Colorado Here We Come!

Friday, March 29.

Geoff ended taking the day off to sleep/pack/ready for the upcoming trip.  Aislyn had a cold (we think she's teething again) so she stayed home with Daddy.  They had a great time, and when Mommy finally came home, it was "let's get going!!!!" 



Aislyn is great entertaining herself - which is a great thing especially when packing a car!!!!



We left at 5:30 pm (yes our dog Abby went with us) and it was onward to Colorado.  Our butts were sore (not saddle-sore tho, that's different) but we all were excited when we pulled into Hotchkiss, especially Aislyn...

A quick aside - Aislyn initiated her brand-new carseat 14 hrs into the trip...Apparently Aislyn doesn't like McDonald's as 5 minutes after Jocelyn gave her some egg, Aislyn proceded to puke-up her previous bottle, crackers and egg all over herself & Jocelyn (Aislyn has a good aim though, as she even projected into and down Jocelyn's sleeve)...Let's just say that we have finally graduated to "Parents" as both of us finished up our breakfast despite the stench.

Saturday, March 30.

When we arrived, Aislyn got a quick bath, change of clothes, and new bottle and then it was off to the barn where Mick (Papa from here out) was just coming from driving the cows and calfs down from the upper pasture.  We followed them in, Aislyn petted her first horse,

The weather was beautiful - something we haven't seen at home!!!

Geoff went with Dawna to get a young calf that didn't want to move...Funny story - There are lots of irrigation ditches - dry at this point - because they irrigate by flooding the fields.  As Dawna was driving and Geoff was holding the calf, they went into the first ditch...no worries...however, as they went up the the other side, the back wheels hit the bottom, and the 4-wheeler proceeded to eject Geoff & the calf backwards!!!  Geoff managed to land on his feet w/ the calf still in his arms and we all had a great laugh! 

We had a nice lunch with the ranch crew - Matt and family (the ranch owners), Papa and Dawna, Loy (Jocelyn's sis) and some others that were helping out.  After lunch, Aislyn went for her first ride on horseback!!!!  She absolutely loved it, evidenced by the way she rocked front to back anytime Taffy stopped moving.  It was very cute.

Aislyn with her Papa Mick on Taffy

 Aislyn seemed to be enjoying herself, but all doubts ceased when she smiled and waved!!  Jocelyn showed some great quickness and awareness to catch it in the act!

After lunch, Mick asked Geoff if he wanted to help - which he gladly did as it entailed saddling a horse.  They headed out to the pasture where Mick, Matt, Matt's Boys, Loy, and Geoff rode for several hours sorting pairs from the ranch herd.  Then it was dinner and catching up in the evening...Jocelyn caught up with her dad and Dawna while Geoff caught up on sleep on the couch...He wasn't very social.

Late Saturday night, when Geoff finally came to bed, he was informed he would need to go back to the couch or find another bed...it seems that it may have not been the eggs after all, as Aislyn had just puked all over the bed - and Jocelyn was sleeping across the foot of it until the morning.  Geoff slept in the other room!  Isn't parenting fun!!!!!

Sunday, April 1.

With Sunday came meeting, a potluck, Larissa's (Jocelyn's brother Jared's daughter) dance recital, and more time spent with family.  More sleep as well!

Aislyn sure enjoyed playing with her cousins Larissa & Brylan

Jared & Mandy (in the background) kept us in stitches at dinner while Angela kept Aislyn entertained

Don (one of the friends), Justin (Don's son, not pictured), Uncle Kent & Geoff enjoyed pickingnd on their guitars.

Gramma Nola

Grandpa Danny and Aislyn