Devils Head

With the weather as gorgeous as ever we had to take advantage of the awesome Colorado outdoors. We decided to do the much talked about Devils Head hike. We went with another couple, and found it to be a pretty pleasant hike. It's pretty much your standard hike, but at the top is this nice wide open grass area perfect for a picnic or what not. There's also a little cabin next to the field where the ranger stays when he's not looking for fires. Fires you ask, well Devils Head has a lookout tower located 143 stairs upward right on top of a rock. Since you can see for miles in all directions, it's an active ranger site used to spot fires. Connie thought it was hilarous that I was scared as we walked around the tower cause it was super windy and I felt like I could be blown off to my death at any moment. It was coold to go into the tower and talk to the ranger. The ranger was this cool old guy who kindly answered all of Connie's questions. Later she realized a piece of paper with "Commonly Asked Ranger Questions/Answers" with most of the questions she just asked. Ooops.

4 planes, 3 outfits, 2 tired parents, and 1 foot-in-the-mouth flight attendant

On Sunday we took little Ruby on her first plane ride to TEXAS and the Lord answered my prayers! Ruby was a little angel and was perfectly quiet during both flights. What a champ!

Texas was great fun, especially since the hospital interviewing Preston bought our plane tickets, flew us into TYLER and rented us a car! How awesome is that?! We stayed with family and I couldn't believe how great the kids were with Ruby. The boys were so loving and excited to hold her. Some were a little TOO excited and we had to play defense to avoid eye pokes and suffocation from kisses!


We had lots of fun eating out with family, staying up late chatting and BBQing at the lakehouse. We had a tour of tyler with a local realtor and did some house hunting of our own. I felt bad when the realtor asked what I'm looking for in a home and I mentioned that I'm not a huge fan of brick. As we looked around I realized that 90% of the homes in Tyler are 100% brick :) Preston's interview went well...all 9 hours of it! He came home with a great job offer and a delicious basket of goodies.



The trip home was not so perfect. We got to Dallas just fine (although during the trip from Tyler Ruby decided to have a blow out so we quick changed her clothes and diaper in Dallas and scarfed down a piece of pizza as they were quick to board the plane. But after 20 minutes of sitting in our plane the captain announced that the lavatory was clogged and we needed maintenance to come and fix it (I guess we didn't need to hammer that pizza so fast...bummer). After another 20 minutes they announced that the plane could not be fixed and we needed to de-plane. Fairly quickly they found us a new plane. We got on board, but after another 20 minute wait we found out that the plane had problems with the AC. Maintenance was called, the problem couldn't be fixed, we all got off again. I was trying to wait to feed Ruby until our plane was taking off and I apparently waited too long as I needed a shirt change after failed flight number 2 :)

At this point we're wishing we had gotten more pizza because it's getting late, so Preston buys us a smoothie and I take Ruby to the bathroom to change a wet diaper. Unfortunately I still haven't learned that there ALWAYS needs to be a diaper under the baby. Right after I pulled off the old one Ruby let the flood gates open. I tried to grab her off the table before urine got everywhere, but I was too late, her onesie was already soaked up the back AND apparently I scared her a little when I picked her up so quick because she then proceeded to poop on her blanket :) yikes. Luckily we had a 3rd outfit packed, but it was our last, so we hoped that plane 3 would come through for us.

It didn't. We were on the plane for a while and they kept announcing that we were all set and just waiting on final confirmation from who knows who. Then the flight attendant came on the PA again and said "would someone else like to come up and make this announcement?" Turns out this one had the same AC problem and was leaking fluid. Having given up on maintenance actually doing anything helpful, they decided not to call and just to have us all de-plane...again.

Wow. At this point we've given up on being annoyed as the situation is almost comical. I was surprised to see most of the passengers in good spirits and making jokes. It reminded me that there's no situation that can't be made worse by complaining. We were told that a plane would be coming in at 5:10 and we would be able to take that one (note that when it landed it was 6:10 in GR and we were suppose to be home at 5:05. Awesome.

As we board plane number 4 a flight attendant (who earlier had asked how old our baby was) asked if I was "expecting again." REALLY!? So you know that I have a 1 month old baby and you know that I'm about to get on my 4th plane and you ask me that?! wow. They announced that the first round of drinks were on the house to compensate us for our troubles. I didn't want a beer, I wanted some peanuts or pretzels...but those were $4.

We ended up arriving in GR after 10:00 and Ruby, who did so super great all day, finally lost it. Mom and dad brought us our car and said a quick hello to our screaming baby before we took off for home.

The no rules pinewoood derby

OK. I am really not a fan of the no rules thing as the boys were just plain cheezy with their entries. As you can see, the girls were clever and worked hard at the design and craft of their cars. The 2 winners were one that I don't have pictured... which was a cheezy unpainted, duct taped car that was basically long, thin, pieces of wood that extended to the end of the track. To win, he simply shoved his car forward a half inch. The all round winner was a lot more clever but didn't have wheels so the girls didn't buy it. Brother Steed's 'car' was also unpainted and had a V in the front to hold it onto the starting stick. A long elastic cord stretched to the finish line. As you can see in the video, it 'flew' faster than the eye can see over the finish line. One of the girls had a car that was pulled by a strand of elastic lace. She practiced with it at home and was quite fast. My car was the flower pot and my idea.. the zip line from the vacuum... didn't work because the cord was too short... so it didn't fare so well.... but was soooo pretty. Right?

Preston's firsts

First he got out his headlight and clipped her nails. Done. Then he drew the water and swept her off for her first bath which was done in about 2 minutes flat.

All Done and looking great!!!!!

The Blessing Day

On the blessing day...which was decided with some haste... I did my usual finish the dress at the last minute scenerio. I did actually finish it before the date only because the date was Sunday... but we had to bring it down to the blessing from Grand Rapids. We were a few minute early but it took a few minutes for Annette to get her dressed and ready in her new white slip and dress. Right after the beautiful blessing given to her by her father, she promptly filled her diaper and was swept out by dad.. never to return. As it turned out, she soiled her dress and that was the end of the blessing day dress. So, we don't have a good picture of the actual dress but we do have a few pictures of her getting dressed and the family afterwards. Here goes.