Fun with Nana and Poppa

So, I have shown lots of pictures from mine and Flint's time away, but I have left out a really important detail.  Cilla's Nana and Poppa, graciously volunteered to keep our small fry while we had some time away.  I love that they love her so much and I love that she loves them so much.  Win.  Win.  I do not have to worry about ONE thing when Cilla is in their care and for that I am so thankful.  Didn't say I don't worry, just say'n there is no reason to!

Here are a couple of pictures they captured of Miss Priss while the mommy and daddy were away.

All dressed up and heading to church.

Tiny Dancer.

Thanks again, Mom and Dad, for giving of your time and energy to come love on Cilla.  We really appreciate it and I know she had a blast!

Since this is our family blog it is only right that I post some pictures of Flint's time in Pebble Beach with the guys after the girls headed back east.  The girls left just in time for the weekend when all the guys started showing up.  They played a little golf, played some wiffle ball and of course had a fantasy football draft!

California Getaway: Carmel and Spanish Bay

A couple of mornings we took walks along the beach.  If I could have weather like we had and views like we had I would work out three times each day!  Well, maybe I wouldn't.  But, I like to think that I would!

The golf course on one side of the path....

and the ocean on the other!

Of course we couldn't go a whole three hours without stuffing our faces with some yummy food, so after our morning walk we headed to brunch in Carmel.  We found these beautiful flowers while strolling around after town and the hubbies thought we should get a picture in front of them!  You don't have to look far to see beautiful, vibrant colored flowers in Carmel, unlike home this time of the year!

One thing that must be on your list of things to do while in the area is visit Spanish Bay in the evening to hear the bagpipes.  There are fire pits all around so you can enjoy the view of the ocean, the golf course and of course, the infamous Bagpiper.  

 

The view.

Good company.

The Bagpiper.

We had such a fun trip.  We missed Cilla like crazy, but it was nice to be away for a few days and get to be in adult mode without life revolving around the schedule of a two year old.

California Getaway: Pebble Beach

Catching up on vacay pictures!

After a stop in Palo Alto and some lovely California style traffic, we finally made it to our destination for the week.  

We are super blessed to have a fab place to stay in Pebble Beach and boy do we love to get to take it all in!

That's right.  We are in jeans and sweaters in August!  It was glorious!

So were the views and the company!

We headed over to The Lodge our first day in town for the best burger you could imagine!

Lunch at The Tap Room

The U.S. Open trophy.  Held in Pebble in 2010.  Soon to be relocated.

Pebble Beach clock.

Beautiful flowers.

The 18th.

The weather was overcast.  The tide was low.  And the water was calm while we were there.  But the views are still tough to beat.

The beauty never ceases to amaze me and neither do the size of these homes!

California Getaway: First stop- Stanford

So, for the last few days Flint and I have been out in California with some of our friends.  Adults only!  How sweet it is.  

We started our trip with a little visit to Stanford.  I had been before, but it had been several years ago and it was a very quick trip.  Flint and I love visiting college campuses and seeing a small glimpse into life beyond the University of Arkansas.  

The architecture is stunning on Stanford's campus.

We rushed from the airport hoping to make it in time to go up in the tower, but as you can see in the background...it was being renovated.

We were not too terribly disappointed, though, because it just felt wonderful to be walking around in 75 degree temperatures.....not 105 degrees!  

We headed to The Quad to see the Chapel.

Which would be this beautiful building.  But, there was a wedding in progress and they had weddings booked all day.  No spectators allowed on Saturdays!

So, this was as close as we got to the inside.

The outside was all mosaics.  I know this sounds like cheese, but it was magnificent!!!!!

We were two for two for getting inside anywhere on campus.  But, there was plenty of entertainment, outside.  What do you think if you are on a college visit and there is a party in the fountain right smack dab in the center of campus?!?!  Girls in bikinis, loud music and all!

We actually saw a total of four wedding parties on campus, but this was, by far, the most interesting!  And before I get any comments about it being a Quinceanera, this girl had a ring on her finger.  We checked.  Welcome to California!

You are definitely not in the south anymore when on this campus.

After we left Stanford, we went to Slider Bar Cafe and had a little yummy goodness at Kara's Cupcakes.  Yum, yum and YUM!!!  I highly recommend the Sweet S'mores cupcake!

We checked in at home and all was well with Cilla and her Nana and Poppa which puts a mommy and daddy at ease.  We were looking forward to a nice, peaceful few days away from the responsibilities of parenting!  More to come!

Colorado

Be prepared for picture overload!!!

Like I said in the previous post, we were in Colorado last week with Flint's aunt and cousins.  It was a wonderful, wonderful get-a-way!  We had tons of help entertaining and taking care of little Miss Priss and that makes makes it easier to enjoy vacation!  And of course, Cilla loved all of the attention.  Every last bit of it!

A Family picture.

 Cilla just adores Flint.  It is so cute to watch their relationship blossom.  Look at he smile at him!

 Cilla had so much fun with her cousins and did not want for ONE SINGLE THING the entire week!

Henry, David and Caroline with Cilla.

 Ice cream after dinner!

 Cilla really took to David over the week.  She could not quit smiling when she was around him.

 She smothered him and thought that he should spend every waking minute with her!

God gave us the most beautiful blessing while we were there.  It was a double rainbow!!!

We (as in Rebekah) clearly lost sight of the fact that I have a very head strong, likes her way kind of two year old and thought it would be fun to join the rest of the fam in the 14 mile ride from Vail to Frisco.  Let's just say it was almost a disaster!  The first half of the trip was okay (at best).  But after a stop in Copper, I didn't think I was going to ever get Cilla back in the bike trailer.  You know, the kind that you always see people pulling their kids around in and the kids are halfway asleep?!?!  Well, not mine!!!

She screamed and fought it so much that she got tangled in the straps, so I ending up walking Cilla and my bike the last leg of the trip.

This is the face of a screaming two year old!

We went on a hike the next day and that was much better than being confined in the bike trailer!

The views were unbelievably beautiful!

So happy to get to run around!

Exploring with dad.

 Cousins.

Henry, Carter, Caroline and David.

 After our hike, we headed to Breckenridge for a little shopping and for lunch.

Cilla loved petting all of the dogs that were out.  She has no fear of dogs.  Not even this 150 lb beauty!  She just hugged her and talked to her.  Our little animal lover!!!

 We had lunch at Downstairs at Eric's.  It is one of our favorites!

 Cilla's favorite part about eating there is the video games!

 Carter, Cilla and Caroline.

We had dinner at The Mint one night.  It is place where you cook your own meat.  It is yummy and a fun experience.

 Caroline and Cilla, silly girls!

 Our last night in Silverthorne was an adult night out.  YAY!!!  The kids volunteered to stay home with Cilla so the mommies and daddies and Coke Coke could all go out.  That was a special treat!  Cilla had so much fun playing with the big kids and watching Nemo and Flint and I enjoyed our dinner so much!

Here is the masterpiece we found when we got home!

It says, "Hi Mommy & Daddy" and "Cilla's Dance Party".  Who knows what they did but I know they had a blast!!!

You know you have successfully worn your baby out with this is the sight in the back seat of the car on a three hour drive home from the airport!

We had so much time with our family.  Enjoyed the wonderful weather.  Had lots of great food.  Did a  little shopping.  Laughed lots and made lots of memories.  But, it is good to be home.