Visiting Colorado

My Sister-In-Law Kayla, her son Bowen, Eli, and I took a road trip to Colorado. The Drive was exhausting with 2 one-year-olds in the back seat. Bowen did awesome but Eli...not so much. Here is a big Photo Dump with a few captions:

This is on the drive back via I-70. The most beautiful place in the world.

Vail, CO was the most beautiful in my opionion. I didn't get a picture of it, so here is one from the internet.

OK, REWIND. Sorry I got ahead of myself. Lets start from the drive there and not the drive back. ha ha. 

This whole photo session is in Denver, CO. We went to the Aquarium and had lunch there. Kayla and Bowen stayed there with all the fishies while Eli and I went to the Childrens Museum.

Why is it sideways?

This area was researved for 3 and Under. It was perfect. 

Eli could have played with this Dryer All day. I had to pry him off. I didn't want to pay all that money just so he could play with a simple dryer.

When we got into Pueblo, CO we stayed with my mom and Sdad. It was a wonderful visit. They spoiled the boys with a lot of brand new toys! They had a blast. They loved all the stairs all over my moms house too. I hadn't been home for 5 years. It was good to be back.

Our first day in Pueblo we went to the zoo. I was impressed, it was very clean. I was surprised that there was no tiger though.

This is how much Eli enjoyed the zoo. Once he did wake up all he wanted to do is play with sticks and leaves. Ug. :)

Kayla and Bowen

My Mom and Eli

This is the craziest dog. It had the longest legs! It was Kayla's favorite.

He was looking right at me. Creepy!

Eli is obsessed with hoses, and that is an understatement. Hoses from the Zoo are no exception.




These pictures are at my parents home and at the waterpark in Pueblo.

Oreos

Fun with Grandpa Dane

They LOVED Molly's bed. It was the perfect size for them.

This is at Garden of the Gods in Colorado Springs. It's one of my favorite places. Rocks. I love Rocks.





One the way home (if you remember we went through Vail and all the beautiful places.  We also stopped in SLC for a second to let the boys unwind at City Creek Mall.

The trip was wonderful. It was great to see my folks. I am so glad Kayla came, it was so much fun. Oh, and I forgot to tell you about Eli on our way there...So we got a hotel. We checked in around 10:30. Eli SCREAMED until 2:40am. Yeah, we could have drove that whole time. No fun people. No fun. But, the trip was worth it.

"The Fence"

Picture a prairie, a beautiful prairie. Tree's scattered about the field. It's perfect weather outside. 

Your favorite people are around you.

You are doing cartwheels in the grass.

This is where you exist.

You are happy.

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You spend your days as you please. You can do whatever you would like. But there is one rule; Do not go over the fence.








One day you get curious and wander over to the fence. Not to go over it, but just to look whats going on over the other side.

What you see is beautiful, fun, and exciting. There are people jumping off of a rope swing into a pool of warm, blue, water. Oooooh that water looks so good and refreshing! What could be so bad about this? The people are having a grand ol' time. You hop on top of the fence...just to have somewhere to sit and watch.







The water entices you. It looks so nice. You slowly lower yourself off of the fence. You just want to feel the water, check the temperature. What could be so bad about putting your toe into the water?








You put your toe into the water.  Ahhhhh, So nice!





(Unbeknownst to you Satan is under the water in his scuba gear! Right when you put your toe in the water he slips a loop of fishing line around your big toe.)


That water feels so good! You'll just go in to your ankles, no further than your ankles.

Just to your knees, no further.

Your waist.

Your chest.

Your shoulders.

You just want to put your head under. That would be the icing on the cake. It would be so refreshing.

You take a breath and go under.

Just then, Satan pulls the line. He's got you! You can't get up for air. You struggle, you are drowning.

(Luckily, Jesus is under the water in His scuba gear with scissors. If you ask Him, He will cut the line.)

In your final moments you plead for Christ to cut the line. You swim for the top, breathe, then swim to shore.



So let me ask you this...When did Satan get you?


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Drugs, Murder, and Religion = Happiness

Every choice we make, every single second of our lives, is dependent on one question: Will this make me happy?



I want to sleep in, because I'm too grumpy to get up; so sleeping in will make me happier. So I sleep in. 

On the other hand:

I want to sleep in, but I also need to get up and going to be successful. I want to be successful; so I get up.

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My body is shaking, I'm miserable, I cannot live another minute! This needs to end NOW. So I shoot up some drugs. Ahhhhh. Relief. Happiness.

On the Other hand:

My body is shaking, I'm miserable, I cannot live another minute! But I must hold this withdraw out!!! I cannot let this drug rule my life. I need to be in control to be happy.


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He's hot. So we get it on. Happy.

On the other hand:

He's hot. But not my type. I'm waiting for a lasting relationship. Happy.

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This goes on for EVERY decision we have and and will ever make in our lives. It's the whole reason why I have a bigger stomach than I would like, because chocolate makes me happy in the moment and I'm not willing to forfeit it for a nicer body (which would, in reality, make me much happier).

So people, this is why we have morals, goals, and dreams. It's to keep our "I want this NOW" in check. One of my favorite quotes are "Don't give up what you want most, for what you want now". 

On the other hand:

This is why we don't judge others. In that moment they weren't thinking; "Man, this is going to be a really dumb decision". No, they are thinking; "this will make me happier". After all isn't that what we are all striving for? This is also why we don't look back in our own lives and regret. We move forward, press on, and fix our "happiness gauge". We can give others the benefit of the doubt and forgive. We can forgive and learn what really makes us happy, not for a moment, but forever.