Her Laugh!

Boy in a Bath

Parenting Life, Take 2

Yep. Keep that coffee coming.

Parenting Life

This photo about sums up life as of late.

A Message for Uncle Matt

We sent a video to Uncle Matt for his birthday, and then Isaac asked to record one more. I am always entertained by his conversations with people.

Mama's Littlest Helper

Denver Museum of Nature & Science

He Writes

Isaac has really taken an interest in writing words lately. He has been able to spell his own name for quite a while, but now he is expanding his horizons and asking how other words are spelled. Right now I write out what it is he wants to say, and he copies the words. He takes so much pride in his work! Here is a card he made for our neighbor and friend Cassidy for her (half) birthday.

South Boulder: Mamas + Babies Hike

One thing I really love about my community is all of the active families. It is important to me that my children lead active and healthy lives through childhood and beyond, and that we as a family are active together. I want to instill lifelong healthy habits in Isaac and Emma, and I want to connect with them through activity.

But along with activity sometimes comes competition and comparison. I am an inherently competitive person. I grew up participating in sports from a young age, and I was good at them. I was taught to work hard to be the best that I could be. But when you're young and athletically inclined, it is often difficult to separate doing your best from being the best, or at least it was for me. This is where I try to do things differently as a parent of my own children.

I really do want my kids to enjoy sports and activities like I did without the pressure of feeling like they need to be the best at everything they do. I've felt this way right from the beginning, when Isaac and I tried our first parent-tot swimming class when he was a baby. I watched a parent compare their baby to mine, and felt strongly that I wouldn't put that kind of pressure on my kids--and now, four years later, when Isaac is not progressing his skills as quickly as that same child (hey, it's a small town, we see the same families everywhere!), I feel the same way. Swimming lessons shouldn't be competitive; they are about experiencing a healthy, fun activity and learning safety skills in the water. And I make sure Isaac knows that.

Hiking is one of my favorite activities. I get so much enjoyment and peace of mind from being out in nature--from moving outside. Naturally I want my kids to experience that joy too. Having friends with similar values is a big time bonus. Today my friend Alexis and I took our girls for a five-mile hike while our boys were in preschool. We managed to keep the girls in their carriers for the entire hike, which we joked might be the only time it happens (and we were right!). It was a beautiful day and a great hike. Thanks, Alexis!

Isaac + Emma

Watching big brother long jump off the couch. 

Little long jumper.

Sad Emma.

Contemplative Isaac.

RMNP: Winter Hike

We returned again to what has become our go-to hike with the kids: the Cub Lake trail. Today we just wanted to get outside and into the mountains--to be in nature with the kids--and it didn't matter how long or far we hiked, which was good, since Isaac didn't last long in the snow and wind, and Emma hardly tolerated the carrier. She was happiest just sitting right down in the snow on the trail, without moving. Perhaps if she wasn't bundled to the point of being unable to walk, she might have ventured off on her own, but there's no saying for sure. The hike was only an hour or so, and we made it maybe a mile, but it was satisfying just to be out in the park today, in January.

Emma Noelle

This girl lucked out in the eyelash department.

All done!

This happens a lot. She says she's done, she throws her food on the floor, I clean her up and take her out of her chair, and five minutes later she wants to eat again. Both of my kids are this way.

Post-snack dance party. Em and I love our dance parties.

Isaac's Star Wars Birthday Party

We had a birthday celebration for Isaac at our house this weekend. He is crazy about Star Wars right now (That's his daddy's influence), so we chose a Star Wars themed party. Our house was packed with miniature Chewbaccas, Darth Mauls, and Stormtroopers running around, which made Isaac so happy. The kids had fun creating their own missions to destroy star ships. And before cake, they got to crush a Darth Vader pinata, to every boy's delight.

I didn't take many photos, but here are a few I snapped before the party:

A bad photo of the most amazing chocolate ganache cake with buttercream frosting. YUM.

Light saber cupcakes. 

The party was a success! Happy birthday, Isaac Michael!