Ice Cream Social

The kids' school threw an event today for the community to come visit. Frozen yogurt, pizza, bounce houses, dunk tank (with the principal, among others), popcorn, music, and dancing. And the Thunder Band played a couple songs. Discover Canyon Campus is the Thunders! Particularly appropriate today as a halt was called to the festivities for lightning. That's a fairly common occurrence around here, we've learned. Events will go on in the rain, but not if there's lightning within so many miles.

We walked home very fast in high winds and a little sprinkling.

Bourbon and Babes

Not that kind of babes, babies babes. But first, let me report that Jamie and Matt tried out the Cigar Patio at the Bourbon Brothers last night. OMG. Lucas took such great care of us, and we began our bourbon training in earnest. We may be having take-out brisket from there for dinner tonight.

The second pic is in Nana and Papa's kitchen. First time that table top has seen the light of day since the move-in began. It was routinely covered with picture hanging stuff, tools, mail, receipts, keys, garage door openers, you name it. We got rid of most of our cardboard boxes earlier today, too. There's light at the end of the tunnel...

The Piano Guys at Red Rocks

What an experience. Red Rocks is very cool, we've got to back for some hiking, etc. But The Piano Guys are fantastic! And the Red Rocks Amphitheatre is quite the venue. This was heaven for Matteo: hiking among the great geology and The Piano Guys. Oh, and kettle corn.

Ship Rock Grille is right at the amphitheatre.
They do buffet service on concert nights.

That's a quilt!

Up at the concession stands. The theatre is to the left and down.

Among the many cool things the Piano Guys did was to bring in some kids
from the Denver Fine Arts School to join them for a number.

A few more discoveries

We've made a few more discoveries... Just down the street is the Bourbon Brothers Smokehouse and Tavern. Pictured below is an oversized piece of paper with nothing but whisky and scotch! Papa tried the Colorado Gold (higher end); was OK, but he's trying others. The brisket was to die for (we're home!). And as if that, the tater tots, and the deviled eggs with bourbon-glazed bacon weren't enough, there's a Cigar Patio! As Matt said, "Oh sweet Jesus."

Cigar Patio

Colorado Gold

Deviled eggs with bourbon-glazed bacon

On a day off school, AJ jumped into a
project that's not due for days yet.

Watching TV at breakfast without
messing up the carpet.

They were kind enough to put in an
earthquake simulator at the park (the
platform is on four big springs).

Back to School

Three of the kids are going to Discovery Canyon Campus, a PreK-12 school. The twins are going to Antelope Trails. Here are some photo moments...

The sun was very bright. The two boys will head through that tunnel
in the background and enter the PK-5th section of the campus.
They got to visit their classrooms and teachers last week, so it
shouldn't be totally new to them. It's about a 20-minute walk from the house.

While everyone was out delivering kids to school, she started her day making
herself one-eyes for breakfast.

And a "box troll" outfit. She'll be visiting her
part of the campus (6-8) later this afternoon
and will start in earnest tomorrow.

The twins are picked up at home by a wonderfully pleasant bus driver
and aide. They'll love the bus ride (again).

Sunday

This was our first Sunday all here in Colorado. We visited Woodmen Valley Chapel this morning (Woodmen Heights campus). We're going to visit their other two sites in the next weeks. Seems very promising. AJ came out of Sunday School with the scripture card shown below...

I asked AJ who was the name being talked about? He immediately answered
"Ben Collins." I guess my bursting into laughter gave him pause and he very
quickly popped up with his second guess, Jesus.

In the parking lot.

Oh look, a down escalator, too!
We went back-to-school clothes shopping after church.

Best reading nook in the house (so far).

"All Play" at the Pool

We took a break from unpacking and all this morning to venture forth en masse to the pool at the club. Great decision, we all had a blast. Later in the day Matt and Jamie visited a liquor store. Colorado is one of those states where alcohol is only available in alcohol stores, not grocery stores and the like. We discovered that California wines are very well priced (10-20% less than at CA stores) but the hooch is 10-20% more per bottle. FYI, there are quite a few gins made in Colorado.

All the photos are here.

Some very creative water toys.

Crooning, like in the shower.