Happy Birthday, Baby Girl

Guess who turned 6 today.

Leanne started celebrating yesterday when I took her for a haircut at the "big girl" salon (where her mom and I go). 
 
She got to pick the length and style, which she decided should be short to her ears, "just like grandma's". 
 
Tonight was a pizza party at Topper's, her favorite place.
 
Presents, pizza, cake 
 
and a baby sister that has learned to smile for the camera. 
 
What more could a little girl want?*

 * Ok, she wanted a puppy or a kitten, but we all knew that wasn't going to happen, right?

Game Plans

Today's original game plan was to drive back to Loveland and celebrate Rachel's birthday. What actually happened was a breakfast stop at the home of giant cinnamon rolls - 

 

any guesses how Addy felt about this place? - 

 

then a "quick" trip to Bass Pro Colorado Springs 

 

(stops at Bass Pro are never fast; too many great things for the boys to admire) 

  The kids played video games during the drive. #Addy #PopPop

before we headed to our new destination- The Wild Animal Sanctuary in Keenesburg CO.

 

And it was FANTASTIC. 

 

Even the cold temps and strong wind couldn't damper our fun.

 

This is "the world’s largest carnivore sanctuary - with more than 450 rescued lions, tigers, bears, wolves and other large carnivores living and roaming freely on 720 acres."

 

The 1.5 mile elevated walkway allowed us great views of the animals and their habitats

 

and gave Rach an opportunity to put her new camera through its paces.

 

We'll definitely be back - can't recommend this place highly enough!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

Wish You Were Here

We're having a great time in Colorado, spending a long weekend celebrating Rachel's upcoming birthday.

 

Friday was a (mostly uneventful) travel day. On Saturday, Rach and I ditched the guys and took a "gifts from the garden" class with two of her friends. Now we all want to make lavender everything! Ok, maybe not chocolates, but the lotion, bath salts and honey are definite keepers.

 

Saturday afternoon we headed for Manitou Springs in anticipation of today's adventures. 

 

First up - Ice Sculpture Festival in Cripple Creek. Some amazing works of art, including an elephant ice slide.

 

And yes, it really was as cold as it looks.

 

Next was the very cool Rocky Mountain Dinosaur Resource Center.

 

 

From the outside it looks like the usual dino museum, but it's so much more - their work restoring fossils and making molds can be seen in some of the biggest and best museums in the world. 

 

But we definitely saved the best for last.

 

We got to go on the feeding tour at the Colorado Wolf and Wildlife Center in Divide CO!

 

Very educational but fun too.

 

And the wolves are gorgeous.

 

Addy was just a tad excited afterwards - she talked non-stop about what she'd seen and learned during our 90-minute excursion.

 

And guess who's changed her career goal and now wants to work with endangered wolves?

 

These are just a few of the many, many pics Rachel took today. Enjoy!

 

 

 

 

 

Busy Baby

My sweet, always happy baby has learned a few new tricks.

 

Mom and big sister taught Jac how to growl "like a dinosaur". Funniest thing ever! 

 

She's also starting to crawl and has pulled herself up to standing twice, leaning against the nearest warm body for balance. I tried to get a picture the second time, but she was already sliding down and catching her seemed like the better option.