Last Days in Denver

My three weeks in Denver started on the plane, followed by a train, followed by the bus. 

I arrived on Labor Day weekend when it was still summer. We went to the Denver Zoo and got to admire the beautiful zoo train. By the time I left on September 20, the weather had turned to fall.

We spent some time at playgrounds, where Freddie got to partake in a favorite activity: swinging.

We went to the Science Center, where Lloyd got to build a meandering train track.

Cousin Lauren visited and we walked to ice cream. We also went to City Park and she taught Lloyd some German words.

This very colorful playground is at a school just a few blocks from their house.

Uncle Don and Aunt Kathy visited and Lloyd was given a prized possession: his very own skidster. 

Freddie likes to eat most things (most of the time), he likes books, he likes most things that Lloyd likes, and he was learning to walk while I was there.

He's also a happy and sometimes silly guy.

And Lloyd likes to be moving. Even if it's on a stationary bike.

Midway through my visit, Troy came down for the weekend. I got to spend some time with the Kidds while she was in town.

John or Troy took this sweet picture of Freddie at the zoo, all decked out for fall weather.

Freddie is again quite the fall fashion plate in this handknit sweater.

Every morning and every afternoon this crew went back and forth to daycare.

Lloyd likes to help. On this day he carried his lunchbox. He also likes to push the remote control for the garage.

Brad arrived on Friday and I went home on Saturday. First thing Sunday morning they all left to drive to Minnesota, and by all I mean the humans and Sirius. They're in Minneapolis right now getting settled as they await the closing of their new house next month. 

Hanging Out With the Boys

I had fun spending some time with the Denver crew earlier this month. Freddie is already eight months old.

He has so many "looks" that I did a little collage.

Lloyd's not so much a guy with many looks as he is a guy with one obsession: his bike. He really loves to ride. One day while I was there John brought the boys on their cargo bike and I followed along on a regular bike and we went to a family bike event. Here's Lloyd at our destination, which included donuts.

Freddie was, quite literally, just along for the ride, and also some nice one-on-one time with his dad.

This is what I mean when I say "just along for the ride."

We met up at Breckenridge Brewery for a beautiful day outside with Kathy, Don, and Lauren.

The next day I took Lloyd to Wings Over the Rockies, also known as the airplane museum. He loves it, especially the helicopters.

It was fun to have book time with them every night.

On my last day in town John, Lloyd, Lauren, and I went out to brunch followed by a thrifting trip where Lloyd got a toy train. 

John and Troy and Lloyd and Freddie have a lot happening. Troy has her back surgery tomorrow. And then later in the week they move to this cute house very close to where they live now, and where they'll have a backyard and more indoor space. 

Denver Means Lloyd!

Last month I spent a weekend in Denver. And you know what that means: a visit with my favorite grandson Lloyd.

Morning playtime in pajamas is the best time of the day.

We enjoyed going out to eat .....

Taking selfies .....

And going for walks. Speaking of Brad, he stayed for 10 days after I went home and was the fill-in daycare provider while Lloyd's daycare was closed for Passover. That's what they call putting the "grand" in grandfather!

Of course, while we were there we got to visit with John and Troy and Troy's mom Esther.

And as a bonus we got to hang out at Troy's brewery for the afternoon with my sister Kathy, her husband Don, their kids Lauren and Brian, and  Brian's girlfriend Mariana. (Troy, Brad, and Lloyd were there too.)

And lest I forget, we also got to visit Sirius. Having to put up with a toddler means he's a very patient dog. Then again,  he appreciates all the handouts.

But of course, the main attraction was Lloyd.

We had fun playing .....

..... and watching him experience the world.

In a few months he'll be the big brother. But for now, we were thankful to get to spend time with Lloyd while he's still the little guy.




 

Spring Break With Lloyd

This one little guy was the big attraction in Denver over spring break.

Uncle Peter and Great-Grandma were among the Harrisons who came to Denver to see Lloyd.

Aunt Mary also got to meet her favorite nephew.

Grandpa got to have time with Lloyd too.

And so did Grandma.

We were there over Passover. Troy's mom Esther cooked a delicious Passover meal and we had a memorable Seder together. It was Lloyd's first, and his Great-Grandma's first. So the oldest and the youngest got to experience it together for the first time.

Lloyd and John at Lloyd's first Passover Seder.

The theme of the week though was moving. The day we all arrived unexpected circumstances forced John and Troy to have to quickly find a new place to live. The Harrison moving crew helped to get them packed up, and John and Troy were lucky to find a beautiful apartment in the building next door to Esther's building. They found a moving company who could come load everything in a truck with just hours' notice, and in about 48 hours from when the catastrophe started they were in the new place. This is Geneva and Mary having a much deserved lunch break on packing day.

Once the moving was complete we got away from the boxes to have some fun. We visited a brewery and sat outside and ate, drank, and enjoyed passing Lloyd around.

My sister Kathy drove up for dinner. This is her with Troy and Geneva in the new apartment, still filled with boxes.

We also went out to brunch with our niece Lauren, nephew Brian, and his girlfriend Mariana.

Through it all, the baby of the week charmed us with his smiles and snuggles. At age four months he was a different person from the little package we met in December, already developing a personality, starting to explore the world, and reacting to people and things around him.