Children in the House Again

Some of our latest round of company took off for home early this morning--Brent, Cindy, and the girls. Bill and Melodye are staying through Sunday. We always hate to see company leave after we've had such a good time together. We laughed and ate and traveled and visited and enjoyed the little ones and reminisced about old times. The girls who are three and four months, were just great. Kelsey is such a happy baby; Kaitlyn is such a doll.

Kaitlyn (3) and Kelsey (4-5 months)

Bill, Bill, and Brent went golfing a couple of times getting caught on the course in the rain once. The two Bills plan to golf one more time before Bill and Melodye start home. Lots of shopping was accomplished by Cindy and Melodye over the few days they were here. Some of it was done for Christmas, I heard. We took some drives. One was to Bear Lake around which we all hiked.

At Bear Lake--Melodye & Bill in back; Brent, Kelsey, Cindy, Kaitlyn

Then from there the guys (and Kaitlyn) hiked a mile round trip to Nymph Lake. As we watched them coming back and they caught sight of us, this video shows what they did.

Another drive we have been wanting to take is the Old Fall River Road up to the visitor's center on Fall River Pass. It is a one-way, one-lane, dirt-and-gravel road, and it is very rough.

Brent & Cindy & girls following us up the Old Fall River Road

Near the top was a fairly large turnout where we stopped to let Kaitlyn play in the snow. When she knew she was coming to the mountains, she wanted to know if there would be snow. Cindy told her there would be. As it happened, for two days before their arrival it rained here and snowed in the high mountains. On the way up Kaitlyn would say several times, "I can't believe it! I just can't believe it!" Her first time seeing the mountains in person.

Kaitlyn, gloves on, tosses some snow.

Cindy, Kaitlyn, and Brent in the snow

Bill had to fly home on Thursday for two business meetings and will return this evening (Sat.). He hated missing out on those days of B & C's visit, but will be back for the rest of B & M's. He will also hate hearing the news that one of our sweetest neighbors went ahead and moved while he was gone. She is a widow originally from Iowa who retired here with her husband a few years ago to be near their daughter. After her husband died, she stayed on; however, the altitude was causing her problems. Marjaleen is moving back closer to her sisters and another of her children in Davenport.

One of the things I mentioned that we did was eat. Here are pics from some of the restaurants where we dined. Cindy and girls with us at Coffee on the Rocks

All of us enjoying supper at Ed's Cantina--Yes! It's just in the edge of the bar and was it ever noisy! Our group was too big and the place too full to seat us anywhere else.

Enjoying Italian on the patio of Dunraven Downtown

Having ice cream and conversation on McD's patio

On their last day here and with shopping all done, Brent and Cindy took Kaitlyn to Fun City for a few rides. Here are some photos from that.

Driving the go-kart

Getting wet in the bumper boat

Kaitlyn on the trampoline and the bungee cords! You go, Kaitlyn!!

Cindy and Kaitlyn on the big slide!

After this young, fun-loving family headed east, we three oldsters spruced up the place before heading out to a few garage sales. Wait until I tell you! At the first one, Bill F. found a golf cart for $3! Saves on renting one every time he goes golfing. At another one he found a golf bag with clubs and cart for $10. He got them for Brent since B. seemed interested in the game this week. I picked up a golf cart here for Bill for only $2! When we made our last stop, I found two more golf carts for $5 total which I thought would be great to have when any of the guys are out here and want to play golf. So we golf bag and Bill F.'s on two of them, then lined them up in the garage for Bill to see when he arrives this evening.

It's easy to see what this family does for hobbies--golfing and motorcycling.

Also at this last sale I found an old but perfectly functional office desk chair with adjustable arms, seat and back. (Chris has been using a folding chair when he's out here working.) It was marked at $2. When I asked if she would bargain, she said, "How about $.50?" "SOLD!"