Pioneer Day

Caring for a newborn baby is enough to make your life hectic.  THEN you add in the hormones, recovery from labor, lack of sleep, etc. and it is enough to drive a person crazy.  I wish I could say that is all the craziness in my life at the moment, but it is just the beginning! 

Our lease was up in July which resulted in us moving out of our apartment last Wednesday.  Being at the mercy of Olive and her schedule, I felt pretty useless at times.  But we made it, though I mean BARELY made it.  We dropped of our keys and rushed to get Kevin to his show. After dropping him off, I rushed to his parents' house to get rid of the last batch of cargo, bathe and feed Olive, pack a few things, and go pick Kevin up from his show.  And that still wasn't the end of it: we traveled to St. George and made it around 2 a.m.  It sure made for a long day.

Luckily, we got to sleep in the next day before packing everything back up and traveling 12 hours to Colorado.  Olive slept most of the way and only spit-up twice.  Thank heavens I caught the projectiles both times via the burp rags without incident to the car or infant seat.  It was an exciting evening--complete with a police barricade in Dulce where we were warned about two fugitives on the loose--one of which was just shot and killed by a police officer. His partner was still on the loose and believed to be armed.  Spooky.

It was another long day but finally we arrived in Manassa, CO.  That is where Mom is from.  Growing up, it was tradition to visit every year for the Pioneer Day celebration.  I hadn't partaken in the festivities since high school...eek!  I am glad that we finally made it!  It is sooooo deliciously small-town.

My grandma lives on Main Street so we have a front row seat to the parade.  After the first run of the parade, all participants turn around and give a repeat performance.  Here are some of our favorite pics:

The fire chief, apparently.

 

 

Uncle Kevin blessed Jace with the knowledge of how beads get gotten.

Our favorite "carnie" working one of the kiddie rides. Such amazing wrinkles.

No Pioneer Day Celebration is complete without a demolition derby.  Apparently Olive wasn't as amused as the rest of us.  She slept soundly through the noisy event.  We rooted for the car labeled, "Kevin," and were delighted when it won.

Four generations of quilters: Mom, Grandma, Olive, and Vanessa.  Well, we presume Olive will be a quilter.  She definitely gives the stink eye if she doesn't approve of my fabric choices.

We visited Grandpa's grave on our way out of town.  This is where sweet little Olive gets her middle name "Elwin."

Kevin did a photo shoot with Jace.  Jace was absolutely in love with the trains!

Penny got a photo shoot too!  Take a good look at the wash basin, it is the last time you will see it in the family.  After photographing in front of the house made of garbage, Kevin left it behind on accident.  Twenty minutes later, he went to retrieve it and the obstinate old cuss who lives there had stolen it and wouldn't give it back!

I love this picture so much.  Kevin is the cutest dad ever!!!!

Tom took this picture of me.  I feel like I look like Johnny Depp in this picture.  I think he has the same outfit.

We had a great time vacationing and just doing a whole lot of nothing.  In a couple of weeks, we get to pack up our stuff again and relocate to Florida where Kevin will begin law school!  The craziness MAY end some time soon... ???