our time with jenny and neville

My in-laws left this morning. Paul drove them to DIA at 02:00 this morning. They had an eight hour lay-over in Philadelphia. Their flight to London is seven hours, and they have an eight hour lay-over in London. Their last flight to Cape Town is eleven hours. Horrible! And they are talking of doing it again in June. Timothy is one well-loved, absolutely adored grandchild.

After we spent their first week in Breckenridge enjoying loads of beautiful snow and very cold weather, we got them settled into Mom and Dad's basement with us. They wanted to be as close to Timothy as possible, and he loved all the attention this gave him.

the condo at breckenridge

behind mom and dad's house

We celebrated Christmas here. Tim was showered with gifts from all sides of the family except his parents. We didn't buy him anything. There just wasn't anything left to buy.

christmas morning

After putting Timothy to bed one night, I drove Jenny, Neville and Paul around Fort Collins to show them the Christmas lights. We went through the display at a local company called Woodward Governor. They have been putting this up on their grounds since I was a child.

i like these purple led lights so much that i want to get some for next year

a woodward governor display

Dad took Jenny and Neville down to Colorado Springs to visit some friends who immigrated from South Africa in the '80's. Paul went along and did most of the flying once Dad took off.

in the back seat of the bonanza

airborne and still smiling

When most of the snow melted and the sun was bright in the blue sky, we drove up Thompson Canyon to the tourist town of Estes Park and had lunch. It was windy and bitter cold, so we didn't spend much time walking around.

wild elk enjoying the park in the center of town

the stanley hotel:stephen king's inspiration for the shining

the view just as we left the canyon, this is where we lost Tim's shoe. loveland is around the bend

Horsetooth Rock is the most prominent peak in the Fort Collins area. It's about 1000 feet above the city and can be seen from almost anywhere in town. There is a large park up there with hiking and biking trails, but I'd never been there until Paul arrived and we went back in November. Neville hikes in the mountains outside Cape Town almost every day and enjoyed doing the same at horsetooth despite the cold. It will be much better when they are here in June.

jenny and neville just below horsetooth

neville with long's peak in the background

the view behind horsetooth

neville below horsetooth

We drove up the Poudre Canyon for about an hour and enjoyed the scenery. You can tell it was warmer because they don't have on their gloves.

the poudre canyon

jenny and neville

Neville and Jenny braved the cold and wind and went to Mom and Dad's cabin with us for two nights. The first night, they were so cold they slept in their clothes. Jenny even wore her scarf around her neck to bed. By the next day, the logs of the cabin had soaked up the heat, and it was comfortable. They slept much better the second night. They took some nice walks while Tim played and manned the fireplace. I can't wait to take them back in the summer when they can fish the lake instead of sliding across it.

our first night at the cabin

the water system in the cabin was frozen but with water, we could use the toilet. paul and neville found us water

neville chopped through the ice

jenny and neville on a walk

Cabela's is an outdoor supply shop in Sidney, Nebraska, just a forty minute flight from Fort Collins. En route, Dad took them over Pawnee Buttes, made famous as Rattlesnake Buttes by James Michener in Centennial.

the shop has a huge taxidermy display along with lots of goods to buy

dad and jenny in front of the store

pawnee buttes

We drove the 45 miles north to Cheyenne so they could see some of Wyoming. It turned cold and started to snow, so we just drove around a little and ate lunch at the restored train depot.

the capital building

the depot

downtown

I can't wait for them to return in June, and not just because it will be warm and green. They are fun and interesting, and I really enjoy spending time with them. Timothy adores them. He managed today without his Gran to play with him and his Grand-da to show him how to shave with an electric shavor, but he missed them.