For the second year in a row, I made a mid-winter trip back to Denver to visit my kids and grandkids and help waylay homesickness. Last year I came by myself. This year Bill joined me.

We had a busy four or five days and loved every minute of it. We saw all of our Denver grandchildren except for Taylor, and spent some time with our Denver kids. We assisted in carpooling and babysitting and were able to feed and be fed by our family. Though we will miss Addie’s performance this upcoming weekend  in Shrek: The Musical, both Bill and I were able to sit in on a rehearsal. Almost as good. I know you will be shocked to hear me say that she is a natural talent.

We stared down the snow, which bookended our trip (it snowed the day we arrived and it snowed as we departed). We lamented a plethora of illnesses being faced by family members, including strep throat and a number of runny noses, sore throats, and earaches. If Bill and I are able to dodge getting sick, it will be just short of a miracle.

But it will have been worth it.

Here is a sampling of our activities…..

Magnolia spent a bit of time each day with her nebulizer as a result of a really bad cold. Poor girl. She was beginning to get her appetite back by time we left.

Kaiya, Mylee, and Cole are building castles with the blocks. Well, to be honest, Cole spent more time knocking down the castles his sisters built. They were thrilled.

Kaiya helped me roll crescents Sunday night when I fed family.

And while we were enjoying our time in Denver, our daughter Heather and her family were visiting her grandmother (Bill’s mom) in Chicago with Joseph and Micah….

Joseph and Micah spent time this past week with their great grandmother. What a blessing!

Now it’s back to the real world in the desert, and the beginning of Spring Training for the Cactus League. Batter up!