Perfect Day

View from Mother Cabrini Shrine.

• Hotel breakfast with family: orange juice, scrambled eggs, toast, cottage cheese, oatmeal. (Yes, all mine.)

• Walk in the park; helped teach little bro how to ride a bike. Got a good workout from holding his seat and sprinting as he pedaled.

• Swam in a warm pool while the parents shopped for Western boots.

• Got snacks from the small 'market' in the lobby: Nestle Toll House ice cream sandwich, mixed nuts, and lemonade; hung out in relatives' room, who later arrived with pizza slices.

• Went home to give everybody time for siesta. I made my first batch of chocolate chip cookies in years (haven't made any since college).

• Back to the hotel to pick up aunt and uncle; drove to Red Rocks Ampitheatre, but didn't get in because of a concert; ended up at the Mother Cabrini Shrine where we climbed hundreds of steps to reach the top of the hill (mountain?). Prayed.

• Hearty dinner of sizzling salmon fillet, asparagus spears, and wasabi garlic mashed potatoes. Leisurely accessories shopping for cousins/nieces at Forever 21.

• Quick shoe scan where I found a cute pair of Puma sneakers called "Simplice." (No, I didn't buy them, was just happy to look around.)

• Wished family Bon Voyage!; lots of hugs and goodbyes. Got sad ... all the more I now look forward to the holidays.

• Home. Chai latté. Chocolate chip cookie. Blog.