A day at the Ball Park

Luca's baseball team was invited to a Rockies game and the team took the train downtown.  Mia asked her cousin and teammate, Tilly, to join them in their softball uniforms.  They had a blast!

Luca and the Shark Tooth

Luca is so into animals....all kinds.  He is in a current prehistoric phase and is fascinated by dinosaurs and all pre-historic mammals, specifically saber-toothed cats (incorrectly called "tigers" by some people, we have learned).  I am trying to do all I can to foster this interest and we took a trip to the Museum of Nature and Science.  Here he is in one of his favorite tee-shirts with his beloved shark tooth necklace. 

We passed an exhibit about pronghorns and here he is with this creature he likes so much. 

Climbing on a giant mastodon.  We have books stacked next to the bed about animals, and a light up globe in his room with animals helping to mark each continent and country within the continents.  He'll spin the globe at night with his finger lightly tracing it, until is stops.  Where ever his finger lands, dictates the questions that spring from his mind.  "Mom, who lives here?  Is it hot?  What other animals there?"  His intensity in those moments directed to total wonder and interest.  It's a privilege in those moments.....to watch it all unfold. 

24 Hour Escape: The Broadmoor

The pool is the biggest draw for us.  And the slides at the pool are the biggest draw for the kids. 

Strawberry smoothie please. 

After we swam all day, we bowled.  My game was the worst of the family.  Both times. 

Dinner at The Bee. 

I just love this picture.  We had finished dinner and were wandering around the property, getting ready to go sit by the fire to roast smores.  Quintessential summer. 

 

Stopped in the library....

which might be one of my favorite places at the hotel.  It's quiet, and serene.  Empty usually.  Did I say quiet?!

Out on one of the terraces, I gave Luca the camera.  Some of his shots are the best.  I thought this one was funny.  He took a picture of us, as V was taking our selfie.

Luca took this one too.  Mia is performing a dance in a big empty ballroom. 

 

 

On our way out, we got caught in a small Colorado rain.  The kind that come suddenly and surprisingly.  Umbrellas line the doorways of the properties (not one single detail goes unnoticed at this resort) and we borrowed them to walk across the bridge to our room. 

Goodbye Broadmoor.  You've been good to us. 

Officially Summer!

Luca and one of his besties at the pool. 

Mia just warmed my heart when I came down for coffee the other morning.  She is up later than me sometimes (let's be real...most days) and she left this as a surprise.  My peony bush just didn't bloom and every morning I'd comment sadly that it just wasn't happening.  Well, it did, and in my business, I must have missed the moment that this single peony came to life.  Mia captured it and gifted it to me. 

Mia and a swim team chum.  These two are one half of a killer relay!  Watch out finals....here we come.  :)

We all joined Tilly for her First Communion!  Here are the two cuties, always happy to support one another. 

We took the kids to Dinosaur Ridge and it was fantastic.  Colorado is a real spot on the prehistoric map!  Allosaurus' used to roam these lands.  As well as a few other mighty dinosaurs. 

Here is Luca actually sitting in a fossil of a dinosaur print.  This dinosaur was a plant eater, as there are no nail prints which would indicate a meat eater.  We were in awe that we were sitting and standing in actual dinosaur prints!

Mia too!  This isn't the whole print, but rather some smaller prints all around.  The indentation is just broken rock. 

The sweet kiddos sitting on the bottom of the ocean.  Colorado used to be under water, hence the shark tooth that Luca became obsessed with and insisted on buying and having me make a shark tooth necklace (which I did....thank you very much).  Those ridges are actually fossilized sand at the bottom of the sea, after the waves left those ridges. 

This photo is called "Rainbow over Tan Legs".  We were pulling out to run an errand and saw the double rainbow.  I shouted for them to get out so I could snap this photo. 

And what summer is complete without some girlies playing softball.  While I don't play anymore at all, there is something powerful about a girl learning to swing a bat, hit a ball, and catch one too.  Go Pink Socks!

Play Ball

It's summer!  This means swim team, softball, and baseball season are in full swing.  I don't like the sports starting during that last month of school because, every year, it inevitably feels like I've been put in a personal, professional, and sports filled blender.  Once school is out though, it is such a staple to the summer.  Our days are filled with the pool and then most evenings are on a field. 

The kids are actually making plays, which is really exciting. 

V is helping along with some other dads.  I'm afraid I've been pushed out of the coaching inner circle.  I could handle tee-ball, but the skill needed at this level is beyond me a teeny tiny bit. 

First and Last

This was taken on the first day of school this year.  Mia was going into second and Luca was just starting kindergarten. 

And here they are on the last day of school.  Mia is now a third grader, and Luca, my baby, is now a first grader!