A Trip to Denver! Happy Birthday Grammy Joanne!

Ross had a dry needling conference in Denver over the weekend so we decided to go with, AND it was the same weekend as my mom's birthday so she came out to hang out with us!  

But FIRST - a couple funny things :)

We've got a little reporter or waitress in the making - this girl has kept this notepad with her for a week straight and takes everyone's orders....though it seemed the restaurant was out of everything we ordered since we always got a no...even with the suggestions of ice cream or cheerios she offered. :)

This girl has also entered the phase of "not needing, but really needing" naps.  This was a no-nap day.  She had one more bite of vegetables before she got her beloved macaroni and cheese....and she slept the entire night.

Visited Daddy at work one day at the park.  This kid loves swinging :)

We had a Scripture Power Carnival Primary activity that was a HIT with the kids.  They played scripture carnival games, earning tickets and then got to buy the treats afterwards - including cotton candy!  The kids decorated scripture power capes too.  It was fantastic :)

Ruby got to enjoy some cotton candy too :)

Everyone is near when popcorn is around.

This kid was having his bottle, saw the popcorn, and promptly threw it away....

Yes - that cute chubby hand can have another piece. ;)

Whenever Dad gets home - this is how they roll ;)

Steve had a couple days before that we got to play with before my mom came, so we went to the Apex Center in Arvada.  VERY fun - especially since it was a Thursday afternoon, so no one was there. :)  Score!  SUPER fun.

The kids ate up the hotel, and even got down a routine with who got to push which elevator button and what they ate for breakfast each morning (Ruby had  fruit loops EVERY morning).  

And then when Steve left to get poked with a needle all weekend long, we got Grammy to come play!

We went to the Children's Museum which was extremely busy, but SUPER fun!

The bubble room was AWESOME!

Rowland  loved twirling the flowers with Grammy :)

Rowland also found a furry foxy friend who was super sweet to him. :)

Grammy had an early flight so we took a bit of a rest in the afternoon. :)

The next day was my mom's birthday so we went to the Butterfly Pavilion where they had Rosie the tarantula you could hold.  What do you think the kids thought????

I tried to inspire Ross by doing it myself...

This is as close as Ross would get - letting Grammy do it. :)

This was my favorite - a beehive and you could watch the bees leave and come back with pollen.  Super cool.

 And then we went into the butterfly aviarium.  Ruby - who LOVES butterflies responded this way when the hundreds of butterflies  were fluttering around everywhere.

She thought they were dive bombing on her and swooping in for the kill.  SO - we didn't stay in there long, but we managed to catch an invertebrate/vertebrate presentation! ;)

We went for a nature walk outside afterwards.  Praying Mantis pose!

Rowland's seat for the pavilion

THEN we had to make a stop at Voodoo Donuts in honor of Oregon.  They ONLY have them - three in Oregon, and one in Colorado, one in Texas, and one in Taiwan (don't ask me why).  I just have Texas and Taiwan to go!

This one is ALSO located in a dodgy part of town next to a strip club - just like old times...

Mango Tango Baby!  YUM!

So Ruby fell a couple times on our nature walk and scuffed up her knee.  This is how she walked around for two days.  Haha.

The new AMAZING donut was the Grape Ape - TOTALLY tasted grape and was amazing!  Along with the buttermilk bar.  Birthday cake from Grammy Joanne!

Rowland also had quite the nap...

And just like that Grammy Joanne had to go home....

We consoled ourselves at the park.

Feeding the ducks...

Rowland wants in on that bread!

Too sunny - it's the Oregon in us!

And then our sore, needle poked, Daddy was finally done with his conference and we headed back home again.  A VERY fun trip. :)  We LOVED having Grammy Joanne come!