Wednesday, April 4, 2012

Downey Family Vacation

When my parents got married and told to "go forth and replenish the earth," they weren't messing around. In July we had our Downey Family Vacation that we have every three years and it was fantastic. Except for the fact that Chyler got sick the 2nd day with pink, strep throat and/or the flu so he missed a lot of the goings on. But our count this year 44, it would have been 45 but Britney was on her mission. We went to Steamboat Springs, Colorado and it was so beautiful.
Here is the whole gang. We waited forever to get this shot right at dusk and while we were sitting there, we are a perfect dinner for all the mosquitoes coming out right then. Poor Jodi got like 30 bites on her arms. We all went to the store to buy our bug spray for the rest of the week. My cute family
This is one of my favorite pictures ever
Tyler and Carson
This is Carson as we are walking to down town to catch the end of the 4th of July parade while daddy is at the condo in bed.
We had bought tickets to the rodeo and fireworks months before so I didn't want Chyler to miss it. Luckily, Jason was able to get us a prescription for the pink eye which helped.
Carson hanging with the older boys
He had a ton of fun with Austin
Austin is bouncing him on his knee
Me and my mommy
This was another highlight of the week, they called all the younger kids down to the arena to chase the sheep. It was so funny watching them run around, when the whistle blew, the whole crowd with one way and Carson, Brilynn and Savannah went the other way. I was just surprised that they did it.
Brilynn, Cameron (who Carson calls Cam-er-a), Carson and me
My blue eyed baby
The fireworks show was amazing
On Tuesday we spent some time shopping on main street, Carson and Alyssa would run around and then come back and hug like this, I don't know why but it was cute.
Carson loves his Hailey
Then we stopped at a cute diner and had lunch
On Wednesday morning, we went on a hike to some waterfalls. This is the closest we got to a cousin shot all week.
We were told that it was a paved path so Chyler and I showed up in flip flops, everyone laughed at us when we got out of the car. But hey, if you can take strollers, then you can wear flip flops
Austin and Carson, so cute
Kade is obsessed with his belly button and he is trying to get Chyler to put his thumb into it. Daddy is too busy tickling though
Jodi didn't come on the hike so that is why she is not in this picture
After the hike, Chyler and I took the boys out to lunch on main street since Chyler had missed it on Tuesday
If that isn't the look of pure joy, I don't know what is? After lunch, a group went to the Alpine Slide and this is at the park right next to it.
Kade was too little so he stayed back with grandma and the other babies
Then we had to hit up the pool
Each night we had dinner as a group and took turns preparing it. On Grandma and Grandpa's night, they treated us to BBQ.
One of the nights, a few of the adults went to a hot spring which was clothing and weed optional after dark. We had a great time and it was incredible beautiful until that point. Driving up to the mountain were it was, there were these monster cabins that looked like hotels they were so big, it was amazing.
I don't remember what we did on Thursday because I didn't take any pictures. I think we just hung out at the pool. Carson learned how to swim on the trip, mostly because he kept jumping in without us and had to figure out how to not drown. He would just swim under water and kicks is legs but he could do it. On Friday we just hung out too, this is me and Brilynn playing.
Ryder and Kaden
Carson and Brilynn having a ball. We talked about the trip for months in preparation but all week Carson would ask to go to Colorado with his cousins. We kept telling him we were there. Also, he would wake up every morning, run into our room, look out the window and say, "the sun is up, let's go play with my cousins."
Playing in grandma and grandpa's room
Someone brought sparklers and the kids loved them. However, no one had a lighter or matches so Chyler had to start a fire with a piece of paper and the toaster to light them. If that isn't a boy scout/pyro, I don't know what is?
The morning we were all saying good-bye. It is always so sad because it will be 3 years before we have another one.
At the hotel in Grand Junction on the way home. The boys had their own bed but still ended up in ours. Not a good night's rest for me and Chyler.

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