Spring Break in Denver

Wednesday of Spring Break, we all went to Red Rocks Park and Amphitheatre. The amphitheatre was built by the Civilian Conservation Corps during the Great Depression.

The girls loved "performing" on stage, and we all took turns being in the audience.

We found many places to explore as we hiked downhill.

At lunchtime, Grampa and Michael volunteered to walk back uphill to get the cars. We found a lunch spot on a creek, which provided addition exploration entertainment after we ate. I especially liked taking the girls down to the water, as I remember walking (and jumping) from rock to rock along/across streams with my brother Scott when we were little.

That afternoon, we let Gramma Jane, Grampa, and Uncle Brian go to Dinosaur Ridge on their own while our little family drove to Boulder. Our first stop in Boulder was a hike around the Chautauqua.

We met our college friend Joe and his fiancee, Betsy, for dinner at their place in Boulder that evening. After a delicious dinner, the kids had a blast playing with Joe and Betsy!

Kati loved riding Joe's lion. We have a picture of Gabi on the same lion when she was almost two years old.

Bella directed a lightning storm in Joe & Betsy's living room. Betsy flashed the lights, Gabi hid under a blanket to be thunder, and Bella herself was the rain. Apparently a rain storm room at the Denver Aquarium terrified Bella when they saw it with Gramma Jane and Grampa on Monday. Bella was laughing and happy during our simulated storm, so I assume her play-acting allowed her to take control of the situation to help overcome her fear. Bella reassured me that the lightning was just pretend because we were only turning the lights off and on - and in my mind, I could hear my mother whispering those same words to Bella as she must have comforted her at the aquarium.

Thanks for a wonderful evening, Joe and Betsy! I was wonderful to see the kids enjoying themselves so much. Perhaps after we move to Denver, we can have some more adult interaction as well. :)

On Thursday, Michael and I toured some schools. We had learned that Bella would not be able to get into the public preschool, as her classes were already full. (Gabi's classes are also "full," but beginning with Kindergarten, public education is guaranteed, so she will get a spot somewhere in the neighborhood anyway.) We were able to complete a public school application for Gabi (which involved calling the church in Little Rock to fax a copy of her baptismal certificate, which the Denver schools accept in lieu of her birth certificate) and also apply for Bella to attend a wonderful private preschool about half a mile from our house.

While we were looking at schools, my family took the kids to the US Mint (where they make money) and on a candy factory tour.

Gabi had expressed some uncertainty about moving to Denver, so I had presented this Spring Break trip to her as an opportunity to visit Denver and see what is there - and then come back home - before we actually move. She thought that was a great plan, so I wanted to make sure we had plenty of fun family vacation time throughout the week. To that end, I was especially thankful to Gramma Jane, Grampa, and Uncle Brian, who entertained the kids when Michael and I had necessary details to work out for housing and schools.