{"id":9467,"date":"2025-02-02T07:00:57","date_gmt":"2025-02-02T07:00:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/?p=9467"},"modified":"2025-01-22T17:26:57","modified_gmt":"2025-01-22T17:26:57","slug":"visiting-friends-in-colorado","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/?p=9467","title":{"rendered":"Visiting Friends in Colorado"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>The Watkins don&#8217;t sit still for long. After a few weeks in North Carolina, we packed our car and headed west. The first stop was in Colorado. Our friends, the McDougall&#8217;s, who we first met in Bulgaria and traveled within Asia, are in Longmont, CO. We spent 10 days with them. Lucas and Henry get along so well with their sons Austin and Aiden.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-9471\" src=\"https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/IMG_4489.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1331\" height=\"998\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/IMG_4489.jpg 1331w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/IMG_4489-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/IMG_4489-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/IMG_4489-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/IMG_4489-320x240.jpg 320w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/IMG_4489-480x360.jpg 480w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/IMG_4489-800x600.jpg 800w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1331px) 100vw, 1331px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>The boys spent almost every second together. They camped in the basement for sleepovers, rode bikes and scooters to Costco and Dunkin, and went to the rec center to play basketball. Michael and I had a good time catching up with Melanie and Eric. They are great hosts. We felt at home in their home. We cooked dinners together, went for walks, and had long conversations about life. Michael, Eric, and Lucas went to a golf simulator. Melanie and I went to a comedy show. The boys had a poker nights.<\/p>\n<div id='gallery-1' class='gallery galleryid-9467 gallery-columns-1 gallery-size-full'><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/?attachment_id=9476'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1331\" height=\"998\" src=\"https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/IMG_4573.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/IMG_4573.jpg 1331w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/IMG_4573-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/IMG_4573-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/IMG_4573-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/IMG_4573-320x240.jpg 320w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/IMG_4573-480x360.jpg 480w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/IMG_4573-800x600.jpg 800w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1331px) 100vw, 1331px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon portrait'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/?attachment_id=9477'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"749\" height=\"998\" src=\"https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/IMG_4579.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/IMG_4579.jpg 749w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/IMG_4579-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/IMG_4579-320x426.jpg 320w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/IMG_4579-480x640.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 749px) 100vw, 749px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/?attachment_id=9479'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1331\" height=\"998\" src=\"https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/IMG_4599.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/IMG_4599.jpg 1331w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/IMG_4599-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/IMG_4599-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/IMG_4599-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/IMG_4599-320x240.jpg 320w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/IMG_4599-480x360.jpg 480w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/IMG_4599-800x600.jpg 800w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1331px) 100vw, 1331px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/?attachment_id=9474'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1773\" height=\"998\" src=\"https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/IMG_4495.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/IMG_4495.jpg 1773w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/IMG_4495-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/IMG_4495-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/IMG_4495-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/IMG_4495-1536x865.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/IMG_4495-320x180.jpg 320w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/IMG_4495-480x270.jpg 480w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/IMG_4495-800x450.jpg 800w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1773px) 100vw, 1773px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/?attachment_id=9473'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1331\" height=\"998\" src=\"https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/IMG_4493.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/IMG_4493.jpg 1331w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/IMG_4493-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/IMG_4493-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/IMG_4493-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/IMG_4493-320x240.jpg 320w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/IMG_4493-480x360.jpg 480w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/IMG_4493-800x600.jpg 800w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1331px) 100vw, 1331px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/?attachment_id=9478'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1331\" height=\"998\" src=\"https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/IMG_4593.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/IMG_4593.jpg 1331w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/IMG_4593-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/IMG_4593-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/IMG_4593-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/IMG_4593-320x240.jpg 320w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/IMG_4593-480x360.jpg 480w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/IMG_4593-800x600.jpg 800w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1331px) 100vw, 1331px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/?attachment_id=9475'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1331\" height=\"998\" src=\"https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/IMG_4520.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/IMG_4520.jpg 1331w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/IMG_4520-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/IMG_4520-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/IMG_4520-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/IMG_4520-320x240.jpg 320w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/IMG_4520-480x360.jpg 480w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/IMG_4520-800x600.jpg 800w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1331px) 100vw, 1331px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n<p>We got outfitted for skis in Longmont. We are skiing just long enough and in different places that it makes more sense to buy used skis than to rent them. Eric and Melanie introduced us to a nice guy named Gene who sells used gear out of his house. We got all of our ski gear from Gene at a reasonable price, and he taught us how to fit the bindings and wax the skis.<\/p>\n<div id='gallery-2' class='gallery galleryid-9467 gallery-columns-1 gallery-size-full'><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon portrait'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/?attachment_id=9481'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"749\" height=\"998\" src=\"https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/IMG_4540.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/IMG_4540.jpg 749w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/IMG_4540-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/IMG_4540-320x426.jpg 320w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/IMG_4540-480x640.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 749px) 100vw, 749px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon portrait'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/?attachment_id=9480'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"749\" height=\"998\" src=\"https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/IMG_4539.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/IMG_4539.jpg 749w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/IMG_4539-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/IMG_4539-320x426.jpg 320w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/IMG_4539-480x640.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 749px) 100vw, 749px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/?attachment_id=9483'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1331\" height=\"998\" src=\"https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/IMG_8355.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/IMG_8355.jpg 1331w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/IMG_8355-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/IMG_8355-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/IMG_8355-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/IMG_8355-320x240.jpg 320w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/IMG_8355-480x360.jpg 480w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/IMG_8355-800x600.jpg 800w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1331px) 100vw, 1331px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon portrait'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/?attachment_id=9482'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"749\" height=\"998\" src=\"https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/IMG_4605.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/IMG_4605.jpg 749w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/IMG_4605-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/IMG_4605-320x426.jpg 320w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/IMG_4605-480x640.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 749px) 100vw, 749px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n<p>We also saw our friends Paula, Maddie, and Austin. We first met them at our first worldschool hub in Ecuador. Michael and I went to dinner with our old roommate and friend Emily and her husband, Chuck. We make it a point to see them when we are in the Denver area.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-9484\" src=\"https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/IMG_4547.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1331\" height=\"998\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/IMG_4547.jpg 1331w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/IMG_4547-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/IMG_4547-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/IMG_4547-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/IMG_4547-320x240.jpg 320w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/IMG_4547-480x360.jpg 480w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/IMG_4547-800x600.jpg 800w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1331px) 100vw, 1331px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>We have made such great friendships on our worldschooling journey. It is great when we reconnect.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Watkins don&#8217;t sit still for long. After a few weeks in North Carolina, we packed our car and headed west. The first stop was in Colorado. Our friends, the McDougall&#8217;s, who we first met in Bulgaria and traveled within Asia, are in Longmont, CO. We spent 10 days with them. Lucas and Henry get [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":9470,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[121],"tags":[312,155,313,105,15],"class_list":["post-9467","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-united-states","tag-colorado","tag-denver","tag-longmont","tag-worldschoolers","tag-worldschooling"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9467","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=9467"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9467\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":9485,"href":"https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9467\/revisions\/9485"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/9470"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=9467"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=9467"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=9467"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}