Dad's vacation

French Toast picture - After a very short instructional lesson, dad made for the first time a yummy stack of french toast! Great job Dad!

I am so thrilled Dad is out in Colorado - he is in heaven! I first must brag on my dad before I begin.

Dad loves his work and is uses his few vacation days sparingly. He decided to take a week off from work to go on vacation. He decides to spend some of his time with his "other" daugther Andrea and help with the newborn. The other part of his vacation he decides to spend volunteering at the Breckenridge Outdoor Education Center teaching people with disabilities how to ski. Not only did he pretty much spend his entire vacation serving others, he has even been working out in the gym in Houston in order to be the best volunteer he can be! He is one of the youngest 65 year old man I know.

It brought me so much joy to watch dad play with Zoe and help with baby Maddox. Hopefully my brother and sister-in-law can deliver a grandchild soon because I know how much joy he would get in being a PawPaw.

After spending two weeks with Andrea, Brandon, Zoe and Maddox (well only 1 week with him because he was so damn late!) I had to hold back the tears when I left. Zoe demonstrated her disapproval by her reluctance to give me a hug goodbye. I only spent two weeks with Zoe and it tore my heart up to leave her behind. I told Andrea, "I can't imagine what it must have been like to say goodbye to Zoe when you went to Afganastan, and Zoe isn't even my child." I grew attached to feeling apart of the family. I experienced a novel "rooted" feeling I have grown unfamamilar with through my transient ways.

We made it to Breckenridge on Monday night and made sure to get a good night of rest in before hitting the slopes. Dad spent the day on Tuesday volunteering at the BOEC while I spent the day accomplishing errands and meetings. That evening we had a wonderful small dinner party including Wally, Maggie, Dad, my friend Wayne and myself.

Wednesday Dad and I both volunteered at the BOEC ski office. Even though we taught different students we saw each other multiple times on the slopes. I love seeing Dad out here because he is just so blissful! He loves the social interactions, the snow, skiing but mostly watching how excited all of the students become when they accomplish their skiing goals and down right just having fun! Dad put his big girl panties on that afternoon and joined me for a drink at happy hour with our fellow ski instructors. We made it home just in time to help prepare for another dinner party. Since dad has taken cooking classes for the last 6 weeks he was actually useful! Our friends came over around 6:30 and did not leave until 10:30! Needless to say good food, good wine, many laughs and wonderful conversations!

A couple of quick funny clips:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xbWvWA4_Qek&feature=player_embedded

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-s0lf3Wt7L4