Wednesday, June 22, 2011

Disaster-Free Fun Times!

The look on Ilona's face when she walked in the door and was greeted by sixteen voices yelling, "Surprise!" told me that we had indeed managed to keep her 70th birthday party a secret. Well done, kids (and kids-at-heart!).

Ilona thought she was just coming over for a mimosa brunch, but really we hijacked her whole day (whole week, actually!). After lunch in the garden under the cobalt sky, we went for a light walk by Junction Creek, then met for cocktails at Ilona and Michel's new home on our way to the Bar-D Chuckwagon, a slop-it-on-your-tin-plate dining experience.

The entertainment included a musically talented string quartet squeezed into their Wrangler jeans, singing away under their 10 gallon Stetsons. Actually I have no idea if they were Stetsons or how many gallons they were - whatever that means. (Okay, so I just Googled it and the gallonage does not refer to the amount of liquid a cowboy could pour into his hat - which is what some people actually think. You know how much space ten gallons takes up?? You wouldn't be able to get into the cab of your pick-up truck with that on.)

Actually, according to www.straightdope.com: "Galón is the Spanish word for braid. Some vaqueros wore as many as ten braided hatbands on their sombreros, and those were called ten galón hats." So there you go. A little trivia. (Did you know Mr. Stetson was from New Jersey? Who knew?)

Anywho, I digress. We chose the Bar-D because it's something every local has to do at least once, and we thought it'd be fun to share Michel and Ilona's Durango Initiation.

After this I was re-initiated into the world of two and a half year olds and naps and 24/7 care when my sister-in-law Sophie's kiddos stayed on after the party for four days, while she celebrated her upcoming 40th with some friends at the Telluride Bluegrass Festival. Gemma (5) and Sam (2) are great kids and were no trouble, but it made me realise how far we've come! Nick and I are in the easy years now: The girls are independent but still think their parents are the bee's knees. This is a temporary phase and we're enjoying it!

The eight of us - grandparents, parents, daughters, niece and nephew - spent Friday night and Saturday in Ouray, where Cayenne and Acacia competed in a swim meet, surrounded by walls of mountains. The setting was stunning, the girls did very well and the adobe hotel was gorgeous.


Acacia finishing her 100 IM - Whoever was in 2nd place was eating her bubbles! (An IM is an Individual Medley, so she swam one length each of butterfly, backstroke, breaststroke, and freestyle.)

Cayenne competed against older kids (9-13) and finished this heat in 3rd. Go Cay!


On Father's Day, Nick, our friend Jeanette, the four kids and I went on a hike to Spud Lake, an easy walk to a wonderful spot. 

Unfortunately, it took us longer than we'd planned - not used to the pace of younguns anymore! - and our return trip was later and hotter than expected. This took a toll on Satcho who, despite his earnest, desperate tries, couldn't quite make it back. 

We fashioned a sling out of a towel and carried his back half while he walked on his "hands" to the car. Bless him. Getting old (with three legs) sucks!


And the best was saved for last... at least if you're Sam it was. The very full week ended with a visit downtown to Thomas the Tank who was in Durango for his annual visit (which we would have missed if Cayenne hadn't read about it in the Herald). 

Ilona and Michel took all four kids for a ride on the train and around the Thomas-related events at the station, and it was a highlight for sure.

Happy Birthday, Ilona!



And to my father John, Nick's father Michel, Michel's father Sam Sr., my Nick, and all the other wonderful Dads out there:
Happy Fathers' Day!!




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