Vacation Part 1

I missed a post last week because we were on the road to Vail, Colorado for Erik's younger brother's, Michael, wedding!  Neither Erik nor I are big fans of flying so we decided to take an extra day and drive west.  Kade did amazing, except for that minor issue, about half way through Nebraska, when he threw up in a plastic shopping bag.  He was watching something on the iPad a little too close for a little too long.  We stopped at a park after that for fresh air and play, miraculously his upset stomach disappeared!

We also had that minor issue of major flooding in Colorado.  Although the flooding was very near to where we were going, we never actually saw any of the devastation they were showing on the news.  Our only issue was a short road closure and stop-n-go traffic.  So, instead of getting to Vail at 1:00 on Friday, we didn't get there until 5:30.  I'd say we got off pretty lucky!

On the road! 

Park play, post-throw up.  

We had to stop at the bride's (Sarah) parent's house while we waited for the highway to open up.  Luckily they had some football gear to entertain the big guy.

While the wedding party had their rehearsal Erin, Kade and I took a shuttle into Vail Village for some shopping.  Well, technically, we took turns chasing the Tornado while the other shopped.  

Here's Sarah, second from left, with her future sisters!

The girls stole the bride for a little bit and took a nice stroll up the side of a mountain.  By "nice stroll" I mean 3.2 miles, 2000 foot ascension, pretty much straight up and down, glute and butt blaster!  That was definitely the toughest 5K I've ever done!  Well worth it though when you see the view we had!

Wedding picture time!!

Seriously, could this kid be any more handsome??!!

3 generations...

Yep, that's a real background!  It looks like a studio's fake backdrop!

Kade and Violet, the mini stars of the show, after the bride and groom of course!

Uncle Mike

Unfortunately, due to rain, the ceremony got moved indoors.  It was still beautiful though!

A farmer's work is never done, even in the middle of a dance floor!  That's a tractor and a bale of hay in his hands.

Grandma actually managed to get him to sit down for the speeches!  Otherwise he was on the dance floor the entire time. 

This picture is blurry because once the music started he couldn't stop dancing!  Look at those those rosy red cheeks!!

He made it to the very end of the dance!  Kade and I had an "after party" in our room with Doritos and juice while everyone else helped clean up :-)

Lots more pictures coming in Part 2!

 

My Favorite Cheesy Grin

As every kid probably does, Kade refuses to pose "nicely" for pictures.  If I can actually get him to stand still long enough to capture an in-focus picture, every time it's with the biggest, cheesiest smile he's got!  Not that I'm complaining because I do love that face!  

Is it possible to love someone so much that you just want to "eat" them?  Seriously, I can't get enough of this kid!  The things he says and does make me laugh so hard, beam with pride and count my blessings multiple times a day.  I can't really remember life without Kade, probably because it was so boring!

Cheesy grin pictures from just this week alone:

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In other news, we expanded the sand box by about 4 times it's original size.  Lots of construction sites can be built in the sand box now!  Here are some pictures of the "construction men" hard at work.

And finally, a picture of a kid that is just too cool...

Workin' Man

Kade's a man on a mission.  He likes to work!  When he goes to grandparent's homes he asks grandmas if they have a list of jobs for him and grandpas to do.  When Erik gets home from his job Kade pretty much cries until they get outside to work.  He loves watching construction workers.  He loves picking up branches, scooping horse poop, baling hay, washing cars, etc, etc.  He makes us bring his work boots with us wherever we go, just in case there's work to be done.  If he gets to Grandpa H's and he doesn't have his work boots on, Kade will tell him and "make" him change into them!  He can be a bit bossy.  I'd like to say that this is a phase but he's been like this his entire life!  I think he's destined to be in charge, whatever job he ends up at :-)

6:45 in the morning and he's already outside watching the "excagator".

Enough sitting around watching other people work, it's time to do his own jobs!  Notice the shoes?  Those were switched to boots immediately after this picture was taken.

Another excavator being unloaded!  There were 2 going at one time.  Kade was in construction heaven.

He was busy setting up "terrible traps" while I cleaned the inside of the Yukon.  He wasn't much help but he sure was cute!

A hay wagon ride after unloading a wagon full of hay bales.  Or, as Erik called them, "idiot cubes".  Apparently that's an inside joke for farmers?

Alright people, enough sitting on the bales!  It's time to unload them!

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Kade playing with 2 of his favorite people, Zach and Lauren.  Anyone who knows Kade knows that getting a hug from him can be a tough task.  When we left their house last Saturday, Lauren got about 8 hugs from him and she hardly had to ask!  What's her secret?!?!