Mordecai Children's Garden

When I awoke this Saturday morning, I had no doubt that the day's activities would be devoted to climbing upon old train carriages, listening to stories about Colorado's train history, and blowing the whistle of a mighty steam engine. Grandpa had already locked the coordinates of the Colorado Train Museum in Golden into his GPS...however, such adventures were not to be had today. Blanden plead to go to the Botantical Gardens, instead. I asked him to reconsider four different times before I accepted that the Garden would be our true calling on this day. Who cares, the trains could wait for another day.

Blanden has been to this part of the Denver Botantical Gardens on numerous occasions. The Mordecai Children's Garden is located just across from the Garden's Main Entrance, sitting ontop of the Parking Structure. Although, Ellis's passport has not been punched as often as Blanden's, he is becoming quite the well-traveled toddler within Denver's cultural community (NOTE: Ellis's first appearance to City Park Jazz just days after being born).

I like this photo of Blanden. You definitely get what you see with this growing boy. If he is happy, sad, bored, frustrated, or angry...Blanden will surely let you know. He wears his emotions on his sleeves. It's great when you capture the laughing, jovial, content, and engaged person on "film". It's not that Blanden is rare to these moods...in fact, I would describe the aforementioned as his standard. However, from a Dad's perspective, this is how I ALWAYS see Blanden. Even when he is pushing down his younger brother, yelling at his parents, throwing a tantrum, or being argumentative. It's not that I'm blind or can't recognize that my son struggles with the same challenges of many of his three and a half year old contemporaries, it's just that my goal is to return Blanden to himself. I can see when Blanden gets a little lost and could benefit from a little re-direction.

...Alright. A good case in point. We had just arrived to the front of the Gardens and Blanden sees all the things that he wants to do. There is this cool bridge that is vaguely depicted in the background. Blanden is none to happy to sit for this family photograph when adventures await at every turn. Dad's recognizes this and conceeds that this photo is about as good as it is going to get right now...

See...this photo was taken literally less than four minutes later. I like this shot, but it does make me laugh a bit. I would easily see this photo inside a JCPenny catalog with an description below reading :"Spring Fleece Jacket available in assorted colors - on Sale for $29.99! (shown: Granny-Smith Green)." 

Ellis is definitely in this "I'm as Good as My Big Brother" stage. Without a doubt, if Blanden tries something, then Ellis will attempt that vary act just moments later. If Ellis is anything like his Uncle Jim, then this stage will only last for about 40 or 50 years ;)

If Blanden shares a story today about his adventures at the Gardens, this will be the story. There were three nests with eggs inside of them. One of the nests was turned upside down; thus making the collection of the all important third egg a frustrating and improbale act. Upon the advice of his Grandpa, he turned the third nest to upright position enabling the ready and facile capture of the missing egg. Seriously, I heard that story about 10 times this past weekend. Blanden conveniently forgets the part where Dad helps turn over the nest ;)

A very nice photo of the Grandparents!

Watching two kids play at he Gardens will give you a serious workout. Donna's pedometer read that she had taken over 10k steps on this day. That's pretty amazing, even more amazing is the logical miscalculations that Dad and Grandpa were making in converting these steps into miles. You would think that neither of us passed basic math. If it tells you anything, both of us agreed that 10k steps is approximately the same distance as walking 18-holes on a golf course.

A few years aqgo, I took a portrait of Katie and Blanden sitting on this bench with the same Evergreen in the background. In was in the winter and Blanden was less than two years old.

Photo to prove that we actually went to the Botantical Gardens ;) In arranging this post, I realized that most of the photos were rather non-descript and vague..as if they could have been taken anywhere. Those of you who have been to Mordecai Gardens will surely remember these copper statues of dragonflies situated around the man-made lake. Despite the addition of this photo, there will surely be conspiracy theorists who claim that the whole thing was staged inside a movie studio in New Mexico. Wait, are those moon rocks in the background? Aren't those the same rocks seen on late-1960s footage of the Apollo Mission?

I like shadows, reflections, lines and water. If any of the aforementioned catches my eye and appears remotely interesting...I take a photo of it.

The experience at the Gardens had ended with a hearty brunch at "Steubens". This is a family-favorite, family-friendly restaurant in the South City Park area.  Blanden likes this place because offered child meals include your choice of either a cupcake or ice cream. Both boys opted for the ice cream (Blanden had the Vanilla and Ellis had the Chocolate). I must say that Ellis did a much better job with his pancakes, than did Blanden with his scrambled eggs. Both boys were fast asleep and buckeled in their car seats before Dad was able to ensure that everything that was packed-into the restuarant was also packed-out.

The Gardens were conquered...or were they?