A City Life For Me

On one Saturday, my parents took the kids and I to hike Devil’s Head to the Fire Lookout station.  It is the only one of seven original fire lookouts still in use in Colorado.  We hiked this as kids, so it was fun to take my kids back.  They got very distratected  by the sticks and stones, but we did make it to the top!   I love the mountains! My parents and the granddog, Sadie At the top of the fire lookout station. Can you see the city of Denver? After hiking to the top and back, we drove down to the South Platte River so that we could have a picnic and swim.  It was a little busier than expected,  but the kids enjoyed the water.  When we were finished I sent Elaine to get in the van first.  She started screaming, so I investigated.  I found a baby garter snake slithering away.  Nolan chased it across the road, and Grandpa (the snake guy) helped to secure it.  Once Nolan touched it and didn’t fall over dead, all the...

One of the kids’ new favorite shows is Wild Kratts on PBS Kids.  It’s the two Kratt brothers who explore different animals, and then the show turns animated as the brothers adopt “Creature Power Suits” to learn more about each animal as they become just like it.  Of course, they have to fight off some villains along the way! We decided to throw Nolan a Wild Kratts birthday, and we kicked it off with a trip to the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo in Colorado Springs.  It’s a great interactive zoo, including the opportunities to feed the rhino, elephant, and giraffes!  They did a lot of animal feedings and talks too, which the kids also enjoyed. :: Australian Walkabout – Budgie Buddies.  The kids got to buy seed sticks for $1 and feed parakeets and cockatiels.  They absolutely loved this (and one who shall remain unnamed had a giant meltdown when it was time to leave!)   Nehemiah   Libs with Uncle Wes and Daddy Elaine got a birdie on her stick!  :...

One of the highlights of coming out west on deputation is getting to see my grandparents.  They are getting up there in age…Grandpa turned 90 in February!  They faithfully pray for us and support us, and I know they enjoy seeing some of their 16 great-grands!  We enjoyed having them for dinner and sitting around on the patio! Henry & Grandpa Elaine did some reading to both of my grandparents! We practiced a song we are hoping to incorporate into our deputation meetings.  They sang pretty good…but we need to work on body language! While we were in town my parents had a BBQ to say “thanks” to all the guys who helped them move in, move the shed, and lay flagstone for the new patio.  My dad has a smoker and enjoys sharing his creations.  He makes the best short ribs ever!  (With help from Mom of course!).  While Wes was cutting wood pieces for the fire pit, he discovered some baby bunnies.  The kids enjoyed them for the evening before the...

As a reward for finishing First Grade ahead of schedule, despite deputation, we promised Elaine a trip to a water park.  There is one near my parents called “Pirate’s Cove.”  It ended up being very busy…Denver schools get out earlier than NYC!  We also had to leave a little early because of a lightning strike in the area.  But we still had a great time, and the kids loved that the pool was just their size (depth wise).  Uncle Wesley didn’t have much work for that day, so he joined us too!  (A pleasant surprise, and I became glad for another pair of adult eyes!). These two stuck close together all day!  Elaine is enjoying the water now that she can swim a little, and Libs has been a true water baby from the start!    Nehemiah prefered the splash pad and stayed out of the pool and pirate ship.  Henry was chill about the whole thing and seemed to enjoy the water – another water baby?!?   Daddy and the three brave ones; Nolan did a g...