Glenwood Springs

We decided to take our first family vacation a couple of weeks ago, and yes I am just getting around to posting about it.  I had to catch up from our KC trip first and whine about a crappy weekend.  Since we haven't seen everything that is wonderful in our own state, we decided to stay in Colorado and visit the Western slope.  It just so happens that Jeff has relatives that live out there we rarely see and who we really enjoy, so double score.  Leland slept almost the entire time we were in the car. 

To start the trip off we spent a day and night in Glenwood Springs.  It was okay.  We picked some meager restaurants to eat in.  Leland's sickness began on night we got there.  It was pretty touristy, which is a bit off putting. 

While in Glenwood, we decided to do the Hanging Lake Trail.  It was the best part of this portion of the trip.  It was a pretty intense hike, especially while carrying an extra 20 pounds.  But I like to think of it as a really good workout. 

But the end is worth the struggle.  It was basically rock climbing at the end. 

The beautiful hanging lake. 

A very tired (and sick) boy, hence the binkie.  He kept trying to sleep on the way up, but he was on my back and every time I took a big step up his head would move and wake him up.  Don't worry on the way back down I put him on the front and held his head so he could sleep. 

Apple snack, this photo is so cute. 

My tired sleepy boy.

Because they would die.

I feel like I am living in the house of doom lately.  It makes me want to burn everything bleach everything in sight to rid of the illness.  We have been quarantined into our house this weekend and it is really getting to me. 

As soon as we returned from KC, Leland got sick.  Then once we returned from Paonia, Jeff got what Leland had. 
Thankfully I was not included in that round of virus sharing.

Then this weekend has been another round of sickness.  It started with Leland on Friday night waking me up to some exploding diarrhea, like all over the bed kind.  Don't worry, he was about to sleep through it until I talked myself into getting up at 2 am to clean up the mess.  It took a few minutes for the pep talk to kick in.  Then Saturday I was out of commission.  I took two long naps, with Leland.  Which I think really helped for a speedy recovery. 

Now Sunday, Jeff has been even worse than me.  And I am wondering if it is because he is a male or because he is really more sick.  It is times like these that I am reminded in why men do not go through childbirth, because they would die.  I was pathetic yesterday but I still helped out with Leland as much as possible, and I still had to nurse him and put him down for naps.  Today, I have been a single parent.  And it is even worse when the other parent is in the same damn room. 

Tonight, Leland has yet another fever, woohoo.

Hopefully Jeff is better tomorrow. 

When it rains, it pours. 

KC Trip

This is going to be a long post because I am tired of these KC posts and I could have dragged it out, but I really want to get to our Paonia trip and I feel the need to stay in chronological order. 

First we (my mom, Leland and I) drove across Kansas.  Leland did great!  We planned it well for him to be in the car around sleep times, so he slept almost the entire time of car travel.  When in doubt, sing Sally the Camel and that boy will pass out.  We drove until about 11 at night to get as much driving done while he was sleeping.  He also did great in the hotel, besides calling the front desk.. twice.. at midnight.  But then we hid the phone and put him back to bed. 

We also went to Deanna Rose with the Stilley cousins.  Leland was in heaven.  He loves animals.  He liked the goats and cows licking him.  He stuck his hand in with the baby cows and stole some straw to chew on, like the true farmer he is.  He and his cousin Ashely still aren't so sure of each other, they like to just stare at each other.  It's like they know they will have conflict later on in life, with being cousins and the same age. 

 As with any normal KC trip we have to see everyone in the family.  It makes for a very exhausting trip.  Leland preferred his male relatives by far.  He would give Poppy hugs, hanging out with Papa on the bed watching TV, and ask his Uncle Aaron to pick him up. 

 Leland enjoyed exploring. 

 We also went to one of Skylee's softball games, she is kind of a pro. 

 One day we went to the Zoo with Grandma Patty.  Again Leland really enjoyed it, despite not taking a morning nap that day (hence the binkie). 

 And then there was baby Liam. 

Glad to be back to normal life.  As my mom says, I like my bed.  I think Leland is the same, because the one and only time he has ever slept through the entire night 8pm-7am, was the night we got back to Denver. 

Stilley Cousins

 Leland also got together with his Stilley cousins.  We had our traditional play day where the cousins spend a day at Grammy's.  Above: I made Anna a baby carrier, and she was pretty happy with it.

 And as usual, we always try to get a photo of the kids. 

 Grammy tried to step in an help, that plan did not work well.

 Anna loved Leland, and he loved her.  I think he has a think for older ladies (just like his Papa). 

 Aaron reading an afternoon story.

 Henry feeding baby goats. 

 Snack time (or sharing of the germs, lol). 

Leland and Ashley still are not so sure of each other as you can see in the above photos.  Henry also is showing his 'goldfish smile'.

It is great that Leland has cousins his age.  I didn't not really have cousins my age growing up (besides Taylor) so I really wanted that for Leland.  Being at family gatherings and not having people to play with is no bueno.  

Bindel Cousins

 While in KC we of course saw cousins and there was a new one to meet on the Bindel side!  This was great grandma meeting meeting him for the first time too!

 Leland wasn't quite sure what to think.  A few times he would pat Liam on the head, but for the most part he ignored him (same with his other baby cousin on the Stilley side). 

 Harley was trying to contain the crazy. 

All the Bindel cousins in one photo.

Leland became so exhausted from being around all the cousins.  Skylee has so much energy that she would wear me out too.  But he still enjoyed the older kids as usual.  It was fun watching him being around these kids.