First Day of Summer

It has been busy around here for the last two or three weeks.  The end of the school year is typically hectic and we had visitors too. 

The last day for students was May 24th.  The last day is always filled with emotions.  In some ways this past year seemed like it would never end and then I still found myself planning for next week.  I was happy to wish my kids good luck next year and at the same time sad to see them go.  But with all that said there is nothing better than summer time.

We started summer right away with Ben and Amanda visiting.  Unfortunately the weather wasn't quite ready yet.  We had a great day on Friday.  First we started with breakfast at the Silver Grill.  Sam enjoyed wearing Ben's glasses and Emily "ran" down the sidewalk with Aunt Amanda and Nana.

Then after a nap Amanda, Ben, Paul and I headed back up to Fort Collins for some beer tasting.  (Thank you Mom and Dad for the much needed adult only time.)  It had been a while since we had been to New Belgium and they have changed the way they do tasters.  We remember the days when you could have 4 or 5 tasters for free.  Now you have to pay for them. 

Then we headed over to Pateros Creek Brewery where we found a Waffle Food Truck and some tasty beer.  The Waffles were delicious.  I think I'll go back just to eat chicken and waffles.

After that we met up with Papa and Nana and the kids.  The girls went and got their toes done while the boys went to eat cheese fries with the kids.

Sam and Emily enjoyed playing on the sculptures while they were waiting for us to be done.

What a busy day... I'm so glad that I didn't have to work.  :-)

A Visit with the Horse... um I mean Great Dane

My teaching partner got a Great Dane named Denali not too long ago.  We have already met it once and the kids seemed to be oblivious to the fact that he can put his head on Emily's lap while she is in her car seat in our van.  He came from a family that had a little kid and a baby so he's been around kids before.  He is for sure a gentle giant. 

We went over to visit again last Tuesday.  The weather was nice and Mike's backyard is perfect for little people to run around in.  Mike has two other dogs, Maggie and Molly, and Sam and Emily just wandered around the yard with all of them.  We of course had to hide the slime covered water bowl and had to watch the cement stairs but it was a good time.

At one point in time Paul had to pick up Emily and he did so by one arm.  Denali apparently thought that she was the newest toy and went over to "play" with her.  She ended up not very happy and with dog slobber all over her arm.  To cheer her up Mike showed us Denali's favorite toy... the lawn mower.  Denali attacks the lawn mower like most dogs do the vacuum cleaner.  Emily thought this was HILARIOUS.  She followed Mike around, who was pushing the lawn mower, cracking up.  When he decided that there was enough barking he put the lawn mower back where it belonged.  Well, Denali and Emily still wanted to play.  The two of them stood by the lawn mower, Emily trying to move it and Denali waiting patiently, for at least ten minutes.  Too cute.

Balloon Boy

For Sam and Emily's first birthday I sent Paul to the store to pick up last minute food and added balloons to the list.  I didn't think he would really pick any up and if I did I wasn't sure what to expect.  Well he did come home with two balloons... one blue and one orange.  We know a store manager and the Broncos had just lost a playoff game the day before and the balloons were free.  I guess I need to be more specific next time.  So we had these balloons and the kids really hadn't been around any before so we didn't know what to expect.  Sam was terrified.  He wanted nothing to do with the balloons.  Emily on the other hand thought they were great.

Well those balloons lasted for at least 3 weeks.  They were just normal balloons but they must have had something added.  We had them FOREVER!  This turned out to be a good thing because those balloons started to grow on Sam.  He slowly warmed up to them and then it became more than just a tolerance, he loved those balloons.  He liked to hold on to the string, hit them and swing them around.  Well finally they popped I let the air out of them.

Well last week our babysitter, Meg, brought over a balloon that she gave her dad for his birthday but he let the kids keep.  Our baby boy is back in balloon love.  He walks ALL over the house holding on to that balloon.  So next time he needs a present I know just what to get him.  That boy loves balloons.

This morning... notice the balloon is quite deflated.  Sam will be feeling the same way soon when we have to get rid of his new favorite toy.



Mother's Day

Mother's Day is a lot like a birthday.  I want to do something fun and different but I don't have any ideas.  I struggle with coming up with the "perfect day", mostly because it would need to be more than 24 hours long.  So here is a list of things I'd like to do to celebrate Mother's Day and what I don't want to do.
I want to:

1. Go to breakfast.  This is one of those things that we rarely, if ever do.  I didn't use to be a breakfast out person but once I go pregnant with Sam and Emily I craved breakfast food.  So, a little breakfast food is a great way to be reminded of those cravings of French toast, eggs, pancakes...  Sam's Club was also out of my coffee syrup so we'll need to get coffee somewhere in the morning.
2. Take a nap.  I'd love to sleep in but it would interfere with going to breakfast.  Luckily during the weekend I can usually get at least one nap a day in.  The last couple of days have been dreary and perfect napping weather.  We will see what tomorrow brings.
3. Snuggle with my babies.  This morning Emily woke up crying at about 6:15.  She normally isn't the first one up and doesn't usually cry when she gets up.  I was able to snuggle with her in our bed and she went back to sleep.  We used to do this a lot when the kids were still little.  We don't get many morning snuggles anymore.  They would much rather be playing than sleeping in bed.  I miss my snuggle time and would love more tomorrow.
4. Do something new with the kids.  I have no idea what this would be or if we'll do anything but I love it when we get to introduce them to something new.  A couple of weeks ago it was feeding the ducks.  They didn't really feed the ducks because Sam ate every piece of bread we gave him to feed to the ducks, but the idea was there.  Then the geese showed up.  I was saying, "Honk, Honk" like the geese and Sam grabbed his nose.  Silly boy... he made the connection to what we've been saying when he grabs our noses.
5. Spend time with my mom. 

I don't want to:

1. Do laundry.
2. Worry about work. (I will have to because I'm probably taking Monday off and I will need to make sub plans.)
3. Clean.  I don't want to pick up or clean cups.  These are two of my least favorite "mom" duties.  I put mom in quotes because Daddy usually cleans all the sippy cups.  I trained him early.
4. Change poopy diapers because it is just not my favorite. 

Mother's Day 2011

15 Months- Emily

Emily

You have graduated from walking to the beginning of a run.  You have dropped your toddling stance and now you walk around swinging your hands.  You have begun to run away from me.  I'm not so excited about this but you think it is pretty great.  You've even started hopping a little when you walk.  You and Sam have also started chasing each other.  You fell the other day onto the corner of a chair while chasing your brother around the ottoman.  Lately you are having more practice walking on uneven ground and you're doing a great job.  You have gotten over your uneasiness on sand and grass which is good since it is almost summertime.  You love to carry around things.  Lately it has been a toy boom box and the fridge magnet farm but you also like to carry around clothes and blankets and shoes.

 You eat pretty well but I'm starting to see more pickiness.. Usually you have your usual breakfast, lunch and dinner and then for sure an afternoon snack. Sometimes, depending on your nap, you have a morning snack too. You really seem to like: Goldfish, anything you can eat out of a pouch, tomatoes, refried and black beans and avocado. You aren't consistent in eating very much meat. I think you are ready for feeding yourself, but I'm not sure our floor is. You love your milk and water. You haven't had much juice, I think just apple juice...once, and you didn't seem to like it much more than your water. You had your last night time bottle on April 5th. As long as you get a little milk from a sippy cup before bed you are happy. You do love sweets. Thanks to Papa and Nana you've had lemon wafers and chocolate cake. You've also had ice cream. You often "yumm" when eating food. You are developing quite a sweet tooth.  You love ice cream and I shared a cupcake with you today.

You like to be outside but not nearly as much as your brother.  In the backyard you go up and down the stairs and play (eat, throw, sort, move, eat) the rocks.  You weren't really sure about the park when we first started going, but you are beginning to really enjoy it. You are happy to walk/crawl all over, go down slides, and ride on the swings. You are starting to play more with your baby dolls but you still LOVE books.  You are really trying to put on socks lately.  You try to put on your own socks and yesterday you were trying to put on mine.  You sometimes will put shoes on too.  You love the play phones and "talk" on them but you won't make a sound when I have you talk to Nana on the real phone.  You love to sit in chairs and you think they all rock. 

You don't say as many words as your brother but you use more signs.  You say:

• Dada
• boon = baloon
• ba = ball and baby
• woof = dog
• Mama = very rarely

You do signs for more, all done, food and help.  You blow kisses but you just hold your hand to your mouth and forget to blow them.   

 

You are noticing all the kids and babies lately.  Our neighbor has a baby that the grandma walks at least once a day.  The other day they were out across the street and you walked down the driveway waving at them.  You also wave at other kids we see out too.  You've started giving hugs as well.  You try to hug Sam but you normally end up pulling him down.  You have been hugging me when I ask and I just love it.  You have found a blanket.  It is green with monkeys on it.  You like to carry it around but you don't have to have it to sleep.  You sleep from 8-7ish and then usually take about an hour nap in the morning and normally a two hour nap in the afternoon. You need more sleep than Sam.  You have definitely become a little girl in the last couple of months (Complete with big girl tantrums).  You are independent and you don't like it when you don't get your way but you have become sweet and loving too.  I can't wait to spend the summer at home!

Picking flowers.

Playing with Maddy.

You often come and sit in my lap.  Most of the time it is because you want me to read a book with you.  Today it was so I would share my food.

 

15 Months

Where has the time gone?  I have started 13 and 14 month posts but by the time I get around to finishing them the next month is here.  I hope to do a 15, 16 and then every other month until you are two years old.  This IS my baby book so I want to make sure I have important things written down.  We shall see how that goes.

Sam
Sam you are really coming into your own this month. (Whatever that means...) Over Spring Break you seemed to make it your goal to walk on your own. Such a determined little boy. You spent your evenings pulling up on the kitchen table chair or the ottoman and walking as far as you could, falling, crawling to the nearest pull up spot and repeating. Because of your hard work you are a full fledged walker! You can walk from room to room and you even stood up in the middle of the floor Friday. I haven't seen it but Meg, the babysitter/nanny, did. You LOVE walking and usually have a big smile on your face. You very rarely crawl and you do so with incredible speed. You do a pretty good job of walking around on uneven ground. You lately can be found walking around the house with Little People in each hand. Speaking of hands... this month you tried coloring for the first time. You did a pretty good job holding onto the crayon and drawing. We need to work on the trying to eat the crayon problem. You also have been doing a lot of stacking lately. We finally got out the blocks that you got for Christmas and you like to stack them. You don't push them together hard enough to get them to stick together but you have time to figure that out.

You still eat really well. Usually you have your usual breakfast, lunch and dinner and then for sure an afternoon snack. Sometimes, depending on your nap, you have a morning snack too. You really seem to like: green beans (the other night we finished a can between the two of us and I didn't get that many), Goldfish, anything you can eat out of a pouch, tomatoes, and avacado. You aren't consistent in eating very much meat. Sometimes you'll eat something like salmon just great and the next time it will all end up on the floor. I think you are ready for feeding yourself, but I'm not sure our floor is. You think it is great to feed the dog and you try to make sure she gets a full meal when you eat. You do a lot better when she is outside. You love your milk. You haven't had much juice, I think just apple juice...once, and you seemed to like that. You had your last night time bottle on April 5th. As long as you get a little milk from a sippy cup before bed you are happy. You do love sweets. Thanks to Papa and Nana you've had lemon wafers and chocolate cake. You've also had ice cream. You often "yumm" when eating food. After we went swimming with Papa and Nana's church on April 1st I shared a donut with you. It had been a while since you had sweets, probably not since your birthday. As soon as I put it in your mouth you let out an enthusiast, "Yum!" Of course I had to share anouther bite. So cute.

You LOVE to be outside. Since most of March was balmy you were able to play a lot outside. You race for the door as soon as it opens and we have to get it closed before you slip outside. Usually it makes you mad and you throw a little bit of a fit if we don't let you out. Once you get outside you just seem to be happy being out there. In the backyard you go up and down the stairs, play (eat, throw, sort, move, eat) the rocks, and throw dirt. You don't like to come either. Sometimes you trick us and act like you are coming in but then turn back around once you reach the door. You really like the park too. You are happy to walk/crawl all over, go down slides, and ride on the swings. Lately you have been loving your Little People farm, your Little Tikes Cozy Coupe, your dog, books and cars. We have been to Bounce! and a birthday party at Little Monkey Bizness where you got to play on some "big" kid toys. You loved it all.

You have become a little chatter box lately. You do a great job of imitating what we say. I would say you know the following words:
Mama
Dada
Mo = more
Ma or sometimes Mada = Maddy
boon = baloon
hi
woof
honk (when you squeeze your nose)
sometimes you say something that sounds like thank you
You occasionally do signs for more, and if you feel like it you wave bye but you'd rather use words than signs.

You are still loving, cuddly and sweet. You love your stuffed animals and will snuggle with them and say, "Aww." You have two lovies that you are starting to carry around, but you don't HAVE to have them when you go to bed. You sleep from 8-7ish and then usually take about an hour nap in the morning and normally a two hour nap in the afternoon. You have grown so much in the past three months. It is amazing what a big boy you are becoming. You are definately all boy. You love to play in the dirt and sand. I can't wait for summer time!

15 Months- Pictures

Words coming soon...