Cajuns and Mermaids and Elk? Oh my!

**WARNING** This post is a major picture overload! That's what happens when you take too much time off from blogging!  Read if you dare....

We had quite an eventful 11 days recently!  Shawn’s parents came to visit us and meet Piper for the first time!  Of course she had to get sick the week they were here, but we were all really good about washing our hands before we touched her and she was a sweetheart (almost) the whole time.  I’m glad they got to spend so much time with her while they were here.  She is just so precious- I love to share her with everyone!

 I have to start out by immediately saying that Bruce and Mary spoiled us rotten!  I think Lucy is confused why we stayed home for dinner tonight and didn’t have someone waiting on us at the dinner table :) We went to some pretty yummy restaurants that we hadn’t tried before, and some others that we haven’t been to in far too long (Joe's crab shack, anyone!? YUM!)!

Anyway, they were here for Shawn’s birthday and he was thrilled about that.  Shawn and his dad got to go shooting with their new guns that day, so I know that was fun for him!  He even brought his target poster home with him to show me how good he did. Hahahaha!  I can’t complain though, because the girls spent that day shopping :) We all enjoyed Super Bowl Sunday together and they treated us to some real Cajun cookin’! We had an absolutely delicious shrimp boil with authentic Louisiana ingredients during the game.  I’m not lying when I say that was THE best shrimp I have EVER had.  Too bad the 49ers lost, but it was a really fun day, despite that.

During the week, we swam in The Gilley’s hotel pool (Lucy’s favorite thing to do!) , drove up to Estes Park and went to Rocky Mountain National Park, went to the Denver Aquarium, and spent a lot of time relaxing and just enjoying each other’s company.  At the Aquarium we saw REAL mermaids!  It was mesmerizing to Lucy, but also to Mary and I!  I’m not sure the guys cared as much as we did…  But the mermaids were beautiful and waved to the kids looking through the glass and even swam with the sharks! We also fed and “petted” stingrays.  Yikes!  At Estes Park I walked up as close as I could get to the ginormous Elk before I was told I wasn’t allowed to get any closer.  Haha!  Bruce was fascinated with the snow, and even the snow plows ;)  Whenever they visit, I’m always reminded that they live in a place with practically 365 days of Summer- and sometimes I’m jealous!  Especially now, when I’m sick of the cold Winter weather and I’m wanting some hot sunshine.  

 

Lucy received lots of new makeup kits, adorable clothes, and other fun toys :)  Shawn scored some pretty awesome birthday gifts from everyone this year too!  I surprised him with the announcement that we are going to NYC in April to watch Mingo get drafted into the NFL!  My parents helped me with this gift (there is no way I could afford it by myself), and I have kept it a secret since I bought the plane tickets in September!  It’s been killer.  Especially because he BEGGED me to let him go for so long and I kept saying “there’s NO WAY we can afford that Shawn!”  Luckily I’m in charge of our finances and paying the bills so I was able to squirrel away money a little at a time to pay for it all :)  I made him a birthday card announcing the trip and he cried!  He was literally SO excited that he cried and kept asking me if I was serious.  I wish my parents could have seen his reaction as well, but he got chocked up again when he called to thank them later, so I think they know just how much it meant to him.  I can’t wait to go back to Manhatten as well- this gift was just as much for me as it was for him!

 Now we are back to reality and back to trying to get the girls on a regular routine.  I had a nice “break” from being on full-time Mommy/housewife duty, but now it’s back to work and back to life!

Until next time…

This picture captures just how HAPPY my girls were in their matching Sister shirts!

 

P.S. I COMPLETELY forgot to mention that Lucy left us for a few days at the end of January and flew to Boise with Papa!  Papa also met Piper for the first time too! And I was able to spend some (much needed) one-on-one time with Piper, have some time to myself, AND SLEEP-IN!!!!!!!!!!!! which was soooo nice!  My lucky lady flew first class to Boise and, according to my family, was an Angel the whole time she was there!  She was spoiled by her Aunties and Ninny and Papa and had some fun play time with her cousins.  That little girl has been extra spoiled by both sides of our family (Shawn’s and mine) for the past 2 months!  She sure is lucky!  She has a LOT of people who just adore her :)

I was SO happy to have her come home! I missed her SOOO very much!

Her flight to Boise was delayed so she got in VERY late. The next day when she woke up, she walked out to the living room and it was like Christmas morning!  She had SO many toys to play with!  How exciting for her!

My poor, sweet baby got a cold while she was in Boise.  She didn't feel good at all.  But she still looks beautiful!

 

I did this with Lucy at 1 month, so I had to do it again with Piper :)

Some bonding time with sweet Piper