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After grabbing Eric we headed up to Wyoming to stay the night. We had a quick swim in the hotel pool and headed out across Utah. Which is where we came across the great salt lake. We stopped by the side of the road to take a picture. Some tourists had left their marks by leaving their names spelled out in beer bottles or rocks. Very glad to be back home finally.
After driving for a very long day we stayed the night in Denver. In the morning we met our friend for coffee and then later we went to the zoo with Grammy and Lola's cousins. She had a great time getting to know them and checkin out the animals. We liked seeing the Polar Bears and the ant eater. She even took a toy ant eater home. [slideshow]
Nothing's cuter than a girl in a big hat at the horse races. We had a fun time trying to guess which horse would win the different races. Lola liked going over to the paddocks to see the color each one was wearing before she bet on one. After one race one of the horses was headed back to the stable and the trainer told her she could pet it. But she had never pet a horse of that caliber and it was snorting and stamping because it had just come from the race. She just barely pet the horse's head. Then later we cooked Adam a steak and made him a cake. Lola helped with the decorating and blowing out the candles. [slideshow][gallery]
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Lola enjoyed the time she spent at Great Granny's. She walked around Granny's newly planted garden. She hid her Easter Eggs and found them again and again. She picked flowers and feasted on fried fish. Great time in the fresh Kentucky air.
Since we were in Kentucky, we decided we should let the Doll ride a pony. At the horse park they had a number of horses to look at and Lola had her heart on riding a full sized horse. But we had to break the news to her that she was only big enough to ride the ponies.... She liked it but we could tell she was a little sad. After the horse park we met Adam and Adam to play some golf. She ran all over the place and drove the golf cart. It was a great day! Then she was out like a light from all the fresh air.
Come on Granny, Let's go get some eggs! What a treat to go to a wonderful egg hunt. Lola loved spending the time with her Granny. She was especially happy to have the candy inside the eggs :)
Growing up in the city our daughter has missed some country lessons that her parents experienced. So she had a great time visiting Aunt Gigi one afternoon. She was very eager to try to catch frogs and butterflies. She loved being chased by the dogs. She became so frustrated at the cats hiding under the porch. She picked a ton of flowers whether wild or not. She was brave about removing garden snakes from the porch until one started wiggling off the rake.. She decided she only likes the ones that are in cages now.
So being cooped in a car for three days for a three year old can be like bottling energy for a spaceship. The Doll was so ready to be out and running around. She gave kisses to Granny, Papaw and Soccer the cat and headed outside. She helped Granny 'replant' some herbs. We also went downtown and had lunch with Adam. We took some cute pictures at the horse fountain downtown Lexington and at the Henry Clay Estate.
Lola wanted to know if we were still going to Granny and Papaw's in Kentucky. We said yeah.... She was able to see the Arch in St Luis and she has had her fill of McDonalds happy meals. She is collecting the dragons..... We don't mind because she's been sooo good. She'll read some books and watch a little tv, listen to the radio, and watch the scenery. Mom had plenty of time to work on a pair of baby booties for a friend. We were so happy to make it safe and sound.
After spending 10 hours in the car crossing Arizona, New Mexico, the panhandle of Texas and half of Oklahoma, we stopped at Grandpa Randall's to see him and the doggies. Lola really enjoyed her brief visit. She couldn't believe the dogs wanted to go to bed but it was like 10 pm their time. She was such a trooper during the day. At one point we had to stop for a potty break and we just happened to be by a toys r us, so she was able to pick out a toy(tiny meercat, that we had to look for over and over again in the car)- after going to the bathroom of course.
Yes, it was somewhere along 1-40 on the Arizona & New Mexico.. .What was it doing and where was it going?... We have no idea. But it was cool to see it on a flat bad truck flying along the highway.
Deciding to drive from San Francisco to Kentucky ..... whose idea was that again? .... We decided that driving would give us a chance to see more of our family instead of flying. So we headed out the week before Easter and kept a little travel log along the way. We were both impressed on how well the Doll did on the trip. The first day we drove down the state of California and headed east across Arizona. The sunset in Arizona was breath taking. The moon was rising in the east while sun was setting in a foam of pink fluffy clouds. We stopped at a rest area to take a picture using the autophoto.
