Denver, Days 2-4

Wow. I can't believe we're home already!

On Friday we drove up to Ft. Collins to have lunch with Superfly's photography mentor at the same Vietnamese restaurant we lunched at with him a year ago. Still good, and I know both guys thoroughly enjoyed catching up and sharing photos.

On the drive back to Denver, Superfly espied a red Corvette zooming down the highway and said, "Wouldn't it be funny if that was your mom?" It was. Weird.

Picking up the troublets after not seeing them for a year was emotion on a level that defies comprehension, let alone description. We cruised to the hotel to check out the suite and light the first candle of Chanukah. After opening some gifts and enjoying pizza delivery, we hit the indoor pool and had an absolute blast. Who knew Superfly could accomplish such spectacular cannonballs? Or that he sucks at Marco Polo?

Saturday was a well-orchestrated shopping day, believe it or not. Even though we hit Park Meadows mall and Toys 'R Us with three wily kids a week before Christmas on an unseasonably warm and sunny day; we stayed within budget, no one got lost in the crowds, and everyone left happy. So exhausted were we that we barely made it through pizza part deux and more swimming before absolutely dropping of exhaustion.

The last day was the longest, the coldest, and the best: we checked out of the awesomest hotel ever and cruised over to see my dear friends, Mr. and Mrs. F and their two baby boys. Their house is, lemme think: 5,000 square feet of Pottery Barn goodness? Yeah, we were awestruck. From the F Castle we joined my mother and her boyfriend (my mom's on JDate -- saints preserve us!)at the Museum of Natural History for a scavenger hunt based on the upcoming movie "A Night in the Museum". It was one of my kid's idea. Yes, they inherited my geek gene. Right next door to the Museum is the Denver Zoo; the whole crew braved the increasingly ridiculous cold to see the Zoo Lights, which was fantastic. Ok, I don't hate everything about Xmas: the lights can be very pretty.

We wearily ate dinner and took the long drive back to the kids' home, laden with presents. A long, bittersweet goodbye with the kids, and no conflict with the ex and his wife. Perfect. Also, and as I predicted, the kids loved the Uglydolls I sent them.

We took the red-eye back to NYC (Woot! JetBlue rules!), power-napped, shopped, cleaned, enjoyed a long-overdue home-cooked meal, and now we sleep. More travel ahoy: I go to PA for my surgical consult tomorrow. GULP!

No way possible you had as good a weekend as I did, but I hope everyone is well, happy, and enjoying time with their loved ones.

Ciao for now