Memaw and Pepaw came to visit!

My parents arrived by train last Wednesday...the day it decided to have a snow storm. School was canceled, so I strapped both kids in the car and slowly made my way up I-25. I'd say the fastest we were able to go was 40mph. Here is where I rant and rave about Elisabeth. That girl is an excellent big sister. She was equipped with snacks and drinks and entertained Julia so I could concentrate on the road. Love her!

We left for Denver and didn't get back to Co. Springs until noon. It was kind of scary at some points on the way back when we saw at least four semi-trucks stalled on the interstate because the hills were too steep and slippery and they couldn't find any traction to keep going forward. We had one terrifying moment when a tour bus not only couldn't make it up the hill but started rolling backwards towards my car. I didn't panic and waited a second to see what the bus was planning on doing, and slowly moved my car away as the bus tried to go forwards again.

Anyway, once we arrived home safely, we spent two days stuck in the house because the snow and wind made it not a possibility to go out with two small children. Elisabeth had two snow days, which worked out nicely since she got to see more of my parents. After the two snow days, it turned sunny and the temps were in the high 50s, so we were able to get out. We visited Evan on base and took a tour of the Olympic Training Center here in the Springs (which was super neat-o). We also went to the Academy and went to visit the Chapel. My camera was MIA during these trips, so I'll have to post the pics my dad took later.

Okay, here we are at Lil Biggs. Elisabeth insisted on showing them where she was having her birthday party since they won't be here to attend.

Julia is a giant fan of this carousel. Evan and Elisabeth are a bit grouchy about having to share their tokens, but it makes her so happy.
This is why they don't want to share...because Ebeth is OBSESSED with playing ski ball. She's so fast, I couldn't even get a picture of her throwing the ball!
Because we went when it was still bad weather, there were no other people there, so Elisabeth took Julia into the big jump house/ocean. Usually there are too many big kids and Julia'd be trampled. She LOVED being in there with Ebeth, though.
Elisabeth escorted her places.


Pepaw and Memaw decided to buy the girls some snow gear (since I am mom of the year and realized neither girl had any snow boots for the winter). Pepaw insisted Julia get this hat. I totally agreed.


Elisabeth got to open her birthday presents from them so they could watch her. She was psyched to receive the soundtrack to Wizards of Waverly Place.


Julia made Memaw sit on the stairs with her for extended periods of time.
And made Pepaw do his time as well.


This? Oh, this is my child poking her eye with a colored pencil. She did this over and over and over...cause she's a big fat weirdo.

My mom is fabulous and did all my laundry for me while she was here. They even let us go out on a date! We went to a German restaurant that we'd never take the kids ($$$) and then drove around car dealerships (Evan's favorite date activity) and then went to browse Barnes & Nobles (my favorite date activity). It was fantastic! Anyhoo, we've decided that next time we'll try to space out the parents visiting because both sets visited in the same month and now we won't see Evan's parents until March and mine until the summer. That is a long time with no grandparents around.