May 2011

Hat days! We're getting lots of outdoor playtime, but that
sun is so strong!



Checking out the Koi fish pond at the Western Colorado Botanical Gardens



The Gardens have an Imagination Garden, complete with dress-up
clothes and castle!

Mother's Day Girl Picture!



Hiking the Serpent's Trail in the Colorado National Monument, a wide-enough trail for a stroller, but, boy, is it steep to push one all the way!



Cute kids!

Funny kids!

Brad and friends took an overnight canoe trip on the Gunnison River.

Grand Valley Marathon...and 5k

Back in high school and college I used to jog for exercise and stress relief. At one point I thought I might like to run a marathon, but I never came to enjoy running enough to make anything that long feasible! Ha! At some point in college I changed to walking and that became my preferred form of exercise for a long time. I thought I'd try jogging again a few times, but each time I felt like I was about to die before finishing one block! But I never took running a race off of my "bucket list"...

 Back in February, I decided it was time to go for it. I downloaded the Couch to 5k training program on my ipod, found a few 5k races and started running. I already had a double jogging stroller that I use for walking with the kids and it works great for running, too.

The Couch to 5k program plans 3 workouts a week, for 9 weeks. The first week I ran for 1 minute, walked for a minute and a half, and repeated 8 times. I honestly felt that running for a 1 minute was maxing me out! I thought I was in better shape than that, but I guess I was wrong! Well, week by week the workouts progressed to more running, less walking, until finally at the end I was able to run 30 minutes straight!

Last Saturday I ran in a local race! The Grand Valley Marathon, Half-Marathon, 10k and 5k was an out and back course, beginning and ending at the town center in Palisade. It was a beautiful day, and I had the best cheering team ever! Brad, Cora and Peter cheered me on at the start, drove to meet me just past the one-mile mark, and then drove back in time to cheer me through the finish line.

My friend, Bridget, also ran the race. I finished at 28:06! My goal was 30 minutes so I was very happy with the time I made. The surprise of the day was that I came in 3rd for the women, 13th overall! I don't think that 28 minutes is normally a 3rd place time, but all you have to do to win 3rd is run raster than all but 2! I guess I did that! Hahaa! We had a good laugh about it and enjoyed the surprise!

Short Cuts

Some people say that major life changes cause women to cut their hair. Well, if that's true what does it mean if a woman cuts not only her hair, but also both her children's hair???

Our Easter picture showcases my new haircut, now almost a month old!

 On Saturday Cora got her hair cut. It was her idea, really. Ever since my haircut she keeps telling me how much she likes it and then she started saying she wanted short hair like mommy. I resisted at first because I really prefer long hair. But I've really been enjoying how simple my hairstyle is now and I realized Cora's hair would probably be a lot simpler to deal with if we cut a few inches off. She was all for it and we've both been much happier each morning at hair-combing time! 

  This is an example of what we had to work through each morning when Cora woke up. It was quite a chore, as you can probably see...

Peter's was not as drastic (or expensive!) Brad used his clippers to trim up Peter's hair - his first hair cut! He had the cutest little curls in the back, just like Cora did at that age and I was avoiding having to cut those off, but now that it's done his hair looks so nice and less unruly. I'm glad we did it. This is before...

This is after.

The back (curls are wet) before.

The back after. Looks nice, doesn't it?

Colorado Living 2010

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A few things to remember #111-120

The bittersweet truth of having young children in one' life is this old adage: "this too shall pass". While it's a comfort during a trying phase to know that it is, in fact, a phase and will pass soon, it's also the subtly sour aftertaste to each moment when a treasure has been offered, but the treasure can only remain in one's heart.

The kind of moments that make you want to be a better person for the sake of that child.

Peter is 18 months, now! A year ago I felt as though we may not make it through his first year, and his first birthday was a true milestone marker if not more for Brad and I than for him. His second year is flying by! Every day Brad and I find ourselves laughing at (ahem, with) Peter and his new, adorable, or naughty antics that he's developing. He is full of personality: sometimes fiesty and sometimes charming; always determined!

I keep thinking lately that there a some cute little habits that both Peter and Cora have right now that I don't ever want to forget. I know someday they'll outgrow them and move past this stage. The "lasts" often go unnoticed, while the "firsts" get celebrated. Most of these are moments that a photo can't capture, and I'm not sure words can either. But I need to try, for my memory's sake. Here's to remembering...


I'm thankful for and want to be able to always recall:
#111. the way Peter lays teddy on my shoulder, then lays his head on teddy like a pillow while I'm cuddling him at bedtimes...

#112. the way Cora runs to me, arms wide open, yelling with joy, "Mooommmmyyyy!!!!" when I pick her up from preschool...

#113. the way Peter pretends to be shy with other adults, turning his head to the side and lifting up his shoulder in a gentle denial of their offered affection...

#114. the way Cora wiggles her head and shoulders when she's trying explain something too quickly while brushing it off as not that important...

#115. the way Brad can make Peter and Cora giggle like no one else can...

#116. the way that Peter obsessively puts on Cora's shoes and proudly walks around the house with them, often over his footy pajamas...

#117. the way Cora talks about herself as a big girl, and that anything in her past (even 2 months ago) was when she was a "little girl"...

#118. the way Peter hums himself to sleep...

#119. something I've nicknamed "The Mummy Walk": it usually happens when Peter is just a tad too tired and something has upset him; he puts his arms out in front of him with limp hands (picture a mummy, right?) and walks his stiff-legged attempt at a run towards me, usually crying- mouth open and eyes closed. If he were wrapped in toilet paper (please don't give him that idea, though!) he really would look like the portrayal of a mummy! While it's a sad moment for him, my mommy (not mummy) heart smiles a tad, because I'm the one he wants in his moment of distress. It's a twisted part of motherhood...I know!

#120. As you can see, we were able to spend some time at the cabin (also with Mom and Dad B.). I'm thankful for that time together, even with the challenges that come with having two youngsters along!