Colorado Bound

We got back from Arkansas on Monday, slept at home and then packed up the kid and dogs to head to Colorado.  Bruce has a Land Cruiser that he is restoring and some parts were in Steamboat Springs, so we turned it into a little vacation since that state is my favorite place in the world.  Mom met us in Salina and took Cooper, Scooter and Lolly.  Bruce and I were on our own!  The drive is a bit brutal through Western Kansas and Eastern Colorado, but when we hit Denver and started to see mountains I was a happy girl!

I loooooooove the mountains!!!

We traveled through some different parts of Colorado this time

He doesn't like to pose for pictures like Cooper does

 We stayed in Silverthorne the first night and ate a great supper (and drinks and did I mention there were not kids there???) at a brewery and then quickly outlet shopped the next day.  Bruce in a Coach store was definitely something to see.  Then we were off to Steamboat Springs.  We decided to stay the night there, so we got to look around the little town.  We hiked up to a waterfall, which is what the picture on the old Coors can was from and it was beautiful.  On the way were aspen trees and some had carvings on them.   Once we got there, I would have happily drank an ice cold beer! 

Aspen trees that people carved initials into

Starting to see a river...

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh

We had to get in it and man was it cold!

My way to cool off

We had a great time, although I thought the altitude may kill me while I tried to make it back to the truck.

 We got the parts for Bruce and then decided to go to the famous hot springs, since I had never been to any.  We went to Strawberry Park, which was beautiful and natural, although after dark it turned into clothing optional...Trust me when I say that we left at dusk!  New people are great, naked new people sitting next to you in water in the dark, not so great.

We saw some reindeer grazing in the forest

And some mule deer--I always have to be on the lookout for Bruce...

We left before dark (mostly because the road there was slightly terrifying in the light of day, much less the dark).  The springs were HOT and a cool place to go.  I can't imagine how good they would feel after skiing or hiking all day.  Riding in a truck and shopping was tough enough for me!

We left the next morning and made it home before dark.  That drive is the worst!  I never thought we'd see Hays, much less home.  We did though and our awesome neighbors came over to visit and make me a new drink, while we fed them chicken.  Life is so good and getting to spend time with Bruce was long overdue.  The next day we had my parents and Seth's family up for the weekend, so it was back to crazy again.  Oh Colorado, I will miss you!

Kansas to Arkansas

For years Bruce's grandparents have wanted to go to Arkansas to visit family and thank goodness it finally worked this summer!  We left on a Friday and stayed through Monday.  It was a little sketchy getting there, but we finally made it and had a great time!

The first day that we were there, we had planned an all day guided trout trip.  I was  a little worried about Cooper going all day, but he loved ALMOST every minute of it.

Cotter Bridge, where we started our trip

My excited guys!



Coop's first catch.  I wish I would have had a video because he was SOOOOO excited

Watching the guide get the hook out.  Notice B had a fish in the background too

Catching minnows in the river while we got lunch ready on the shore

Back to catching fish

The scenery was beautiful.  I could have stayed out there all day.

We made it to the end and only I got sunburned!

 The amount of fish we caught was ridiculous!  Seriously, I bet it was 150-200.  Almost constantly there was a fish if not two or three on our lines.  Cooper had a great time reeling them in and we had fun watching him so happy.  If only all fishing was as easy as this was!

After, there was a natural spring swimming hole next to the dock and we had to play there for a bit too.

He caught a little lizard

Daddy helping him get the rope

Such a brave guy!

There he goes!

 The next night we went out on Lake Norfork and the boys jumped off some cliffs.  Cooper is getting entirely too brave for me!  On our way home, we stopped in Springfield and Bass Pro Shops.  We definitely could have spent more time there, but were ready to be home!

Uncle Fib, Bruce, Coop, and Grandpa and Grandma McDougal

Jumping off into the beautiful clear water

Seriously, beautiful

B from higher up

Taking a break to catch more minnows

This could be dangerous...and it was!

His favorite fish--alligator gar



Ain't scared of no bear!

His buddies!

First Baseball Game!!!

Baseball is a part of growing up and softball was a big part of mine for a long time.  I have been super excited for Cooper to start playing and the time finally came!!!  His first game was amazingly not cancelled because of the rainy weather we've had all week.  He had spent the day bow fishing with his dad, but got to the fields in plenty of time, fueled up with some Mountain Dew and beef jerky (like any good parent would do to wake their kid up) and was ready to play.

Excited about his new shirt and hat

Still working on our stance...but ready for a hit!

His fans Payge and Mya and buddy Aiden

I was pretty proud of him--he had 3 hits off the coach and never had to use the tee.  In the field, he played between first and second, stopped some grounders and paid attention for the most part.  Every time he hit or was on base, he would just stand there and not move, or stand and wait to give a high-5 to the kid running to his base.  My throat was a little sore from screaming, "RUN COOPER!!!".  The last time he was on first base and ran off to go field the ball for the other team.  Such a goof, but what fun memories!

It's A Girl!

Ok. So you may or may not know that we lost our sweet basset hound, Scout, in August.  We'd had him 10 years and had been through so much with him, good and bad.  We missed him A LOT.  I had started obsessively scouting out the internet for dogs and finally must have bugged/ignored Bruce enough that he gave in and said he was ready for a new dog too.  I don't know why I wanted another one.  It was kind of like wanting another baby, but I must not have shopped online enough on that topic to get my husband on board...So anyway, I finally found a cutie pie online in Lawrence.  We went to visit her on a Sunday (with Scooter in tow) and were able to pick her up the following Wednesday after she was spayed.  She wasn't cheap even though she's a mutt, but giving money to organizations that help animals is no problem for me. 

Meet Lolly!

Finally~SNOW!!!

All bundled up!
 

 

 

 I don't know what age it is when you see snow and decide that you have to be out playing in it or inside drinking cocoa in a blanket.  That age has divided us for sure!  Cooper would have been outside until he was frozen solid.  He loved it and it was magical to watch him play.  There is nothing better than seeing your baby that happy.

Another Year Down

Ok.  I promise that I did really try to get some pictures on here since Christmas.  We have been busy doing a lot of stuff and Cooper is as cute as ever and every time I sat down to post, I could never get my pictures to load.  Frustrating city!  So, I'm going to attempt this feat again...

We had some of the family up for a little visit, since we didn't get to see them at Christmas.  This is Chance and he may be the best cousin in the world!  While the girls were trying to explain my camera to me, he was playing hide and seek with Coop, having shoot-outs and dressing up. 

This was our beautiful tree before I had to sadly take it down.

 

Cooper's Christmas list 2012

 

 

Wrestling on the floor while I played with my camera.

 

My loves

 

Ek Christmas

 Bruce actually had off for Christmas this year so we were able to go to Galva as an actual family--that doesn't happen often.  To add to the excitement, mom and dad have been redoing the extra bedroom and there was a super comfy new bed there with my name on it!  Mom volunteered us to help cook for Grandma Ek's dinner too, which meant that she cooked, I tried to help clean up after her and of course was her #1 taste tester.

Elfie managed to get Cooper's Christmas jammies and book all the way to Galva!

Scooter doing what Scooter does best.

Checking to see what she's cooking next.

Trying to stay up for Santa, but not doing so well.

Santa was good again this year!

 Seth and Tyler checking out his stocking

 Grandpa and Ty looking at a toy

 Grandma and Brandon

Coop getting down to business

Aunt Laurie and Coop checking to see what Brandon got

 

After opening gifts and eating breakfast, it was off to celebrate with Dad's side of the family.  To say it was freezing out would be an understatement, so it wasn't so fun to transfer everything from mom's kitchen to the Senior Center, but once we got there we had a great time!



A perfect pair-Tyler and Grandpa

 

Seth and Mom

 

Pac Man is still so fun!

We had a great time seeing family and eating wonderful food.  We don't get together enough and everyone is so spread out.  Hopefully we can find something besides Christmas to see each other for!  Thank you mom and dad for another great Christmas!!!