Fall Leaves

Sunday, September 29th - After church we drove the loop to Victor and back to take in some fall color.

Taking in the turning of the aspen leaves is one of my favorite things!

The peak of the color was probably still a week away, but we were glad to have a chance to fit this day into our crazy fall schedule.

Happy Fall!

Even More Cross Country

Wednesday, September 25th - League Championships at Ute Valley Park. A tough course with lots of steep hills. Jenna finished 55 out of 75 with a time of 14:36 for a mile and a half.

Her team earned 2nd place!

Saturday, September 28th - The Polson Ranch Invitational in Sedalia, Colorado.

Jenna enjoyed cross country so much that she wanted to continue into the post season. First post season race was challenging - a longer race and even a few logs to race over! (See videos in "Jenna 7th Grade 2019-2020" folder.)

She persevered and finished strong - 20:28 for two miles. Way to go Jenna!

Field and Trench Days

Thursday, September 26th - Field Day!

A tired boy after the 100 yard dash x3 - twice against all the boys and then another time with his teacher. She was such a good sport to race them!

I didn't make it there in time for his favorite events - the tricycle race and the hamster wheel. But, the parachute and spraying the dinosaurs off the table were pretty fun too! Hartzo's Hamburgers had a fun day!

Friday, September 27th - Trench Day - the last curriculum day at TCA. I took this picture at home because I couldn't make it to the event - a World War I experience involving digging a trench; attempting to run across No Man's Land to the next trench while being pelted with tennis ball fire; eating saltines and sardines; and trying to relate to the experience of R&R after the war.

Goodbye to St Francis Medical Center Pediatrics

On July 26th, it was announced that St Francis Medical Center would be closing the Pediatric Unit. A few weeks after that, near the bottom of our bin of bears that we give out to our patients, we found "The End" bear. It was created by Ty to commemorate the discontinuation of their beanie bear series and came with the poem. The End bear became our mascot as the closing date moved up from October 19th to September 21st.

Monday, September 16th - The beginning of the end week. We started saying our goodbyes and taking pictures as we worked our last shifts together. They had a reception for us and presented us with this beautiful plaque that will hang somewhere in the hospital.

Thursday, September 19th - My last shift. We started the morning with a picture with the night shift.

I started the morning knowing it was MY last day; little did I know that it would be THE last day. We had discharged the last pediatric patient on Monday and they kept having us admit adults. So, around 12:30, after we had discharged the last adult, we decided it was a good ending point instead of trying to make it to September 21st. We still had two NICU babies, so we stayed open until change of shift and then brought them back to the NICU. We spent the rest of the shift taking care of the babies, sharing memories, and taking pictures of our favorite things and people.

After our manager sent out a text to everyone that we would close that day instead of Saturday, our team started trickling in to say goodbye and clean out their lockers. It was so special to see everyone and visit a bit on the last day. Around 2:30 pm, I needed some towels, washcloths, and blankets for my baby. I went to get them from the linen cart and it was gone!! Then I checked the blanket warmer to at least get a blanket and it was empty! So crazy that they started cleaning us out so soon! We were staying around until 7:00pm!

In the end it was just the two of us. We dimmed the lights and closed the doors. We took a smiling selfie and then a sad one, which is how we really felt. Sad.

It was so surreal to be there at the end and close the place up. But, also an honor to be there and do so.

Sunday, September 22nd - We all gathered to celebrate our time together as a great team of Pediatric nurses.

We had a great time and plan to get together again and often.

I was so blessed to be able to work with these fabulous nurses. Sad to see this era end.

Almost Fall - Football, Cross Country, and Our Favorite Pumpkin Patch

Friday, September 20th - Homecoming football game and first performance of "All the World's a Stage."

Saturday, September 21st - Roncalli Cross Country meet in Pueblo. This was a bigger meet and longer race - 2 miles. (See videos in "Jenna 7th Grade 2019-2020" folder.)

Another pretty course - around and through a golf course.

19:47 for two miles. Way to go, Jenna!

Since we were down in Pueblo for the cross country meet, we (Papa, Mima, Kevin, Jenna, Madilyn, Kellen, and I) decided to take advantage of being south of town and go to the opening day of our favorite - Diana's Pumpkin Patch and Corn Maze.

One of our favorite fall activities - even though it was not officially fall quite yet.

This is an actual pumpkin patch - some of the pumpkins we picked were still attached to the vine. 

It was nice to get some family pictures. 

And a silly one of course. 

And one of just the two of us.

Kellen loved this tractor. 

Welcome Fall!