Road Trip #3 Colorado, New Mexico, Home)

We arrived in Denver around 4:30 on Sunday and relaxed at Ryan and MaryAnn's house.  I didn't realize that they had the EXACT same van body style and color!  So we have totally matching cars.  Fortunately, the chances of both cars being together ever again is slim :)  (we fly, not drive)

All three of our kids are about the same ages (and the kids furthest apart in age are still the same size).  So the kids had such a good time with their cousins.  Jackson and Dayton look like brothers.  They loved playing and having a sleepover.   On labor Day, we had a picnic at the park.  Jackson learned to ride a two wheeler!  I was coddling him and slowly trying to keep him up and balance while he learned.  Then my brother just grabs the bike and shoves him off and then . . .he could ride a two wheeler.  I guess you just have to be brave sometimes.  

Bree is 7 months older than Mariah, but they are the same size.  (And I think Mariah has more hair, even with the bald patch in the back.)  This girls loved trying to grab each other.  Hallie and Afton played dolls and read books together and I'm not sure what the boys did, but they played and stayed busy the entire time.  I loved having time to catch up with Ryan and MaryAnn and being entertained by my brothers passion. Thanks for hosting us Ry and Mare!

I wish we could've stayed longer!  We left around 4:30 and the kids immediately fell asleep.  We took a quick pit stop somewhere in So. Colorado and then continued to Albuquerque.  Surprisingly, both kids fell asleep 2 hours after their naps and we drove further to another Super 8 (only $40! including a small breakfast!)

 We tried to find something to do in Albuquerque in the morning.  We went to Old Town and saw a few sights, but were pretty bored so we took off for home.

We took a pit stop in Snowflake for another Temple visit.  It was gorgeous with a waterfall and a great view, but we were eaten alive by mosquitoes.  4 patrons coming out of the temple were carrying empty dishes . . . so they have pot lucks at the small temples?  I'll never know since we can't go inside with our kids around :)

Home Sweet Home.  We got home at 4:00ish and spent the rest of the night unpacking, doing laundry and cleaning up the car.  Surprisingly, most everything was back in order by the next morning so we could hit the ground running back to school, work, hosting play group and learning circles (a moms group).  

We are so glad we went.  We got the van for about $3000 below blue book and below the prices around here.  It cost about $1000 in gas and hotels to get it home (not to mention lots of memories) so we think it was worth the time, effort and money.  I am thankful for Dave driving us safely and doing so much at work so he could take off.  I'm so thankful my kids were wonderful!   

We have a map of the US and put pins in where ever we travel.  The entire middle of the US was empty and we didn't have plans to go anywhere there, so a road trip gave us lots of 'dots' in places we can't fly to.  It was a perfect trip for us.  I LOVE the van and am already addicted to the sliding doors and wide open spaces.  So happy!