climb on everything.  To get a better view, right?

Elephants!

June and Daddy

The train that Ava rode with Grandpa.  She was so excited!

"I hope I'll get to ride the train someday, too!"

You can't see the lemurs in this picture (they look just like King Julian!) but you can see some pretty fall colors.

And . . . out.

I'm disappointed that I didn't get any pictures of the monkeys in the new elephant part of the zoo.  There are hanging ropes set up for them to swing along and they go right over the pathway in one spot!  We stood for a long time watching a funny white one with a tiny head and a black one with extremely long arms.  Ava kept saying, "Silly monkey!"

Montana September 2012

A couple weeks ago we took our little ones and headed to Montana for some R & R with my family.  My sister, Jessica, and her family were there as well.  The big event of the trip was a party for my grandpa, who turned 80 in July.  We would have had the party in July except somebody ended up being pregnant and due mid-July.  Hmmm.  So the family decided to hold off until September, when the Kellehers would be ready to travel.  My aunt and uncle, Jacque and Duane, traveled up from Phoenix.  I hadn't seen them in years!  Also, my cousin, Brian; I don't remember the last time I saw him.

We also made a little side trip up to Fairmont Hot Springs and spent two nights.  Unfortunately their outdoor pool and waterslide were closed due to remodeling, but the indoor pool was just fine for the kids, and is as warm as bathwater.  We had a lot of fun!  Ava had never actually been in a pool before.  We bought her a little life jacket and thought she would be ready to jump right in.  Quite the opposite!  She was really timid at first and didn't even want to go in.  Finally after watching her cousins (who are like little fish!) in the water for a little bit, she decided she would go in with Daddy.  She liked it after that, even floating on her back with us just holding her hand!  She did remain a little hesitant, though, and made sure that one of us always had a tight grip on her.

It is always fun (and a little crazy) to have everyone together.  It usually only happens once a year!  Here are some pictures from our trip.  I failed to get any pictures at the pool, but otherwise there is a pretty good sampling.  

Aunt Jess teaching Ava how to play a game on Cameron's Leapfrog Explorer.  She thought that was pretty neat.

Everett had to stake his claim on his mommy.

Ava and Cameron playing under Nana's coffee table.  They are like two peas in a pod - crazy!

Two surly toddlers eating breakfast in the morning.

We tried and tried to get a good picture of them sitting together, but there was always one who wouldn't cooperate!

Eating lunch in our Suite at Fairmont after a morning at the pool.

Playing at the park at Fairmont.

Ava loves the slide!

Whee!  Down goes big E!

Ava was all about helping Nana water her flowers.

June says, "Hey, I'm here, too!"

Nana has a new-to-her, beautiful grand piano.  The kids were only allowed to play if an adult was supervising.  This time I was playing chaperone.

Play, play, play.

Jammie play!

Aunt Jess playing ball with the boys during the party.  Is that a great shot, or what?!

Papa Ernie, the Grill Master!

Party time!

June was partying, too, rocking it in her bouncy seat.

Birthday cake!

Hurray!  Sugar right before bedtime!

Birthday boy!  Not a very clear picture, unfortunately.

The morning after the party.  Can you say Mickey Mouse Clubhouse coma?

Junie likes to wiggle it!