Fall Break in Colorado

Southwest Airlines made it easy and cheap for Tim & I to jump on the plane and fly to Colorado to spend Fall Break. Our plane landed at 8:15 in the morning which made our weekend stay with Alan & Karen's family in Highland's Ranch a full 4 days. And there is nothing like having good children and wonderful grandchildren to make a weekend eventful & entertaining. Karen had allowed Sam to stay home from school to greet us. He was waiting inside the basement door ready to spook & welcome us. Then Karen ran him back over to his school. (Sam's 10 now....still as sweet & thoughtful as ever, but loves to tease and torcher, much like his Dad used to when he was a boy.) On this trip I was especially proud of Grandpa Tim. He grew up not ever knowing his Grandparents on either side. (Both of Tim's parents were orphaned by the age of 14 & 16 so neither parents even knew their in-laws.) So knowing the concepts & roll of being a Grandpa was only exemplified to Tim by my father. Once Tim asked me the question, "Syd, how is it that when the children pop in or the Grandchildren want something from you, it's so easy for you to just stop life and give them your full attention?" That was a "researching question" for Tim and I knew he was trying to figure out how to be a better grandparent. My answer to him was, "It's not always easy. Sometimes you just have to put life on hold because you have one chance to make a memory with a child. Once that chance passes, it's gone forever. I want my children & grandchildren to remember me with treasured moments. It's my last gift to them." From that point on, I've noticed Tim trying harder and harder to set his wants and needs aside to create special memories with his grandchildren. Both of Tim's parents died rather young: His dad at 58 and his mother at 72.....and Tim has always anticipated dying young. However, that's pretty much up to God & His time table. For now, I'm glad to see Tim investing some memorable moments.
Going to Colorado in the Fall has been a tradition for Tim & I for the past several years. It used to be UEA weekend.....UEA doesn't exist any longer.....and so it's fall break. Either way, it's Halloween time and that means Painting PUMPKINS. One year Karen & I took the kids out to the PUMPKIN PATCH to allow the children to pick their own pumpkins. This year, Connor's school class went & so the pumpkins were waiting when we arrived. Paint shirts were pulled out, kitchen table covered and the acrylic paints were opened. Connor(5) is the Colorado Artist. He'll spend hours coloring and drawing, and so Grandma was busy before she knew it. Of course Elle(2)is Connor's best friend and wanted right in the middle of the colors as well. Connor chose a scary face to put on his pumpkin. Elle wanted Minnie Mouse since that's what's she going to be this year for Halloween. With paint brushes in hand, we all went to right to work! Connor immediately drew what he wanted on his pumpkin. Elle was in heaven splashing every and all colors all over her pumpkin surface. Grandma opened & distributed paint & washed out brushes. Then waited for nap time & Kindergarten to put in the pumpkin details. Everyone was thrilled. You know....there is something magical about paint and kids. I think its the brilliant colors and the ease & fluidness of the liquid as they apply it. And for Colorado Crockett, when we run out of pumpkin space, we turn to rocks. (It always makes me smile as I walk in each of the children's rooms and see painted rocks on their shelves from previous visits. Simple little treasure....simple little memories of visits we've shared together.)While the boys were at school and Elle at a neighbors, Alan, Karen, Tim & I jumped on our only chance for some lunch & adult time together. We went to Little Holly's(an Asian restaurant). YUMMY! The food is worth returning for. And Little Holly's has become a "regular spot" during our Colorado stay. Grandpa loves to speak to everyone....no one has to be a stranger to Tim. He love everyone and he loves to figure out their heritage and tid bits about them. And oh our lucky waiter who was far from Asian. In fact the poor guy could hardly speak any English. But Dad taped in on his Spanish & the games began. The waiter was glad to have someone speak his native tongue and Tim was glad to investigate his life & purpose. Often this interaction is embarrassing for Alan, but Alan also speaks Spanish, so he made the most of Grandpa's adventure. Karen & I were the only ones out of the loop. We just enjoyed the food and laughing at Tim's pleasurable interview. The Lunch was wonderful, our visit with Alan & Karen, very fulfilling and then it was back to pick up Elle and welcome the 3 boys home from school. Thursday night was our Family night together. Grandpa asked the boys what they wanted to do. (Tim's good for making activities happen. If it were up to me,I could just stay around home and enjoy life there.) Chase(8) jumped at the chance to spark the idea of going Bowling together. Now with that big of group, cost could be a factor. But smart and frugal Karen knew she had a coupon which made this activity possible. Before we knew it, we were in the van and on our way to the local bowling Alley. Oh what fun we had. Life becomes totally equal when everyone present has the same kind of shoes, the same kind of ball and bowling on the same lane. We all seemed to "hug" the gutter a little too often and hitting all of the bowling pins down were far & few between. But we all had a whole lot of fun just laughing and being together. The young ones managed to get some pretty competitive score having gutter guards and ball rollers to help guide their balls. But Sambo held his own all by himself and beat Karen & I royally. (Karen & I bowled as one. Karen threw the first ball and left me to clean up her splits. Needless to say.....we bombed out quick.) But little Elle. Oh she had to carry her big ball all by herself, place it on the ball roller and then could care less what pins fell down. She was glad to be "BIG" along with the rest of the family. At the same time being a curious little girl discovering the new vibrations as the balls rolled back to their starting place. The boys were anxious to bowl a second game so Karen, Elle, & I ran to Costco for pizza and some groceries. By the time we figured out Tim's Costco Cash Card's balance, Elle had won the heart of the woman cashier who treated her to a free smoothie & crustie stick. We met the boys back home and enjoyed our pizza treat together. Fun! FUN! FUN! Now take that full & active day, then pile on top all day Friday visiting the boys Elementary school 3 times to participate in their annual Fun Run activity and it spells BUSY! (Grandma has so many PRIDE buttons popping offer her shirt, she might be arrested for immodesty!) Sam running 12 quarter mile laps, Chase running 10 laps and Connor a big 5 with Karen running along with each of her boys. Then all day Saturday we were attending and cheering for 3 soccer games where both Sam & Chase scored 3 goals each and Alan coaches Connor's beginning team......needless to say, we were well spent. (I laughed because each time they sent Sam into play, he scored a goal....then the coach would take him out until they needed another goal! He did it every time!) But all of these boys are Champions & following champions often means a lot of time & fatigue. At home, Alan had to address his employment, Karen was always on the run squeezing in cooking, cleaning up or washing clothes. Connor let Grandma & Grandpa challenge his new reading skills....Elle rode her two wheel bike to the grocery store with Mom & Grandma, we painted another pumpkin, Grandpa did some basic home repairs and embroidered red "CJC" on Chases new scripture case, the boys watched some football,and played Wii, and at bed time, Grandpa read stories. Sunday, Karen spoke in church sharing her sensitive testimony about facing adversity, the need for others and how the past conference talks became instrumental in giving her personal strength. She did an excellent job and the spirit was powerful. After the remainder of our meetings, Sam & Grandma made 2 fresh homemade apple pies together then everyone crashed for nap time. (We were all ready for this day of rest!) Later that evening Uncle Mike (Syd's brother) & Aunt Kathy Price came over for dinner and we spent the evening visiting. Sunday night concluded with some childhood memories from Grandma before the boys went to bed, preparing a Halloween treasure hunt and filling the kids shoes with candy for when they woke up Monday morning. (Grandma & Grandpa would be gone flying back home to Utah and this tradition is a sweet way to bid farewell to our beloved Colorado Family.) Thank you Alan & Karen for being such supportive hosts, for investing yourselves in teaching and raising a good family, for honoring God more than man, and for willingly opening you home for our visits. We love you SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO Much!