A week before Matt left for Thailand, my parents decided to make a quick trip out to visit us. We haven’t seen them since June, so it was a true gift to spend four days with Dad and Mom, who flew in Thursday night from North Carolina. They are both such dilligent servants and practically helped me in countless ways–Dad did projects (fixing bikes and installing lights to name a few) and Mom did laundry, organized kid-drawers and cleaned like the Queen was coming for a visit. We also took a few day trips to see some Colorado sites, as well as hit the mall and a movie when it started snowing on Sunday. I was reminded once again that Grandparents adore their grandkids in ways that are pretty unique and extravagant. It was so good for my mother’s heart to watch my kids being loved well, and it was even better for my daughter’s heart to taste the richness of connecting with my own parents. We had good conversations at night over Irish Coffees and in front of fires, and I got to have extra hands to lighten the mothering load. It was such a gift on so many levels.
First Stop: Manitou Cliff Dwellings
These are caves where the Native Americans lived about 20 minutes down the mountain from Woodland. There is a museum there, as well as a tunnel of caves to walk through and explore. The Dwellings are nestled beautifully in the moutnains, and we enjoyed warm Fall weather. We were so excited to have Matt’s Uncle Glen, as well as his cousin, Renee, drive down for lunch and a visit that Friday. It was so fun to be able to reconnect with our Tenessee family.
What’s a fun family outing without at least one good fight? Here is a pciture of Ava getting all two-year-old-territorial with the horse ride.
And here she is with Glen and Renee. Our Aunt Carol had given her a little Disney princess dress, which she didn’t want to take off. She made quite the vision in her snow boots and dress–not the best attire to have an unstable toddler crawling around caves in. . .
Second Stop: Will Rogers Shrine of the Sun
If you have a Colorado Springs zoo pass, you must go visit this monument in Cheyenne Mountain (it is free with a zoo visit). It is full of history of the Springs and Will Rogers, “cowboy-philosopher” who died in a plane crash in the 1930s. The views of the Springs are incredible from the top of the tower. This was probably our most-enjoyed ”event” of the weekend.
My favorite takeaway from learning about Will Rogers’s life was his most famous quote:
“I never met a man I didn’t like.”
What an inspirationally positive outlook on people that I so want to adopt myself.
What a gift grandparents are.
It is as grandmothers that our mothers come into the fullness of their grace. ~Christopher Morley
If I had known how wonderful it would be to have grandchildren, I’d have had them first. ~Lois Wyse
Grandmas are moms with lots of frosting. ~Author Unknown
A child needs a grandparent, anybody’s grandparent, to grow a little more securely into an unfamiliar world. ~Charles and Ann Morse
What a bargain grandchildren are! I give them my loose change, and they give me a million dollars’ worth of pleasure. ~Gene Perret
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Destined Traveler.
