This past weekend we had a chance to celebrate both Hayden (#5) and Gabe’s(#8) Birthdays! When we asked them a couple of weeks ago what they wanted to do, both turned down a chance for a big party with friends and instead said they wanted to go stay in a Hotel and go swimming! Jenn and I both quickly agreed that would be easy (and my desire to reach Gold status with Marriott Rewards had nothing to do with the decision). So, we spent Friday night going to their favorite restaurant Saltgrass where we were able to view lots of dead animal carcasses while downing our own versions of carnivorous platters. Afterwards we went to the Denver Marriott South and even though Gabe was worried upon our arrival that it would be crowded due to other cars in the parking lot, he was greatly relieved to have the swimming and hot tub completely empty.
We were all treated, literally, after 2 hours of swimming with enough sugar to make Uncle Spencer (the dentist) deeply disappointed, and unfortunately did not realize until it was too late that said sugar would keep Mr. Sugar himself (Hayden) up a good 2 hours past his bedtime. While the rest of us watched Spiderman on the hotel TV, Hayden actually was Spi
derman jumping from chair to bed, to other pieces of furniture…etc. 
The next morning we went swimming again for two hours from 6am-8am while Jenn slept in. Scary Blackberry experience occurred with Dad: I was intensely catching up on my emails as the boys swam and kept yelling at me to get in...apparently not thinking about anything other than the emails, I promptly disrobed my swimsuit (unknowingly) and got in the hot tub with the boys, buck naked. After laying my blackberry to the side of the hot tub, Gabe turned to me with his eyes as big as I've ever seen them and said, "Dad, why don't you have your swimsuit on!" I looked down and was completely mortified to find that I had absolutely nothing on and had strolled over from the lounging chair to the pool without any clothing. I looked up to see the 3 men on treadmills facing me and the pool through the glass wall and was praying they hadn't looked up from their treadmills. Gabe quickly jumped out and ran and grabbed my trunks for me, but definitely one of those unforgettable moments that proves the theory that with each child, you lose 25% of your remaining brain cells.
Later that morning at breakfast, Gabe ate 14 different items at the breakfast buffet that morning, Hayden just seven. Afterwards, we went home and enjoyed a more traditional party with the rest of the kids that included opening presents and enjoying a Rainbow Trout Birthday cake.
