End of 2009 Swim Team

Molly is third from the right on the first row.

Wednesday evening we went to the "End of Season" party for Molly's swim team. We're both sad and ELATED that swim team is over for the year. It's been so stinking hot at all of the meets that I wasn't even able to go to more than an hour of the last one. It was even too hot to hang out at the pool Wednesday night... it was still 98 at 7pm, we came home to swim in our pool, but the water was so warm it wasn't even refreshing!

Molly was so excited to get her trophy from her coaches, they told her she was the "Most Fearless" kid on the team. They also passed out the team pictures and ribbons for the season. We didn't know it, but Molly won 2nd place in two different races!! They were both for the freestyle race, one in her first meet and one at her second! We're so proud!! We had no idea she actually scored points for the team.
YAY, MOLLY!

It was time...

This afternoon I did what I have been dreading for several months. I took Molly for her first haircut. It was long over-due and I knew the time had come, but I still wasn't ready. My advice to other moms: Do not wait 4.5 years to get your daughter's first haircut. It's just too traumatic!

I tried not to cry as Molly got her blond baby curls cut off. She was so excited and could not stop smiling the entire time. The only time she got nervous was when I gasped at the first snip, but I quickly regained my composure and told her how beautiful her hair was going to look.

Bye-bye baby curlsThis is how much we decided to cut off:The first snip!All done!
Molly with her bag of baby curlsShowing off her new short and sassy pony tail!
Judging by the amount of hair we saw in Baby Quin's May ultra sound, I might be taking him for his first haircut in a matter of months!

Aspen Baby!

On Tuesday June 9th Paul and I packed up Molly and took her down to Anahuac to spend the rest of the week with her grandparents while Paul and I headed to Aspen for Hugh and Kristi's wedding. EARLY Wednesday morning, Paul and I headed to Hobby where we promptly missed our direct flight to Denver... after catching the next flight (one connection and one stop-over... ughhh) we FINALLY made it to the mile-high city. After such a bad start to the morning, we decided we hadn't yet had enough travel-related drama, so we rented a car with a broken air conditioner and then got to the hotel only to realize that our reservation was messed up (it was June 10th, but they had us down for January 10th). We did manage to have an awesome meal at Duffy's Cherry Cricket (as seen on Man v. Food on the Travel Channel) and decided to make it an early night and got to bed by 8:30pm!

The next morning we exchanged the mini van with the busted a/c, upgraded to an awesome Suburban and headed to the airport to pick up Austin and Alex. After we were all loaded in the car, we were finally on our way to Aspen!

Since I made the trip 33 weeks pregnant, we had to stop for a potty break after only being in the car for an hour. We stopped at the Starbucks in Idaho Springs, where there was a pretty little stream running beside the parking lot, so of course I made the boys pose for a photo. After going potty and getting some snacks, I returned to the car where the boys were in quite the tizzy. Apparently while I was in the ladies room, Alex recognized one of the former "Bachelors" and confronted him in the coffee shop. I guess not wanting to deal with the "attention" the bachelor "shusshed" Alex and then walked away. I've never really followed the show, so I don't know who he was (I know it wasn't Andrew Firestone or the guy married to Trista - I would have recognized them), but it was pretty exciting for Alex! I wish I hadn't had to tinkle... I totally would have gone paparazzi on the guy - I probably blew my one and only chance to get in a celebrity's face!

We stopped in Vail for lunch and, despite the dreary weather, spent some time shopping (too much time for Austin!) and seeing the town.

The poppies were in full-bloom all over town, it was so pretty!Finally, after nearly 6 hours (thanks to the long Vail visit and a few potty breaks) we arrived at our condo in Aspen. It was perfect! We had an awesome little balcony with the most amazing view! That night we met Hugh, the groom, for dinner with his family and called it a night.

Friday morning the boys set out for their awesome "Man Day." I tagged along while the boys went skeet shooting in the mountains, then headed back to town for shopping and a nap before picking Natalie up at the airport, while they continued their day fly-fishing in the Roaring Forks River.

This picture was all Paul's idea...

An amazing full rainbow that stretched across town:
That night we attended the delicious rehearsal dinner at D19.
Paul, Hugh (the groom), Austin and Dudley
Paul being attacked by a bear on the way home!
Saturday morning we had a yummy breakfast at the Main Street Bakery, then Natalie and I went to have our hair done and explore town while the boys took care of their wedding-related duties.
Not snow, just some air-born white stuff that was blowing all over town!

Saturday evening we loaded into the gondola and headed to the top of Aspen Mountain for Hugh and Kristi's wedding.
Austin and Natalie before the ceremonyIt started to drizzle as we headed up the mountain and by the time we got inside, the rain and turned into light snow flurries!! The wedding was originally supposed to be outside, overlooking the gorgeous snow-capped mountains, but was quickly moved inside due to the weather. After about 20 minutes of deary weather, the sun came out, a rainbow appeared in the sky and the event staff hustled to move the wedding back outside! It was FREEZING, but was one of the most gorgeous weddings I have ever been to. I wish I had better pictures, maybe I will try to "borrow" some from the photographer's website when she posts them!

The bridesmaids being bundled-up for the ceremony
Mr. & Mrs. Hugh HermanThis picture didn't fully capture the gorgeous sunset:Austin and Natalie, slightly wind-blown, but oh-so-cute!Paul and Kristi dancing to "I can't help falling in love with Hugh..."
The next morning our little group headed to Denver to catch our flights back home. We decided to take the amazingly beautiful, yet terrifying 'Independence Pass' back into the city. It was the most gorgeous, yet scariest drive of my life. I don't think I will EVER agree to make that drive again. Poor Natalie made most of the drive with a blanket over her head. I too was terrified, but my overwhelming need to take pictures outweighed my desire to hide my face.

Of course we had to stop at the first 'scenic over-look'This is how Natalie made the drive... can you blame her!?!?Look at the smashed-up guard rails... I have never been so scared!
You really need to double-click on these pictures to see just how damaged these guard rails are!I am surprised Paul didn't take us off a cliff just to get everyone to stop screaming at himWe stopped for a not-so-great lunch in Leadville before realizing Natalie, Austin and Alex were possibly going to miss their flight... After yelling at Paul to "Slow Down!" for the first half of the drive, the poor guy was under serious pressure to 'drive like the wind' for the last hour and a half.

When Paul came to a screeching halt in front of the airport, Natalie ditched her bags with Austin and barely made it onto the flight... Austin and Alex weren't so lucky and were forced to spend the night in Denver, catching the first flight home in the morning. Paul and I had plenty of time to make our flight home, considering it was over 2 hours late!

We were so glad to get back home to Molly, as I know Austin and Natalie were so happy to see Harrison, but it was hard to adjust to Houston's summer temps after being in 60 degree weather for 5 days. Paul and I just might have to plan a family vacation to the mountains every summer!