Nana & Papa Summer Visit 2012

In December 2011 or just after the new year my dad got an email from United for a buy a ticket get one free.  The only stipulation was that it had to be used in the 2012 year.  He bought it before the deal could be over.  He told my mom about it and the planning began.  Nana called to find out what our summer plans were, since she knew that Rylan would have training classes in OKC.  The original plan was for them to come up in August to have Po'okela's first luau for his first birthday. Now it depends on how you look at it, but they ended up coming in July because my cousin was getting married late July/early August, my aunt & uncle could take care of my granny, and Rylan got scheduled for training in August.  Then their trip was cut a little short for my youngest brothers return from Afghanistan and his post in Germany.  However, no matter what we had a GREAT time!!

We started out driving to Denver to pick them up. We spent the night Friday, so when they got in from their red eye flight they could have a place to sleep for a couple of hours.  We swam at the pool, while they rested before our 1-2 hour drive to Manitou, Colorado.  There is Pike's Peak, Garden of the Gods and Mudi & Papa.  Mudi & Papa are my college adoptive parents' (Paul & Alissa Crawford) parents.  They had gone out to Hawaii and visited with my parents, so while they were coming up we decided to make the trip to see them.  It was too fast! Nana, kids and I got to spend two nights, while Rylan and Papa drove back to Scottsbluff for Rylan to get back to work.

While we were there Alohi, Rylan, Papa & Papa Bill took the Cog Train up to Pikes Peak.  Nana, Po'okela and I stayed behind because it wasn't recommended for children under age 1 and people who had respiratory problems (Nana was struggling with her asthma). I had gone up in college and thought it would just be better.  Alohi has been asking to go on a train ride for so long and this was the perfect opportunity.

 Above: Little Miss, waiting for the moving to start.

Below: Papa (left) & Papa Bill

 Above: Alohi showing off her ticket.

Below: In this picture you can see the mountains, but if you look at the windows I believe this is the point of the tour where the top of the train is three stories higher than their location.  I hope this is the picture....

Below: Rylan & Papa at the top.

While they were on the 4 hour trip, we went to Costco to get things that wouldn't perish that the boys could take back with them the next day.  The next day was Sunday and filled with church activities and the boys started their 5-6 hour drive back to Scottsbluff.  Nana, kids and I did get to make the drive thru The Garden of the Gods.  This is what Nana really wanted to see. Thankfully Mudi & Papa Bill, live 5 minutes away and have a view from their back yard.  

 It is such a beautiful place if you haven't been and I highly recommend it!

Somehow I managed to not take a group picture.  We had such a wonderful time with Mudi & Papa Bill, and we even got to see Joel & Paul (grandkids and kids I helped take care of while in college).  I did get a picture of Joel showing Po'o how to play with links. Joel wasn't to thrilled when they went into Po'o's mouth.  

We are already thinking and planning another trip to see Mudi & Papa Bill because they have so much to see and do there. Especially the North Pole!! More train rides!! Plus, Papa Bill and his friend want to teach the kids gun safety.  They need to be 5, so we have some time.  

Monday morning Nana, kids and I started our drive back to Scottsbluff.  We left around 8 in the morning and didn't get back to Scottsbullf until after 7.  We made so many stops along the way. Shopping, shopping and more shopping.  That was the one thing I wanted to do with my mom and we only shop sales, so we got a ton of good deals!

We did more shopping and preparing for Po'okela's early party.  One of the finds was Alohi's and Po'okela's when he is bigger first tricycle.  

 And pretending to ride on toys that cost.  

The next weekend we drove 3-4 hours to Rapid City, South Dakota.  Our first stop was Storybook Island. It is a free park that is interactive stories that kids know.  Here is the fun we captured.

 Above: My girl loves trains.

Below: Nana & Po'o on a pirate ship.

 Above: Winnie the Pooh

Below: Snow White

 Above: Taking a drink stop from the lion's mouth.

Below: Po'o's first ride.

Below: Alohi took a train ride around the park. She loves trains!

Day 1

Our first day of touring started off at Bear Country.  Such a fun place to go!! It is a drive thru wilderness to see lots of different animals. I will let the pictures do all the talking.

 Above: Po'okela got to sit in my lap for the drive. He screamed and laughed the whole time.

Below: Ram's beside the car.

 Yep these are black/brown bears beside our car. 

 Above: Alohi was happy they had free strollers to ride.

Below: Our attempt of a family picture with Po'o so tired. He skipped his morning nap.

After Bear Country, we drove thru the hills to get to Mt. Rushmore. But before we went there we stopped at Alpine Slide.  It a place were we could ride a chair lift to see Mr. Rushmore, then slide down the mountain slide. We had a great stop. Had a freshly grilled lunch at the top and a fun slide ride down.  

                           

Above: Riding the chairlifts to the top.  

Below: Nana took Po'o down the chairlift while we slid. And the view from our lunch.

 Above: Ryan and Papa waiting their turn to slide.

Below: Alohi got to ride with me.  We are on the slow slide and both boys passed us.

 A picture of part of the slide we went down. Fun!!

The next stop was the main reason for the trip.  We were going to see this...

Mount Rushmore.  One of America's most visited spots.  I didn't think that I would ever see this, but thanks to family coming in and motivating us to do it. There is lots to do in Rapid City! I am sure we will be making another trip up there while we are living here.

Above: Of course our one good family picture has a presidents head cut off. Oh well!

After this stop, the kids crashed in the car and we did some scenic driving. It was a full day of in and out of the car. We spent the rest of the time at the hotel pool.  And their was a lighting storm that blew in.

Day 2

The next thing that Nana wanted to see what the Bad Lands. It was about 1-2 hour drive to see.  Then more driving, driving and more driving. It was very different. Definitely something to see because it is the most different scenery that I have ever seen.  Here's a patched up picture that Rylan took for us.

This is really the one from Pikes Peak that Rylan did, here is the one from the Bad Lands.

There was lots of driving to see things and trails to hike. We did the two shortest hikes since it was about 100+ temps and the kids were HOT.  But it was beautiful!

On the way back we stopped at Wall's Drug Store. It is a huge tourist trap, but so much fun! There are different shops you can pick up random things at. We were told to stop, just to experience it and get ice cream.  I think we spent more time there then we had originally planned. There was a dinosaur "feeding," wagon rides, splash play area, and mining.

 Alohi had been wanting to by a small bag of shiny stones for $5 and I kept saying no. But Nana found this activity to do where she could pan her own rocks and get a huge amount for $10. So Alohi learned how to pan for precious stones.  I am still amazed at the amount of stones she got from her bag! Po'o was most excited because he got to play in the water (which was terribly dirty, but who cares because he went straight to the splash grounds).

 But the best part of the stop was the homemade ice cream! Alohi got a chocolate scoop that was HUGE! She ate it all.  Nana & Papa got vanilla soft serve, I got a chocolate malt. It was so good! Rylan got pumpkin cone which Po'o stole. He was so proud of himself to hold the cone like a big boy!

I am so glad we made this stop! I highly recommend it for any family looking for a random bunch of fun! We even were able to pick up clearance tourist t-shirts.  Again we ended the evening at the hotel pool!

Day 3

We woke up and lingered before we got out the door.  We didn't have much planned since it was our return day, kids were exhausted as well as our driver Rylan, and we kind of needed to relax a bit.  Our last stop was Dinosaur Land.  It was a free walking park that Alohi enjoyed.  Nana & Po'okela rested in the car, while the rest of us climbed the 100+ stairs.

 We ran into some church friends there, which made Alohi really happy!

After our stop there, we hit up the Sam's to get the last bit of things for Po'okela's party.  I'll save his party for the next post since this one was super long and I didn't even post all the pictures.  I want to put more from Bear Country because the animals were so close and we had so much fun! 

Thank you Nana & Papa for a wonderful time!! We love you and are looking forward to Christmas & New Years in Hawaii!!

Thanks Papa for sticking your tongue out!