The trip to Colorado...
Nana, Papa, Mommy, Vincent and Mia all jumped in the truck..and off we went. The trip to get to "the truck" ie...my dads truck was a story itself.
The story:
My mother called me in the morning (thursday) to inform me that it was snowing in Hastings. I'm like big deal...I've driven in snow before. My plan stayed the same...leave after lunch, so the kids will nap...and I can have an enjoyable, peaceful, quiet ride home. So we headed to Hastings. Roads in Omaha fine...just a little foggy, but still good visibility. As we got closer to Lincoln...little blowing snow...still fine. Then we hit Lincoln...blowing snow increases. Cruise no longer set. I am nearing the 48th street exit and am changing lanes, talking on the phone (as I usually am driving) and feel the car slide..so immediately hang up the phone. Not even a 1/2 mile later...it becomes a full white out...can't even see the car infront of me. Visibilty improves briefly. I call good ole' DADDY and ask "are the roads bad in hastings" If so, I am just going turn around, as I am saying this...another white out happens...freak out on my part! I'm screaming, in return the kids wake up...Vin's asking why I'm screaming...my dad saying whats going on..I'm screaming in case you didn't get that part...oh my gosh...approx 4 cars crashed under the bridge opposite side of interstate...oh wait another white out...dad's telling me to pull over and put flashers on...ect...nice try..I'm still screaming...I can't see anything, how am I suppose to pull over, can't see the car infront or behind me..or the road.....
and then....The big scream...I am not crying hysterically...white out lightened...and I see a truck headed right for me from the opposite side of the interstate....luckily God was watching me and protected us from danger. The truck went up onto the shoulder, and I was in the far lane, and then he went back down. I had lost it, and I am pretty sure my dad might have had a heart attack, after hearing all of that on the phone and not being able to help. My plan then was to take the next exit...oops...missed it...white out again. So maybe the next one...and then we STOPPED! on the interstate...for a very very very long time. To make the whole thing worse...I needed to pee, and was just hoping to make it to York. Well we made it to York...5 hours after leaving our house in Bennington. Oh yes it was fun. My pants were unbuttoned, the bladder was full...the ice was forming on the side of the car...and there were about 50 cars in the ditches and roads that crashed/slid into each other. Some didn't look like they had any damage, others horrible. It came down so fast, and it was nice a few days prior, that it just became ICE real quick. The kids did great. Mia fussed for 2 minutes if even that...luckily I had some milk for her...she was happy with that and a snack, and her doll. Vincent and I talked about accidents and how people can get hurt, and have to go to the hospital....he is so cute and says "so mommy and daddy can take care of them?" (we have taught him that mommy takes care of babies and daddy takes care of people) Yeah..but we don't like accidents...people get ouchies. We played games and watched Dora. Luckily he had gone the bathroom before leaving and didn't drink anything on the road unlike his mom. It was bad, for being stuck for 2+ hours on the interstate. We finally made it to York...we ran into Walmart...to let mommy go the bathroom, and yes I did go before Vincent and Mia...I was going to explode....and plus its easier to buy them new clothes than me!! We walked around Walmart in the toy area...mostly and then some Subway for dinner. I had anticipated getting a hotel for the night, but decided to drive over the interstate to see how it looked..to my surprise it looked much better...visibility good. So I decided to get gas...in case anything else should come my way...oh but wait...its frozen shut. I tried to even key it open. No such luck. So we headed out...and made it to Hastings 7.5 hours after leaving Bennington...and what a relief that was. God was watching us...
The next day...we headed to Colorado...another 8 hours in a car....
The kids did great....they surprised me again.
Here's Carrie and Vincent making wishes...
Vincent and Mia driving...a car that moves...they didn't care for that part.
Rockin' Out!
I think we need one.....Daddy please????!!
Uncle Tom broke out the mini.....I think its Vincent's new best friend.
Look mom...beep beep!
Waiting for his turn again.
Mommy's turn
The weather wasn't warm...but not cold while we there...We attempted Garden of the Gods. (I had been told by the kids pediatrician not to take them up too high in the mountains...they would turn blue on me...) So here we are...and they made it.
Ta-da....says Vincent and Unkie.
Made it up the first part.
However...Mia was not too interested in climbing...
Mommy and Mia...
Vin taking the rough path..on his own...
Generation pic...Mommy, Mia and Nana
Look how high I climbed mom....MOM...look!
Aunt Carrie and Mia...climbing around...enjoying it more now.
Strong boys...Unkie and Vincent holding up the rock
Unlce Tom and Vincent leading the way....
Pushing the rock over...almost there....little harder.
Unkie Jacob and Aunt Carrie with the kiddos
Trying for that cute pic
Even higher...the camera doesn't even zoom enough
Random bench on some rocks...Jacob, me and Carrie
Mom and Aunt Kris
FAMILY
Awe.....
After the mountains...we went bowling....real bowling...not Wii bowling. Vincent loved it...check out the shoes!
praying that the pins go down.
Checkin out his moves...
the car ride home back to Hastings went really smoothly..one stop....and a very full leaking diaper when we got home. We had planned to stop and then the kids fell asleep....
Vincen and Papa wrestling..
Dogpile!!!!
Vincent not thrilled to take picture for daddy...see his new shoes...that match oh so well...but that he insisted. 
Mia..then tried to take after him. 
Nikki and I out and about.... 
Brynn, Melissa, me and Nikki out dancing... 
Like the olden days...for a second that is. 
Vincent not thrilled to take picture for daddy...see his new shoes...that match oh so well...but that he insisted. 
Mia..then tried to take after him. 
Nikki and I out and about.... 
Brynn, Melissa, me and Nikki out dancing... 
Like the olden days...for a second that is. 
