Ah the train. The train we did not get to ride. The train I am happy I was not on, due to the weather condition.  The bus return trip was not possible and sadly, the trip was canceled. So off to Durango, Colorado today for exploration. From the RV park by trolley to the bike path past the Animas River, we figure we walked around 3 miles with the kids today. We found a park that was grossly underused, so we played in the sun shine(around 45*, but manageable). Then off to the Children's Discovery Center.

Jay and I tried to convince the gal behind the check in desk that we were geninely upset and that we had donated over 1 million dollars to the Discovery Center (which just recently opened) and we never got so much as a thank you, let alone our name on the donor's wall. She was pretty stressed, so we let her off the hook by telling her that it was actually closer to a billion dollars. After such harrassment, for some unknown reason, she still let us pay the admission and visit the center. Lego's, tree houses, 4 person bikes.

Crossing again over the Aminas River on the bike path, we were trying for a great shadow picture of the family, when all of the sudden, Jay Jay got his head stuck between the bars. It was one of those, you have got to be kidding me moments. He kind of freaked out and so Big Daddy had to pin those ears back and give the old 1-2-3 pull. I stood there, deer in the headlights, and my only helpful move was to photograph it.

For lunch, Steamworks Brewing Company did not disappoint. The kids were treated with a bucket of chalk and given free reign to doodle any where they could stake out some real estate on the floor. During lunch, a beautiful ballerina decided to make today her debut in the crosswalk in front of the window where we sitting. It was the kind of day where, of course, a ballerina would do just that.

We window shopped, spent about 3 years in a candy store called FizzyWiggs so the kids could oogle and drool and ultimately make their selections. We ran into more and more fancy dressed locals for the Heritage weekend. Allie wanted to know what the bustle was all about, why did women want their butts to look big? The gal politely explained women are always trying to accentuate something, darlin'. Jay Jay said, "What will they want bigger next, their heads?" Allie asked me, as we walked away, what is the fashion today, what is it that women want to look bigger? I didn't have the heart to tell her. She said she hopes that big butts do not come back, and the same with that lady crack. Lady crack in Allie speak is cleavage. It drives her crazy. She is NOT impressed with that at all. And she will not fail to let me know if I, or anyone, really dare to have any lady crack exposed.

We finished the day with the re-enactment shoot out between the good and the bad outside the saloon in honor of Heritage weekend, scheduled from 5:15-5:30.  Yeah, thank God we were there at 5:10, because it actually occurred from 5:10-5:11. The kids were much more impressed with their hot chocolate, which we were able to order at the "children's" temperature, so they could enjoy it right from the counter.  Love the local shops.  Gotta try that phrase out at star-buckers next go 'round to see if they are THAT cool.

Dinner was Dad's Spaghetti and Meatballs in the bus. Mama (me) worked out the 4 loads laundry that have spilling out the closet. I think when we get home, I am going to buy three more washers and dryers and run them simultaneously. I was able to knock it all out in an hour, a glorious full moon to light my path from the laundry/shower. I have to confess, a private hot shower facility (that someone else cleans every morning) next to a room with 4 washers running at the same time blows the doors off what what we got going on back home. Kids showered up, hydrated with creamy lotion and are now happily enjoying some clay we bought in town. They have already worked on their own little journals and are reading 2-3 chapters in a day in the book de jour, we have no TV service. We found Maria's Bookstore downtown in our travels as well. They are two thoroughly happy and exhausted campers.