Denver Adventure...Finally

Finally~ This post is ready. For some reason this post has been a nightmare to put together. I would have started over had I known, but I had already spent more than an hour and a half uploading all the pictures....maybe that should have been my first clue!

On Wednesday, May 20th thru Wednesday, May 27th we had the opportunity to visit Jill and Ryan and the kiddos in Denver ~ even Stefanie and Danny and their kiddos were able to go, so it was a true family affair. Unfortunately the weather was not very cooperative during our visit and most days were overcast and rainy. On our departure day, the sun shined and was beautiful~go figure. I guess we'll have to go back and visit again to see the glorious sunshine that Jill and Ryan rave about.

Thursday was a lazy day. We were all tired and the weather was rainy. Before we got to Ryan and Jill's (we stayed at a nearby hotel while Danny and Stef stayed with Ryan and Jill) that day we dropped by a store and picked up some odds and ends---one was a puzzle for the little boys and the other was a box of 5 - 500 piece puzzles for Caitlin and the rest of the gang. We had plenty of time to work on them and finished 4 of them before we headed home! Here are a few pictures of that lazy, but fun, day.

PS. You'll probably see some of the same pictures that Jill posted on her blog---she downloaded the pictures from my camera before we left ~ so some of the pictures she has on her blog are actually mine (particularly the ones that she is in! ;->)

Caitlin and Dave working on the first puzzle --actually almost everyone ended up getting involved Dave and his two precious granddaughters

Jill enjoyed having a baby around and Emily loved her Auntie Jill

We ventured outside and took a walk to the nearby grade school. Everyone had fun playing on the "toys"
Ethan enjoyed all the things he could climb

Jill and Caitlin played hopscotch (it was a long hopscotch)

Caitlin showed us how to do it

Ethan and Caleb enjoyed this unique teeter-totter

Caitlin showed us how to jump on this unusual spinning seat. She could get it to go around and around. She made it look easy.
Stefanie gave it a whirl, but couldn't get it to go all the way around.
After several attmepts, Jill got it all the way around. I didn't even try. I know better! :-)
Jill and Caitlin on the swings. They were so cute swinging together. Dave just relaxed and observed while Caleb joined him.
On Friday we headed to the Denver Zoo. It was actually the best day we had weather-wise. I think everyone else in Denver had the same idea. We parked about a mile away and had to walk. Here are Dave, Caitlin, and Caleb walking alongside a pond.
It was a pretty long walk and the boys were getting tired. Here is grandpa giving Caleb a lift. Finally we got to the zoo!!
A quick picture out the front of all the grandkids. Of course, what kind of picture would it be without someone having a meltdown?!In front of the camels were these cute creaturesWe caught feeding time at the penguin exhibit
Caitlin and Caleb hugging one of the very realistic statuesI thought this baby mountain goat was adorableDave and the kids enjoyed several rides on the carousel

The granddaughters looking pretty cuteEmily caught a quick snooze (she is only a catnapper)

The end of the day: Trying to get another picture of the grandkids ~ not bad!After leaving the zoo, we headed toward Ryan's restaurant ~ Pizzicato's. This is the third restaurant he has opened for the company he works for. Sadly, it will be closing. Between the economy and the bad location it was not profitable. While we were there Ryan served us a variety of salads and pizza. It was delicious. On Saturday, Stef, Danny, Dave and I took some time and drove around the Denver metro area. Meanwhile Ryan was at work and Jill braved being home alone with all the kiddos. Later we had the opportunity to visit with Nancy my friend and former BYU roommate. We had lost touch for 28 yrs, but I found her about a week before our trip on Facebook--what a blessing to discover that she lives in a Denver suburb! She fixed us a wonderful dinner and we enjoyed an evening of catching up. The best part--we just picked up where we left off before we lost touch. She hasn't changed one bit, and I'm thrilled to have her back in my life!!

On Sunday we headed out to catch a few of the sites. We started with Red Rocks. They were beautiful and they have built an enormous ampitheatre between it.

A cute picture of the fam--minus Ryan and Caleb who were crawling among the rocks.
Notice downtown Denver in the distanceWe headed to Dinosaur Ridge but the weather changed and was becoming windier and colder, so we didn't head up to the ridge where the actual dinosaur tracks are.

After leaving Dinosaur Ridge, we headed up into the mountains. We were greeted by a huge hailstorm. The hail was about the size of quarters and let little dents in the hood of our rental van and in Jill's car. We pulled over into a gas station during the downpour. This hail was the size of quarters. It was so loud on the roof of our rental van that Ethan cried out "Papa, make it stop--it's too loud"
It looked like it had just snowed!

Ethan after the excitement fell asleep with his headed hanging--mom and dad both tried to make him a little more comofortable A quick buzz through downtown--the Capitol building--it was beginning to pour so I didn't get any other pictures. We headed back to Ryan and Jill's where we pulled out the cooler with our picnic lunch and enjoyed it at the kitchen table.

Memorial Day was another overcast and cooler day. We ran some errands around town (Grandpa had to buy a trampoline) and then headed to Ryan and Jill's to just spend some quality family time. The boys had a ball just playing around the yard, and Marley the cat, enjoyed watching the birds in the birdhouse.

Jill snuggling with Emily. Jill had given all the kids a bubble kit and they were busy entertaining Emily with all the bubblesCaleb was a bubble-blowing proJill looking beautiful and Emily looking cute---what a pair!Funny kitty!The beginning of the project----determining where and how to put the trampoline together. Dave loved working with his sons!Master engineers...If all fails, read the directions...Stefanie supervising the workStretching the mat and hooking the springs took quite the coordination between the three!Stefanie joining inCovering the springsMaking sure everything is covered and tied down--Caitlin decided to get in the action and check on their workThey had to "sew" in the tiesPutting up the cage---it's getting closer!The balancing actPulling and tugging the last bit And it's time to try it out! Caleb excitedly called it the "jumpoline"

Caitlin expressing her approval and showing us her acrobatic tricks Of course, Emily had to have a turnFinally Ryan got his chanceEarlier, for lunch Jill fired up the barbeque to cook hotdogs. Unbeknownst to her the kids had left a green frisbee and plastic Nemo fish inside. Well, it all ended up one gooey mess, and in the rain, Danny and Dave worked on cleaning up the grill.

Later in the evening for dinner, Ryan and Jill prepared a sumptious meal. It was so fun to watch them work together. :-)Tuesday, Dave and I headed down to Centennial/Littleton area to go to the temple. The day began overcast, but when we came out the sun was shining. That short bit of sunshine was the only moment we had the rest of the day.See, the sun was peeking out
Later that afternoon we wandered around the open mall in Aurora. This was the mall that was hit just last week by a tornado~yikes!

Don't we have cute grandkids?! Of course we're not at all biased!The boys loved this bear. I don't know what the excitement was, but both of the boys had to put their fingers in his mouth and wiggle his nose.Of course what would a mall trip be without a freshly baked and hot pretzel?!Although it was rather cool and overcast, Caleb and Caitlin had to run around the fountain. Nothing like getting wet in the cold.This outdoor firepit was a nice warming spotCaitlin and CalebCaleb and Uncle Danny relaxing on the chairs at the sports storeWhen we got back we just layed back---it was our last night together

Wednesday morning we were headed out. Of course, it was the most beautiful sunshiny day of our entire trip! It was so bright, Ryan had trouble looking at me for this picture! It was a gorgeous morning!Saying our last good-byes before heading to the airport about 40 minutes awayJill followed us to the airport so she could pick up the carseats we borrowed on this adventure. It sure was wonderful not having to lug the child seats along.

Jill getting her last cuddle in with Emily

It was a wonderful week even though the weather didn't cooperate much! We ate ourselves silly (the running joke was that we might starve if we didn't eat something every 15 minutes--Jill kept us all well in snacks and meals) and enjoyed a lot of togetherness.

I'd say the adventure was a success!

Thanks Jill and Ryan for letting the in-laws hang out there for a WEEK! We love you guys!!