13Sep/090
Changes since moving to Denver
I've definitely noticed some changes in our family since moving to Denver. A couple of things have occurred to me just this weekend with little things that have happened. For example:
- We've tried to embrace the outdoors, active life. One of the first things we did when we moved here was buy some mountain bikes and a bike rack to transport them. There are trails everywhere, including right around our neighborhood, so we'll either go for a ride here or pack the bikes out to some open space or to the mountains when we've gone. Ellie started with a trailer that I pull behind me, or now she even has her own larger bike. She's still trying to get used to managing it, but she's already starting to take it on as she watches Hannah get out and go. This weekend, even in the rain, I got out and took a ride down to Chatfield reservoir. We've been doing quite a bit of that type of thing lately.
- Going Green (or at least more-so...). While not terribly PC, I have to admit, I'm being dragged along a little by this one. Our recycling bin is one of those huge 90 gallon trash cans, while the cans where our regular trash goes are our little ones. Yes, we fill up the big recycling bin each week, so I guess that's a good thing.
- Eating more healthy. I think this goes along with being more active, so you can have the energy to do it. The thing that struck me this weekend is Gina's insistence - twice - that we have sushi. We went out to a movie last night and her idea of going to have dinner afterward was to go to Costco and get some sushi to take home. I agreed, although when we arrived, Costco was already closed, so we ended up at Applebee's instead since they have the Weight Watchers menu where you can get something more healthy for you. Today, after coming home from church, she went to the grocery store and returned, not only with the groceries, but with a sushi lunch. Hannah ended up with a quesadilla, but Ellie jumped right in with us, putting the "spicy" wasabi in her soy sauce in dipping in her fish. She didn't even care about the rice near as much. She just plucked the fish off of the rice and went to town!
The only thing I know to attribute this to is living in Denver itself because all of these influences are prevalent with the people around here. I'm calling it "embracing the lifestyle" and it is different from how we lived previously, either in Indiana or St. Louis. All good stuff!
