October Vacation - Part II: Pirates Cove

From Denver, we flew to Las Vegas where we spent the next few days with our "Nepal Trip" friends from all over the country. This was the 3rd time that our dear friend (and best adventure travel guide ever), Gary (or "G" or "Uncle G" as we call him hehe), invited us to Pirate's Cove. We just love Gary and Sandie - thanks again for your wonderful hospitality, you two! This time, the kids were invited and it really was the best time that we've had at PC. We only get to see this group every year or two...and it's always a real treat. We love you guys! In addition to pics of our peeps, I wanted to show a few pictures of this amazing place that they call, Pirate's Cove. It's really impossible to explain the place and pictures really don't do the place justice but I'll try. ;)

We saw these guys about a block from PC

View of Lake Mead from our patio

"Uncle Keith, playing with Linkan

This floaty has been a great buy! She is very comfortable in the water with it.

Slurpees are always on tap at PC!

Miss Palmer

Relaxing...

Teresa and Aspen

It's a rough life...

Just another day at the office for G

This is pretty much all Palmer did, by the pool. :)

 

Infinity hot tub at the top of the property with an amazing view of Lake Mead

Entrance to one of the big tube slides, complete with a motion sensor that starts the "Pirates of the Caribbean" theme song as you go down it

Pirate's Bar

Another view of the Pirate's Bar

Lower, zero entry "baby" pool that has a more mellow slide, waterfall and a "grotto-esque" cave

Indoor gym

Pool for the big kids where the big slide dumps out.  Don't forget the pirate ship (left) and rope swing!

Another view of the big pool with the waterfalls

One of many hot tubs at PC.  It's beautiful at night with constantly changing colors in the water.

There are so many other amazing things about Pirates Cove...too many to mention!  It truly is one of the most enchanting places we have ever visited.  Not only do we get to see old friends when we go...we always seem to meet and make new ones. :)  Can't wait to go back!

October Vacation - Part I: Denver

We flew to Denver in early October to see friends and attend Dixie and Sean's wedding reception in Loveland.  It was Palmer's first flight and she did amazing...easy peasy as usual.  Link did great too!  This was her last free-loader flight. :(  Boo!  Next time she flies, she will be a paying customer.  We stayed with Nate and Heather.  It was so great to hang out with them...just like old times!  We have gone through quite the Thompson withdrawal since we used to spend every other weekend with them when we lived in Colorado!  Sean and Dixie's reception was a bit on the chilly side.  Dang it!  But they had quite a turn-out, despite the weather.  A true testament to how much they are loved!  Our trip would not have been complete without a visit to REI, IKEA and our favorite restaurant Yak & Yeti.  I can't believe I didn't take more pictures!  Here are the only ones that I got.  We were just having too much fun!

Friday night at Yak & Yeti in our favorite private room

Argh!  Give me some Naan!

Nate & H

Check out Capone, passed out!

Sean, Linkan & Ben at the Reception

Bath Time!

Palmer Tate, 9 weeks old

The Hungry Caterpillar

A few weeks ago, Linkan crawled up in the chair with Palmer and started reading her a book. I was lucky enough to take a video of it before she realized what I was doing. :) As soon as Linkan knows that I'm taking a picture or video of her, she stops everything and says, "I see it, I see it!" Hands down, this is one of Linkan's all-time favorite books. :)  If you know it well, then listen closely.  I was impressed by how well she did "re-telling" the story.

2 Months Old

My sweet baby turned 2 months old today. I really don't know where the time has gone. It is true that the older you get, the faster time flies. She is holding up her head on her own, sleeping wonderfully at night, sleeping most of the day but has some longer periods of awake time in the morning and evening. She lost all her hair on the top of her head but it quickly started growing back. Palmer started smiling and coo'ing at 6 weeks. She smiles the most for her mama, of course! Linkan loves Palmer and shows no signs of jealously. She refers to her as "My Palmy". Even though we feel like we are "starting all over" in the baby arena, she is pure joy to our family. Already, we can't imagine our lives before her.

This is Linkan's "monka" that her Grandma Postlethwait made for her this summer. It's adorable!! Litnkan didn't mind sharing with her sister.


Here are the out-takes. You can tell that she is starting to chunk up! ;)

Bubble Monsters!!

11 Years

11 years ago, we said "I do" in a hot church in Emporia, Kansas. If you were there, I guarantee that the only thing you remember is how hot it was in that church! We started out, living in a 500 sq. ft. apartment, making a combined income of less than 25,000 a year. We didn't have much but it sure didn't seem to matter to us. Now we have two babies and over a decade of amazing life experiences together.

I wouldn't necessarily encourage anyone to get married as young as we did...but it worked for us. We put the future of our marriage and trust in God from the beginning...and as we grew up (I had barely turned 20 when we got married!), we grew up together...instead of apart. We have had many challenging moments over the last 11 years...and we continue to have them...but no love has ever been lost. We're in this thing for the long haul, baby. Ben continues to chase after my heart and I continue to adore and look up to him even more-so than when we first fell in love. I tell him that he's "my favorite" all the time. He is still my favorite person in the whole wide world. Love you, my sweet. Happy Anniversary!