wrappin' it all up:

so, our trip was filled with a little of this:

~9 hour and 10 minute drive on mostly country highways - beautiful!

~my Grandmother fell and bruised her tailbone the day before flying from Oregon to Colorado and while in Colorado choked on and got a pill stuck in her throat that she was taking for the pain. we had to call 911, she had to be scoped and was made to gasp for air for over 2 hours (I guess that's just what they have you do in these cases!?). It eventually dissolved but the several sessions of Heimlich left her with very painful ribs. We all felt so bad that it happened but were VERY grateful that she was surrounded by a host of people instead of in her home all alone.
If you're gonna choke, at least make sure there are lots of people around!

~My brother and his family are united once again. It had been close to 2 years between training and deployment to Afghanistan. His children are beautiful, have more energy and smarts combined than I have ever seen and it was a joy to FINALLY meet HIS TWINS!!!
His Sierra and my Samantha are 9 days apart and our twins are three weeks apart.
No, we did not plan that ;-)

~a triple birthday party for Lydia, Samantha and Sierra complete with the requested cakes

~a trip to the zoo for the three big girls while Grammy was in the ER

~family photos taken by a high school friend who has come back to Colorado Springs and started a business (just had to plug her in case you're in the Springs - she's GREAT!!!!) - I'll post those soon!

~lots of yummy yummy food - my mom and dad sure do know their food!

~cuddle time with Nana, Grandpa Flip, Uncle Jonny, Aunt Lindsey, mommy but mostly with daddy. Jake enjoyed so much not having anything to do accept play with his girls.

~a long long long ride back. we were tired, we hate living so far from family and we had exciting things to get home for - really, it makes for a long ride "home".