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Calvin's first night in Wheat Ridge, CO. A swim in the motel pool. 8/09

Makayla and Hayley keeping Calvin company in the water. Wheat Ridge, CO - 8/09

Three cousins having a good wet time. Makayla, Hayley, Calvin Gates. Wheatridge, CO 8/09

Calvin, Hayley, Makayla Gates at the Denver Zoo, 8/09

The gorgeous Gates threesome. Cozy cousins at the Denver zoo. 8/09

How da ya like dem apples? EEEEEK, he's out of his cage!!! Calvin Gates, Denver Zoo

Fuzzy wuzzy was a bear - and Fuzzy has sharp claws! Grandma Judy and Calvin, Denver Zoo gift shop. 8/09

Awwww - he's harmless and fuzzy and cute. Robear the 2nd. Robear the 1st is taking this photo! Denver Zoo Gift Shop 8/09

Grandma Judy likes this reptile a harmless sculpture. Calvin is still uncertain. Denver Zoo 8/09

What a motley crew! Chris, Pam, Ashley, Uncle Bud, Robert, Matthew, Allison, Hayley, Makayla, and Calvin THE GATES GANG at the GATES CENTER! Denver Zoo 8/09

Calvin performing and good at it! Better than any of those monkeys - for sure!

Cute cousins - Calvin, Hayley, Makayla. Denver Zoo

The Chris Gates family with Grandpapa and big-horned sheep. Denver Zoo

Allison and Calvin Gates enjoying wild animals at the Denver Zoo.

Note the long black snout on that beast! SCARY things are found at the Denver Zoo.

But, sweet things in pink are also found at the zoo, taming grizzly bears with charm and smiles.

I'll take this zoo kid home with me!

"Oh you think so? Well, you think WRONG," says her daddy. "These gorgeous gals are ALL MINE!"

"Whew! I'm overwhelmed. There are some HUGE beasts in this place! It gives one pause!"

"Ah, little brother - you ain't seen nothing yet. Come check this one out."

Take note, Calvin? I told you wild animals can be WILD! Now, don't imitate any of these animals or you might end up in a zoo yourself!

Two rip-roaring beauties - Ashley and Hayley enhancing the decor of the Denver Zoo.

And then . . . there's Grandma Judy. The decor changes when SHE'S around! When is she going to start acting her age?

All aboard the zoo train!

Are we suppose to BE the animals or SEE the animals?

Time out for hugs. Grandpapa LOVES his grandkids!

Three generations of Gates guys scoping out animals or those pretty gals up ahead?

Do I qualify for that pretty gal list? And the Gates men reply with a resounding, "YESSIREE!"

Bud or Pam, Pam or Bud - who's going to win this walking race to the next animal gate?

Monkey family of 3 in bronze, Gates family of monkeys in the flesh, on the right. Calvin, Matthew, Allison Gates Denver Zoo 8/09

Looks like Pam and Bud trailed behind with Hayley, Chris, and Makayla taking the lead. Monkeys ahoy!

Can't see a thing except my own reflection! But hey, I'm no beast! I'm darn cute to look at!

Is there anything but reflections of ourselves in this cage? Odd, but there seems to be a hidden message - a sign. Are WE the animals or are they?

Makayla - about to have her hair pulled; Hayley- about to get her hat tail-snatched; Calvin - about to be kidnapped by a mother gorilla thinking he's "gonna be"her new baby.

King Kong at peace after being rescued from the bowels of NYC and tucked safely into the Denver Zoo.

Quite the bum! - as they say in Australia.

Two peas in a pod - sort of - one has aged a bit. Grandma Judy LOVES Makayla, the first Gates girl grandchild.

Nothing better than having a granddaughter and being called Grandma Judy! Thanks for being you, Makayla.

Hey, kids, are you using me for your picture? You're getting heavy hanging all over me! This could be a violation: inhumanity to animals!

Oh. stop your belly aching. (You DO have a rather large belly. ) Tell you what, I'll clean out that mess in your nose for you. Now, don't you feel better? Let's call it even and be friends.

Now that I've done that gorilla a favor, what's next for me to do?

Lorikeets! We don't have to go to Australia, Pam. Australia has come to Denver!

Oh, I am so beautiful!

Hold the cup of sugar water very still, Calvin. There you go!

See - like this.

Way to go, Calvin. The Lorikeet loves it.

Here comes another one, Dad! Better get me another cup of that sugar.

This is really fun! Can I taste some of that stuff?

Red is my favorite color. Is it yours? Do you like my hat? I certainly like your feathers!

Push harder, faster - the geese are winning the race!

Calvin - airborne - next Olympic high jumper.

I, Makayla, can jump as far as a rabbit.

I, Hayley, will stick to walking, thank you very much!

I, Hayley, have the right to change my mind, ya know!

Are we done yet. Can we go home now?

"No, Dad, please - just a little while longer!" (How can you say no to that charming Hayley Gates?) "How about me? I still wanna go home," says Uncle Bud.

Not me - I'm just getting started! These animals are COOL!

Here we are together again just singing a song. Here we are together again just rolling along. Happy Day - Happy Family.

With a little more food in my belly, I'll be ready for the second half.

Ummm good!

Lunch Break

Robert routinely attracts beautiful creatures into his space.

Come here Mr. Peacock. I have something to show you!

Happily, our cowgirl Hayley finally sees what she's been waiting for all day . . .

ZEBRAS!!!!! - wild horses with stripes!

Sliding down long necks is not allowed, Calvin.

But you know, that son of mine has some good wild ideas in his head. I wonder where his ideas come from? Could it be they come from me?

Chris, everyone else is getting a photo in front of those giraffes. Let's get in there, too! Done!

Well, we're going to measure our height with this friendly polar bear. Who's tallest?

Don't they even realize that I'm the real thing and that other one is a fake?

Fake or no fake, I, too, want my picture taken with THIS polar bear.

Oh heck, we might as well get in there, too. Remember when we did this years ago when we first came to the Denver Zoo? Some things never change - except our size has!

They just don't get it! I'm the REAL thing and they're enamored by a statue. Why bother to have me here if statues get more attention than I do? Take me back to the North Pole.

I DO remember ULU. He was here at the Denver Zoo when I was a young boy -a long, long, long, long time ago! (Okay, Judy, that's enough! You ALWAYS have to exaggerate.)

No one's in the pool! What are we doing sitting here in our bathing suits with a pool right there calling our names? But, we need an adult to go with us. Hey, there's Grandma Judy. We've got it made! She LOVES to watch us swim and play. Let's go!!!

You kids need a chaperone for the pool? OF COURSE, I'll go with you. (See, GW, I told you Grandma Judy would say yes. She loves being around us grand kids. Besides, I have SMILE POWER and you're such a handsome "devil" - she can't resist!)

Truly, who could resist such perfectly gorgeous grandchildren who take after their Grandma Judy in such a similar way!

The normal side of this family isn't so bad - in fact, not bad AT ALL!

We love our George Cope DESPITE his being from . . . guess where?

Pam and Allison Gates getting acquainted for the first time.

Marilyn with a smile to beat the band!

. . . which she gets from both her mom and her dad!

. . . but this guy - well, his smile is a bit . . . different . . . cute . . . charming . . . impish . . . GW lovable . . . perfect!

These two are a VERY happily-married couple. It is a joy to see the way they glow together.

Agony or ecstasy? The right answer wins the lottery. I think this is laughter until it hurts, but this photo may express both agony and ecstasy. Only Katie can answer the riddle.

The answer to this one is obvious: PURE LOVE, father for daughter; daughter for father.

Siblings, Christopher and Katherine, remembering the Denver Museum in their youth.

The next generation arrives where their elders have already trod. The Denver National History Museum. 8/09

Grandma Judy and Grandpapa are thrilled to explore Robert's hometown musuem with the grandkids. Gates Gang Reunion Denver, CO 8/09

GW in the Space/Science Center

Marilyn Cope in the Space/Science Center

Makenna and Katie Gates Cope in the Science Center

Grandma Judy, Marilyn, and Makenna Cope see the mummies.

Wildlife and Nature Displays Makenna, Marilyn, Grandma Judy

Grandpapa taking a break with his girls, Makenna and Marilyn Cope

Playing a new game - Grandma Judy, Makenna, Marilyn

Figuring out the rules.

Makenna and a Dinosaur puppet

Makenna, the puppeteer

Underwater creatures - not the girls - they are gorgeous gals!

Makenna in the dinosaur room.

Marilyn, Grandma Judy, Makenna with some old old bones!

Natural Wildlife Window Beauties and the Beast

A motley crew looking for trouble!

Here's the first rascal, carrying on with a drawing! Should Ashley be jealous?

More nose picking? What is it with this Gates Gang and noses?

Chris Gates with his "little" brother Matthew in the mountains of Colorado.

The Gates Gang at Berthoud Pass

The Gates Gang at Berthoud Pass August 2009 Colorado

Hayley, Grandma Judy, Calvin, Makayla, Marilyn, Makenna, and GW above us all. Gates Gang Reunion 8/09 Colorado

Beautiful grandkids: Hayley, GW, Calvin, Makayla, Marilyn, Makenna Gates Reunion/Colorado 8/09

Robert Gates with his 3 kids: Katie, Chris, Matthew Colorado 8/09

The three Gates kids: Katie, Chris, Matthew

Oops, how'd that get in here?

Eldest grandchild GW Cope - 13 years old

Youngest grandchild John Calvin

Siblings Marilyn Cope and big brother GW

Grandma Judy feeling "on top of the world" literally, figuratively.

Chris and Ashley Gates, the happy newlyweds (married 2 years in July.) Ashley's first time traveling west of Kentucky. Colorado 9/09

Picnic at Grand Lake Ashley Gates and Katie Gates Cope

George Cope and Allison Gates Park at Grand Lake, Colorado

Lunchtime at Grand Lake Grandma Judy, with cousins Makenna Cope and Hayley Gates Colorado 8/09

Calvin is "READY TO GO" - anxious to get on the playground equipment. Grand Lake, Colorado 8/09

Makayla Gates with Uncle Matthew Grand Lake, Colorado

Uncle Bud chows down. YUMMY! Grand Lake, Colorado

Me and my girl Marilyn Grandpapa Gates in heaven! Grand Lake, Co 8/09

Playground fun. Marilyn, Hayley, GW, Makayla, Makenna, with Uncle Chris fooling around, too! Grand Lake, Colorado

George Cope - keeping a watchful eye on kids and safety. Grand Lake, Colorado

CCCCC COLD! Grand Lake is not tropical water! - Makenna Cope Grand Lake, CO

A race to the finish line - GW and sister Marilyn. Grand Lake, Colorado

Ah, this isn't too cold for me! Calvin Gates and big cousin GW. Grand Lake, Colorado

Ankle deep is quite enough for me! Matthew Gates Grand Lake, CO

Stepping cautiously. Uncle Matthew and Makenna Cope Grand Lake, Colorado

Calvin, maybe we can catch a fish. Cup your hands like this . . . Cousins: Marilyn and John Calvin Grand Lake, CO

The smart ones keeping their feet dry: George Cope, Bud Gates, Allison Gates, Judy Palumbo-Gates Grand Lake, CO

The Gates Gang Grandparents, satisfied - beautiful place, beautiful day, beautiful family. Grand Lake, CO

Not newlyweds anymore - but longtime partners, parents, friends - George and Katie Gates Cope. Grand Lake, CO

Who's stepping on whose toes here? Looks painful! Ashley/Chris Gates - Grand Lake, CO

Grand Lake, grand view! Time to head up to Estes Park and leave the water behind.

Hit em up - Move em out! - says Grandpapa.

Off we go . . . like a herd of turtles! Grand Lake, CO

The Kentucky trapper (Matthew) and the Mountain man meet up at last! Grand Lake, CO

Grandma Judy hands out Doodle Books, colored pencils and crayons to keep hands and minds busy at Estes Park.

Makenna IS a beautiful doodle!!! YMCA Family Center, Estes Park, CO

The grandkids are ready to doodle! Makenna, Hayley, Calvin, GW, Makayla, Marilyn. Estes Park, CO

Talent/Game Night in the Gathering Room Our gymnast - Hayley Gates. Estes Park, CO

Haley doing her gymnastic stunts. Estes Park, CO

Haley and sister Makayla leading us in a song/dance. Estes Park, CO

Follow my actions now! Here we go - one, two, ready start . . . Makayla Gates Estes Park, CO

Cute foot stomping cowgirl - Hayley teaching a song/dance. Estes Park, CO

Now it's our turn to do follow Hayley and Makenna. We do our best and have fun trying! Estes Park, CO

Look at 'em go! George and Makenna are swinging on down. Chris looks spacey and confused, Ashley is holding back but smiling. Is this fun or what?

Makayla reads a poem of her own creation with illustrations to boot! This family has got TALENT!!! Estes Park, CO

Such an attentive audience! Calvin is waiting for his turn on stage. Countdown time. Estes Park, CO

Sisters working together! Makayla and Hayley Gates

Playing telephone - passing on gossip from Katie Cope to son GW. Estes Park, CO

Calvin, it's your turn to hear the gossip.

This is really fun and funny, Mom! Now, what did I hear? Hmmm! Guess I'll just make up something juicy myself.

Calvin steals the show with his musical singing/pantomining and dance. Hollywood is screaming for him to sign a contract after hearing about the Gates Family Talent Show.

Totally uninhibited and sensational - here's CALVIN!

Don't stop now. Give it all you've got!

Hamming is up is a snap for this guy!

Our child prodigy!

Makenna Cope at gymnastics/tumbling. What a talented family!

And she lands on her feet - safe and sound and cute as a bug in a rug.

The "I'm a little tea pot" family.

Being on stage comes easily and naturally for the Copes who invited cousins Makayla and Hayley to be in a skit with them. George being a scout leader just home from camp made him a practiced pro at the talent show business.

Acting on stage - each one playing their character roles superbly well!

Clearly, damsels fast asleep and staying in character perfectly! Such great actors!

A man who cannot resist a damsel requesting him to follow her to an unknown destination.

They sing, dance, act, and have such FUN being on stage in front of a highly receptive audience that begs for encores.

Dialogue "Boy Meets Girl" from the book Free to Be You and Me.

Matthew the Master Magician does a famous card trick.

Marilyn Cope plays the part of a fortune teller.

She can foretell important information about shoes.

Our horse rider, cowgirl, gymnast Haley Gates.

The Gates Grandkids ready to do crafts at the Estes Park YMCA Camp Craft Center. GW, Calvin, Marilyn and Makayla on the colorful elk, Hayley and Makenna.

We don't have to cook! Hip hip hooray. All we have to do is be together and PLAY! Robert, Bud, Pam, Calvin, Matthew, Chris, Ashley.

Playing cards on the porch of our gathering room. Katie, Hayley, GW

Catherine and Mark Gates come from Longmont to see connect with the Gates Gang for an afternoon. Pam, Catherine, Chris Gates. Estes Park, CO

Calvin learning to play jacks.

Ashley, Makenna, and Makayla playing with dominoes.

Father and son visit, Bud and Mark Gates on the porch of the gathering room at Estes Park YMCA Family Center, Colorado

Calvin exploring.

He sees something of importance, but what?

Robert, Marilyn, Chris, Pam, Catherine, Bud, Calvin on porch of the gathering room.

Ashley, Pam, Catherine, Bud.

Robert enjoying photos. Katie in background.

Sharing photos of 2nd cousins who are absent, Robert, Katie, Ashely, Pam, Bud.

Robert with daughter Katie and nephew Mark.

Sharing photos of Robert's great nieces.

Hayley, Makena, Marilyn played "store" outside.

The Gates cousins: Matthew, Katie, Mark, Chris, and Mark's wife Catherine in front.

Brothers Robert and Bud and Pam, Bud's wife. Robert's sons Matthew and Chris with Chris's wife Ashley. Robert's grandson Calvin(Matthew's son) besides Robert daughter Katie and nephew Mark (Bud's son) beside his wife Catherine. Estes YMCA Family Park, Colorado 8/09

Robert Gates's Family Sons Christopher and Matthew, nephew Mark, and Brother Al or Bud. Chris's wife Ashley; Katie Gates Cope (Robert's daughter), Catherine (Mark's wife) and Pam (Bud/Al's wife.) Missing from photo: Katie's husband George Cope Matthew's wife Allison

Robert's children, eldest to youngest: Katherine Marie Gates Cope, H.A. Christopher William Gates, Matthew Lawrence Gates

Robert's children Katie, Chris, Matthew

Robert's Children: Katie, Chris, Matthew

Robert's older brother Herman Albert Gates and his older son Mark.

Herman Albert Gates and his younger brother Robert William Gates

Mark Gates and wife Catherine Pam and Al Gates

Robert and Judy Palumbo-Gates

In broad daylight? Hmmmm

brother and sister-in-law Pam and Robert Gates

Too much sun - such a problem!

Chris and Ashley Gates

Allison and sleepy Calvin.

Allison, Calvin, and Matthew Gates

Matthew and Calvin - BOTH looking tired out!

Grandma Judy and GW teach the song "Little Cabin in the Woods"

Another great skit by the Cope Family Actors

More acrobatics by Makenna Cope

Hey, I can do that one, too, says Makayla!

The whole flock is in action!

I think I've about got it, too - says Calvin!

The "telephone" with a drawing component. Explain THIS photo with THESE words!!!!

George gave me this shirt. Because I love my son-in-law, this wonderful father of my grandkids, I have pledged to protect and preserve this sweatshirt from, wind, storm, hail, calamity, Darth Vader and my wife Judy who is intent on seeing to its demise. No, No! No! This shirt and I will be together until death do us part.

The Copes spend a day in the town of Estes Park.

The day includes a tour of the haunted Stanley Hotel.

Room 217 is the place of many ghost stories and visit by the deceased matron of the hotel who cared for the Stanley family's prestigious guests.

Marilyn seems perfectly comfortable in this room in which Jim Carey found himself decidedly uncomfortable. He refused to stay overnight and moved to another hotel during the making of Dumb and Dumber. He has never told what occurred that caused him to request a move. Stephen King chose the Stanley Hotel as the setting for THE SHINING following ghost experiences both he and his wife while staying in room 217.

I still haven't seen a ghost, have you?

VERY interesting stories about alarm clocks going off after being unplugged and having no batteries - deliberate harrassment intending to drive certain hotel guests from the room.

We're not afraid of ghosts. Our Kentucky Grandma has a ghost living in her house and has made friends with it. We believe in ghosts and know how to talk to a ghost.

The mirror in room 217 in which Stephen King saw a woman's face.

The stairwell where many ghostly figures and orbs show up in photos.

Notice the white spot to the right of Katie's head. An orb? While taking this picture, I saw a white film around Katie's head, took the camera down to look with my naked eye, and saw nothing. I put the camera up to my eye a second time, this time seeing a red aura around Katie's head. I took the camera away from my eye again. No red. Then I snapped the picture. While telling Katie about it, I had goose bumps up and down my body. I felt I'd had a paranormal experience. The only thing in this shot is an unusual white spot above Katie's head near the ceiling which was not seen by my naked eye that day.

Notice two white spots, the one in the previous photo having been in a different location. Notice also Katie's birthday badge. She turned 40 that day. She also got a very bad headache later - not unusual as migraines run in the family, but was she affected by the Stanley Hotel's energy? Who knows?

Is that a white spot on a ceiling window or another unusual orb near GW's head?

The hallway where the nannies and children were confined so the elite parents/guests would not be bothered or disturbed. It is an area reportedly a place of ghost activity.

The Stanley Hotel has a fascinating history beyond the paranormal aspect. The hotel has gone through dips and turns financially but is back on its feet and celebrated its 100th birthday this year. It seems appropriate that Katie celebrated her 40th b-day as well as had a paranormal connection here where her mom and dad spent their honeymoon in May 1968. She was born the following summer.

The beautiful Stanley Hotel in Estes Park, Colorado

Robert's other nephew arrives at the YMCA Park, his namesake Robert William Gates known as Duke. With him is his younger child, Kameron.

Bud with his son Duke and Grandson Kameron/ Robert with children Katie, Chris, and Matthew.

All the grandkids join them. Kameron, Duke Gates; Robert Gates with Katie, Makenna, GW Cope; Matthew Gates with son Calvin; Chris Gates with niece Marilyn Cope and daughters Hayley and Makayla Gates.

Duke and his wife Lisa with their son Kameron. Their older child Makenzie was preparing for her wedding in 2 weeks with her Great Uncle Robert performing the ceremony on August 6, 2009.

Birthday girl turns 40 - July 24, 2009, the day her grandmother Gates would have turned 90.

George and us girls get ready for Katie's "surprise" party.

More preparations and some minor spats!

Katie acts surprised and is a trouper considering she had a migraine headache.

She looks genuinely pleased despite the headache!

Celebrating with Katie

Calvin is having fun!

Oh, what's THIS? - asks Katie

Hmmmmm

Licorice - lots of it! Yummy!

A wall hanging with inspiring words.

Getting worn out from so many activities and so much fun.

Everyone wrote in this book of memories for Katie to read and treasure later.

Easier to handle than 40 individual candles. George bought a delicious carrot cake for the occasion.

What do I think about becoming 40? I think it (or a ghost) has given me a migraine!

What time are we all taking off in the morning?

I'm trying my best to be chipper despite a migraine and this silly bow I have to wear on my head. I love this cutie pie nephew on my lap, but what I really need is a bed and a very dark room.