Good Times with Good Friends....

This is why we miss Chicago so much.....

You just never know how much your friends mean to you, until you are apart... We were so thankful that we were able to take a few hours of our time in Chicago and spend it with our good friends. ( who we miss so much)

Wednesday night we had dinner with Kim and Denise at one of my favorite Mexican restaurants in Chicago. It's been almost 3 years since we'd seen the girls and it was so much fun catching up with them. And Kim surprised us with a CD of photo's she had taken at the wedding. ( and I must say, they were better than the one's our photographer took~ I'll be posting some of them in the coming days)

"Auntie" Denise with Hunter

"Auntie" Kim

On Friday we made the trip down to Bloomington to visit with one of Greg's good friends from High School and her family. Above is her son Cole ( 4 years old) showing Hunter all of his cars. Hunter was so interested in everything that Cole was doing or showing him.

Kelsey (11 yr) Hunter and Cole

The last time we saw Kelsey she was 4 years old, and we were making the big move to Texas with the help of Cindy and Chad. Still wondering how she got so big, and how we are still in Texas???

Cindy had shoulder surgery 2 days before, but was not going to pass up a snuggle or two from Hunter.

Greg with his High School buddy- Scott

Scott and Hunter ~

Scott's wife Nancy

Thanks again everyone for making the time to visit with us while we were on our "11 day, 3 state" tour.... We love you all, and can't wait till we get back to Chicago to see you all again. And don't forget our door is always open, in case you ever want to venture down to our "neck of the woods"

Grandma and Grandpa Steffen's

Welcome to the Sweetheart City

Our first stop on this whirl wind vacation was my home town of Loveland, Colorado. Better know as the Sweetheart City. We spent 5 days here, and visited with a lot of family, and ate a lot of yummy food. (Corn on the cobb !!!!)

chillin on the patio with Grandpa~ "now this is a vacation"

Getting some snuggles with Grandma in the rocking chair...

Okay seriously Uncle Bill~ I'm a Charger Fan, not a Raider Fan..... "I'm going to scream, if you don't take this thing off my head !!!"

This picture has sparked my creative juices.... I'm going to take and make this a black and white photo and hang it in Hunter's bathroom along with photo's of his bath's in Great Grandma's sink and Grandpa and Grandma Garvey's sink. I'm hoping it will look as good as I have it pictured in my head...

A beautiful day in Estes Park with the family. Couldn't have asked for a better day in the mountains.

Hunter with my nieces Kim and Kelly. The three of them spent a good half hour on the floor rolling around and Hunter trying to teach the girls how to put toes in your mouth. Gosh ~ I remember when those two girls were his size... where has the time gone ?????

Hunter with Grandpa and Grandma Steffen

Uncle Bill and Aunt Laura

Aunt Linda and cousin's Royal and Lucas. We got to have dinner with them while in Chicago. Hunter was not the happiest little guy that night, but we sure did enjoy the short visit. Sorry that we didn't get to see Uncle Andy though.

While we were in Colorado my Aunt Jen and Uncle Ed along with my cousin Bill came in from Kansas. It was sure great to see them, I'm kicking myself because we didn't get any pictures of them with Hunter on this visit. I'm not sure how we didn't get any pictures, but just wanted to let you all know how great it was to see you, and thank you for making the trip to Colorado for the weekend.

Thanks Grandma and Grandpa for making Hunter's first visit to Colorado a great one !!!!

We're on our way to Colorado....

Watch Out ~ Here come's the Garvey's......

Finally ~ the day has arrived..... we are on our way to Colorado and Chicago. It seems like it's been a life time since we have been "home". We all are super excited about the next 11 days, 3 states and 5 cities.... Eeeewwww, I'm tried already just thinking about all that traveling..

Of course every little boy's first plane ride, must be well documented with pictures. Hunter did so well on this leg of the flight. One of the flight attendants came through as we were approaching Denver and said " I didn't even realize we had a baby on board" What a relief, I was so stressing over being "one of those" parents with the screaming kid.

Did you really think we weren't going to attempt to take the famous self done family picture.

Oh, the beautiful Rocky Mountains... how I miss seeing you everyday

Getting a little bumpy as we approach Denver

Final approach into Denver, Colorado ~ So good to be "home" again !!!!!

Keep reading our adventures are just beginning. We want to thank everyone for the great times, good laughs and yummy food. Sure makes leaving that much harder now. Hunter had a great time getting spoiled by everyone, and was actually not to hard to get back into a "normal" routine once we returned home. Thankfully !!!!! until our next visit ~ we love and miss you all very much...

I'm Ready for Vacation

Over the river and through the woods, to Grandma's house I go...... that's right folks we are off to Grandma and Grandpa's house(s) on Thursday. Yippy !!!! I've been making list's and pile's for a couple of weeks now, and it's finally here.... It's going to be an adventure for all of us, especially Hunter. (first plane ride, 11 days away from his "normal" routine, and meeting the rest of the family. We've been talking up a storm to Hunter about all his Grandparents, aunts and uncles and cousins, pretty sure he is cool with whatever as long as his belly is full and someone is paying attention to him. The dogs on the other hand are getting a little suspicious of my piles, and will not be very happy when the suitcases come out on Wednesday. We will be in Colorado from the 12th-17th and then onto Chicago until the 23rd. We are all looking forward to spending time with the family and making some great memories for our little "Peanut" See you all soon !!!!

A "Family" Reunion of sorts

This past weekend we attended a "Family Reunion" at the hospital where Hunter was born. The hospital was celebrating all the families that had delivered babies there during their first year of being open. We all had a good time and got to see a few of the nurses we had met along our journey. We even got to see Shamu and a few other mascots in the area. Hunter was given a stuffed Dr. Seuss toy (which Sierra was not happy with, she so badly wants to steal it from him)

They had a fire truck there for the older kiddo's to climb on, as well as the younger ones to pose with their daddy's.

We had to waste sometime that morning waiting for the group photo, so Daddy was playing with Hunter.......

wasting more time....