Colorado Summer 2012

We flew to Colorado on Friday morning, the day after flying to Houston, to spend some time with Brooks' dad and his wife.  We had a blast on our trip and enjoyed the time there.  The weather was perfect (although it did rain several times on us) but that didn't stop us from playing and going to the mountains and having lots of fun!  

**I lost half our pictures from our trip because I put an unformatted SD memory card into our camera and all the images came back with no data on them.  I was so bummed.  Brooks did download some software program and we were able to recover about 1/4 of them, but still so many moments captured that we don't have anymore!

We kicked off our trip with a night at the Colorado Rockies Baseball game.  We're all about giving the boys as many opportunities for life experiences while we're home in the USA and this one was perfect!  We had great seats and were able to see the field perfectly.  Gavin enjoyed some cotton candy and peanuts and there was an amazing firework show after the game that we got to watch.  While we were waiting for the show to start Miles was standing on my legs bouncing and jumping and we all ended up on the big screen/jumbo tron.  It was fun!  Just minutes before the fireworks started Miles fell asleep in my arms and didn't budge the entire show-- all thanks to jetlag!  

All the Perry Guys having fun (even though they kinda don't look like it in the pic)

Brooklyn was a great sport at her first sporting event!

Not only was the view of the sun setting beautiful, but if you notice the words on the big screen... in the middle of singing the national anthem I got teary eyed and loved feeling patriotic. 

GAVIN LOVED EATING COTTON CANDY!!  MILES LOVED DANCING TO THE LOUD MUSIC PLAYING.  THE FIREWORKS SHOW WAS SPECTACULAR!

 

We really had a somewhat easy transition this trip, but it could have something to do with us giving the boys benadryl before they went to bed, just to help allow them the chance to sleep.  I know it sounds horrible, but with 3 kids on different jetlag schedules while traveling and spending time with family, we just went with it and it worked.  Brooklyn did awesome too.  She would wake up once a night, take her pacifier and go back to sleep.  They all managed to sleep in until 5 or 6am every morning!  During the day was a little different story, but everyone managed.   Overall, it took us a week to be completely over jetlag and functioning on a normal schedule!  

We drove to Golden one morning and spent some time in the area where Brooks went to college at.  We took the kids to the park, walked around a farmer's market, they took a horse carriage ride, got sno cones, and had a fun day.  Brooks took us to a local burrito shop he use to eat at all the time and got to enjoy some mexican food.

 

We went and visited Brooks' grandparents while we're in Colorado and introduced them to Brooklyn.  Grandma Jan was so excited to meet B and kept getting her to smile.  Grandpa Larry asked Brooks if our house got burned from the fires (he thought we lived in Colorado Springs) we politely told him the fires were too far from our house to burn it, which was the truth.  

One of the things Brooks really wanted to do while we were in Colorado was go up to the mountains!  We figured the best way for them to get into the mountains was for me and Juli to take the 2 little kids shopping while Brooks, his dad, and Gavin went hiking.  We had a great time at the Outlet Malls (the babies did great) and the guys went up into the mountains and did some hiking!  Gavin loved walking on the trails, looking for animals, climbing trees, and searching for walking sticks.  He hasn't stopped talking about that trip and neither has Brooks.  They really did have fun!  

Isn't that view gorgeous?!?!

While up in the mountains we went and ate at one of Brooks' favorite restaurants, The Mint.  You literally cook your own food on this massive grill they have in the center of the restaurant.  It's a really neat concept and was fun to do- Gavin got to help out, too.  The restaurant fixes your sides while you prepare your meat the way you like it! Everythings out for your picking-- seasonings, butter, onions, etc.

Gavin was so excited to prep the steaks-- he takes this job serious

Part of our day in the mountains all together was spent taking a Gondola ride up to Breckenridge!  It was beautiful and breathtaking.  I really haven't been in the mountains while they aren't covered in snow so this was really neat for me.  The boys loved the ride and looked all over at the trees and thought they were flying!  Once we got to the resort area we found a huge kid play area where families can go and purchase all day passes and kids can do various activities.  We arrived later in the afternoon when most of the rides and things were about to close, but we did manage to squeeze in one horse ride for Gavin.  Miles was really too little for most of the stuff and anything he could have done cost WAY TOO MUCH for not knowing if he'd even like it.  So we let him watch!

Figures-- this is the family picture that was recovered!  Still love the view though.  

Another day while it was raining we decided to spend the afternoon at a Fun House and let the boys play.  It cost us $2.00 and they played on inflatables, in a play house, dress up, and a massive ball arena for almost 4 hours and had a blast!!

As much stuff as we did, we still enjoyed some down time around the house visiting and eating.

We were so happy that things worked out for us to go up to Colorado and spend some time with family.  Brooks loves being up in the mountains and would love nothing more then to have some kind of cabin up in the mountains to relax and enjoy some day.  Who knows if it will happen.  Anyways, we loved doing fun stuff and our time in Colorado really did allow us to give the boys new experiences and we got to make some great memories.

5 Months

Brooklyn turned 5 months old the day we left Saudi and has been busy this past month in the United States learning and trying new things!!  When I looked at the calendar that I record every little memory on of hers the days were all full with something.  Brooklyn weighs 14 pounds 3 ounces and is now wearing 6 months clothes.

After getting through jetlag, we started slowly moving Brooklyn out of sleeping swaddled.  We started by leaving one arm out while she slept and then we moved to unswaddling her during naps.  I think Brooks and I were too selfish to completely unswaddle her at nighttime since we enjoy our sleep and it took her about 2 weeks to finally be okay sleeping without blankets wrapped around her.  Now, she will sleep anywhere, anytime, in anyway!  YAY!

We gave Brooklyn her first taste of real food and started her with oatmeal and she loved it.  The little girl actually kept trying to hold the spoon herself and take it from me.  She was cute.  Her first few bites and times we gave her the oatmeal she struggled a little bit to keep it in her mouth but she was trying to devour it the best she could!  

FINALLY, sweet Brooklyn rolled over from her tummy to her back.  It took her almost 6 weeks since she first started trying and the moment she figured it out, she hasn't stopped.  Brooks and I actually missed her first roll- we left her on the play mat in the living room and walked back to our room, when we came back we found her on her stomach.  After that moment, I stayed by her with the camera so I wouldn't miss the next one!

GEAUX Brooklyn!

Like I said, once she started rolling over she never stopped.  I knew it was only time between rolling over and being unswaddled that she would want to sleep on her stomach and sure enough that came real quick.  This photo is the first moment she tried it and is now her favorite way to sleep!

I think Brooklyn has been watching her brothers enough to realize they get to hold their own sippy cups and she wanted to start holding her own bottle!  She doesn't do it all the time and sometimes it really just depends on how you're holding her, but still, it's pretty impressive.

She's still the happiest baby ever and seriously rarely cries.  She eats every 3-4 hours and has started taking 6 ounces of formula and doesn't get upset after every bottle anymore.  I'm loving the formula I found here in the USA for her and she's really done great with it.  She still spits up, but it's not NEAR as much as what she use to.  Brooklyn is very easy going and loves watching everyone around her.  She has the cutest laugh that sounds like a little rattle and she squeals almost as loud if not louder then her older brothers!

Brooklyn had an ear infection this month as well as bronchiloitis... not bronchitis-- there's a difference, as we found out.  Basically, she got the same infection again that she had at 2 months when she was hospitalized.  UGH.  We got her on antibiotics and did breathing treatments and in a matter of a few days the infection was gone!  Praise the Lord!

Brooklyn loves getting to sit up in the bumbo so we put her a walker to get to stand and play with toys and SHE LOVES IT!!  I think she was getting bored laying on the ground playing.

I gave Brooklyn her first taste of bananas and she was pretty excited about it.  She made a face in the beginning, but then went to town eating them.  I think this girl likes food!

This was a BIG month in Brooklyn's life and it just shows us how much our baby girl is growing up!   

Traveling Home

**This is one of those posts that might not mean much to many of you who read our blog, but I'm determined to record memories of our time and lives in Saudi to have for years to come in our Family Blog Book.   

Thursday morning, June 28 at 1:30am our car came and picked us up at our house to take us to the airport.  Brooks and I had all the luggage packed and ready down stairs, we showered and had everyone dressed before going to bed (kids at 8pm, Brooks and I around 11pm), and we made sure to have enough alarms set to ensure we wouldn't miss our pick up time.  We got all the car seats loaded in the car and managed to fit half of our suitcases inside the back of the car and then had to call for another car to come pick the rest of our bags up and transport to the airport.  We had to make a stop at a local gas station for car #2 to fill up with gas since they weren't planning on making the hour and half drive to the airport so we stayed with that car since they had our luggage (and I think it was a new driver and they didn't really know how to get to the airport.)  

Miles and Brooklyn slept on the way to the airport.  Gavin watched for camels outside (not real sure what he was going to see in the middle of the night, but it entertained him).  I think Brooks slept off and on and I tried to sleep.  I really, really tried to sleep. I tried everything to get myself to sleep but couldn't.  UGH.  We arrived at the airport got 2 trolley guys to carry our luggage on carts, strapped Brooklyn into her carrier onto me and let Gavin pull the small carryons while Brooks carried Miles through the airport (our double stroller was in its travel bag since the Doha airport doesn't allow strollers so you have to automatically check your strollers in).  Anyways, since Brooks was traveling with us we were able to check in through Business Class, which always gives us more attention and a faster check in.  While Brooks was getting us checked in and ensuring our seats together on the planes, I took the kids to Krispy Kreme only to find out they didn't have any donuts.  ONLY in Saudi Arabia would a Krispy Kreme not have donuts.  UGH.  So, we got checked in, made it through the customs check point (to leave the country) in under 30 minutes-- we think that was record timing.  I took Gavin and Brooklyn with me to the womens area to be searched while Brooks braved security with Miles who was unleashed and loose.  He did great and we were finished with that in about 10 minutes.  

We spent a little over an hour in the First Class Lounge and let the kids run around, ate some snacks, regrouped some of our carryon luggage, changed diapers, went to the bathroom, then went to board the plane.  Our first flight was a very short flight.  We had 3 seats together and one somewhere else on the plane.  Brooks took Brooklyn and they sat about 8 rows behind us while I kept Gavin and Miles with me.  We decided when we bought our plane tickets that it would be in EVERYONE's (me, Brooks, Miles, other passengers on the plane, flight crew,etc) best interest for Miles to travel in a car seat in his own seat and that had to be THE.BEST.DECISION. EVER!!  I feel like this was Miles first flight to really know what was going on so he acted interested and intrigued throughout the flight to Doha.  Gavin was pleasant and entertained himself with the new toy we bought him for the plane ride (it's become a tradition that I either surprise the kids with a brand new toy or let them pick out a brand new toy for plane ride-- which he did on Tuesday but wasn't allowed to have it until we got on the plane.  He was beyond excited and ready to have his Ben 10 Tiger.  Again, this first flight was short and we were off in no time.  

We made it into Doha and took the long bus ride from the plane to the terminal with 3 tired little kids.  Everyone did great though.  Brooks and I decided to let the kids play at the playground and just help keep everyones spirits up.  The boys played for well over an hour and then we went to the Business Lounge and got some food, used a clean bathroom, and got things re-situated for our next flight.   As we boarded our flight from Doha to Houston I started to panick.  All I kept thinking was what is this flight going to be like?  We've never traveled with 3 kids before.  What if Miles screams the whole time?  What if Gavin won't sleep?  What if Brooklyn spits up so much and all over us that we're going to smell the entire flight?  What if they didn't get the boys childs meals we requested and ordered?  What if I didn't bring the right toys that will entertain them?  What if Benadryl causes the boys to stay awake instead of go to sleep like it normally does?  What if? What if? What if?  

I was exhausted just thinking of all the possibilities of what could happen.  Eventually as we began boarding and finding our seats my mind and body moved into survival mode and I prepared myself to embrace whatever was about to take place.   We never let our kids sleep from the time we leave our house until we get on this flight, just to ensure they'll be nice and tired and willing to sleep and it works every time.  Within an hour of taking off all 3 kids were asleep (it COULD have had something to do with the benadryl we gave them).... HEY, DON'T JUDGE until you have to fly with 3 kids under the age of 3 on a direct flight across the world! =)  Either way, it worked and the kid got a great nap and were happy and rested throughout the majority of the flight.  Brooks watched several movies and I decided to sleep since I had no idea what my sleeping capabilities would be throughout the flight.  I did manage to sneak in the movie This Means War while all the kids were napping (cute girl movie).  Thankfully, the kids meals we ordered for the boys were actually delivered so they had decent food they liked and ate (normally I make them sandwiches) which made the flight even more manageable.  Miles did awesome flying in his car seat and was the best thing ever for him!  We pulled out his tv and he poked at it forever thinking it was an IPAD.    He played with Gavin and even got to run around a little to give him some time not strapped in.  Gavin watched some new movies he had never seen- Hercules, Bolt, Lady and the Tramp and entertained himself with his new toy!  At some point I started getting a headache and thought I'd take 4 tylenol hoping it'd be the equivalent of an Excedrin Migraine. All I wanted to do was make sure my headache didn't turn into a migraine and cause me to get sick.  Well...... apparently, it wasn't a good idea and I ended up being physically sick for about 3 hours of the flight.  It was rough and I learned my lesson.  Thankfully and for Brooks sake, all 3 kids were sleeping during that whole ordeal so he didn't have all the kids by himself.  Brooklyn did AMAZING and stayed on her normal schedule.  I think she cried once the entire flight.  She would eat, play, then sleep and that was it!!  

16 hours later.  All is well!  We arrived in Houston, made it through customs fairly quickly, got all our luggage, which was waiting off the conveyer belt already, and off we went.  When we walked through the doors we found a big surprise.  My brother, Bryan, his wife Anna and their daughter Audrey were there to greet us!  What a fun surprise and sweet welcome home!  

After eating dinner at Pappasito's we made it to a local airport hotel, got bathed, repacked, and reorganized some things for our next trip to Colorado the next morning.  

Happy 4th of July

We spent the day traveling and in airports, but at least we were in the USA!!

Living overseas and particularly in the Middle East, we have gained a new found appreciation for our great nation and will NEVER AGAIN take for granted the freedoms we have living in this great nation!  

There is no place like the USA!!