After we flew to Colorado in the early morning, we hit the ground running. Our first stop... Starbucks so we could enjoy our favorite specialty coffee drink (and to help keep us awake throughout the day). We then headed to the movie theater to fill our morning up with a movie for Gavin to enjoy. We saw Puss & Boots, which Gavin quickly became attached to the cat who wears a hat, boots, & has a sword. The moment we arrived at Pawpaw & Gammy's house, Gavin found some boots and a sword and didn't take them off the entire time we were there. Miles slept throughout the entire movie-- perfect timing for his nap- he didn't make a peep.
It took us the entire visit (5 days) to recuperate from jetlag. This jetlag experience wasn't nearly as bad as the round this summer, but mainly because Brooks was here with us and a HUGE help-- not to mention we each could take turns with one kid at a time during the night. The boys would normally wake up around 2am or 3am and we would let them play quietly in our bed for a while and wait until a more appropriate time to whisk them out of the house (to keep them from waking anyone else up during the night) and we would head to Walmart, drive around town, pick up Starbucks, and then we always ended at McDonald's when it opened to let the kids play on the playground & eat breakfast until we could head back to Brooks' dads house around 8am. The boys truly did GREAT handling jetlag throughout our trip and really never let it affect them regarding their behaviors. They went with the flow, were very adaptable, and would just fall asleep wherever we were, whatever we were doing. The hardest part would be waking everyone up after their afternoon naps- that was tough, but we always managed to get out and about in the evening to help keep everyone awake!
We also spent some time visiting Brooks' grandparents, who are both now in nursing homes. This was a huge blessing for us and we were so grateful they both got to meet Miles for the first time. We've skyped with them since he was born, but they actually got to hold him and love on him, and on Gavin.
Before our trip ended, we headed to the Denver Children's Museum to let Gavin explore, run around, play, and be a kid! He loved it. There was so much to do and each one of us adults took a turn in an area with him and it was perfect! These are the types of things that living overseas, you really take for granted that you have this stuff available back home. We miss these opportunities and are so thankful we can take advantage of them when we're home. Gavin got to be a fireman, a painter, a scientist (he made bubbles- it was awesome), was a mouse in a forest, a veterinarian, a builder, shopped in a grocery store, played with trains, shot rockets, and more. Miles even had some fun playing in the forest, watching a puppet show, and even wanted to be an animal at the vet hospital. He literally climbed into one of the cages. It was hilarious. While Gavin was making and building his own helicopter out of recycled products, Juli and I took Miles down to the infant area and let him crawl around and play on things that were more his size. He had a blast and took off the moment I put him down. It was a perfect area for him and he had a ball.
We loved our time in Colorado and were so glad we could spend some time with Brooks' dad and Juli. Brooks got to eat out at some of his favorite restaurants, we went to a few more movies... Breaking Dawn for me and some super hero movie for Brooks. Movie Theaters-- something else we miss having in Saudi. Juli and I spent an afternoon shopping here and there and just enjoyed visiting. We went to a wedding shower for one of Juli's daughters, church- where we shared a little of our life in Saudi and what God's been doing, and had a family get together at an Indian Restaurant Brooks misses and always talks about. It was great fun!
We also got to visit with some close friends as well who we only get to see once a year or once every two years. We visited with Brooks' college friend, Brad, his wife Jolene and their 3 boys (including a newborn Nicholas who was only a few weeks old! Precious). Brad was in our wedding and was a big part of Brooks life during college and we just love getting to spend time with them. They are a sweet, sweet family! I'm so upset I forgot to take a picture with all of us at the local pizzeria eating. The older boys got to go outside and play on a big statue/rock yard outside the restaurant and enjoyed playing together. It was a perfect afternoon!
We also got to visit with Brooks' high school basketball coach who was a HUGE influence in Brooks' life and someone Brooks has always kept in touch with over the years. They have two boys and a girl and we had a blast visiting and catching up with them at a local mall. I want to be like his wife when I grow up-- she's so calm and relaxed with her kids. It's amazing. The kids got to ride a carousel and took a train ride around the mall (literally) while us adults caught up on what's going on in our lives! It was great visiting and hearing all about their new adventures. We miss seeing them, but are grateful for the time we had. Once again, forgot to take a picture.
Colorado was great and we had a wonderful time spending time with family and friends!
Our next adventure... Lake Charles for Thanksgiving then off to Baton Rouge for the LSU Game.
It took us the entire visit (5 days) to recuperate from jetlag. This jetlag experience wasn't nearly as bad as the round this summer, but mainly because Brooks was here with us and a HUGE help-- not to mention we each could take turns with one kid at a time during the night. The boys would normally wake up around 2am or 3am and we would let them play quietly in our bed for a while and wait until a more appropriate time to whisk them out of the house (to keep them from waking anyone else up during the night) and we would head to Walmart, drive around town, pick up Starbucks, and then we always ended at McDonald's when it opened to let the kids play on the playground & eat breakfast until we could head back to Brooks' dads house around 8am. The boys truly did GREAT handling jetlag throughout our trip and really never let it affect them regarding their behaviors. They went with the flow, were very adaptable, and would just fall asleep wherever we were, whatever we were doing. The hardest part would be waking everyone up after their afternoon naps- that was tough, but we always managed to get out and about in the evening to help keep everyone awake! 
We didn't let jetlag affect any of our time in Colorado and spent the entire visit having fun. We took Gavin lots of different places to get new experiences and to get to be a kid! Our second stop of the trip was the Colorado Train & Railroad Museum. You all know Gavin LOVES trains and he thought he was in heaven. There were trains EVERYWHERE. He got to ride on a real train and go around on train tracks, he climbed into every type of train there is and pressed all kinds of buttons, pulled on levers, found the trains whistles, opened windows, etc. If it was on the train... he found it, touched it, opened it, looked at it, used it. Everything! It was awesome! You never would have known it was cold outside because of how much he was running around having fun. We're so glad we took him to gain this experience. He talked about the trains for days!!!
We also spent some time visiting Brooks' grandparents, who are both now in nursing homes. This was a huge blessing for us and we were so grateful they both got to meet Miles for the first time. We've skyped with them since he was born, but they actually got to hold him and love on him, and on Gavin.
Gavin got to open a few early Christmas presents. The rest will greet him in Saudi once we get back. He loves his new batman watch and the Cars 2 movie! Thanks Pawpaw and Gammy.
Before our trip ended, we headed to the Denver Children's Museum to let Gavin explore, run around, play, and be a kid! He loved it. There was so much to do and each one of us adults took a turn in an area with him and it was perfect! These are the types of things that living overseas, you really take for granted that you have this stuff available back home. We miss these opportunities and are so thankful we can take advantage of them when we're home. Gavin got to be a fireman, a painter, a scientist (he made bubbles- it was awesome), was a mouse in a forest, a veterinarian, a builder, shopped in a grocery store, played with trains, shot rockets, and more. Miles even had some fun playing in the forest, watching a puppet show, and even wanted to be an animal at the vet hospital. He literally climbed into one of the cages. It was hilarious. While Gavin was making and building his own helicopter out of recycled products, Juli and I took Miles down to the infant area and let him crawl around and play on things that were more his size. He had a blast and took off the moment I put him down. It was a perfect area for him and he had a ball.
We loved our time in Colorado and were so glad we could spend some time with Brooks' dad and Juli. Brooks got to eat out at some of his favorite restaurants, we went to a few more movies... Breaking Dawn for me and some super hero movie for Brooks. Movie Theaters-- something else we miss having in Saudi. Juli and I spent an afternoon shopping here and there and just enjoyed visiting. We went to a wedding shower for one of Juli's daughters, church- where we shared a little of our life in Saudi and what God's been doing, and had a family get together at an Indian Restaurant Brooks misses and always talks about. It was great fun!
We also got to visit with some close friends as well who we only get to see once a year or once every two years. We visited with Brooks' college friend, Brad, his wife Jolene and their 3 boys (including a newborn Nicholas who was only a few weeks old! Precious). Brad was in our wedding and was a big part of Brooks life during college and we just love getting to spend time with them. They are a sweet, sweet family! I'm so upset I forgot to take a picture with all of us at the local pizzeria eating. The older boys got to go outside and play on a big statue/rock yard outside the restaurant and enjoyed playing together. It was a perfect afternoon!
We also got to visit with Brooks' high school basketball coach who was a HUGE influence in Brooks' life and someone Brooks has always kept in touch with over the years. They have two boys and a girl and we had a blast visiting and catching up with them at a local mall. I want to be like his wife when I grow up-- she's so calm and relaxed with her kids. It's amazing. The kids got to ride a carousel and took a train ride around the mall (literally) while us adults caught up on what's going on in our lives! It was great visiting and hearing all about their new adventures. We miss seeing them, but are grateful for the time we had. Once again, forgot to take a picture. Colorado was great and we had a wonderful time spending time with family and friends!
Our next adventure... Lake Charles for Thanksgiving then off to Baton Rouge for the LSU Game.
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