Todd & Kristin's Vacation - Part Uno

Destination Destin!  I already told you about the first few characters we encountered along our way, and there were more!  First stop: Mobile, Alabama - July 15/16, 2011

When we arrived in Mobile, it was POURING.  Coming in from the droughts and record-setting heat of North Texas, it was really odd to see it rain this hard in the summer.  Our lodging for the night was at the Holiday Inn in Downtown Mobile's Historic District.  It was recently remodeled and really pretty!  Our room was large and comfortable, so we slept well.  I would definitely recommend the hotel to others.

We ate dinner at the original Wintzell's Oyster House and YUM!  The nice front desk clerk at our hotel gave us coupons for free gumbo, so that was partly what led us there.  We started off with the gumbo, then Todd had oysters and I had seafood au gratin.  The beer was cold and the food was tasty!  I've actually been craving Todd's oysters, and I'm not an oyster girl.

The next morning the rain had let up for a while, and we headed out to see some friends.  Breakfast was at Spot of Tea only a block or two from our hotel.  I had the Vanilla French toast with some eggs and bacon.  I shared some of it with (well, it was stolen by) one of my favorite little people - my lil' Goddaughter, **PAYTON**

I'll share my food with this little bird any day!

Miss Restless Pants (who did really well at breakfast!) was ready to get out of that highchair seat belt, and she finally did.  Across the street is a splash pad, so Miss P knew it was time to run, play and get soaking wet.  She did all three very well!

Payton steps on the fountains.

Payton's Daddy and I both told her that drinking from the fountains was yucky, and that led to this:

Drinking

from

every

single

fountain!

I was cracking up watching Payton go from one fountain to the next, all right in a row.  Stubborn, silly girl!  She ran & ran (sometimes too far) & ran & ran.

Her Mommy and Daddy ran and caught her . . .

And once she slowed down, we took a few posed shots . . .

Todd & Kristin --- the vacationers

kekis and her mini-kekis

Payton loved the flowers

She finally has hair!  :)

Last, but not least, one of my besties Sarah!

We enjoyed our short time in Mobile, but it was time to head to the beaches of Destin!

Colorado - Part 3

Breckenridge!  We packed up Christina's two youngest (Beck & Cate, age 9) and headed out towards Breck.  After stopping in some little town that I can't remember the name of for lunch, we piled back in the car and headed UP.  The scenery along the way was so pretty!

Gorgeous - and taken from inside the car!

We took a bus up to Peak 8 to the "Fun Park."  It was great!  The weather was gorgeous, there was tons of stuff for kids, it was a safe place, and they served beverages.  :)

We bought our tickets and decided on the Alpine Slide first.  Cate and I rode the lift up, and most importantly, I did not die.  (For those who don't know, I am *deathly* afraid of heights.)

That's Cate & me not dying on the lift.

A quit shot from the lift.  Worry not, I held on for dear life while snapping pics!

Then it was time for the kids to enjoy some trampoline bungee, rock climbing, and the Alpine coaster.

Airborne Beck!

Cate on her way to the top!

Cate & Beck & Christina ready to ride the coaster.

Eventually, Christina and I became tired and thirsty.  We let the kids run around within eyesight and found a nice patio bar at the Lodge.

The Breckenridge Lodge

View of our patio table.

Yea!

Simply stunning.

As the evening came, we headed back to downtown Breckenridge for a little shopping, some playing, and some eating.

Lots of fast-flowing water through the river.

"Act like you love each other!"  This was just before Cate took Beck in a chokehold.

Christina told me you rub your hands on these trees and rub the whitish powder on your skin for sunscreen.  Cool!

Cool scene so I had to get a pic.

Found Christina & I t-shirts! ha!

  Cate & Beck find a rock with holes made for twins!

After dark, the four of us loaded back in the car for our ride back home.  I headed to my room to do some packing since the next day was my last there.

"My" cozy room in the basement.

Annika cooling off by resting on the vents.

Pretty Cate and a pretty flower.

Sweet and charming Beck

Before leaving town, we dropped off Busy Beck at a friend's house and met Sarah (Xtina's oldest daughter) & her friend Sami for a girls' lunch at White Chocolate Grill.  Why don't we have one of these in Dallas?!  A few more pics and we were off to Denver International Airport.  She and her family were amazing hosts, and I can't wait to return again soon.  And, yes, I am required to return with Todd next time!

Sarah, my little love, and I at lunch.

No need to tell Sarah & I to make a funny face!

When we got to DIA, we got my ridiculously heavy bag out of the car.  I teared up, hugged Christina, and said goodbye.  As I started to walk away, Christina grabbed my shoulder, turned me around and gave me another hug between her tears.  Waterworks began and I had to go before things got messy.  (And now I'm crying just typing that.)

One of the best parts of my friendship with Christina is that she loves me for who I am, wherever I am in life.  Always.  And I love my snail friend just the same.

Colorado - Part Two

After leaving the Garden of the Gods, Christina drove down into Manitou Springs.  It's a small, kinda hippie-like town with lots of neat, small shops and eateries and bars.  Of course, our first stop was the candy store!

We didn't eat or buy any candy.  (yeah, right!)

A dog and his human sat in a two-story window and chatted with friends.

We found a pet store and something with Steve written all over it!

Yes, I'm buying this for our house.

Then we hit Santa's Workshop, which was cool since we love Christmas and I knew it was hotter than Hades in Texas.  :)

On my "to make" list.

Then, like a strong magnet, I was pulled into a quaint wine bar with a backyard patio!!  The pull took its hold on Xtina, too!

We went along with the "you try, you buy" philosophy of wine tasting.  (Thankfully, my purchase made it back in my suitcase!)  As evening approached us, we soaked in a little more of the beauty of Manitou Springs and worked our way back home through CO Springs, driving by the Broadmoor the week before the Women's US Open.

Little creek in Manitou

Pretty Episcopal church

Preparing for the US Open

The Broadmoor Hotel

One of many gorgeous CO sunsets I saw.

After we got home, I actually saw Rob (Christina's husband who is also a college friend of mine) for the first time!  I had been there for three days and hadn't seen him yet.  :)  The three of us went to dinner and spent time catching up, drinking wine, and laughing more.  When we got home, I went downstairs to my room.  Soon after, I hear Christina coming down and the clinking of glass.  After more wine, we watched a movie and I watched Christina sleep on the sofa.  She always laughed at me that I couldn't sit still to watch TV, and now I watched an entire movie while watching her sleep!

The next morning, we grabbed the kids and headed out to Breckenridge.  That will be my next - and final - post about my trip.