The first night we stayed in a hotel in Albuquerque, NM. The kids were thrilled with that idea, because they were able to go swimming before going to bed that night, plus needed a break from the car.Chloe was doing her "spiderman, spiderman climbing on the wall" that she learned in swimming lessons.
Zach was trying really, really hard to do a handstand under that water. He was getting pretty close.
Parker's first time in the pool! He did ok for a little bit, but got pretty cold. He and I ended up getting out early so he could go to bed. 
The next day we headed out after breakfast for CO. It was a beautiful day and we were so excited when we made it to the Rocky Mountains. Beautiful! We stopped at a rest stop in southern CO to feed Parker and let the kids get out and run around. (I am not in many pictures because I was pretty much the photographer for the entire trip.)
Love this picture of my adorable family!
While Chloe and Zach ran around, Chris sat and played with Parker. Parker was LOVING being outside and out of his carseat! 
Parker is getting better at sitting. He still doesn't quite have it down, but hopefully soon he catch on to it.
This was his first time sitting in and touching soft green grass. The grass in our yard in AZ is pretty scratchy and hard. I love his squishy little hands and feet!
More vacation pictures to come.....
He had a great day and ended up knowing many kids in his class. He thinks his teacher, Mrs. Barz is going to be good. "She is pretty nice and only a little strict." I asked him what he did at recess and he said that he and his friend, Adam, (from down the street) met up out on the field. When I asked for more details, he said that they ran around because the two girls that they like were chasing them! Oh, young love!! (if you call it love...) They only got to be chased for about 10 minutes and then had to go inside. It was 114 degrees today!! This heat is just nuts! 
Lately, Zach is always requesting to have his picture taken with Parker. I think he is quite the proud big brother and really enjoying having another boy around the house. (yes, Parker really is only 5 1/2 months old, but wearing 12 month clothes!)
Zach has got to be the best big brother EVER!!! He loves to play with the younger kids and is so good with them! He is very protective of them, yet always wants to make them laugh - 
- especially Chloe. (she is cracking up laughing at Zach being funny)
He is such a good helper when we go places. He get Chloe in and out of her carseat while I get Parker situated. He holds Chloe's hand in the parking lots and helps keep her entertained while we are shopping. 
Hmmm....
Shannon and Curtis
Chris totally knows what he is doing and does a great job at getting everything the way they need to be so that we can all relax and have fun. I always wanted to marry a guy that would love camping. (I know I am totally grease-defied to the max. This picture was actually taken before we left camp, so I was totally needing a shower! Don't get freaked out! I promise my greasy-ness won't come through the computer and get you!)
And if you want to know a little secret from my childhood - I always pictured myself as a "mountain girl" - as I call it! I always thought they were so cool!! Ya know, the hiker type look. I haven't quite made it yet, I guess. I guess I like my black slacks too much (right TJ and Carrie! =)! 
That may sound nuts, but we loved taking drives in the mountains when we lived in Colorado. They are covered in nothing but pine trees, aspens and rocks. Then we moved to Indiana where there are beautiful green trees and corn fields like where I grew up with in Missouri. Now we are in Arizona and I have been waiting ever since we got here in January to get up to the mountains where the cactus ends and the pine begins. 
Chris was wonderful setting up, fixing meals, cleaning up, taking down, etc. 
I was usually busy with Parker. Let's just say....Parker likes his routine and his bed. 
Overall, I think he did fine. He is just such an easy going baby, that when he gets upset even a little - it seems stressful because he is not usually like that. The kids quickly made friends with the campers next to and across from us. I think Zach totally liked it because it was about 6 girls around his age and he was the only boy! He was a great big brother to Chloe and included her wherever he went and in all the activities. They found a couple fuzzy caterpillars and made an "Ultimate Challenge" for them. 
The caterpillars had to make it up a mountain of dirt and stay on the straight road and other obstacles. The poor caterpillars must have been traumatized! But hey - the kids loved it! I just love to watch how kids can take dirt and a little critter and be amused for hours. I love their imagination!
We went to Upper Lake Mary and had our own little spot by ourselves. Luckily, Parker slept in the pack-n-play for the majority of it. That gave both Chris and I a chance to fish with the kids. Only Chris was lucky enough to catch a fish, but it was still a lot of fun. 
Chloe says fishing was her favorite part of the trip. We had a picnic lunch while we fished and sat and enjoyed the cool breeze. 
I love the smell of campfires and love to sit around it and relax. Although I sometimes find it hard to relax when I keep picturing my kids tripping and falling into it! I was quite protective when they were around the fire. They sat on their chairs - nothing else! =) Plus - who can resist having yummy smores over a campfire!?!
Before we left, we wanted to have a little lesson with the kids. We talked about some scripture stories and then Chris gave a mini-lesson on the earth we have been given and how we need to keep it clean and beautiful. After that, we walked around a small area of the campground and picked up trash. 
We had a good time stomping through the woods and exploring. 
We watched carpenter ants spitting out sawdust from a big log that was laying on its side. It was actually quite interesting. 
We loved spending time together and getting away from normal life. It was worth all the work to see the kids having a blast (minus Parker) in the great outdoors! They (we) were filthy, but adorable none the less. 
Here are a few more pictures from the trip.....
