Homecoming

So, to celebrate Micah and I getting home from Spokane and the fact that we didn't want to participate in all the hoopla of next week's CSU Homecoming weekend (too many crowds for our likes, lol), we picked up Noah from his dorm and spent a day together yesterday. We'd initially planned to head up to Estes Park for our somewhat annual fall trek there, but the weather forecast (40s, rain/snow, overcast) had us changing plans and heading to Denver for Aurora's Punkin Chunkin Festival.

As it turned out, the wind made it colder than anticipated and less fun (but at least there was occasional sunshine!). We enjoyed the food truck foods and watched some of the pumpkin launching:

There were a number of categories of machines...from human powered (in kilts) to air cannons. (There was also chain saw wood carving and a corvette show and live music, for what it's worth.) We huddled together for warmth:

But we ended up leaving early and headed to the Denver Museum of Nature and Science for some indoor time, enjoying tackling all the puzzles in the temporary Mindbenders Mansion exhibit:

And, we managed a group shot in our CSU shirts:

(I'd envisioned a nice shot in the fall colors up in Estes, but that didn't pan out, so we'll go with this. :) Many thanks to the stranger who took the shot for us.)

After the museum, we headed home for some family game time and visiting before taking Noah back to his dorm. Happy sigh.

Nephews

My sister, Cas, flew Micah and I out to Washington state last week to stay with my sweet nephews while she went on a business trip with her husband. We were there almost six days and kept plenty busy. :) We played at home, visited the trampoline park, took boys to their ninja class, took boys to their preschool classes, did some shopping, and played at a park...

Micah was such a great help! Having two sets of eyes and hands definitely made a difference; my nephews are 2 and 4 years old and significantly busier than any of mine ever were, lol. Fortunately, the boys love their cousin (and vice versa). 

I'm totally kicking myself because we didn't get pictures with my mom (she drove up for an evening at the start) and didn't manage more with Blaze (the older of the two) since getting him to stand still wasn't easy, lol.

On Wednesday, Cassy got home and we enjoyed some time outside (since it was the nicest weather we'd had the whole time; fall is definitely here!). Kicking myself, too, for not getting pictures of Micah pulling the boys down the yard/hill in sleds. Oh well. You'll just have to imagine their delight. :) 

And on Thursday, after getting boys to their respective preschool classes, Micah and I flew home. :) Asher and Nathan met us at the airport and (after getting a little help from parking services since the keys got locked in the van, lol) we grabbed dinner, got Asher to parkour, and finally made it home. Whew.