Boulder Bostons

The boys love to hide when daddy comes home and last night they were getting all set up in the Mac Cars Tent! It has now been moved to the basement so we can acutally walk around Richard's room. They certainly love it when daddy comes home although we've been really enjoying some warm weather and getting out to parks during the day. It's fun watching Richard be able to do new things at the playground as he gets bigger and Jake just wants to follow right along.

Jake is at the stage now where he wants to do everything all by himself........get in the car......pour his own cereal...take off his clothes.......boy it's fun! And Richard is finally able to put on his own socks and shoes (probably a little overdue.)

Next week is wear your PJs to school day and Richard can't wait for that one! Jake really wants to go to school too but I told him he needs to get on that potty this summer and then he can go in the fall.

The boys are really playing well these days and I'm glad they have each other. Richard has informed me that he doesn't want another baby around but mommy and daddy will decide that in 2010.

The other picture here is the boys at "Pump it Up" and they sure do love this place. It wears them out like nothing else (me too because Jake can't get through the obstacle course w/out my help.)

Another new year is on the way and Christmas '08 is all wrapped up...or should we say all unwrapped! Richard is confused and keeps asking where his other presents are even though we haven't even fully opened the ones Santa brought. Maybe his favorite present is the movie Chicken Little because he said he was going to write a letter to Santa and say "Dear Santa, Thank you for Chicken Little." Last night he wanted to sleep in the new Mac (Cars) tent Aunt Jan (The McNutts) bought for him. He was too afraid when it came down to it though........we put it in his room for now. Jake likes getting in there too but is so busy playing in his new kitchen and shopping with his new shopping cart that he is all tuckered out by 7 each night. We did mostly video this year so I'll have to show you some recent but goody pictures and we'll take some new shots of them soon with the camera, I promise. Thanks everyone for making it a great Christmas for our boys! They loved it!

The picture of the fence is Richard and Chance - it's an amazing shot and their face expressions are priceless. I hope you can really see them but it's a little hard on the net.

Jake loves wearing the Pirate hat he got at cousin Maddox's b-day party back in May...what a great favor!

We also went to St. Louis for Thanksgiving so this is a shot with Daddy and Richie on the train at the beautiful zoo they have there.

Two posts in one day - look out!
Here are what are new doors look like......it's fantastic! Our new carpet is hard to appreciate over a picture but it sure is great and overdue! Where Richard is standing is right by our front door - a closet. Then, a closet in Jake's room and a view from the hallway upstairs - you get an idea of the new wood trim throughout.

For those of you who haven't seen my two little puppies for Halloween, here they are! They were on the mend of colds but managed to go to about 10 houses. They had a great time!

Also, here is a recent picture of Jake on the swing at the park with Dad with little race guy in hand. Dad took the kids Sat morning so I could CLEAN - our house is still a mess from the remodel but we are loving the new house. I took pictures of the new doors just need to download them.

Also, wanted Mom to see the use of the Steeler jersey - was Richard's - now Jake's. Go Steelers!!!!

Our 3rd annual Glen Eden trip was yet another success. Glen Eden is near Steamboat in a little town called Clark. It's a great tradition we've started with Chris' sister Jenny and husband Ben and their now 4 kids. Here are some shots from our Labor Day Weekend!

I am happy to report I came in third behind the running champs Jenny and Ben Wood in this year's running race up the mountain. We get up early one morning and drive to this one specific trail head and race straight up the mountain to a spot where Ben has dropped a towel or put a marker on the trail (this year it was flour as some hikers took the towel last year.) Once you see the marker, you turn around and race right back down. We go in increments of every 3 minutes so you see, it's pretty organized.

At the cabins, the kids had a blast and Richard and Chance spent most of their time on the play ground there. The weather was nice enough to do some swimming too! I enjoyed the new book I'm reading - Pillars of the Earth- while the kids took turns napping.

If every any of you are looking for a great Labor Day Weekend, you should join us. I'll bet we're there for years and years to come.

On our way out of town, we stop at the alpine slide in Steamboat. There, while waiting, Richard put his cars on display on this doggie's back. Hilarious.

Here is a picture of Chris' brother Jon and Jake at the recent family reunion at Bay Lake Lodge in MN. Jake really took to Jon and let him carry him all around. It was pretty cute.



Here is Richie playing at the playground where we loved going out for pizza in MN. Notice he is holding his car (there is usually one in his hand at all times.)



Lastly, here is one of Richie on his bike. He still does not get the pedals and loves to do the Flinstone thing. Oh well, he'll get it one of these days. He daily wants to ride his bike down the sidewalk past ALL the manholes. You cannot miss one or you get to meet fussy Richard. What I love is when Dad takes him and tries to take his iPhone so he can do work on it while Richard dilly-dallies, Richard tells him "Dad, put your phone away!" It's pretty funny.

Chris and I got away for 3 full days without kids last week believe it or not! We ventured down to the San Luis Valley which is in Southern CO by the Sand Dunes. We stayed at a ranch that is run by the Nature Conservancy with one of Chris' landlords he works for and his brother. The four of us were fully educated about what the Nature Conservancy has done to preserve land in the valley. We really enjoyed hiking and eating some great meals! We hiked to the tallest dune and boy was it fun running down! You feel like you're on the moon. The second day we spent 5 hours on a "safari" to see the bison and birds and wild plant life. It was a really fun experience and a little crazy to be in the vehicle so long. We surely enjoyed our grilled Bison dinner and Bison hamburgers for lunch. Good to know we were eating healthily fed animals.

The boys did really well with Emily but were sure glad to see us when we returned. Of course it helped to have Nana around for the boys. I was really ready to get home on the third day. However, Chris and I really enjoyed the adult time together.

Here it is already July and I realized I missed my June posting. We have been so crazed with the house remodel that I have even forgot to pay a few bills and I even missed one of my massage appointments which NEVER happens. At any rate, I was looking through some old pictures and wanted to post some ones from May and June. I wanted you to see all the 40 bottles of wine Chris got for his birthday for the cellar. I am happy to report the cellar is staying stocked these days.

With the house remodel at a pausing point I realized I need to take some "after" pictures and post them up here. Stay tuned.

Jake took his first steps today at a park. I was jumping up and down like a cheerleader and everyone was watching. I mean he took like 30 steps and was turning corners. It was so fun! I was a proud mama! He did it all day long when we got home. Where are the gates!!!!?????

Richard has had lots of play dates and I am realizing just how chatty he really has become. It's pretty cute. He loves going to the bank so he can have his "purple lollipop" and he also loves riding his bike though he won't push the pedals yet. He is still Flinstone style.

I made it home in May to see my brother in Cleveland. A trip with no kids was a nice break and I enjoyed running by the lake and also seeing Julie and Brad.