Homeward Bound

Well after a week of intense activity, we've decided (or rather Mr. Hobbitfeet and the kids decided) that we should cut our vacation a little short and head home to rescue our puppy from boarding, and enjoy a couple of days at home in our flooded town.
We've already made it back to Topeka, the most boring town that kids could ever be in love with. Seriously, we went to see beautiful mountains, and got in some of Boy's boring-ass scientific crap. Literally. We watched a program at Pike's Peak where a park ranger showed us different animals' poop. We saw Santa Claus in June for Girl (who vows she loves him more than even A.- Boy's friend with whom Girl is obsessed) at an amusement park 100% designed for kids. We went to a zoo, AND a water park, and yet to them nothing is so awesome as Topeka where all we did was take some silly pictures and hang out in our hotel. Kids are weird.

On a positive note our day at the water park washed away a lot of Girl's scabs and she's left with pretty pink "new skin" and you can hardly tell she fell down at all. Mr. Hobbitfeet was annoyed when I made him pick up triple antibiotic cream at the store, and Girl hated me every time I applied it, but, damn, does that stuff heal cuts fast.
Anyway I'll leave you with some of my favorite pictures from Garden of the Gods and the Denver Zoo.

Some Pictures to Make You Wish You Were Here

Vacation-All I've Ever Wanted Days 1 & 2

First a little mood music. I discovered this on Mr. Hobbitfeet's iPod playing our favorite game of searching for a word (highway in this case) and playing everything that comes up. So play this and imagine the four of us driving down the highway screaming this as loud as we can.



Day One:


We made really good time on our way to Topeka. I need to say that my kids were SO excited about Topeka. There is an episode of Foster's Home for Imaginary Creatures that they quote incessantly and they couldn't wait to be in the city itself and say, "It's hot in Toe-PEEK-uhh! I'm a hot toe-picker. Topeka's hot. My Toe is hot. Pick it!" Here is my family by a Topeka sign being Hot:



and being toe-pickers:




The first thing we did when we got there was visit a site recommended by Roadside America: The World's Largest Meat Cleaver, which is just in a random parking lot.



If you look closely at the picture you can see a lady who thinks we're really weird.




Then we hit another Roadside America spot to see a giant wren.



It almost pooped on Mr. H.




Then we went to our hotel where Girl suddenly decided that not only was she no longer afraid to jump into the pool by herself, but she could also go down the three-story water slide alone. We also found out that there was a tornado watch. The tornado never came but a storm knocked out the hotel power. Luckily it was late enough that we were able to sleep through the outage.

Day Two:
On day two we got a late start and discovered that Boy hadn't packed anything but two long sleeve shirts and a dress shirt. So we had to stop and buy new ones. I was sick as a dog with some weird stomach virus. The only thing that seemed mildly interesting was the OZ museum but it didn't open for another half hour and we had an endless stretch of Kansas and two cranky kids, needless to say, there are no pictures for today. By the time we passed the "Welcome to Colorado" sign, we were too tired to stop. But we finally arrived and after some dinner and getting settled we let the kids swim in the campground pool until well after dark.
On our way back to our cabin, Girl was so tired that Mr. Hobbitfeet put her on his shoulders. With our cabin in sight, Mr. Hobbitfeet tripped over something and the two of them fell face down into gravel. She's pretty scrapped and bloody, but overall okay. I will post pictures in the morning.


So one good day, one bad day. We'll see what tomorrow brings. Hopefully it's a better day as it is our 5th wedding anniversary.

Vacation On My Mind

This year, Mr. Hobbitfeet and I believe we will be able to take our first ever family vacation (since our honeymoon, which although included Girl-baking in my oven-did not include Boy who instead went to Philly with my mom and step-dad). We have done little weekends here and there at various family members’ cottages, but we've not done a "FAMILY VACATION."
That being said, we can't afford a huge expensive thing (read: Disney World). It can not include air trip as round trips tickets for a family of four is redonkulous and would eat up at least half of our budget. We also have to keep in mind that we will be spending $11 a day on dog boarding.
I am also aiming to have this coincide with Mr. Hobbitfeet and my 5th anniversary on what Mr. Hobbitfeet always says is D-day but is actually the following day.

My plan is to go to the Rocky Mountains because it is only a 14.5 hour drive, and a little less than halfway we can stop at a Holidome (complete with waterslide) in Topeka, KS which is a hot spot for my kids. Other benefits of going to the Rockies is that it will allow my children to relive part of one of my most memorable childhood family vacations at the YMCA of the Rockies (although Boy is balking at the idea of horseback riding).

I also decided we should spend part of the trip at Pike's Peak which is a little more than an hour out of Denver, but adds nothing to the trip home. So that's my plan, and then while perusing information on our destinations, I realized something. I saw this picture and realized I am dragging my family up to the mountains WHEN I AM AFRAID OF HEIGHTS!!!!!

I am trying to be calm.

I am breathing.

Deep breaths.

Deep breaths.

As the youngest of seven with a legally blind father, Mr. Hobbitfeet didn't get to travel much as a kid, and since he didn't learn how to drive himself until we were married, he hasn't been on many road trips. Girl has only ever been to Illinois, Indiana, Missouri, and Michigan. Boy beats her by two because he can add Wisconsin and Pennsylvania. I've got about 28 states and Mexico under my belt and feel under-traveled but compared to them I'm Nellie Bly, and although this trip wouldn't add to my state list, it would certainly broaden my family's horizons.

So I am breathing and facing up to my fears as I always tell Boy to do, and I'll cross that bridge when I come to it (and every night beforehand in my nightmares)!

Breathing!

I just need to remember that neither Mr. Hobbitfeet nor the kids have seen mountains and mountains are beautiful and purple and majestic (it says so in the song). Plus we can see the Manitou Cliff Dwellings and who doesn't love a good cliff dwelling?

I will be very calm and open to this experience. People don't normally plummet to their deaths in the Rockies. It is very rare and I will just keep reminding myself of that. Also, I had lots of fun in the Rockies as an eight year old. This will be fun. I will remember that.