Rocky Mountain Hiiiigghhhh, Colorado

Last Tuesday I packed up what I could into one fifty pound bag (thank you, airline industry) and headed off for my first vacation longer than four days in over three years. Even with the 11 hour layover in Salt Lake City, I knew the trip was going to be fantastic. Speaking of Salt Lake City, that airport is the absolute shit if you have kids. Playground areas in every terminal? Yes, please. We sat at one for three hours on our way back and I barely had to move a muscle the entire time, since all the little Mormon kids were so nice and sweet to Lu. Yea, Mormons!

The trip was definitely a family excursion, as it was a reunion to celebrate Trent’s grandmother’s 80th birthday. The trip organizers (thanks Aunts and Uncles and In-Laws!) rented out a huge house mansion outside of Steamboat Springs, Colorado. We arrived after a good 18 hours traveling in the dead of night, and this is what I awoke to the next morning.

Um. Yeah. I know. Insanity.

Although I resolved to spend most of the vacation sitting on my fat ass eating greasy food and drinking beer (which I did a lot of), I did manage to get out and about some. I definitely didn’t take as many photos as I wanted to, mostly because of the two-year-old clinging to my leg the entire week. But the few photos I did get definitely show the overall mood of the trip. My wonderful, talented sister-in-law (technically not, because she and Trent’s brother aren’t married, but I don’t care, it counts anyway) took a gazillion photos and hopefully she’ll let me share some of hers as well, since they are much better than the shots I got while fending off the aforementioned two-year-old. By the way, to all you parents out there, how do you get a two-year-old to sleep on vacation? It kind of takes the “vaca” out of vacation when you spend every night with two tiny feet kicking you in the head and one little voice saying “Mama, read book!” at two in the morning.

So, enough babbling, right? Here are a few pictures I’ve actually had time to upload since my return. Hopefully I’ll get some more on here in the upcoming days weeks, but I wouldn’t hold your breath. These days we’re lucky if I remember to put on deodorant in the morning…

This is my lovely sister-in-law (sort of) and Trent’s brother. Let’s call them E. and Scooter. Why? Someday I’ll let E. explain that to you. They are going to kill me for posting this picture, but it truly captures the essence of them as a couple. They have so much fun together and are so effing goofy, it’s hard to believe they work at big NYC jobs and kick major ass on a daily basis. But they do, because they’re awesome like that.

One thing I DO NOT have in common with Trent’s entire family is their insane love of board games. I have a confession. I hate board games. Please don’t stone me or throw me to the lions. Board games are so long and boring and awful, but I try to suck it up and play because everyone loves them so much. Most times, I do end up having fun, despite my grumpy demeanor. But this particular game night, I spent most of the time spelling three letter words (sod, for four points, yes!) and getting pissy. The next morning I woke up and saw the board like this. In case you can’t read it, let me translate:

Dear Megan,

You’re like spelling the word quizzical (which, according to Trent means, “You are worth a lot of points”), but every day is awesome.

Also, you have nice boobs.

Man, did I marry a romantic, or what?

These are all of the grandkids of Trent’s generation. E. and I, being exceptional photographers, asked them to take a silly picture. They didn’t disappoint. And I’m sure all the ones in high school will be posting this as their MySpace profile picture in exactly two minutes. I mean, Facebook. Or will they send it via text message? Or picture message? Or via laser rays? Ah, kids today….