Tapas in Denver

I'm in Denver for a medical conference. I've been learning a lot in my lectures and we got to hear the surgeon general speak (she was amazing!) but I have also had a chance to explore downtown Denver a bit. So far, my favorite find is The 9th Door tapas and wine bar www.theninthdoor.com . Really good slow food. Can't wait to go back.

William explains.

Two Little Monkeys

Olivia's Opposites

Marga Reads!

Margaret can read a few words, but mostly memorizes books - impressive in itself!

Making Carrot Cake

William peeled all of the carrots!

He helped grate the carrots!

Margaret took a break from mixing the dry ingredients to play doctor briefly.

William cracked the eggs.

Margaret can run the mixer all by herself! She likes the fastest setting.

Sweet rewards.

Cleaning the House!

Look at all the help I get cleaning the house!

Eric helps by not destroying anything and staying in one place.

William mops AND vacuums. Do you think it was okay that I taught him how to vacuum bread crumbs off the top of the table? It worked!

Sean puts the shoes back!

Go family group effort! The house looked really great for a few minutes. Then, we decided to bake a cake and William shattered a glass all over the floor. Wash, rinse, repeat!

Mrs. Pless

Here is a tidbit of part of our spontaneous lesson from Mrs. Pless! It was thrilling to see her in her creatively decorated room, using every form of media to infect students with her excitement for the subject "matter" and for learning. It was like watching a very intelligent and scientific Energizer Bunny rock the classroom. Inspirational!

Girlfriends!

Ebee and Lily cuddled in the garden while Andy, Gabe, and Emory were out beating the other neighborhood team of four-year olds in soccer!

We all sat on the stairs in the shade and talked.

Then we all went to a beautiful pedestrian mall and window-shopped.

We each bought one thing for ourselves to remind us of our weekend and our long-lasting friendship.
Ebee bought beautiful earrings. I bought the best scarf ever ( not pictured) to prepare me for the upcoming winter ( next week).

Ursi bought a statement ring.

Andy bought a journal and we each recommended a book for her to read.

Ebee bought a present for David as well. I wanted her to buy him "Greek Spice", but she purchased some yummy white pepper.

Ebee looked so happy I couldn't keep my eyes off her!

And then Andy took us to her very cool school to show us what Mrs. Pless does by day!

We were all so excited and proud to see Mrs. Pless in her "element". We even demanded and got a mini-lecture on the most interesting topic in the middle school biology text. We all learned something! It was twice exceptional ! It was amazing AND wonderful!

Friends Forever!

I think 36 looks good on all of us. Being thrilled to have a weekend get-away together equals big smiles!

Homework

Phew! I'm finally done with my blogging homework! Thank you to the many special people who made our first summer back in the states unforgetable! Now, back to blogging the present!

Eric and the Buzzy Bee

I think we have this exact same image of William and Margaret playing with the Buzzy Bee, dressed in spiderman PJs....!

Rockclimbing in Teton Village

Rendezvous Mountain, Jackson Hole

It had been a while since we'd been on a gondola. We were relieved to hear it was Swiss-built!

We went up to the top of Rendezvous Mountain, altitude 10, 450 feet. It was cold and windy up there!

Don't blow away, Grandpa!

The view was lovely!

Mud pots, Yellowstone

More pictures from Yellowstone National Park

The lodge.

A hot spring.

Steam rises above the hot springs.

Rainbow Pool, temperature 161 F.

Bubbling mud pots!

Steam coming up from a hot spring.

Geyser!