the zoo in the fall

We braved the cool weather last weekend and headed to the Denver Zoo.  The rain held off long enough for us to see the monkeys, rhinos, elephants, penguins, giraffes and a few other animals.  And the best part, it wasn't crowded!

W showing how big he is.

 

W doing what he does best, posing.

 

W "hangin" with the penguins.

Zeph with Artie have a milk break.

We do this photo every time we visit the zoo.

casa bonita

After the park, we headed to Casa Bonita.  For as long as C and I have lived in Colorado, I can't believe we have never been here.  The food is horrible, but that is not why you go.  You go for the experience.  There are "entertainers" (which appear to be high school theater geeks), divers, two arcades and a maze of dining rooms and odd nooks to explore.  It's hard to really explain this place, you really need to go an experience it for yourself.  For one, it's in a strip mall and two, there are no windows.  We ended up being there for 2 and a half hours.  Which was a bit too long.  It gets hot and steamy the more people that pack in.  

We started our adventure at Casa Bonita wrapping around a cattle maze to get to a kid that took our order.  You then follow the maze farther in and get your tray and head to the food pick up area.  They give you water and your food shoots out of the little rectangular hole in the wall.  Then onto the next person that helps you to your table.  Very odd to say the least.  Had it been busy, we may have had to wait a while in the cattle maze (which may have not happened, so lucky us).   Keep in mind, we had no idea what to expect, so we were a little surprised.

Waiting for our food.

W eating.  Everything (and I mean everything) comes smothered in canned cheese.  Their menu is not very big, which is odd for Mexican restaurants.  I ended up getting the deluxe all-you-can-eat dinner with cheese per the suggestion of the order taker.  Not a good choice, but I am not sure there are any.  I only ate the first helping, I can't imagine eating more.  C got fajitas, which he enjoyed.  W liked his rice, which is his favorite at all Mexican restaurants.  Poor Zeph did not eat much.  Though he (and W) loved the Chocolate Bandito.

W watching the "entertainment".  He really liked the divers.  It is nice that the "shows" happen every 15 minutes or so.  After staying for 2 and a half hours, we saw it all.

Little rooms with mechanical rides.

Another odd nook with a treasure chest and fake fish.

W's first skee ball.  He and C had to stay and get enough tickets to get a tatoo (which was 10 tickets).  W lucked out, a lady gave him all of her tickets (60) on her way out.

fall is here

We took an whole family walk recently.  

 Fall is in the air.  Every year it amazes me how quickly the trees lose their leaves. 

We have been watching Mia since August.  She is adjusting to life in the mountains.  She seems to enjoy long hikes through the woods.  She has started exploring more with Zed.  She's fast and keeps Zed moving (he is 10).

W likes to be the leader.  He has to fight with Zed for that.

Mia prefers to bring up the rear.

park

We had to take the Honda in for it's first oil change this past weekend.  While waiting, we got to hang at a new park.  It was pretty neat.  There were five old cast bouncy thingys (not sure what the proper name of these are) and the first thing W did when he got out of the car was to try out each and everyone one of them. Zeph even took a try at riding a few.  I they were W's favorite part of the park.

big bath tub time

We stayed down in Castle Rock last weekend after going to the circus.  The boys got to take a tub in G-ma Shotts' "big" tub.  They didn't know what to do with all of that room!  It was hard to get them out.

thunder thighs, just like daddy