Turning Five in Durango

Okay, I promised a report on our "staycation." So now, an entire month after we traveled, I'll attempt to remember just what transpired. Thanks to the " we don't want to mar our ice-scape" wacko-environmentalists we are plagued by in this country (it's my blog and I'll whine if I want to,) the gas prices and airfare were too high for us to take the vacation of choice this year. But thanks to Jeff's job, we were able to hitch a ride to one of the more beautiful parts of Colorado to enjoy a few days of relaxation and family time together. (Your tax dollars at work, Colorado residents. Thanks!) Jeff obviously had to spend the weekdays working but we valiantly vacationed on without him during those hours.

We (all but Katelynn because she is an adult now and has one of those pesky jobs,) started with a beautiful drive through the mountains to Durango. It was a very nice day, both little girls doing an awesome job of riding without complaint or motion sickness for the 8-hour trip across this huge state. What a charming town! They have done an amazing job of revitalizing their downtown Main Street with wonderful little shops and great restaurants. Nikki, Mara, Ailah and I actually were able to keep ourselves busy for the better part of three days with shopping, enjoying Cold Stone, Starbucks and touring the Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge train museum. And we didn't even break the bank buying stuff. Nikki is my tightwad kid so we had more fun thinking about what we might buy than actually doling out the cash. However, I allowed myself to spend most of the budget for Ailah's upcoming birthday in a great little toy store and Nikki indulged her latest hobby at the bead store.

On the weekend, while Jeff wasn't working, we took a trip up to Silverton. We thought about taking the train but decided 8 hours in a confined space with a 5 and 2-year-old didn't really sound like fun. And at $75 a pop, we felt a drive was much more appropriate. The scenery was beautiful and Silverton is the cutest little town. It was cooler there; the higher altitude and typical mountain weather made for a chilly, rainy afternoon. But we enjoyed lunch in a fun little cafe and shopped the main street. (Because we didn't have enough shopping in Durango.)

On the way there, we had to stop at Honeyville, a factory that produces wonderful products from local honey. We hoped to have a tour, but the "guy that does that" was on vacation. We enjoyed looking for the queen bee in the glass hive, tried a dozen flavors of honey, sampled a few types of honey wine and bought several gifts. (Okay, we bought some stuff for ourselves too, I just couldn't pass up the chocolate honey sauce. MMMMMMMM!!!!!!)

Since Mara's birthday was while we were in Durango, we had celebrated at home with Katelynn, Grandma and Grandpa before we left. However, we couldn't let the day go by without making it special for her. She had a button to wear that announced to the world that she was 5 and I gave her some cash to spend on whatever she wanted. We ate lunch at Mc Donald's (still her favorite place to eat,) and, best of all, Nikki made a "tent" for her to camp out in the hotel room. The next day she told me she didn't feel five. When I asked why she told me she just thought she'd feel different and thought she'd be "bigger." Sorry kiddo, I don't think it is in the cards to be tall. However, there may come a day you are "bigger" than you want to be. We celebrate having Mara in our family and thank God everyday for giving us the gift of a joyful, vivacious and fun-loving child just when our family needed a bright spot. She is such a great kid!

We ended our trip with a few nights in Montrose. Nice little town, but not much to do there. However, Jeff only had one day of meetings there so we kept ourselves entertained with swimming and checking out the downtown area. There is an awesome steak house that Jeff frequents whenever he is in town. He took us there for our last "on the road" dinner. The adults enjoyed the food, Mara and Ailah were thrilled with the balloon "animals" made to order. Actually, Ailah was happy with both--who would have guessed a not-quite-two-year-old with only 4 molars could eat half of my prime rib?

On the way home, we took a side trip to the Black Canyon of the Gunnison. It is my sense that this is a much overlooked National Park, not one you hear much about, even in Colorado. This place truly illustrates God's awesome power and creativity. Though we were, as usual, slammed in the face with the "millions and millions of years ago" propaganda, we ignored it and enjoyed the beauty God has created for us. Anyone who finds themselves traveling the western slope of Colorado should make an effort to take a drive through this park. It is gorgeous if a bit scary when the spouse leans over the lookout guard rail with the 5-year-old on his shoulders.

Okay, so that was our vacation this year. Well, at least for Nikki, Mara and I. Jeff, Katelynn and Ailah are even now, as I write this, wandering the hinterlands known as the Upper Pennisula of Michigan. They are there for Jenn's wedding tonight. Congratulations, Jennifer!! This was the vacation we all hoped to take, but alas, it wasn't in the cards. Jeff had a companion (BOGO) plane ticket so he and Katelynn split the cost for the trip. Ailah just barely was able to take advantage of the "under two flies free" benefit the airlines surprisingly still allow, so she went along. We really wanted the family to be represented and this was the low budget way to do so. I know it is good for Jeff to have the opportunity to introduce Ailah to his family, but I am really missing her! A lot!

Life is nuts around here right now. We are attempting to get ready for Mara to start school next week. She will be "attending" the Colorado Virtual Academy, a distance-learning school. That means she will be learning here at home and I am her "learning coach." But it technically can't be called home school and I'm not technically her teacher because it is operated under the auspices of a charter/public school. I'm calling it home school anyway, but don't tell any of those touchy NEA types. They hate home school. Well, actually the majority of Americans are wary of and have little good to say about home school. Whatever. I'm trying to learn to smile graciously and change the subject when we get that horrified look after people ask Mara where she will be going to school this year. I know home school parents have been facing this for years, but I've never understood the attitude and still don't. But more about starting school later. I'll try to post "first day of school" pics in a timely manner next week.