Children's Museum

In March we went to a Low Sensory Morning at the Denver Children's Museum in March and had a great time. It was an opportunity for kids with disabilities and their families to enjoy the museum without such large crowds. Myles loved the zipline!

Visit from the Wains!

In March we were blessed with an almost week long visit from our great friends, the Wains. Jason, Jamie, and Gilby all worked together at Okoboji Lutheran Bible Camp in Iowa years ago and became best of friends. Jason and Jamie were the first people that Gilby introduced me to after we met, and I could tell right then that it was really important to him that I get their approval.

Fast forward 11+ years, 2 weddings, and 5 kids, and it was as much fun as ever spending time with them. The Wains live in Australia, but came through Denver to see us during their extended stay in the US. We spent the first couple of days at our house, and then went up to YMCA of the Rockies in Estes Park and stayed in a cabin at the family camp for a few days. All five kids got along like they've been playing together forever, although it had been 5 years since we had seen them, and the two youngest weren't even born then!

Kai (7), Myles (7), Sydney (5), Lyla (3), Ryker (3)

Playing games at the cabin!

The little ones. 

Ryker was very intrigued by their Australian accents. While sitting across the breakfast table from Jason the first morning, and after listening to him speak for awhile, he very intently asked, "Are you speaking Spanish?" It was so funny!

We happened upon the camp library right at story time. The kids thought it was great!

Thank you for the visit, Wains. We love you!

Ski Day

This weekend we took the kids skiing at Winter Park. Sydney and Myles had gone once a few years ago, but don't remember it much, and it was Ryker's very first time. I am so proud of how they did! They each had a good attitude, lasted the whole day (and kept asking for more), didn't get discouraged, had fun, and made progress. Of course they were bone tired at the end of the day and a few meltdowns ensued, but overall, it was a very successful day! Myles and Ryker had to stick to the littlest hills, and will benefit from a lesson or two, but Sydney was able to move up to a slightly bigger hill and with some more practice will likely catch on just fine.

Gilby and I have loved to ski together for years (since we met!), but oh how things have changed with kids! We are thrilled to be able to share the experience with them, but it is a ton of work with three little ones. Thankfully my mom came with us as an extra set of hands. I thought she'd be more of a buffer if someone got tired, or needed to wait at the bottom for a turn to come up with Gilby and I, but from the very first time up the magic carpet she was hands-on helping to teach the kids, and went up and down all day long! We would not have had nearly as successful a day without her help (I actually don't even know how we would have managed it!) Thanks, Mom!

Looking forward to more ski days to come with this crew this spring and hopefully for many years to come!

What a way to get around the mountain!

Rockstar Grandma! 

Ryker prefers to go straight down. "French fries, not pizza, Mom."