Shane and Rio Visit Colorado

This past weekend Shane and Rio came to visit from Washington. We all had a great time and the boys got along famously. It was also a little insight into our future with two boys since Oliver and Rio are about the same age apart as our two little guys will be. The weekend was full of fun adventures all over Denver. The weather wasn't the best, but we made the most of it. The boys also had a great time going to the park and playing in the yard. I didn't get any pictures of that though. I was usually catching a cat-nap or a little rest while they went outside with Keith and Shane. That's pregnancy for ya.

Oliver and Rio having a great time coloring.

I scream

You scream

We all scream

For Ice Cream!

Friday I took Shane and Rio to the Red Rocks Amphitheater. They were quite amazed with it. Maybe next time there will be a concert in town that we can go too. Friday afternoon we met up with Keith so that he and Shane could tour the Never Summer snowboard factory here in Denver. It is a small shop but they both loved the tour. Shane is a huge fan of their boards and Keith is now a converted fan. I guess there is a new snowboard in our winter '10/'11 future. BTW... I hear they are the last American made snowboard available and they are all 100% hand made.

Rio and Oliver having a fruit snack Friday afternoon.

This is one of many snack times. When you run around for hours on end, you can really work up an appetite!

Saturday we took Shane and Rio to the zoo. It was Rio's first zoo experience. We saw everything on his list, including: bats, sharks (tiny ones), penguins and bears (three kinds). We also saw all of the animals on Oliver's list including seals, a hippopotamus, a rhinoceros, elephants and snakes. Of course, that was just a few of the many animals we saw.

For ease of travel we rented a "jeep" for the day. It was a choice of a wagon or a jeep and Keith thought the jeep was the best idea. I must say, I agree. The boys loved it and it was easy for them to jump in and out of. For some of the animals they could stay seated like they were on safari and see the animals from their jeep. This came in handy when we were trying to make quick progress through some areas and when they were getting tired.

Here is a photo of Keith testing the jeep on some steep and twisty terrain.

Oliver and Rio checking out how far they have to grow to be as tall as a polar bear. Looks like they had better keep eating their Wheaties.

In the tropical section the boys got a sneak preview for what they would see at the aquarium the next day.

Admiring the elephants.

Whew! Looks like they have it made on this height chart and they are taller than the penguins.

A trip to the zoo wouldn't be complete without a carousel and train ride.

Rio and Shane on the carousel.

The four of us on the carousel.

Time for a train ride!

After watching the clouds move in all day, it started to rain. The kids didn't mind, they had jackets to keep them warm and dry and an umbrella to keep the water off of their head.

Shane pushing the boys to the front gate. The rain really started coming down hard and we had been at the zoo for five hours. It was time to call the zoo a wrap.

On Sunday we took the boys to the aquarium. Rio really wanted to see sharks. He saw some! Several really big ones! I didn't get any good photos of them, but they did witness big sharks at the aquarium.

Here, Rio and Oliver are checking out the otters swimming.

Fish, Fish and more Fish!

A turtle swimming over head.

Rio and Shane checking out some medium size sharks that were taking a nap. Who knew sharks actually napped in the bottom of the ocean (or tank in this case)?

Rio in one of the observation bubbles with a fish floating by over head.

We had a great weekend with Shane and Rio. We already have big plans for all of the fun stuff we want to take them to see and do next time they visit!