For Thanksgiving, we packed ourselves up, dropped the fur-kids at their luxury accomodations, and us 2-legged Linstids ventured to the Front Range in the Super Subie. (Not "Super" as in "Super Charger" in the event you get that reference! Just Super because it makes the Subaru sound a bit more...edgy). We had to wait for the blizzard warnings to expire and Ben made sure the road was Subaru-able by plowing before we left. Yup, we've got snow!
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| This photo is titled: Wintering Ironman |
We made it to the Good Ole' Fashioned Bradley Family Thanksgiving and had such a great time that I didn't take any photos. Alas, the turkey was yummy, the stuffing was bountiful, the corn-corn-and-more-corn was chowed, the cranberry sauce devoured, the sweet potatoes with MARSHMALLOWS was delightful, wine was flowing, and the pies were the icing on the cake ;-) Anika napped through the main part of dinner woke up to enjoying being the center of attention with her pumpkin bib on. Really - it was quite festive! One of the things that made dinner complete for me was Ben and Nick explaining an episode of Myth Busters that involved making earwax candles. (Side note: Billy brought up the same episode a few days later when we met the Wimsatts for breakfast.) Ahhh...cherished and revered family time!
Friday involved shopping for Aunt Colleen and I (we went to a MALL! I haven't been to one in so long!), and football for Ben, Uncle Bill, and Anika. Anika really enjoys her football...she claps when the teams line up and whenever a play is made. This isn't a photo from Thanksgiving, but I think it illustrates Anika and Ben's bonding through football (I think they were watching a VT game...)
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| Notice her grip on the remote and lack of attention to anything but the t.v.! |
Saturday, we had an adventure of other sorts, however. We went to the
Butterfly Pavilion in Westminster! I remember going there many years ago when Briana was Anika's age...the same trip I decided that I'd like to live in CO (the ski bug got me pretty good!). In any case, Nick came up and joined Anika, Ben, and I for a trip to see some bugs!
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| Anika wanted to keep our new friend, but the Subie was already full :-) |
One of the stars of the Butterfly Pavilion is Rosie the Tarantula. I didn't hold Rosie back when Briana was teeny, and I stuck to my guns this time, too. Not that there's anything wrong with holding her...heck, Ben can hold her and I'll park our 13-month old daughter within a foot of the action!
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| Whoa Daddy...Rosie's got lots more legs than the pups! |
Not that Anika has that long of an attention span...
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Charming smile from Ben...distracted Anika...and random rear shot of a woman.
Sorry random woman! |
After Rosie got a break, we checked out some of the exhibits - lots of insects along with starfish and horseshoe crabs!
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| Nick, Ben and Anika checking out some insects. |
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| Beetle vs. Roach...which one do you think this is, Anika? |
We did get to see lots of butterflies...and a tortoise, too. I was talking to one of the volunteers who is a former zoo-keeper and she said she's trying to get a sloth in the butterfly room. I mentioned the one at the Baltimore Aquarium...I'm so worldly :-) She then proceeded to tell me that sloths only come out of the trees once a month to poop. What is it with me and people describing icky stuff? I was in REAL ESTATE for goodness sakes...and for many reasons! Okay...rant over...here are some great photos of butterflies that Ben took :-)
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This one is sort of hiding...with the food!
Oh, yeah, and there's this cute baby in the picture, too ;-) |
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| Anika was trying to get walking tips from the tortise...but he was slow to give any ;-) |
After the butterfly room, we went through a more detailed exhibit about tarantulas.
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| I know I don't have much hair, but could you refrain from putting a stuffed taratula on my coif? |
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| Nick acting out on long seated discontent with his older brother by being a tarantula and Ben as the prey. |
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| Ben taking over his rightful position as the predator :-) |
Finally, as my mother taught me, every good tour ends with a gift shop run!
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| Hmmm...these balls are nice, but what I really want is a BUTTERFLY! |
It was a good day, and we were bug tired by the end :-)
On Sunday, before we made the trek back, we met up with the Wimsatts at the
Blue Cow in Morrison for some pre-drive eats. I didn't take pictures (camera was not in easy grabbing distance), but I will say that my breakfast sandwich was yummy!
We had a wonderful trip and we glad to be home and start getting ready for the next big holiday - Christmas!
