Monday, June 20, 2011

Father's Day Hike


We had a wonderful Father's Day. We started the day by going to breakfast and then we headed up to El Dorado Canyon for a hike. The boys did great for such a tough hike. There was definitely some complaining - but we reminded them that Rule #1 was no complaining and that helped for the most part. Ryan melted down at the very end - but it was a long and hard hike and he was really tired at that point. Our hike was at least 4 miles - about 1/2 a mile from the car to the trail head and then a mile and a half up the mountain (almost 1000 feet) and back again. The boys did great and they had a good time (except at the end).





View from the top - the Continental Divide is in the background.



Ryan fell asleep in the car about 2 minutes after we left and then he stayed asleep even after we brought home.

I am so thankful that my husband is such a wonderful father. He always spends his Father's Day doing stuff with his family.

Basement Part 2


The basement has been moving along. I haven't had much to post because the guys have been working on electrical and plumbing stuff, which is difficult to photograph. But today, the drywall arrived, so now we are starting to see some progress. The estimated completion is supposed to be a week from Thursday!

Looking downstairs from the kitchen to the basement.

Another view of the family room area before the drywall.

Back corner of the family room.

View from the landing into the family room.

"Luke's" bedroom - he has already claimed this one, but he won't be moving down here for a few more years.

Everything is moving along. The tile guy is coming tomorrow to start the shower and bathroom. The plumber came again today to move the gas line into the kitchen so that some day I can get a gas stove top again (when we remodel the kitchen, which will be in a few more years). Installing the drywall will take a couple more days, but I think painting will begin on Thursday. We are excited to see it come together and we are looking forward to using the additional space.

Wednesday, June 15, 2011

Downtown Art and Other Things



The boys are taking an art class this week at the Denver Art Museum. Ryan's class is in the morning and it focuses on animals. Luke's class is after lunch and it is called Everyday Art - where they make things out of random stuff. The boys are loving it. They spend some of the time in the museum looking at various things dealing with that day's theme and then they make a couple of art projects each day.
One of the other fun things about their art class is that because they are taking separate classes, I am getting the chance to spend a couple of hours with each boy individually. I spent most of the time yesterday with each boy at the Denver Public Library's children's section. Luke and I played some games on the computer and Ryan and I spent about 2 hours reading several books.
Today, I took each boy to the State Capital building. I climbed the stairs to the top of the dome twice and was reminded each time that I really do have a fear of heights that I always seem to forget about until I'm in middle of it. We walked around the capital building and then climbed to the top. Fortunately (for me), we couldn't walk outside in the dome's balcony due to construction - but we were able to look out the windows and both boys looked down the dome to the rotunda below. After our trips to the capital, we headed back to the library. Luke and I read books. His favorites are Skippyjon Jones and anything by Ronald Dahl (James and the Giant Peach, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, etc). Ryan and I were able to go to story time with a balloon artist. Tomorrow, I plan to take them to the art museum and check out the exhibits that they are not seeing during their art class.
The boys have enjoyed being Downtown - we have been able to eat lunch together at a couple of different places and tomorrow is Food Truck day at the park across the street. They both have enjoyed the structure outside of the art museum and the water features around the complex.


I'm glad I was able to capture getting Ryan smacked in the face when the fountain suddenly shot straight up his face.

Other recent activities: We tried out rock climbing with the boys on Saturday. We took a short little course so Greg and I could get our Belay certification and to learn the basic safety for the boys. Ryan really took right to it and he has asked every day to go again. Luke did ok - he gets easily frustrated and then tends to give up - which is what happened with rock climbing He enjoyed it when he was given a little help to get started, but he needs more practice to boost his confidence.


Luke took this picture of me rock climbing - I couldn't get a picture of Luke because I was his Belay person (not sure the technical term).

This summer has shown me that 5 year old boys still do need to nap sometimes. After a few trying days with them, I started requiring a 3o minute rest time (which they got at school). The first day - they were both asleep withing minutes. Since then, Ryan has fallen asleep every time and Luke spends about half an hour in his room by himself and his books and comes out a new and pleasant person.



I am enjoying my summer with them and I'm starting to realize how fast it is going to fly by. We have something planned almost every week until they start Kindergarten in August. Most of it is fun stuff - like going to Lubbock, a visit from Aunt Conny, Jacob and Olivia, and a short vacation to Yellowstone - but I wish it could last longer - we'll enjoy it while we can.

Saturday, June 11, 2011

The last 5 years...


5 year old boys with Lucy (my parents' dog).

4th birthday

3rd birthday

2 years old.

1 year old babies.

My babies.

Seems like only yesterday.

Happy 5th Birthday!!!!


My babies turned 5 years old on Tuesday. They had a great day - we went to Fatburger for lunch with Nana and Grandad and then they got to go to the toy store and pick out anything they wanted with their very own $10 (Luke got 2 dinosaurs to paint and Ryan picked out a slinky that lights up). That night, we stayed at home and made tacos and had more birthday cake and opened a few more presents.


The boys got brand new LL Bean backpacks from me and Greg - they are all set to start Kindergarten. I've had the same LL Bean backpack that I got in the 9th grade and used all the way through college and grad school (and it is now used when we go to the pool) - maybe theirs will last a long time, too. They also got new PJs and swimtrunks from G-Nanny and Mr. G and a new Wii U-Draw tablet and game from Nana and Grandad.

The rare family picture.

Greg and I have been so blessed with two of the most funny, energetic and healthy children. We are so thankful for them everyday and we can't wait to see them continue to grow and become the persons they are destined to be.

Monday, June 6, 2011

Birthday Party Fun



Ryan and Luke celebrated their 5th birthday on Saturday with their friends from school. They are in 2 separate classes, so that means 2 sets of friends to invite - that equals a lot of kids. We had won a birthday party at the Little Gym at their school's silent auction in April and I am so glad we were able to have it there. I love having parties at my house, but this year things would have been really difficult - due to me still working for another week and the construction going on in our basement. The kids had a blast and it was super easy for us - no set up, no entertaining, and no clean up.




The kids had lots of time to play on their own and together with all of the gymnastics stuff and they also had a few group activities led by their super enthusiastic party leaders.




The boys favorite part is the inflatable bouncing runway.

Getting ready to have cake.

Opening presents was crazy. I wanted them to open their gifts in front of their friends because the boys have been disappointed at other friends' parties when they don't see their friend open up their present. It worked out ok, but I would open them at home if I had to do it again - too many kids times 2 kids opening presents was a bit much - but the gym people did a great job of keeping track of who brought what and writing it down for us.

The birthday cakes: I saw an idea on a food blog recently for a cake that is illustrated by the child on the outside and the inside is a 6 layer rainbow colored cake. I had to use fondant for the first time to make them - but it turned out cute and the boys had a lot of fun decorating their own cakes.
(only pictures I got of the inside)


Luke's cake on the left is of a house with happy clouds and a flying cat. Ryan's cake on the right is of Ironman in blue and Spiderman in red (all drawn with edible food color markers).


They had a lot of fun and I think they turned out pretty cute.


Short video of them decorating.



They had a great party - but I still can't believe that they will be 5 tomorrow!

Friday, June 3, 2011

Last Day of School


Luke and Ryan's last day of school was on Friday. I am so grateful that they have had 2 wonderful years at their great little Montessori preschool. They have grown so much from being 3 year old little boys to almost 5 year old big boys since the time they have been there. They have learned so much and have had so much fun every day. They are now independent and creative little thinkers. Their Montessori training has really given them confidence to do things on their own and take the initiative in many things. I love how their school has taught them to be self-sufficient and given them the skills to do things on their own that I wouldn't have thought a preschooler could do. We will miss their school and their teachers so much, but they are now so excited to head off to Kindergarten next year.







Luke and his teacher, Ms. Michelle.




Luke and Ryan preparing Luke's birthday poster.

Luke's birthday celebration with his class.



Ryan and his teacher, Ms. Kathy.

The boys preparing Ryan's birthday poster.



Ryan's birthday celebration with his class.



Last day of preschool.

First day of school.