More Vail....

 Am I up to day 4 or 5?  Who knows.  Anyway, John, Lilly and I biked the Vail pass.  It was one of the first things John found to do and was pretty adamant we were doing it.  Too bad he didn't feel the same way when we got done.  We took a shuttle to the top of Vail Pass.  Lilly was super excited to ride the bus and wear the bike helmet..

I think she is doing her best "not impressed" face.

She got her very own little seat and we I packed so much stuff since it was supposed to rain, that she had to ride with my backpack as well.   I don't think John was real happy I added even more weight to the trailer he pulled.  Oh well, buck up husband, this was your idea!

 These next two were the only pictures I took along the way.  

Pretty cute huh!

The ride was mostly downhill, but I will admit there were a few times I had to get off and push the bike up the hill.  18 miles in all, and I wasn't too sore the next day.  

Baby Lu did lots of this while we were on vacation.  Clearly my dad did too!

 I had some school stuff to do one day so mom and John took Lilly to play in the creek.  Luckily she didn't fall in again!

 We had dinner in Vail Village the last night.  

 What vacation is complete without one last family picture.  Too bad Lilly never looks at the camera.

 When we left Vail is was 45 degrees.  By the time we got back home it was 105.  Gotta love the Kansas heat.  We got home on a Friday night and come Monday morning I was back to work, exhausted!  It was definitely worth it, to spend an entire week with cousins, aunts, uncles (minus 1) and grandparents.   Hopefully in a couple years we will be able to do it again.

Klutziness is Genetic

 One of our favorite activities was playing in the stream.  It was free, relatively safe, and close to the condo. 

Just scoping things out. 

Had to throw lots of rocks.

 Cheese with dad. 

 Cheese with Mom and Lucy.

 John and Lilly had a great time throwing rocks in my direction to splash me.  

 We were having a grand ole' time when Lilly decided to be a klutz and slip off a rock and straight into the water.  It wasn't as bad as it sounds, I laughed, she cried.  She was standing on a rock, wiggling around as usual and splash, right into the water.  I grabbed her and scooped her up as she screamed. She ended up wet up to her armpits.   She was only upset because her clothes were wet, not because she was hurt or scared.  Such a drama queen.  She wasn't ready to leave so we stripped her down and let her play in her undies.  There was no one else around and it didn't bother her in the least.  

 Kinda looks like she pooped her pants, but it is just the label in her undies. 

 She probably played for another half hour while her clothes dried.  She is one tough kid.  The water was freezing and the air temp couldn't have been much over 70.  I guess she was just having that much fun. 

More Vail

 Day 3 started with a little boating.  John, Lilly, and I had one boat and Abby, Adam, and Avery had another.  I can't say Lilly was horribly excited about it, but it was something new to try.

These four walked around the lake while we boated (yep, Nana is wearing Baby Lu.) 

I think we went to a different playground almost everyday!

 And of course, swimming every afternoon. 

The highs in Vail never got much above 75, so we had to warm up in the "hot water pool" as Lilly called it.  

Vail Part 1

 Before returning to work, my side of the family (minus Grant) took a week long trip to Vail, Colorado.  We had two condos for the 7 adults and 4 kids and it was one of the best vacations I have had in a long time!  I was a little worried about the 10 hour car ride, but it was no big deal for either one of my kids! Lucy slept a lot on the way out and Lilly watched lots of Dora and Mickey on the IPad, and believe it or not, I stayed awake most of the drive!  

The first day we hung out at the condo and were pretty much lazy the entire day.  We watched the majority of the Olympic coverage in the evening, and I actually went running chased after Hanna for some exercise.  

Day 2 took us to Vail Village for the Farmer's Market.  This was no small town farmer's market.  There were probably 50 or 60 vendors with everything from fresh produce to high dollar paintings and art pieces.  The booths lined the street where all of the condos and restaurants are at. Lilly and Avery loved watching the "jumping water" fountains.

Had to pose for a pic with Auntie Hanna.  

Each of the big kids got to pick one activity to do.  Avery chose to take a train ride and Lilly chose the bounce house.  

John and Nana Bobbi took a little break.

Next we went to Pirate Ship Park.  Lilly was so excited because Jake and the Neverland Pirates is one of her favorite cartoons! She pretended to drive the ship.

 And walk the gang plank (is that what you call it?)

There was also a river/stream/creek that went all the way through Vail.  We played in it every day I think. 

Bet you didn't know Albert Einstein was in Vail.   

 The big kids also had some kind of activity most nights with Nana Bobbi.  I think this was when they made and decorate sugar cookies in the shape of pigs.  

I uploaded 158 pics from vacation.  This is going to take me many many posts to share everything!

2 Months

This biggin is two months old already!  

*Weighs 11lbs 5 oz.  (70%ile)  I don't know anything about %iles that high.  Lilly has never been over the 25%ile!  Lucy will be picking on her big sister in no time!

*21 3/4 inches long (25%ile).

*Very social and loves to stare at peoples' faces when they talk to her.

*Is all smiles, especially when she wakes up in the morning.

*Eats only breast milk 7 times per day.  Eats ever three hours during the day and one time at night, usually around 4:30.  

*Is awake most of the morning and takes a long nap in the afternoon.  Is awake off and on in the evenings.

*Still taking a pacifier and loves her baths!

*Had her first trip to the swimming pool and enjoyed it for a short time. 

Great Bend Part 3

 The main reason we all went to Great Bend was for the baptism of Lucy and Savannah.  We had it at the same church that my sisters and I were all baptised at.  

Lucy met Papa Dot for the first time. 

 Proud Mom and Dad.  Lucy's baptismal gown was the same one Lilly wore, which my mom made from part of her wedding dress.  The blanket was the same one used at my baptism.  

The whole family.

Grant and Abby will serve as Lucy's godparents. 

John's parent made the trip all the way from Holton to be part of the special day. 

Just a cute pic I had to throw in!

All of the "Shirk" girls!

We had such a great weekend!  8 adults and 4 toddlers/babies in one house can be stressful but being around family makes it all worth it!  

Great Bend Part 2

 Day 2 took us to the Barton County Fair to visit the animals and then to my uncle's airport hanger.  Lilly was so excited to see the airplanes and hasn't stopped talking about flying!

This plane is an antique that my aunt bought out in California to bring home and restore. Apparently it was one of only a few made and was originally built in Salina!  

Lilly acted like she was flying and then waved to people as she flew by! 

 She thought she was pretty big stuff when she got to climb inside Tony's crop duster.  She keeps asking when she can go back and actually fly with him.  Hopefully she will get to sometime. 

 Avery wasn't to into the airplanes but he sure enjoyed the "tractor."

 The rest of the family arrived Friday evening and Lucy and Savannah spent some quality time together on the playmat.