The FeDibblety family » visits http://blog.fedibblety.com Mon, 06 Feb 2012 22:43:52 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 Dave and Ellen’s holiday visit http://blog.fedibblety.com/2011/12/dave-and-ellens-holiday-visit/ http://blog.fedibblety.com/2011/12/dave-and-ellens-holiday-visit/#comments Tue, 13 Dec 2011 05:05:29 +0000 robfelty http://blog.fedibblety.com/?p=3476 Ellen and Meg are happy to be together

Ellen and Meg are happy to be together

Dave and Ellen came out to visit this past weekend. We had a really great time. We bought a tree and decorated it, made cookies, and played a bunch with the kids. It was a sad farewell when they had to leave. Spencer gave Ellen and Dave each a car from the Cars set he had just gotten. I continue to be amazed by Spencer’s willingness to share.

Meg playing with a ball Ellen playing with Meg Meg and Ellen Dave and Spencer crashing Dave gives Meg a taste of a cranberry muffin Dave and Spencer playing Ellen and Meg looking christmasy Meg playing with a front loader Spencer opening a present Spencer helps Meg open a present Dave shows off his new sweatshirt Ellen laughing hysterically at her awesome grandpa sweatshirt Spencer tries out his new microphone Spencer singing with his new microphone Meg and Rob playing with the wagon Meg in her christmas pajamas Dave holding Meg Ellen putting ornaments on the tree Meg tasting a drum ornament Clare putting ornaments on the tree Ellen hanging ornaments Dave geting presents from under the tree Spencer helps open a present for Meg Spencer is excited about his new cars! Playing with the new toys Spencer shows off Guido Meg and Spencer playing together ]]> http://blog.fedibblety.com/2011/12/dave-and-ellens-holiday-visit/feed/ 0 IMG_0175 Melanie visits us for labor day http://blog.fedibblety.com/2011/09/melanie-labor-day/ http://blog.fedibblety.com/2011/09/melanie-labor-day/#comments Sun, 18 Sep 2011 17:06:26 +0000 robfelty http://blog.fedibblety.com/?p=3330 Clare, Meg, and Melanie

Clare, Meg, and Melanie

Melanie came to visit us over labor day weekend, which was really nice. We had a fun time hanging out together. Melanie and Clare got massages on Saturday, then we spend most of the rest of the day just hanging out. In the evening we went over to Tao’s house for Smores.
Clare and Spencer in the garden of the gods

Clare and Spencer in the garden of the gods


Sunday we went down down to Colorado Springs with the hope of taking the train up to Pike’s Peak. Unfortunately it was packed on Labor Day weekend, and we couldn’t get on the train, and had a terrible time finding a parking spot to have lunch. We did see some of the Garden of the Gods. It was actually our first trip down to Colorado Springs. Now that we know our way around a bit better, we will have to try again on a weekend which isn’t so busy.


Meg and Melanie Melanie playing with Meg Spencer in the towel from Melanie Spencer hiding in the bushes Rock at Garden of the Gods Spencer on the fence More Garden of the Gods Spencer liked climbing on the fence Garden of the Gods Blue sky and rocks at Garden of the Gods Clare and Meg at Garden of the Gods Red Rocks in Garden of the Gods Garden of the Gods near Colorado Springs Meg, Clare, and Spencer at the PIke's Peak Cog Train Spencer wanted to wear this cap in August Meg likes kisses from Rob Rob and Meg playing in the car Happy Meg! Clare giving Meg a bottle Meg likes to chew on her butterfly Tomato salad ]]> http://blog.fedibblety.com/2011/09/melanie-labor-day/feed/ 0 IMG_5346 DSC_0089 Grandparents Felty visit again http://blog.fedibblety.com/2011/09/grandparents-felty-visit-again/ http://blog.fedibblety.com/2011/09/grandparents-felty-visit-again/#comments Sun, 18 Sep 2011 16:02:30 +0000 robfelty http://blog.fedibblety.com/?p=3315 Spencer, Grandma, and Grandpa on the steam locomotive

Spencer, Grandma, and Grandpa on the steam locomotive

The grand Feltys came to visit us the last weekend in August. Phil and Betty came over to celebrate Fran’s birthday. Spencer was very excited about the cake we got from Das Meyer, and then proceeded to eat about one tiny bite. He seems very excited about the idea of cake lately, but doesn’t actually like eating it that much.
Harold holding Meg

Harold holding Meg


Saturday morning Clare flew out to Ohio for a bridal shower. The rest of us went to the Colorado Railroad Museum. We didn’t know it ahead of time, but they were laying new track that day. That was pretty exciting. We watched them work on the track for at least 30 minutes. They had some big dump trucks and front-loaders, which Spencer enjoyed very much. We also got to ride the steam engine twice!

We were fortunate that both kids took long naps Saturday and Sunday afternoon at the same time! This allowed me time to can some more salsa Saturday afternoon while the kids and the grandparents were napping. We got a bumper crop of tomatoes this year!


Spencer playing with Meg Messy Spencer Messy Meg Spencer shows grandma how he colors Meg loves solid food these days Fran feeding Meg Spencer on the playground Fran, Harold, and Meg at the playground Harold, Rob, Spencer, and Meg at the railroad museum Rob and the kids at the railroad museum Workers connecting the tracks with a giant wrench Setting the new track in place ]]> http://blog.fedibblety.com/2011/09/grandparents-felty-visit-again/feed/ 0 IMG_0400 IMG_3169 Zoo fun http://blog.fedibblety.com/2011/07/zoo-fun/ http://blog.fedibblety.com/2011/07/zoo-fun/#comments Sat, 30 Jul 2011 04:28:50 +0000 robfelty http://blog.fedibblety.com/?p=3269 Spencer points at a bird

Spencer points at a bird

One of our adventures while Dave and Ellen were out visiting was to go to the zoo. We actually hadn’t been in several months. We had a very nice time. We got to see the Lorikeets and the elephants, ride the train and the carousel, and have some snacks too.

Spencer at the zoo Spencer, Rob, and elephants Lorikeet eating nectar Lorikeet Flamingos at the zoo Checking out the view from the train at the zoo Riding the train at the zoo Spencer and Dave in the wagon at the zoo Spencer and Rob on the carousel Rob and Spencer riding the carousel at the zoo Ellen, Meg, Clare, Dave, and Spencer at the zoo Spencer is ready to go home from the zoo Spencer, Rob, Ellen, and Meg at the zoo Spencer and Rob at the zoo Spencer and Rob at the zoo Clare and Meg at the zoo Ellen and Meg at the zoo Meg and Clare at the zoo ]]> http://blog.fedibblety.com/2011/07/zoo-fun/feed/ 0 IMG_5036 Georgetown Loop http://blog.fedibblety.com/2011/07/georgetown-loop/ http://blog.fedibblety.com/2011/07/georgetown-loop/#comments Thu, 28 Jul 2011 04:21:03 +0000 robfelty http://blog.fedibblety.com/?p=3244 Spencer and Rob take a closer look at the oil-fired steam engine

Spencer and Rob take a closer look at the oil-fired steam engine

After taking Dave and Ellen to see Red Rocks, we decided to head farther up the mountains, since Red Rocks was quite hot. We debated between Idaho Springs and Georgetown, and settled on Georgetown, because Clare and I wanted to look at some art studios there. We were successful in finding some nice pottery, and also found a nice place to eat lunch, which had a very nice patio facing Clear Creek.
Ellen, Meg, and Clare

Ellen, Meg, and Clare


While we were in Georgetown, it occurred to me that we had often thought about taking the Georgetown Loop train. We looked into it, and found out that there was a 1:35 train. We finished lunch at about 1:25, and arrived just in time to catch the train.
Spencer and Dave on the Georgetown train

Spencer and Dave on the Georgetown train


The train makes 2 stops – one at Silver Plume, and then one at a silver mine, where you can get a tour. We did not do the mine tour this time. We learned all sorts of facts about the train during the 60-90 minute ride. While it is only 2 miles from Georgetown to Silver Plume, there is an elevation gain of over 700 feet, which would be about a 6% grade, which is too steep for most trains. So they decided to have the train loop over itself. Even then, there are some sections which have a 4% grade, and which are very narrow. We also learned that the engine was an oil-fired steam engine, originally used in Hawaii at the sugar plantations, where they had more access to oil than coal. The track is 3 1/2 foot narrow gauge, which is cheaper to make, and allows for tighter curves, and is also narrower, which is useful in the mountains. The train currently carries about ten cars. It is actually too much load for the steam engine to handle by itself, so there is also a diesel “helper” engine, which is the largest narrow-gauge diesel engine built. Then there is the big bridge, which is not only around a curve, but also on a incline. It was an engineering marvel when it was built in the 1880s, and cost about a million dollars to build back then. They re-did the bridge with more modern methods in the 1980s.

Spencer with a milk goatee Spencer and Rob making funny faces Meg sitting patiently at lunch in Georgetown Meg holding hands Spencer eating mac and cheese in Georgetown Going over the tall bridge, originally built in the 1880's Going past a rock wall on the train Clear Creek as seen from the Georgetown loop railroad View from the train The Georgetown Loop train Clear creak from one of the bridges on the train The train rounding a curve Clear Creek is running high Spencer peeks out the window of the Georgetown narrow gauge train Clare, Ellen and Meg on the train Ellen and Meg on the Georgetown train Spencer and Dave on the train Blue skies and mountains in Georgetown Clear Creek rushing by the train Going over the tall bridge ]]> http://blog.fedibblety.com/2011/07/georgetown-loop/feed/ 0 IMG_5181 IMG_5122 PICT1125