Denver Days

Fred and I flew to see Shannon and her family.

Originally we were going to help her after her scheduled C Section, but then she delivered early and we got to use the week to just play. 

My assigned seat in the car was in the middle next to Mima.

Buddy and Mima are happy helpers.

The first three days, Buddy had preschool in the morning so we ran errands with Mima.

It worked out on this day that we got to pick up Brian from work and go to Freddy's for lunch.

Fred's assigned seat was way in the back with Buddy. 

After school one of the days, we went to this park. 

They have parks everywhere and the kids know which one is which and make their requests.

As usual, Fred came prepared with something special to play with at the park.

This is a little balsa wood glider.

Mima allowed Granpa to help her walk around the wall.

They keep this BIG box in the living room to store the toys in.

This is how Mima goes digging for what she wants.

We drove about 50 miles to Colorado Springs to the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo.

It was windy at this elevation, but it was a pretty nice zoo.

Brian was at work. He got to choose which activity to save for Saturday so he could come along.

This zoo is set up pretty neat. The public can feed the giraffes. 

Mima is getting a kiss here.

On Friday morning was parent teacher conference for Buddy.

This is a slide on their playground. 

Some new design for a teeter totter.

After parent conference, we drove to Greeley Colorado to the Colorado Train Museum.

They have miniature trains and scenery filling the museum. 

This is a small scene that the children can push buttons to activate lights, run trains etc.

Mima is working on the lights and moving the carousel. 

After the museum, we stopped for lunch at Carls Jr. Shannon packed their lunch in case we couldn't find a place to eat that they liked. 

Buddy was not really cooperative for this picture.

Maybe that's why I take more pictures of Mima????

After our big day at the museum, we went to Monkey Bizness. It is filled with bounce houses and stuff for little ones 2-5. Mima is looking the part.

Saturday we drove to Golden Colorado for another train museum.

This one is full size really old trains. Some you can walk inside and look around.

This is a train that use to deliver mail. 

Here is an engine.

Better view at the top.

Going back to the cars.

Happy Family!

Here is our Granma/Granpa pose.

Sunday morning it was gorgeous outside. Shannon sent the kids out to play.

Church wasn't until 12:30 so we had lots of time.

The kids have lots of really great outdoor toys.

They played together really nicely.

Granpa came out for a look.

Shannon & Brian said another family from church said they had their kids jump on the trampoline before church for an hour. By the time church started the kids were so tired that they sat quietly.

So Shannon & Brian decided to try it out. I brought sticker/coloring books for the kids, but I'm too not sure it really helped keep them quiet. 

This missionary greeted us as we went into the chapel. I looked at his name tag and it said "Elder Merkley". Well I totally knew he was from the Merkley family in Bremerton. He looks just like his Dad did when we knew them 20 years ago. After Sacrament meeting, I went up to ask him where he was from. I over heard him tell the people he was talking to that he was from Seattle. So I knew it! Sure enough we confirmed he was that Merkley family. His parents were Shannon's primary teachers AND she used to babysit this Elder and his older brother. So then I got on Facebook and found his Mom and sent her a message and included this picture.

THAT WAS SO FUN!

We had a really nice time with Shannon, Brian and the babies.

The babies fell asleep on the way to the airport. I did say goodbye to Mima before she feel asleep.

Shannon called and said that Mima was pretty distraught when she woke up and I was gone.

That's just what a granma wants to hear!