Winding Down in Colorado

Tuesday, September 22 - Nina's Special Day

On Tuesday, we picked Nina up from Clear Sky Elementary School, where she is a 4th grader. The itinerary for the afternoon and evening was clothes shopping, dinner out and an sweet treat from Smart Cow. 

We got a lot of cute outfits for school, but needed to order her boots. Those are expected to be delivered before we leave. We sure worked up quite an appetite trying on clothes and deciding which ones to get, that we made our next stop Chick-Fil-A. Lucky for us, Tuesday's are Family Night and we were entertained by a woman who was making balloon figures (Nina got a Snow Leopard) and the Mascot, Cowie, was there "hamming" it up and interacting with each child (and adult). It was a fun evening and I never witnessed Nina eat as much as she did that night! 

After dinner, we headed over to Smart Cow, a yogurt shop where you can fill your own cup and choose your toppings. Cups are then weighed and you pay per ounce. A great deal for someone like me, who only wanted a little bit. Unfortunately, Nina's cup was still pretty full when we realized the time. She reluctantly, but obediently tossed it when we had to leave for home. 

Pictures from our special time together.

A left-over tattoo adorns her arm.

Wednesday, September 23 - Nina's School Trip

After filling out the appropriate paperwork and showing ID, I was able to meet Nina's class at Festival Park for a culmination of a project on Eco Systems. The students had worked for several weeks on the subject and they created posters, wrote speeches, wrote music and lyrics to a song about their specific Eco-system, which was Grasslands. The groups were paired with 2 adults and we visited four local businesses in the area. Presentations were made, rejection was faced, and determination won out. That all did a great job.

The trip concluded with a two-mile hike along the Festival Park walkway to pick up litter. It was a very exciting, hands-on, multi-sensory learning experience.

First presentation to a business owner.

My group!

These two guys were the best audience, by far! 

My group partner and the group ready to pick up trash,

Discovering a beaver dam.

Nina was the first to discover this "Bigfoot" - like footprint.

Sign of a Grassland's ecosystem, a beaver brought this tree down.

Thursday, September 24 - Lola's Day for Shopping and Dinner

Lola's day finally arrived and we made our first stop at Chick-Fil-A for lunch, then on to her shopping spree for some school clothes. She was the perfect little companion during lunch, shopping, dinner, and beyond. While at Chick-Fil-A's, Lola decided to bring Remmy, the rat from Ratatouille, into the restaurant for lunch. At one point, the store manager came over and exclaimed, "That's the biggest rat I've ever seen here."  Then, caught himself, and said, he shouldn't say something like that too loud.  We all had a good laugh. 

While shopping, we were sure to get a shirt that had a cat on it that looked a lot like Lucy. With matching leopard pants, we couldn't pass up that outfit. We finished up shopping and had a quick dinner and then a stop to Smart Cow for dessert. We were sure to bring home some for Nina and Emma, since Nina never finished hers and we never got the chance to bring Emma. 

The day ended with everyone happy! Especially, my smiley face, LOLA!

Does anyone else see a resemblence???

Friday, September 25 - Special Bonding Time With Emma

Emma is the only child with whom I never had the "bonding opportunity." We solved that on this trip quite quickly, but sealed it with our special day out together. Papa "G" and I picked her up from daycare and made a quick stop for lunch and then on to the Park Meadows Mall in Lone Tree. Our first stop for the day was at a Build-A-Bear workshop where we picked out her bear, placed a heart inside of her (after kissing it) and then got her stuffed and sewn up. We also put a voice recorder in her front paw that says, "I love you," each time her paw is squeezed. 

Once fluffed, she was ready for an outfit. It was a really fun thing to do with a two-year old. She hugged her "Beary" all through the mall. Our second stop was to The Disney Store where her eyes lit up and she made a beeline to the Minnie Mouse display. We couldn't leave there without themed place settings of Frozen, for Sissy and Nawnee and Minnie for her. She actually picked out the ones for her sisters. 

A stop for dinner and then home sweet home to mommy and sisters.

Happy girl and Beary

Loving the time together...

Sunday, September 27 - Tiny Town

On Sunday, we took the kids to visit Tiny Town & Railroad in Morrison, CO.  Tiny Town is celebrating their 100th Year Anniversary this year and the background of this attraction has a very storied past. The first miniature replica of a Denver building was built in 1915 by George Turner who was the owner of Turner Moving & Storage, located in Denver. George Turner was a friend of Buffalo Bill Cody and he ended up building an entire miniature town for his daughter, called Turnerville. He opened the site to the public in 1921. Unfortunately, two floods and a fire by 1935. The buildings were rebuilt and and train was added in 1939 and the name changed to Tiny Town.

Today, Tiny Town and Railroad is owned and operated by a non-profit historical society. Admission is very low, and the buildings look to be in need of upkeep and preservation. Buildings that would not have been in Tiny Town back in 1939 have been added by business owners who could purchase a "plot of land" and have a replica of their enterprise created to be displayed.

It was not all what we thought it would be, but I think the kids enjoyed being able to crawl into several of the buildings. Emma kept calling the buildings, "Yucky," and "Disgust." Nina and Lola were more able to peer through windows to see the few that had furnishings.

Sunday, September 27 - Rare Supermoon/Blood Moon/Harvest Moon Eclipse

Tonight, "G" and I watched the slowly unfolding event of a lunar eclipse, not just any lunar eclipse, but that of a super, blood and harvest moon. There have only been two such eclipses in my lifetime, One in 1964 and the other in 1982. 

This one was a spectacular event that we shared in a warm embrace. The next Supermoon eclipse will occur in 2033, when I'll be 78 years old. I wanted to burn this one in my memory so I can reminisce about this 2nd Great Big Adventure. It made me wonder what we all will be doing. Summer will be 28, Nina and Cooper 26, Savannah 25, Lola 24 and Emma, 20! A lot will transpire before then and I pray for happiness, health and hope for each of my grandkids.

Monday, September 28 - Grandparent's Breakfast 

What an honor to have been able to
participate in breakfast in the Bison Bistro!

On Monday, "G" and I arose at 5:45 am and trekked over to the kids' home to drive the two oldest to school so we could participate in the kindergarten "Grandparent's Breakfast." Lola was extremely excited to have us there, and I was so happy to have the opportunity to participate and witness her smiling face as she told teachers that I was her Meema.

The school planned their fundraiser perfectly by scheduling the Scholastic Book Fair's kick off day to correspond with Grandparent's Breakfast. Books were purchased, kisses were exchanged and the girls were off for their day at school. Papa "G" and I were then ready for a long winters' nap.

Lucky us to have been serenaded by Nina's Choir Group during breakfast.

Sisterly love

Both wearing outfits I bought. Lola is wearing her "Lucy" shirt

Deep though for the day:  Don't keep looking back at what has been that you cannot change, for you rob yourself of the glory of today and the wondrous possibilities of tomorrow. ~ vc