Colorado continued

This was our cabin for the last 2 days of our trip. The Bennett's are some friends that own this cabin built in the 1920's and were gracious to allow us to call it home for a few days.

So many cool features of this cabin including the built in table in the kitchen. Payton loved it because it was just her size.

Merv and Roseann, the owners, wanted to keep things as original as possible. Merv found this stove/oven and refinished it himself. It is partial gas and partial wood burning.

A stream ran right through the property and since rocks are one of Payton's favorite toys right now, she was in heaven digging for all sorts of rocks!

 

 

Payton found a fruit to give blueberry's a challenge as her favorite, Wild Raspberry's! She went crazy with them.  In the background you can see a fire that came through about 8 years ago and wiped out so many trees in the area. It was sad to see, thankfully the cabin was saved by firefighter's foaming the roof.

Bath time in the old kitchen sink.

Monday we drove up to the top of Pike's Peak. It was a beautiful day as we started.

We stopped a lot to let Payton's ear adjust. She kept saying boo boo and pointing to her ears. I told her to drink some water and that would help with her boo boo in her ears, and she was so funny because she kept putting her cup up to her ear like pouring water in her ear would help.

By the time we made it to the top is was 46 degrees and foggy. We were glad to made it though. We had a snack and headed back down.

So foggy we couldn't see anything from the top.

Heading back down the mountain it was amazing to watch as we came out of the clouds and could see below. The mountains were just brilliant. 

Merv found us a much better carrier for hiking, so Steve was able to carry Payton. We went hiking on Gill Trail just a few miles from the house. It was only a couple miles round trip but there were some extremely steep climbs that it was enough of a challenge.

This hike I got to go hands free, just my extra pregnancy weight was enough of a workout for me climbing up those mountains.

We had a great time as a family. Thank you to the Bennett's for their cabin, Colorado is a beautiful place!

Glen Eyrie

The reason for our trip to Colorado was Steve was invited to speak at the Colorado Church of God Summer Camp Meeting. It was an honor for him to speak at this conference, the theme for the weekend was Shaped by God's heart. Steve did an excellent job talking about the fears that keep us from knowing and experiencing God's heart.  We enjoyed meeting all sorts of wonderful people over the weekend.

The retreat was held at Glen Eyrie.  Glen Eyrie is a 67-room Tudor-style castle built by in the late 1800's by General Palmer, the founder of Colorado Springs. It is now used as a Christian Conference Center. This place is beyond description. Here are a few pictures from around the property. My subject for the pictures was a little less than excited about me dragging her around the property trying to snap photos. For a photographer who knew what they were doing, this place would be an amazing photo shoot. There were a few bridal parties that came to take pictures on the property while we were there.

The Castle

So much wildlife. Bighorn Sheep, Deer, and Turkey. All right on the property where we walked!

Payton ran through a doorway thinking she was hiding from me. Little did she know there was another door down the wall that I snuck through and scared her!

Old wooden bench

Thanks to the folks in Colorado who invited us and so graciously hosted us.

Colorado

Steve mentioned in his sermon last night that God spent a little more time working in Colorado than Kansas, the mountains are evident of that!

Here are some pictures of our highlights

Our only family shot, at Balance Rock in the Garden of the Gods

Someone told us we could walk to the Garden of the Gods, after only half-way there, one of the employees laughed at us and asked who told us we could walk this far. We had already gone about 45 minutes of hills with Steve recovering from the stomach flu and me toting this extra weight and baby around, all still adjusting to the altitude change, we hiked back and decided to take the car through the Garden.

Car ride the next day through the Garden and we laughed at ourselves thinking about actually walking "through" the gardens. It would have taken ALL day!

Mommy and Payton

Enjoying the grounds at Glen Eyrie where we stayed

 

 

Payton's favorite toys right now, stick and rocks. We are in a good place for her to find those!

Enjoying lunch

BBQ and watermelon, not the cleanest meal :)

Absolutely perfect weather - warm in sun, cool in shade

Trying to wear her out

As soon as I returned from my afternoon tea with the ladies, I found Steve and Payton on the road ready for a hike. I love hikes, but wasn't quite prepared. Still in a dress and flip flops, I believed Steve when he said it was only 1/3 of a mile hike.

Ironically, the pack doesn't fit Steve's large frame well.  So the 5 month old prego woman got to carry the 24 pound child up the mountain!

I was laughing so hard at us. Here I am, prego, in dress and flip flops with Payton on my back hiking the mountain. Steve, my muscular, in shape hubby carrying the water bottle and camera. We passed some guys going up the mountain and I laughed just imagining what they were thinking about us!

Payton has been pretty clingy to me recently, at times she wasn't even wanted Steve. Here is a glimpse of her stubbornness, not even looking at the camera having a tantrum.

Drive to CO

many people complain about the drive across kansas to colorado, stating it is flat and boring. i did not find it boring at all. maybe it was because we stopped A LOT for a sick hubby who had the stomach flu, maybe because i drove the whole way i was more alert to my surroundings, maybe because i a florida girl some of the views were new to me.  the sunflower fields were amazing, the wind farms blew my mind, and crossing into colorado was a first for me

needless to say we made it to colorda, steve barely in one piece,  i haven't seen him that sick in a long time. he ended up not preaching last night (he was actually willing but the tech guys said it was too late to switch back) so we got a good night rest last night and he is feeling better this morning. payton did wonderful in the car. we spent one night in salina to break up the trip. payton found the game room in the hotel and somehow without anyone showing her what to do, she knew how to get right on the game and play.

one more story that cracked me up this morning. payton was eating cheerios in the hotel room and wanted some gold fish too. i had decided she had enough food as we were going to breakfast soon. i told her no more food and she went directly behind my back to daddy and asked him for fishy's. that little stinker is already trying to work the system! doesn't take long for them to catch on.

Baby Southards #2

Dr appointment went well yesterday.  Good heartbeat, baby and mommy growing. We are almost half way there!!!!

Our ultrasound has been scheduled for Monday, August 23rd. Take a minute to cast your vote on the gender of this baby. The poll is on the right side of the page.

We will announce once we have the ultrasound.

Girls Weekend!

sandra, me, callie

 My first weekend in Florida was girls weekend with my 2 best friends Sandra and Callie. We were roommates in college and all married pastors! Sandra now lives in WV with her husband and their 1-year-old cutie Atticus, and Callie and her husband Ben live in West Palm Beach, FL. 

What do you do for girls weekend?

Eat

Spa

Cook

Eat

Shop

A little sleep

Eat

Haircut

Photo shoot

Shop

Eat!

We 3 love to eat! Sandra is an amazing cook and brought recipes from her Dad who used to own a restaurant in Lake Wales where we went to college. Needless to say we were spoiled with amazing food while in school.

One of the few purchased meals

Oh how I miss cheap, quality Publix sushi! I just miss Publix!!!!

Sandra and Callie did most of the cooking, I just chopped a few things here and there and got in for the pic

the best eggrolls, homemade from scratch!!!

Thanks to Ben for watching Atti so we could go out (playing with new camera, that is why this is fuzzy)

Our hair master Fernando!!!!

Bubble Tea - yummy - 

we did a spa day but Sandra has those pictures on her camera

you already saw a glimpse of our photo shoot

it is so wonderful to have girlfriends who know you and love you for who you are

our time together was precious and priceless to me!