Paul, Robin, Levi and Bianca MORRIS

Levi's Golden Birthday

2011-09-29T13:32:00.007-07:00

2011 marked Levi's golden birthday (4th of June), and although he was at first resistant to getting older (aren't we all?), he quickly decided four wasn't so bad after all.

The whole big Phillips family sang "feliz cumpleanos" to Levi in Playa following a Morris family dinner at the Palapa restaurant at the Haciendas on Friday night. The following week, we invited the rest of the gang over to our house for a backyard party in honor of the birthday boy.

This charismatic little guy passed the kindergarten reading test just before his birthday, still signs and speaks more than 100 words in spanish, and is ready for his second season in t-ball and peewee soccer.

His coloring skills have advanced to where we can't tell if we colored it or he did, and he is starting to draw ROY G BIV rainbows and people with hands/hair/feet.

Toy Story made way for a love of super heros - be it Spider Man, Batman, or any one else with a cape!

Levi likes to act out scenes from the Wizard of Oz (the Tinman is his favorite), and he modelled for a big box retailer in the spring. At 40" tall and a slender 31 lbs, this four year old melts your heart.

Playing in Playa 2

2011-09-29T12:43:00.007-07:00

In place of the annual fiesta in Cancun, the Phillips clan (as well as Morris family and Fox duo) ventured a little further south to Playa del Carmen following Uncle Chris & Aunt Krista's wedding in May. "Playa" translates to "beach" in Spanish, so the straight translation is "beach of Carmen" or "Carmen's Beach". However, when clear turquoise water, pure white sand, and a lush jungle combine to create this world class beachfront, it no longer needed to the anything to differentiate itself from the pack. It simple became "Playa" (with a capital P).

Quickly outgrowing the 2 bedroom villa Papi bought to accommodate the Phillips family for 50 years, we spread into three separate villas at the Royal Haciendas.

A week of relaxing poolside until "hora feliz", hammock snoozing, and guacamole by the gallon was on tap for this party of 12. Levi and Bianca loved the playing in the pool each day.
Bianca wasn't a huge fan of the waves though, tame as they were.

Paul, Robin & the Kids booked a tour of nearby Xcaret - Mexico's version of a theme park. The whole family floated down an under water river that let out into the wave-less cove. We walked the Mayan ruins, visited the small nature preserve with jaguars, climbed down into the bat cave (no glass to keep those bats inside), and the butterfly pavillion (think large net over forest canopy ... that is more lush any manufactured pavillion back home). A family favorite were the giant sea turtles that were more than 5 feet in length.

The Best Little Ring Boy

2011-09-29T10:45:00.006-07:00

In May, Uncle Chris and Aunt Krista were married at the Evergreen Lake Boathouse. After donning a tux with the other guys in penguin suits, Levi enjoyed the ride from the hotel to the lake in a limo.
As paid professional with a snap happy mommy, Levi was no stranger to the camera when it came to time to pose for the wedding shots. However, a bio-emergency arose in the midst of the group shots, and, soon-to-be Auntie Krista helped Levi aim carefully off the deck and into the lake.

Levi was a seasoned professional at his ring bearer duties, trying to coax the prettiest flower girl, Kennedy, to walk down the aisle with him. He eventually gave up and confidently carried on solo.

Nearly 4 years old, Levi witnessed the blessed event with ring side seats, standing between the groom and best man, Uncle Adam. A couple giggles and a case of the three year old wiggles, but the ceremony went off without a hitch.

Springtime in Colorado

2011-04-08T01:42:00.006-07:00

Days with the kids seem to fly by. Our baby Bianca is a full-fledged toddler now with more than a hundred words and nearly as many signs. Quite the smoocher, she can "say" KISS in three languages and isn't afraid to share them. We aren't sure where she got her rhythm from, but she can shake and shimmy with the best of them - whether it is to the Go, Diego, Go themesong or her daddy's iPod playlist. Life is too short, so she has decided she should save some time by running where she needs to go. She loves swaddling her baby doll Jenna, and getting into whatever her "Bruber" Levi is trying to play with. As he says, "She is our little trouble maker."

Levi is just a few months from his fourth birthday, although he recently stated he isn't going to have any more birthdays. I guess he is just happy being three. He loves going to school, and although we had a fun Spring Break tubing and going to the zoo, he was very anxious to get back to school to see his friends. He is a solid reader, though his true passion is in the arts. He colors at least an hour a day, and if we try to color with him, he reminds us to color slower and stay in the lines. He declared he is going to be an artist when he is a grown up. He is waiting for the days to warm up so the worms will be back in his garden. Levi bowled his first strike on Robin's birthday this year with six pound ball and went tubing down Fraser Hill in his own sled - solo.

As for Paul and Robin, well, there aren't enough hours in the day with two kids, two careers, two pets, and two extended families nearby. The house isn't nearly clean enough, the bills are probably a few days late, and there are more than 300 emails waiting for an answer. However, our kids aren't going to be little for long. So tonight, we'll leave the dishes in the sink, let the mail go unopened, and the laundry can wait another day. There is a pirate hat waiting to be worn, dancing to be done, and an oversized color book calling my name.

Playin' in Playa

2011-02-14T13:45:00.022-07:00

Dec 2010 - March 2011 was expected to be a super busy time for the two elders in the Morris Four-Family. Paul turned 40 in December, Robin and Paul celebrated their 7th anniversary in January, Valentine's Day would occur in February, Robin would celebrate a birthday in March. The Morris clan decided to package the quad-celebrations into one, with a weeklong trip to the Royal Haciendas in Playa Del Carmen on New Year's Day.

Just 45 minutes south of Cancun, Playa Del Carmen is the heart of Riviera Maya. Lush jungles, cobblestone roads, proximity to Mayan Ruins and adventure parks, and a fraction of the American chain clubs and restaurants customary to Mexican tourist ports, Playa held the appeal of relaxation, playing with the kids in the ocean, and margaritas under beach palapas.

We invited friends, Anna and Ivo, to spend the week with us. Ivo took advantage of the proximity to world-class scuba diving destinations, and Anna took a much needed vacation for a busy, important career. We loved having them with us... especially our kids.

Between long, leisurely dinners, daily Hora Feliz, and breakfast on the patio, we squeezed in time for Robin and Levi to try kayaking in the ocean.

We attended a Mexican and Mayan Fiesta, complete with cowboy roping, dancing, and all the guacamole and cotton candy we could consume!

Levi snorkelled and Bianca floated in the pools and they played on the beach every day.

Levi befriended a monkey named Benito on the beach one afternoon.

Ivo planned a trip for everyone down to Hidden Worlds, an adventure themed park deep in the Mayan Jungle. After a fifteen minute ride on the jungle buggy through the very bumpy dirt path into the jungle, we arrived at our final destination. We cycled through the treetops in the Sky Cycle.

Then we zipped through the canopy on the Jungle Zip Line, where fearless Levi declared he wanted to ride the next one on his own.

Next up... the Zip Line Splash Down into a cenote cavern, where Levi zipped solo and landed into a pool of crystal clear water where Paul was waiting for him!

It was on to rappelling into the cenote, then a snorkel tour into the caverns.

What an adventure!

Swim Baby Swim

2010-12-27T20:59:00.010-07:00

Bianca began her first round of ISR with a new instructor in September, just before her first birthday. After four weeks of daily 10 minute lessons, Baby Bi (pronounced "Bee") was successfully doing her "roll back to float" with Ms Kim at the Golden Rec Center.

We took the month of October off, and resumed swimming class after Halloween.

Soon, Bianca proved her swimming skills, as she mastered her "swim, float, swim" sequence.
The month culminated with her final exam, which our little Bi aced. Her little 18 lb body was loaded down with winter clothes, that, when wet, added an additonal 11 lbs. The extra weight didn't weigh her down, and this little fish finished her ISR lessons like a champ!

Levi, having already graduated from ISR, was ready to advance his pool skills. In preparation for an upcoming trip to Playa Del Carmen, Ms Kim taught Levi to snorkel. In just four lessons, Levi mastered his snorkel and fins. He loves trolling the pool for sink toys and can't wait to try his technique in the Gulf of Mexico in January.

Sweets and Schools

2010-11-07T23:02:00.005-07:00

Summer turned to fall, and our sweet baby girl, Bi, celebrated her first birthday on September 16th. No stranger to sweets since stealing a bite of brother's birthday cake earlier this year, Bi truly enjoyed her first birthday cake, without hesitation. She is starting to fillout a little more, thanks to the new palette of foods available to a toddler and recently took her first steps.

Look out world, here she comes!

Levi was accepted at Denison Montessori, a DPS choice school, this spring and started five-day-a-week preschool in the 3-4-5 year old room with Mrs. Dorothy in September. Not a single tear was shed as he walked confidently into his classroom on the first day and never looked back. Already a strong reader at just three, Denison fulfills his thirst for knowledge and new friends.

Words and Motion and Waves

2010-07-14T14:09:00.007-07:00

Our sweet little Bi is nearly ten months old, and is making her way from room to room military style. Our super skinny little girl has a thirst for grown up foods, astonishing us daily by out eating her older brother who is too playful and inquisitive to sit still for meal times. Bi rolls and sits up too, saying "Mama" and signing "milk". She is still nearly bald on top, with two bottom teeth that popped out on vacation last month.

The little man, Levi, turned three in June and speaks like a teen ager with phrases such as "Well, actually..." and "not quite". He mastered his alphabet sounds and began reading three-letter words just before he hit the big "3". He loves cruising on his Skut, playing with his Thomas trains, and reading his "BOB books" before bedtime. As a special treat, we took him to view his first movie at the theater recently -- in 3D no less -- and he is now hooked on the "Toy Story" series. He loves his his Buzz and Woody action figures! He played his first season of soccer on the Tangerine Sharks and is starting TBall with the Lime Lizards in July.

The Morris clan were welcomed "home" at Nani and Papi's villa at the Royal Sands, Cancun in June. Bianca was a wonderful traveler and enjoyed sitting under the palapas, nibbling on fresh fruit with Papi in the shade while big brother Levi swam in the pool and splashed in the Gulf. Levi was fearless -- holding a huge parrot, iguana, and swimming in the ocean with Davinci the Dolphin. Paul and Robin relaxed poolside over Hora Feliz drinks while the kids were entertained by Auntie Jess and Uncle Adam.

Bizarre Love Triangle: Thomas, Dorothy, and Mary

2010-02-10T09:53:00.007-07:00

Levi is growing taller by the day. High water pants are a constant issue in our house with this 5th% weight/85% height 2.5 year old. He finished potty training right around Bi's birthday, and is almost always dry overnight too (woo hoo for cloth diapered babies who potty train early!). He loves Thomas the Tank Engine... books, movies or trains and got to ride Thomas this fall at the Colorado Railroad Museum in Golden. A reader like his dad, he begs for as many as ten books to be read before bed. He counts to 10 in Spanish and 20 in English, knows how to count up to ten objects, and recites and recognizes his ABCs in Spanish and English. He goes to Mommy and Me preschool at the Front Range Waldorf school on Fridays, likes Tots in Action at Carmody Rec Center and story hour at the Belmar Library, and can't wait til Spring to start searching for bugs in the yard with Daddy. His favorite movies are the Wizard of Oz and Mary Poppins, and he skips and sings along with the showtunes. He is looking forward to the Broadway Play of Mary Poppins in March as his "special activity". Levi did a great job as Ring Bearer in Auntie Jessie and Uncle Brad's Las Vegas wedding in January.

Smiles and Sleep

2010-02-10T09:43:00.006-07:00

Bianca Blu is growing up so quickly. Levi adores her and is often heard saying, "Isn't she adorable?" and smothers her with besos. She smiles and coos at everyone and laughs loudly at her brother. She started sleeping through the night before the holiday season, so Robin and Paul feel energized! Bi has rolled over a couple times already, and enjoys sitting up in her Bumbo seat. She loves her Mommy, but she is going to be Daddy's Little Girl for sure. She modeled for ecoPOLITAN last month and can be seen in the February issue of 5280 Magazine around Denver.

eco•POLITAN Grand Opening

2010-02-10T09:35:00.003-07:00

Fall and winter were a crazy time at the Morris household. In addition to the normal holiday frenze, Robin worked many long days (and nights) turning ecoPOLITAN online into a brick and mortar location for her local customers in Denver. It was more than a six month project, but with the help of family and friends, ecoPOLITAN opened its doors with a Green Ribbon Cutting ceremony on Saturday, January 30th. Thanks to State Representative Andy Kerr, City CouncilWoman Sue King and the West Chamber for helping us celebrate, and the Village Rooster, Noodles and Jason's Deli for sending over food and drinks. Next time you are in Lakewood, stop by Lakewood City Commons to say hello!

Bianca Blu

2009-09-30T14:48:00.004-07:00

Trekking across Western Europe proved to be a bit much for 19 week pregnant Robin, and just a few days after our return, Robin was sent to the high risk OBGYN for evaluation for an incompetent cervix. Shorter... shorter... shorter... eventually 50% effaced at week 24 put Baby Morris at risk for a seriously early arrival. Eight stitches in a drawstring fashion were put in place, cinched closed, and double knotted by High Risk OBGYN in Sky Ridge Hospital operating room in June. Baby Morris's path of uterine escape was sealed shut. One trip to the ER with 4-5 minute contractions on September 1 and a cocktail of contraction-reducing medications ensured Baby reached full-term. The stitches were snipped at the end of week 36, and Robin and Paul were sent home from the hospital to wait and see how quickly that cervix opened.

Robin was 2 cm dilated the following day. A week after the cerclage removal, "Nani" Phillips arrived at the Morris home at 5:15am to stay with big brother to be, Levi Bentley, while Robin and Paul headed for Sky Ridge Hospital with two suitcases and a backpack full of camcorders, cameras, backup cameras, batteries, chargers and iPods.

3 cm dilated, 80% effaced, and -1 station when we checked in at 6:30am. After a couple hours, the OB decided Robin's contractions weren't painful enough, so she sent Karen (the Nurse Practicioner who was at Robin's bedside for both the cerclage insertion and removal and preterm labor) to break Robin's bag of water. That really kicked things into gear at 8:30am and by about 9am, Robin called "uncle" and started signing the paperwork for pain relief. Epidural in place by 9:30am when Robin was 4cm, 90% effaced and at 0 station.

Then things got wild.

Robin was starting to wonder if the epidural was in the 'right' place, as the contractions were still strong enough to take her breath away. She was on the phone with Nani and Levi when the OB arrived at the hospital at 10:15am.

Dr. G checked to how Robin was progressing. "You're complete," she said. The nurse assumed OB meant 100% effaced. Or +1 station. "Baby is right here. You are ready to push," clarified Dr. G. During the previous painful 45 minutes, Robin dilated from 4cm to 10cm. Ouch. Baby was making its escape. And fast! On the first push, we could see a quarter-sized amount of black hair. Paul started frantically calling the Grandmas to head for the hospital sooner than later. Final adjustments to the camcorder, camera close by, mirror in place. Push for 10. Breath. Push for 10. Breath. Push for 10. Rest for 90 seconds. Repeat.

The baby's heart rate was decelerating with every contraction, so Dr. G was concerned the umbilical cord was wrapped about the neck. Since the baby was moving so fast, they let Robin continue to push as they watched the monitor.

Twenty minutes later, Dr G. says, "We'll have a baby on the next one". Paul - quick, grab the camera. Forget about that leg, I can hold it up myself. 5 10-second pushes and out pops the head covered in black hair. "Stop! Don't push!" What do you mean, don't push? There is a baby half out of me. Suction. Ok, ready. One push and the baby comes out at 10:47am.

It's a girl!

She's early (12-18 days depending on which OB you ask), so she's covered in vernix. She inhaled a lot of amniotic fluid on the way out, so there is gurgling as she cries. Low O2 levels in the Colorado air meant she was a little blue, receiving an 8 and 9 APGAR score. No umbilical cord wrapped around her head afterall. She's is beautiful, healthy and perfect in every way.

Big brother Levi arrived at the hospital about 45 minutes later, and Paul brought him in to be the first person to meet the baby. Who is this, we asked. "It's a baby sister," he says ... just as he claimed to know throughout the pregnancy. We offered two names and asked, "What's her name?"

"Bianca Blu" he replied twice, without hesitation.

Later that night, he said, "I just love her so much."

So do we.

Europe 2009 - City 9

2009-05-13T05:08:00.004-07:00

Travel between countries, cities, and sites ate more time than we hoped, so we were left with one day in our departing city. We arrived late, checked in to the smallest hotel room imaginable, and found an outdoor cafe to grab a late dinner. One of the most recognized landmarks in the world was just a block away, and on the hour sparkled for a full five minutes. Even at the 11pm, the base was bustling with activity, so we returned the following morning to ride the inclinator to the top. It reached so high in the sky, the weather at the top differed from the weather midway down or at the ground. Even on a cloudy, rainy day, the view was amazing! We visited the largest museum in the world, arbitrarily picking one of it's four wings. Home to the great paintings, sculptures and artifacts, we walked past Egyptian antiquities from thousands of years ago, past paintings of renowned artists who went on to Ninja Turtle fame, and marble statues from the great Greek and Roman eras. We peaked in to see the hype around La Jaconde, glanced down at Venus di Milo, and then spent a thirty minutes trying to navigate out of the multi-floor, multi-winged former palace. We strolled along the river past dozens of alternating pet shops and flower stores to see the gargoyles that guarded one of the world's most famous churches. Mass was going on in the center of the cathedral, while hundreds of tourists stolled down the side aisles to snap photos of the priests in action and beautiful stain glassed windows.

We picked up Subway for dinner and took the subway back to our hotel to get ready to depart the European continent early the next morning.

Where in the world is Levi?

Europe 2009 - City 7/8

2009-05-13T04:48:00.004-07:00

I'm not sure how 132,000 soldiers arrived on the beaches of our next European city, as it was quite a feat for the Morris clan to get there. It started with a very crowded commute from the city to the southeastern Naval city, where we stopped overnight. Then on to the ferry docks for the four hour "high speed" boat across the water to our fifth and final European country. A bus to the hotel, then a walk to the office of tourism where we learned the city buses would not run the following day and the morning tour bus was already full. So we walked to the Train station near the site of William the Conquerer's castle, and rented the last remaining, severely overpriced Citroen to drive the final 45 km to our eighth destination.

Luckily, we allocated a couple days to visit two of the five beaches, museums and cemeteries in the area. The military feat accomplished at this site 65 years ago was astonishing, the loss of young lives tragic. The white crosses and stars went on as far as the eye could see, then we walked along the beach where these young men were lost just a few kilometers away from their final resting place. We visited their Canadian counterparts on a nearby beach and toured the crumbling bunkers and craters on Point du Hoc where the Army Rangers scaled the cliffs before capturing the target. A week here and we still couldn't have grasped everything that transpired on these European shores, so we returned the car and hopped a train to our final city.

Where in the world is Levi?

Europe 2009 - City 6

2009-05-13T04:38:00.006-07:00

We travelled 300 km/hr across the country side and through the Channel to our fourth European country and sixth city. More expensive and bustling than Manhattan, the sites were laid out along the river. We opted for a hop-on, hop-off double decker bus tour with the Wades to ensure we viewed the big sites during our short stay. Big Ben towered above Parliament. The Tower looked like an old fort but is reputed to house the Crown Jewels, and the Tower Bridge was striking, though oddly painted with aqua accents. The H.M.S. Belfast, the first ship to fire upon Normandy, was docked in the river and was a mix of genuine-original WWII under too many coats of paint. St Paul's was breathtaking, inside and out. There were more theaters in Picadilly Circus than anywhere else in the world, and fabulous shopping in Oxford Circus. The oldest underground (the Tube) took us where we needed to go, which was welcome since the streets are congested with black taxis and red buses driving on the wrong side of the street. It rained the next morning, so the Guards did not formally change for the thousands of tourists that were waiting. So we hugged the Wades goodbye and headed south towards our next destination.

Where in the world is Levi?

Europe 2009 - city 5

2009-05-06T12:45:00.006-07:00

Quickly learning to navigate the local, national, and international trains, we met the Wade family in our third European country. Grotemarkt (old city center) was astonishing, St Katherine's church was beautiful, and every cobblestone street in the downtown area was quaint, romantic or historic in this amazing city. Paul sipped beer, while Levi nibbled on chocolate covered waffles (we counted a whopping five waffle vendors in two city blocks) and Robin sampled fine chocolate. After dinner, we strolled by the Royal Palace and their equivalent of the eternal flame at the (US) Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. The next morning, the Wades got an early start off to the next destination, and the Morris family viewed Atomium, a landmark from the 1958 World's Fair. The Cinquantenaire was worth the walk, though it seemed odd the historic, arched building would also house 'AutoWorld'. After collecting luggage, we headed to catch the underwater train to our next European country.

Where in the world is Levi?

Europe 2009 - city 4

2009-05-06T12:32:00.007-07:00

The soccer match ended in a tie, thankfully, as we rode the train to our next city with enthusiastic futbol fans returning home after the game. Cheer and bier abound, the train ride was fun. We were served sesame seed pretzels with a butter center (think jelly donut). Since the game was pushed from it's orginal scheduled date of Saturday to the better TV rating day of Sunday, we only had one day in our fourth city. We stopped and had our photos taken with the Checkpoint Charlie GI's for fun, but unfortunately, much of the original buildings were destroyed in the war or removed when the city united in 1989. We walked through the Gendarmenmarkt and on to the Brandenburg Gate to see where several famous conquerers rode in to claim the city during the last few hundreds of years, then took a train out to see one of the remaining segments of a famous wall that once divided a city for more than 20 years. Returning to our hotel, Paul snagged a cheap pair of Birks. Then we boarded the CNL for a 13 hour overnight train ride to the next city on our route. The sleeping car had three bunks, a shower, toilet and breakfast, all in a 39-square foot cabin. So we arrived clean, fed and refreshed in the next country.

Where in the world is Levi?

Europe 2009 - city 3

2009-05-06T12:19:00.006-07:00

Two seamless train connections and four hours transported the Morris clan into our second European country (and third city). The Wade family arrived by car a few hours later. This cosmopolitan city is one of the world's largest shipping ports, with many canals and a mix of cement and glass new buildings and old, historic ones. On the walk to the Rathaus (historic city center), we discovered St Nikolai Church nearly destroyed by the bombs. Miraculously, the old part of the church that remained standing was the front entrance and towering steeple. We dined at an outdoor cafe in the shopping district and wandered down to the port to watch the ships before turning in for the night. Breakfast didn't agree with Levi and he vomited across the breakfast table at the only Five Star hotel we've stayed in. Better stick to the la Quinta with kids... The Wades took a bus tour and the Morris walked down to the Speicherstadt - the 19th century warehouse district. Large cranes were unloading shipping containers off cargo ships in the rain. We visited three floors of the nine story Maritime Museum in the afternoon. Jimmy and Paul boarded the Metro (local train) with 50,000 'futbol' fans to witness a Bundesliga game, while Levi and Robin toured the crypt and ten story tower of St Micheals (but the 300 year old church was under major renovation). As soon as the game ended and the boys returned, the Morris family headed to east to our next city, and the Wade's returned home for a day of work.

Where in the world is Levi?

Europe 2009 - City 2

2009-05-01T15:23:00.005-07:00

After two missed trains, luckily Levi captured the attention of a kind train conductor who ensured the Morris family boarded the right train to our next destination. One hectic transfer up and over a train track (without an escalator) to make our 6 minute connection, we finally arrived in European City 2 on Wednesday afternoon to meet up with the Wade Family. We kept the kiddos out late on Queens Night - the Eve to this country's celebration of the Queen's birthday. Not only is Queens Day a national holiday, it is this country's equivolent to Mardi Gras and Carnival rolled into one. Rori and Levi danced in the City Center til 11pm to a local band playing American classics and Irish folk rock for tens of thousands of intoxicated youth and young at heart. Bicycles are the standard mode of transport in this country, so the Wades and Morris's cycled all over town for two days. The Morris clan climbed 390 steps to the top of the bell tower for a spectacular view of the city, and both families took a canal boat tower, complete with several draw bridges that had to be raised to allow our tour boat to pass through. A "pancake" dinner (Paul ordered the ham and cheese pancake, while Robin and opted for the sweeter raisin, banana and apple pancake) on a docked river boat and a day trip to view a nearby aristocrat's historic home completed the tour of this college town.

Where in the world is Levi?

Europe 2009 - City 1

2009-05-01T09:31:00.007-07:00

The Morris family departed Colorado at 11 am on Monday, April 27th and headed east across the Atlantic to visit the Wade Family who moved abroad six months ago. We arrived at our first European City at 9am local time (aka 1 am MST). Though tired from the trip, we checked into Leidse Square Hotel and headed out into a city with more canals than Venice. We visited a carnival in Dam Square in front of the Royal Palace, gawked in the windows of some seedy streets where unmentionables are legal, and into the building that housed Anne Frank for two years before her family was apprehended and executed in concentration camps during the second World War. A walk through Vondel Park and a visit to the Van Gogh museum where we saw more than 200 of his original paintings, including Starry Night, completed our brief but memorable stop in this European City.

Where in the world is Levi?

Zoologist in Training

2009-01-19T22:20:00.005-07:00

Paul and Robin celebrated their 5th anniversary with a number of activities, including a romantic dinner at the Melting Pot. The weekend also included a fun family outing to Lakewood's world-famous, thirty-five year old landmark Casa Bonita for a psuedo-Mexican fiesta complete with all you can eat sopapillas, a gorilla in boxer shorts, and indoor cliff diving high school students. We topped it off with a night at the Cliff House historic inn in Manitou Springs. While in the Springs, Levi had tons of guacamole at The Loop, watched dinoaurs take over a theme park off the coast of Costa Rica, scrambled the rocks at the Garden of the Gods, and hand-fed a friendly herd of giraffes at the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo!

Santa Arrived

2008-12-31T02:54:00.005-07:00

Levi Bentley celebrated the Christmas Season with a myriad of Ho-Ho-Ho Happenings. From a visit with Santa at the mall and a train ride on the Pikes Peak Cogg Railway with Mr&Mrs Clause and the Elves to the holiday lights at the Denver Zoo, Botanic Gardens and a glowing parade in downtown Denver, we discovered that "Christmas (is) everywhere", as they sing in the movie Love Actually.

Snow Baby

2008-12-05T02:55:00.004-07:00

Following the gorgeous autumn weather (see the still-green grass?), the first real snow arrived on the last day of November. Wet and packable, it was perfect for building "Frosty". Levi looked like the kid in A Christmas Story, but he was toasty warm as he frolicked in the snow. He learned to say "Noe" -- did you know the "S" is silent?

Go Buffs!

2008-11-25T03:23:00.004-07:00

Levi attended some real nail-biters this football season. Will the Buffs field goal kicker ever score again? Will the Buffs beat Nebraska? Will the Buffs reach 6 and 6 to be bowl eligible?

Bat Boy

2008-11-25T03:15:00.003-07:00

We were watching a CSI the other night and they said, "Nothing good comes from an adult dressing up for Halloween". Paul agrees it should be limited to the Under 12 crowd. So we took advantage of Levi's first real Halloween and participated in 7 events in 8 days... at the Children's Museum, Zoo, Pumpkin Patch, mama group, Belmar, Paul's office, and around the neighborhood. Levi discovered he LOVES M&Ms and can say "Boo". Here's a peak at Bat Boy during the unseasonably warm Halloween weather.

Lil Gardener

2008-11-25T03:09:00.003-07:00

The summer growing season has come and gone, and the last of the tomatoes have been canned to last through the winter. More salsa than any human should consume in 6 months, but Paul is ready for the challenge. Levi loved helping with the garden. And although he has submitted a bid into the Tomato Haters Club, he had fun finding the red tomatoes and sticking his fingers into them.

Swim Float Swim

2008-09-30T20:47:00.003-07:00

Levi enrolled in level two ISR training, aka "Swim Float Swim" this summer. During the month of August, he developed the skills to swim face down, then roll over to his back to catch his breathe, then face down again to swim... a sequence he can repeat until he reaches the stairs or side of the pool for a safe exit. He was quite the trooper, braving unseasonably cool temperatures and proudly showing off his talent for both Grandmas, Dadda, and Auntie Jessie. He crossed more than half the width of the pool, and expertly navigated the waters in increasing layers of clothing and footwear too! Watch for him in the 2024 Olympic Swim Trials!

Roll Back to Float

2008-06-11T21:45:00.004-07:00

Levi graduated from Infant Swimming Resource water safety class the day before we departed for a week in Mexico. In just three weeks of daily 10 minute classes, he learned how to roll back to a float position if he ever fell into the water. His final week was a series of tests with increasing layers of clothing, until his final exam - jeans, flannel, shoes and parka. He passed with flying colors and can float longer than his mom and dad combined!

Kissing Girls

2008-02-08T09:30:00.001-07:00

Levi has been exchanging besos with Alison, a girl from his class at Kidz Inc. As you can see, his besos to his buddy, Rori, haven't been as well received.

Swim Class

2008-02-08T09:11:00.000-07:00

In preparation for his birthday week fiesta in Cancun, Levi has enrolled in the Parent-Tot Swim Class through the GM Rec Center (in his mom and dad's old 'hood). On Saturday mornings, Levi (and mom and dad) brave the cold and snow to take a dip in the steamy 83 degree indoor swimming pool. Supported by mom or dad (while the other holds the camera), Levi is floating on his back and belly, kicking his legs froggie style and going under water!

His 'real' swim lessons start in May through Infant Swimming Resouces. Look out playa, Levi's getting ready!

Learning to Gamble!

2008-01-10T18:38:00.000-07:00

Levi entered the 2007-2008 College Bowl pool for $10, along with 10 other contestants. Noted gamblers such as Paul's poker friends, co-workers, Uncle Ryan, and Great Grandpa Harry fought it out for the $100 first prize.

It can be a daunting task picking the winner of all 32 college bowl games (including the spread), but Levi was up to the task:

This highly sophisticated process, soon to be used by professional handicappers across the globe, resulted in Levi's first ever gambling victory. Take into account Levi currenly gets an allowance of $.50 per week (he gets $1 for every year of age), this take would be the equivalent of 4 years worth of income.

Levi would like to thank everybody for entering the pool, he could not have done it without all of you...after all, it was your money.

Sitting UP

2007-12-06T09:09:00.000-07:00

Having mastered the Roll-Over,

Levi has been working on sitting up by himself.

Sitting at the Table

2007-12-06T09:00:00.000-07:00

Levi added to the fun during Thanksgiving this year. Now able to sit up on his own, he joined the Morris clan at the Thanksgiving table.

Halloween

2007-11-08T12:21:00.000-07:00

On Halloween night, Levi helped mom and dad carve two Jack-o-Lanterns. Then he dressed in the Little Ducky costume that he and dad had purchased and went trick-or-treating.

Pumpkin Patch

2007-11-08T10:27:00.000-07:00

Levi participated in a number of autumn activities. He met his friends Dominic and Teresa at the Arvada Scarecrow Festival. He rode the light rail downtown with his Mom and Dad and attended the Halloween performance of the Colorado Symphony. He wore his Lil Pumpkin costume, and listened to the performance of pirate-themed music by the symphony members who were also in full costumes. He visited the Pumpkin Patch at the Denver Botanic Gardens at Chatfield and helped his mom and dad select two pumpkins for Halloween.

Rockies Fan

2007-10-19T05:12:00.000-07:00

Levi has been cheering on the Colorado Rockies, as they bid for a World Series title. He is very excited about their current win streak. Go Rockies!

Rolling Over

2007-10-19T05:03:00.000-07:00

Levi was taking a nap on Sunday while Robin and Paul were making brunch downstairs. Over the baby monitor, we heard his music box playing. Normally, we start that when we put him down for a nap, but it had been over an hour and the box only runs 15 minutes. Robin went upstairs to check on him, and found him awake, on his side, with his feet on the music box. Levi had turned it on himself! Robin ran for the camera and Paul.

The next day, Levi rolled over from his back to his belly three times for mom and dad. Exhausted, he lay face down for several minutes. His pediatrician told us most babies will roll belly to back first because they don't like to be on their stomachs. The following day, Levi rolled over from his belly to his back three times. He was wiped out. He showed Nani and Grandpa his trick on Saturday too.

I guess it is time to baby proof the house!

I have HANDS!

2007-09-27T13:59:00.000-07:00

Levi has made a new discovery - his hands! He can grab a rattle or toy from Mommy or Daddy and pass an object from one hand to the other. He loves to give "kisses" to his bean bag dalmation.

Bumbo Boy

2007-09-27T13:53:00.000-07:00

Levi is getting more and more sturdy every day. He can sit, when propped up in the corner of the couch or using his Bumbo Chair. He likes to sit on the counter and "help" his Dad cook dinner.

Baby Buffalo

2007-09-13T03:26:00.000-07:00

Football season has begun, and Levi is ready to cheer on the Colorado Buffs. Over labor day weekend, Levi stayed with Nani and Grandpa while Robin and Paul cheered the Buffs to a victory over in-state rival CSU.

The following weekend, Levi flew to Arizona with Robin, Paul and Nani and Grandpa for the second game in the home-home series between ASU and CU. The temperatures for the 7:30 pm kick off was 102 degrees, but Levi proved to be a die-hard football fan! Unfortunately, the Buffs were no match for the Sun Devils, but Levi had a great time getting to know Great Grandpa Harry, Great Uncles Ted and Jay, Great Aunts Linda and Vondell "Dell", cousins Jayson, Jena, Tanner and Jackson over the weekend, as well as flirting with the CU coeds when the game was out of reach.

Sleeping through the Night

2007-08-30T20:18:00.000-07:00

On Wednesday, August 29th, Levi had his 8:30pm feeding about 30 minutes behind schedule. Paul and Robin put him in his crib around 10pm, and climbed into bed exhausted. Normally, Levi gets one last 'bed-night snack' at 10:45 or 11pm... which helps him sleep until about 3:30 am. Paul set his alarm for 11, in case the tired parents fell asleep reading. Well, 3 months of new parent exhaustion caused them to sleep through the alarm, and they slept soundly until the Levi-alarm sounded at 4:30 am on Thursday. Levi had gone 7.5 hours between feedings, and Robin and Paul got 6.5 hours of un-interrupted rest!

All Dressed Up

2007-08-30T19:56:00.000-07:00

On Saturday, August 25th, Paul, Robin and Levi attended the Wade Wedding Celebration in Lyons, Co. Paul purchased a Polo shirt and tie at the second hand baby store for Levi to wear. There was a jumping castle and fishing pond for the kids, but Levi was a bit too young to enjoy. He did get to meet 15 Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity brothers and their families, see his girlfriend, Rori, and stay overnight at the Stone Mountain Lodge and Cabins. Robin and Levi went back to the room around 10, and Paul stayed up playing poker with the boys until the wee-hours of the morning.

Smiles and Sounds

2007-08-09T12:29:00.001-07:00

Levi is now two months old, and much to the delight of

Paul and Robin,

he is learning to smile and coo.

Daycare

2007-08-09T12:23:00.001-07:00

Robin returned to work on July 16th. Ms Heidi and Ms Leslie care for Levi three days a week at Kidz Ink Academy. Grandpa Phillips watches Levi on Tuesdays, and Robin works from home one day a week.

Jaundice

2007-08-09T12:17:00.000-07:00

Due to bloodtype incompatibility between Levi and Robin, Levi developed an advanced case of jaundice immediately after birth. He spent 23 days on a bili-light at home, visiting the pediatrician every other day. At his six week checkup, the jaundice had finally been resolved. Levi received 4 immunizations, and weighed 9 lbs and 2 oz (maintaining a steady 20th percentile). He had sprouted three inches since birth... to 23 1/4 inches (90th percentile).

Our Family

2007-08-09T11:40:00.000-07:00

After pregnancy complications that resulted in 17 weeks of bedrest, Robin and Paul welcome a healthy baby boy into their family. He arrived during week 38 of Robin's pregnancy, weighing 6 lbs and 14 oz and was 20 inches long. Having kept the name a secret for weeks, they proudly announced the arrival of Levi Bentley Morris.

Our Story

2006-02-19T12:34:00.000-07:00

Robin and Paul both attended Green Mountain High School and the University of Colorado, but since Robin was in class most of the time and Paul was not, they rarely crossed paths. After college, Robin and Paul ran into each other at Govnr's Park Tavern before a CU-CSU football game. Paul invited himself to a pool party Robin didn't know she was hosting. Not surprisingly, Robin was unsure how to tactfully inform Paul he had not technically been invited, so a romance was born. After the pool party, Paul then clumsily asked Robin to attend a company picnic at a Rockies baseball game, and she accepted. When a girl agrees to go out with a guy after hearing a line like, “If for some reason the guy who normally accompanies me to the date-type functions is unable to go, would you maybe wanna go with me?”

Now that is love.

The third date was a doozie! Robin and Paul were e-mailing back and forth at work, and Robin mistakenly mentioned to Paul that there were very cheap flights to Las Vegas that weekend. She mentioned it in a “Look how cheap that would be for two people who have been dating a really long time and frequently traveled together,” manner. About 15 minutes later, Paul sent Robin back an e-mail that said something to the effect of “We leave Saturday and we’re staying at the Luxor. I’ll see you then.” It’s funny how you can actually hear stunned, awkward silence over e-mail sometimes. The weekend was great, and Robin and Paul have had a soft spot for Las Vegas ever since.

Appropriately, Las Vegas is where they got engaged three years later. Paul secretly made plans to take Robin to Las Vegas to propose. Robin was eager to go, so Paul thought, "Who am I to keep her from her dream trip to Las Vegas?" Yes, it meant Paul would have to gamble, drink, sit by the pool in the sun, and watch football all weekend, but these are the types of sacrifices Paul is willing to make for Robin. Paul told Robin he was taking her out to dinner Friday night, and even made bogus plans for Saturday night so she would not suspect anything. Robin did, however, become a little leery when they got to the airport, as DIA is not known for their cuisine. Paul told Robin it was an innocent, last minute, spontaneous plan to go to Las Vegas for the weekend. Paul had even packed Robin's suitcase, and brought a sack-dinner so she wouldn't starve. It was a little tricky with the ring box in Paul's pocket (say Paul, is that an engagement ring in your pocket, or are you just happy to see her?), but Robin didn't notice anything. Robin became curious when the taxi passed the hotel where Paul had announced they were staying, and arrived at the Venetian hotel, where Paul had reserved a 1400 square foot suite! Anxious to pop the question, Paul almost proposed in the master bathroom! He came to his senses, realizing the story of a marriage-proposal-in-the-bathroom would likely show up on a bad-marriage-proposals episode of Jerry Springer. So in the main suite, Paul got down on one knee, and before he said anything, Robin got all teary-eyed and choked up.

It may have been the low altitude, or maybe it was the drinks they had on the plane, but Robin said "YES!"

Written by Paul Morris
Edited by Robin Phillips

The Wedding Party

2006-02-19T12:22:00.000-07:00

At 33, Brides Magazine considers Paul Morris an "older groom". He is an avid Avalanche fan and hopes that the Raiders will finally sweep the Broncos this season. A poker playing, long island drinking, football gambling whacko, he is best known for morning cocktails, a silver thong, painted toes, and shiny clothes. This Paul McCartney look-alike is a Pi Kappa Alpha brother who faithfully follows the Buffs, and brightens the lives of everyone who knows him.

The lady of the hour, Robin Phillips, never turns down a chance to travel, and has patented a very effective technique of standing on top of barstools and yelling, "HEY MISTER!" to get a bartenders attention. Her craft ability would put Martha Stewart to shame, and in Paul's humble opinion will make a lovely wife.

Tanner Phillips is the three-year old daughter of Robin's cousin Jayson & his wife Jena. She enjoys Diamondback games with Dad, and is Mommy's little helper. She attends daycare on a farm in Chandler, AZ. Tanner will be a flowergirl in the wedding.

Stephanie Spurgeon is the four-year old daughter of Robin's cousin, Patricia. She is a great big sister to Alicia & Jacelynne, and attends daycare in Globe, AZ. Stephanie will be a flowergirl in the wedding.

Ryan Morris is the best man, brother and hockey partner of the groom. You'd never guess from looking at him, but he has spent the night in a bathtub and staged a failed holdup of the MGM Grand casino in Las Vegas. His film credits include the Travel Channel and MGM Grand Security Training Videos.

Jessica Phillips is a college sophomore, and Robin's sister. A fashion icon since day one, Jess was the only kindergartener with mall-style bangs, blue eyeliner, and peg-rolled jeans. She favored matching her spandex shorts to her colored Keds. Mature beyond her years, Jess has been 21 for some time. When Jess arrives in Cancun, ALL the bartenders yell "Hessica ees here!" Jessica is Maid of Honor in the wedding.

Jimmy Wade is a deeply serious, solemn, humorless individual who has never said or done anything remotely funny in his life. We are not even sure why he is in the wedding. Come to think of it, we can’t actually remember asking him to be in the wedding.

Stephanie "Pope" Martens befriended Robin on her first day at Dunstan Jr. High, despite Robin's adolescent protests over the family's move to Colorado. She shares Robin's passion for frozen bananas, candlelight dinners on the softball field, and love of Las Vegas. Stephanie is expecting her first child in March, and is a bridesmaid in the wedding.

Jason Young was Paul's high school soccer teammate and current poker partner. Jason is a groomsman in the wedding.

Kathy Hoffman met Robin over lemon water and tiramasu during sorority rush week at CU. That "big sis" - "little sis" relationship evolved as the pair travelled to Los Cabos, South Padre, and Vegas - where Robin discovered beneath that quiet exterior lies a Potters dancer, fraternity partier, and guy-magnet. This world-traveller turned golfer designs web pages by day, and breaks hearts by night. Kathy is a bridesmaid in the wedding.

Nick Pergola isn't all puppy love. Paul's college roommate and poker buddy once ate the head off a live fish. We wanted to post that photo but were worried P.E.T.A. would shut us down. Nick is a groomsman in the wedding.

Lynneah "Langdon" Phillips instantly bonded with her future sister-in-law the day they met, when Robin drove Lynn home after brother Christoper got guy-guilted into going to the strip club. This blond bombshell is a Beruit playing, wine making, jewelry creating wife, who joined the Phillips family two weeks after 9-11. She is always willing to stay til "last call", and Robin often protests when this drinking buddy get drug home early. Lynn is a bridesmaid in the wedding.

The Honeymoon

2006-02-19T12:20:00.000-07:00

Costa Rica
Words can't explain the amazing and diverse landscape, culture and people of Costa Rica.

Our first night, we stayed in the capital city of San Jose, then drove to the rainforest near the Arenal Volcano. We stayed two nights at the Tabacon Lodge, where the volcano's underground temperature created natural hot springs up to 102. We hiked to the bottom of a 60 meter waterfall (or 200 feet for you metric-challenged American pigs, says Paul), walked across a lava field where rainbow toucans and howler monkeys sat in the trees around us, and came within 500 meters of the base of Arenal - which has been continuously erupting since 1968. On an evening rainforest walk, we spotted poisonous dart frogs, caymans, a wolf spider, and morphos butterflies sleeping upside down under the giant leaves. We found banana, cocoa, and coffee plants and orchids and birds of paradise flowers growing wild in the jungle. On the way to the beach, we stopped at a bridge where 23 crocodiles were sunning themselves in the shallow river below.

We spent 4 nights on the Pacific coast near Manuel Antonio National Park. We enjoyed temperatures in the mid-eighties, and relaxed on the beach with the locals or lounged by the pool at Si Como No (literally translated means, "Yes, why not?"). Reading on our patio one evening, we were joined by a furry three-foot long jungle animal, that according to the wildlife book in our room was a White Nosed Coati. In the trees near the beach, we watched endangered squirrel monkeys wrestle and throw fruit, and located white-faced capucchins (also monkeys) in the trees during breakfast at the poolside restaurant.

Coast Rica was the perfect place for a relaxing and exciting honeymoon.

The Wedding

2006-02-19T12:18:00.000-07:00

Bridal Shower
Robin's sister, Jessica, hosted a "romantic gestures" themed bridal shower for Robin on Saturday, November 15, 2003 at the Montrachet Denver West Club House. The girls toasted, dined, played games and painted dishes for the couple's home. Most guests were amazed as Paul correctly answered (via video tape) the majority of questions regarding Robin's childhood, her family, and their relationship. First date, favorite Av's player, happy hour drink at Gov's...

Rehearsal Dinner
Don & LaRee hosted the rehearsal dinner downtown at La Fondue Restraurant on Friday, January 16, 2004. The wedding party and entire extended family was invited, with about 45 people attending. The food was excellent - the kids dribbled chocolate everywhere, and the wine was flowing! We were treated to a video that Jayson Phillips created of Paul & Robin's life - before and after they met. Our family related stories of us, and advise - and shared funny photos. Perhaps the highlight was the hilarious toast by - you guessed it - Jimmy Wade, who claimed he unsuccessfully tried to steal Robin away from Paul during the early years.
Rock BottomAfterwards, the younger crowd headed over to Rock Bottom Brewery, and were joined by some of our friends for a few beers and pool. John Killen and Todd O'Rourke kindly escorted the bride back to her hotel, after Paul headed home early to "rest" for his big day...

Ceremony
Our wedding ceremony took place at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception at 6:30 PM on Saturday, January 17, 2004. A few minor glitches - they played the wrong song for the bride's entrance, flowergirl Tanner needed daddy to help her down the aisle, and Audra Overton's reading was no where to be found. Nonetheless, the ceremony was kept under an hour (thankfully, says the groom). Lisa Williams, Randy Pope, and (Aunt) Vicky Levario shared readings, and our parents symbolically united us according to the Mexican custom of a figure-eight lazzo.

Reception
The reception was held on the 38th floor of the Qwest building (at the recently bankrupt) Pinnacle Club. The view of the city was breath taking, and our friends and family were treated to pasta, buffalo, and salad. The most popular dinner items were the smashed potato bar and chocolate fondue fountain! Flowergirl Tanner was the first one on the dancefloor, but was eventually joined by others as the Hot Tomatoes Dance Orchestra played big band tunes from yesteryear. Six married couples were left on the dance floor at "thirty years", but it was Ted & Vondell Butler who won the Longevity Dance - still happily married after 38 years. Bestman Ryan Morris led the toasts, and was followed by Nick Pergola who admitted to "learning a lot about family" after living with Paul during college. Nick says he learned the importance of sharing meals together as a family, when he'd eat breakfast before class, while Paul enjoyed a nitecap on the way to sleep. According to many, the tear jerker was when Maid of Honor, Jessica Phillips, relayed the story of Robin promising not to get married until Jess was old enough to sign her marriage license. True to her word, the couple announced their engagement on the day before her 18th birthday. Jessica toasted the groom, saying their was no one in the world she'd rather spend the next 50 years with in Cancun!

Later that Night
The party kept going after the band ended at midnight, as a few of the younger crowd joined Robin and Paul at a tavern down the street until 2am.

The Day After
Party planner extraordinaire, Jessica Phillips, organized a final farewell party on Sunday at the Montrachet Denver West Club House for our family and friends. Robin & Paul ordered a Qdoba taco bar for lunch, and true to form, Paul cracked open a beer at 11am. After saying good-bye to everyone who was returning home to Arizona, Idaho, and Spain - the exhausted newlyweds went home to pack for their honeymoon.

Honeymoon
The next day, we left to spend a week in the rainforest and on the beach in Costa Rica. Some of the uncensored highlights on available on "The Honeymoon" page.

Thanks to everyone who contributed their talents, presence, and love to make our wedding weekend the most incredible first days of our new lives together.