Mornings with Sammy

A few weeks ago my friend and neighbor Emily and I happened to be talking and realized that:  a) she was feeling stuck and stressed since her son Sam's preschool will be off for the summer and she will still have to teach her music classes throughout, b) I love babysitting for friends kids, especially when they are as sweet and easy to have around as Sam is, and c) I'm forever broke and always looking for opportunities to make some extra cash.  Hooray!  Perfect fit!

So, we'll have the pleasure of hangin' with Sam a bit this summer and if these last couple of days are any indication of how it's going to go, it's safe to say we are going to have a blast.  Owen is over the moon, since he and Sammy play so well together.  Sammy is a couple of years older but it seems to be a great combination for a couple of little guys like them. I think because Sam is past the toddler phase where absolutely anything and everything has meltdown potential written all over it.  When Owen starts to melt, it just sort of gets smoothed over.  I was amazed this morning that even the couple of times I checked on them in the kids' room, there were absolutely no issues they needed me to help them resolve (and no crazy mess somehow!).  This is so different from the way things normally go...such a starkly different dynamic than we've ever had in the house, for Owen especially.  Even Zoe, who normally gets immediately bored and whiny if there are "no kids my age to play with", seems totally cool with it all.  She was content to sit quietly with me at the kitchen table while the "crazy boys" played upstairs.  At one point, she even chose to sit on our bed and read to herself while the boys played and I puttered downstairs. Lovely! 

Crazy boys

So grown up

When Sammy showed me this get-up, I immediately said "Hey!  You're a walk-in closet!  Get it?  A WALKIN' closet? Ha!"  None of them laughed!  My genius is wasted on these tiny people sometimes.

Moments like this one above and when they are all piled in the car make me so happy.  I grew up with so many siblings and although Nathan and I are definitely done having kids, I sometimes long to have a big crew surrounding me.  I think that's why I love watching friends kids and getting together with neighbors so often.  I get my fix that way.  Hooray for fun times with Sammy!

Keeping the magic alive

Every Christmas, I insist on "Santa paper" and Nathan always kind of laughs at me.  Okay, maybe not out loud (usually) but I always get the sense that he thinks I'm a little goofy for thinking it's so important (be quiet, you know I'm honest and self aware enough to know I'm more than a little goofy but whatever).  Then something happened the other day that prompted me to say to him: "Now do you see why "Santa paper" is so important?"

Let me go back just a bit and explain how I found out the truth about the Easter Bunny.  When I was a kid, on Easter morning each year, we were treated to these awesome hunts for our baskets, with elaborate trails of clues until we finally found them.  As you can imagine, this was quite an undertaking for the poor Easter Bunny since there are 7 kids in our family, all within 10 years of each other.  It's understandable that he might need a hand in making that happen, so when the older kids in my family got to be old enough, they became Easter Bunny helpers...unbeknownst to me of course until.....one year, my clues were written in the unmistakable chicken scratch hand writing of a certain future doctor in our family.  I knew instantly despite the very logical explanation my Mom provided that in order to give us all these cool elaborate hunts, he HAD to ask for help...but you know, I suppose it was time.

Anyway, it's not that I resented it or that it made me sad or anything.  After all, I was able to hang onto the Easter Bunny magic a lot longer than the Santa magic, given the abrupt manner in which my sister told me the truth as she knew it about that particular yearly, middle of the night visitor.  It has made me (together with my stubborn insistence on ruining surprises meant for me and my impressive investigative skills) hyper aware of all the ways in which the magic can and might possibly be ruined for my kids.  So I work kind of hard at not letting that happen...yet.

A couple of days ago, Zoe randomly said: "Mommy.  Tell me the truth.  Did YOU write the fairy notes?"  I was struggling a bit to figure out what was going on in her head because it's been a while since we've done the fairy house thing.  Then she said: "They use the same pens as we do" which made me realize that since she has been using my Sharpies a lot lately, she had made the connection.  I tried explaining by suggesting the fairies could have borrowed our pens to write the notes, but I recognized the look on her face.  She looked like I felt on the inside when I'd made the connection between my Easter basket clues and my brother's handwriting.  Convinced.  I instantly said "No!  Of course not!" and realized I had a big decision to make as she looked me straight in the eyes and said "You promise Mommy?  Really really promise you didn't write those notes?"  I didn't miss a beat.  I looked her straight back into her eyes and promised I hadn't written them.  I'm not ready to take the magic away yet, I know that for sure.  She is only 5.  We only have a couple (if that) more years of this and I want her to live in that magical world as long as possible.  Yes, I love being on the other side of it all and can admit that it's partly for selfish reasons but I don't care.  I've picked a camp and I'm staying put.

For much of the rest of the day, she became obsessed with building a fairy house but still seemed convinced that I had written the notes.  It felt like a test.  Like she wanted to try it one last time to see what would happen.  The maintenance workers here happen to be pruning all the trees right now so we have an endless supply of materials for a few days.  As I worked at breaking sticks and peeling bark, she built the actual house (more like a pile of sticks, bark and leaves that only she can make out as a house but it is lovely of course) I was wracking my brain for the perfect way to attempt to pass the test but it didn't come to me until just before bedtime....

Here is what she found in the morning:

She was beyond excited and I reveled in the sparkle in her eyes as she told me about all the ways in which the house was different in the morning: "See, the bark is pushed out of the way so they must like sleeping on the dirt much better!", "I wonder why they moved the climbing  wall?" and my favorite, "Huh.  They didn't use the bathroom."

Raising Little Heroes: Water For People

14 families, 4 hoses, a big jar of loose change and lots of fresh water made for a beautiful and fun filled morning yesterday at East Boulder Community Park.  I could not have been more pleased with how it all went, which is saying a lot because the expectation I'd set for the project (and myself) was super high.  I'm really proud of this event and even more thankful for all of the help I received in preparation for it as well as actual implementation.  Thank you to Jessica Zeldner for not only being on the committee but for agreeing to help me form and solidify the idea from the very beginning.  Emma Pfister at Water For People was kind enough to invite me to work with her on this idea and I'm excited to say that it will be available on their website for other groups like ours to reference (when I get around to rewriting it that is).  Dan Yankowiak lent his support as an employee of the City Parks Department during the prep stage, even though he's crazy busy these days and Noreen Reeder and Lelsey Switendick offered to be on the committee in order to help us get it off the ground and carry out the presentation.  Last but not least, Jonathan Kosakow of Boulder based company Eco Vessel agreed to match our donation and was emotionally supportive during a particular "oh crap, this is never going to work" moment, even though he didn't need to be at all.  Thank you thank you to all of these people.  There's no way the event would have gone as smoothly as it did without your help and support!

So, here's how it all went down...

Participants were asked to bring with them loose change (at least 1 penny), a favorite "buddy" that they didn't mind getting wet and a small towel.  As they arrived, we asked them to put their change into one of 3 jars (labeled "Community", "Government" and "NGO") and then pick a station to stand near (an empty bin/bucket with play dishes, food and washcloths next to it)

 When everyone had arrived, we asked the kids to imagine that they were a community and that each station was a house.  We walked as a group down to the lake next to their community and talked a bit about the water.  We encouraged them to notice that the water was not the kind that you could take a bath in, drink etc...we talked about what happens when water stays still like that for a long time.  Then we asked them to imagine that this was the only source of water anywhere near their community.

 We then told them that there was a source of fresh water but that it was very far away.  We gave them empty milk jugs and bottles and walked with them to the fresh water source.  We had them fill their jugs and bottles and carry them back to their houses.

After everyone had returned to the community with their water and had some time to wash the dishes, food and their buddies a bit, we talked about how hard it was to carry all of that water all of that way.  We told the kids that in communities like these, it's usually the women and children who have to do that several times a day in order for the community to have safe water, which doesn't leave much time and energy for playing and doing fun stuff.

So, we told them that there are NGO's like Water For People that notice communities like these and want to help.  They come to the communities and ask the local government and community leaders if they want to team up to find a better system for providing the community with safe water.  It's important to team up  because they need to come up with a system that will last even after the NGO leaves.  So, they come up with a plan together and decide that they all need to pitch in some money to build a system.  Noreen, Lesley and I were representing these groups and so the three of us shook hands and took money out of our respective jars of loose change and told the kids that together, we were going to buy a hose.

We brought the group over to a pile of tangled hoses and said that we all needed to work together to get the hoses untangled and hooked up.

Once we got the hose hooked up and working in the community...

...we clapped and cheered and filled up more jugs and bottles and washed more dishes, food and buddies.  After a few chaotic minutes of that, we talked about how much easier it was this way.  We also pointed out that it was really crowded around the hose, and that we thought we could make the system even easier  by hiring a "water supplier" and "water transporters".  So, we "hired" the kids to play these roles and paid them for their work.  We instructed each "worker" to put one coin into the community jar and keep the rest.  We then talked about the importance of hiring "maintenance workers" to fix and maintain the system so that if it breaks they won't be back at square one.  We "hired" some "maintenance workers", put some kinks in the hose and asked them to  fix any problems they could find.  We then paid them and asked them to put one coin into the community jar and keep the rest.

Then we asked anyone who hadn't yet received a job to come forward.  We talked about the fact that now that they have access to more safe water, local farmers will be able to grow more food and not only feed their families, but sell their produce at a profit.  We "hired" "farmers" and "sellers" and gave them apples to "sell" to the other participants.  Again, they were asked to put one coin in the community jar and keep the rest.

Then we said that at this point, the NGO has to leave the community but that with their new skills and the money they are contributing to their community through the new jobs created by this new water system allows for the community and local government to keep the system running indefinitely.  We assured the kids that the NGO continues to monitor the community and steps back in if they are needed but that ideally, things will run smoothly from now on.

Then we told the kids that NGO's like Water For People are always on the lookout for communities in need and that we here at home can support their work by fundraising or donating money.  We discussed ways in which we can do that and helped them come up with the idea of selling lemonade in order to raise funds to donate.  We presented a cooler of lemonade and encouraged the kids to practice selling the lemonade to their parents, talking about Water For People as they did so.

So, there you have it.  All in all, a fantastic morning.  Thanks to all of the families who came out to share the experience with us!  The loose change we all brought added up to a $127.45 donation, which will  be matched by Eco Vessel!

If you would like to see more fabulous pictures of this event, you can find them on our website.

Unexpected

Have you ever experienced a day or moment when things that have long been at the back of your mind as "someday" things suddenly and obnoxiously rush into your face and become "now" things?  When this happens do you, like me, feel a spark of  panic in the reality that time does actually pass and the future eventually does become the present?  Yeah, I had one of those moments today.

Before I tell you about that, let me backtrack just a bit because this morning brought me another kind of unexpected moment.  Perhaps the universe decided to send it my way knowing how the day was going to end for me (if that's the case I owe you, universe).  As I was taking care of my usual morning household duties, Zoe suddenly came rushing down the stairs excitedly telling me that she had "a GREAT idea for getting more people to join Raising Little Heroes!!" she (and Owen) wanted to take some posters and business cards outside and stop anyone passing by to tell them about our group.  She was so excited that I held back my initial feelings of doubt and negativity.  In my head I was thinking: "Well, you can't just randomly stop people like that..people are in a hurry, we shouldn't bother them...no one is going to walk by our apartment at this time of day and if they did, they wouldn't be interested in our group, you are going to be disappointed...." etc.  Thankfully, I instead told her I thought it was a great idea, and she got right down to business, giving Owen the low down about what to say and how to hold up the poster.

It didn't take long for me to realize how absolutely beautiful the whole thing was.  Sure, they were adorable but it was also a moment of clarity for me.  I realized while watching them that so much of what I'm trying to accomplish with this group has to do with being a person that they can be proud of and that is exactly what is happening.  Zoe was telling me what she planned to say to people and she was saying much of the same things that I've been saying in times when I didn't realize she was listening.  She was poised and ready and even set up a little table so they could look more official.

At this point, I was still trying to get stuff done, going in and out of the house but the two of them stayed out there, eyes peeled for passersby.   When I finished up my stuff, I told Zoe I was coming to join them and she said "Oh good, Mommy.  You gotta get out here and help because...I mean, how are you so good at this??"  I smothered her with kisses and gratitude and gave her some pointers just in time to greet the first kind soul who listened intently to her spiel, took a business card and thanked her for the information before continuing on with his day.

The look of pride on her face as she came running back to me was the most heart warming thing I've experienced in a long time.  For the next 45 minutes, we sat there waiting and she and Owen gave out 4 more cards to 4 more kind souls.  I couldn't stop telling her how proud I was of her.  Later in the morning I told her that when I first got my business cards I realized I had no idea what to do with them.  I couldn't imagine just stopping people randomly like that, telling them about our group and giving them a business card so I was afraid I'd never end up giving any out.  I told her that her motivation and courage gave me more motivation and courage and that I was feeling really thankful for that and her.

Which brings me back to the end of today....this evening, I went to BCSIS (Zoe's school next year) for a Kindergarten meeting.  I'd been looking forward to this meeting because we are all excited about next year at this school.  It's a wonderful, arts-integrated, Waldorf inspired school that anyone I've ever talked to with first hand experience absolutely gushes about.  Zoe has good friends who go there, she is really excited about starting Kindergarten...all in all, the makings of new, fun, exciting stuff.  SO, how shocked can you imagine I was to realize upon entering and seeing the long halls and many classrooms (in other words, BIG KID SCHOOL) that I'm totally freaked out about it!!??  This feeling was so unexpected that I spent most of the informational meeting inside my own head, hardly listening to anything the incredible teacher and returning parents were saying.  On top of the preoccupation with wondering how Zoe will adjust, I was already mourning the loss of this school in our lives after we move away!  Never in my life has a year seemed like a blink of an eye before it's even happened but that is what is happening to me lately (not just today by the way...lately I'm becoming increasingly panicked about the idea of leaving).  Anyway, while I was totally freaking out (I realized when I left that my jaw and teeth were actually a little sore because I'd been clenching them the whole time) I did manage to keep in mind the realistic side of things:  a) this school is right up Zoe's alley, b) she has a good friend from preschool in her class, c) she is ready and excited and so I do feel good about the near future overall.  Mostly I guess I just can't believe that this is the beginning of spending less and less time with my best gal....*sigh*

In honor of my big girl, I decided about halfway through the meeting that I was going to take the lesson she taught me this morning to heart and go outside of my comfort zone.  When the "any questions?" time of the meeting rolled around, I immediately (and nervously) raised my hand to ask if it would be okay to throw in a shameless  plug.  I then proceeded to tell the group about Raising Little Heroes and passed around my business cards.  Everyone in the room, including the teacher took one. 

Raising Little Heroes

 For most of my adult life, I have been searching for ways to contribute to society in a meaningful way.  Although I’d tried many avenues, I never felt like I was doing enough.  In addition, I have this wish for my children: that they will grow into compassionate adults who know everything and everyone is connected and we should all be doing our best to take care of each other and the world in which we live.  As my children were growing before my very eyes, I was all too aware of the fact that I wasn’t doing anything tangible to help make this wish come true because I was waiting to have more time, more money and more energy.  Then one day I realized I didn’t want to be teaching my kids that being generous is something you do when it’s convenient for you.  What if we never felt financially secure?  I decided to stop waiting and asked some friends if they felt the same way.

We started as a handful of families, coming together once a month to take on a project we could do for little to no money.  We baked homemade goodies for our local firefighters during the summer when Colorado was suffering from seemingly endless wildfires, we made blankets for children in need and we helped the local food bank with their annual food drive.  Word quickly spread around our city about what we were doing and I suddenly started getting emails from people I’d never met and from all walks of life asking to be a part of our group.  The response was overwhelmingly enthusiastic as our little group grew from 11 families to 60 in 2 weeks.  We now offer projects in 3 major areas of interest:  Human, Environmental and Animal.

One of the things I feel most proud of is the exposure we are providing for our kids in the beginning of their lives.  We know it’s much easier to learn to play a musical instrument or speak another language if you are immersed in that world when you are young.   I believe this principle also applies to what our Raising Little Heroes families are trying to accomplish.  Our hope is that if we do these things regularly with our children from the time they are born, these values we so cherish will be woven into the fabric of their life journey into adulthood.

Raising Little Heroes also offers a community building aspect often lost in this age of technology.  There is a peacefulness that comes with knowing your neighbors and having a group of people to get together with once in a while who share your interests.  Raising Little Heroes tackles great, kid-friendly projects while fostering a sense of belonging and knowledge of community.  It’s good for the kids, but also positively impacts the adults by igniting a passion for volunteer work while creating community and social connections.  What better way to light the fire than to contribute to society knowing you are setting a great example for your kids as you do so?

We offer unique opportunities as often as we can.  We know each person is able to give back in different ways.  For some, giving money is easiest and most fulfilling while for others giving time is more satisfying and doable.  We strive to find projects at little to no cost and if they do involve money we work hard to make it possible for all families to participate regardless of their financial situation.  Each piece is equally important and helpful and we want to encourage families to participate in any way they wish.

So, whether it’s the 8 year old who is helping pull weeds at our adopted park or the 2 year old who draws a cheerful picture for a family affected by a natural disaster; the infant who inspires her parents to get out there and do something to help make this world a better place or the parent who holds a new mother’s baby so that mother can take 10  minutes to sort food donations; or, the pregnant soon to be first time mother, who lovingly makes a blanket for a baby in the NICU while chatting with other parents about what’s ahead for her on the new journey she’s about to embark on.  There is something for all of us, a way to contribute regardless of how much.  Join us in our efforts to help strengthen our community in hopes of raising compassionate, caring little heroes. 

My friend Katie

This post is part of Water For People's #ChangeTheWorld campaign

Meet my outstanding friend, Katie. 

Katie is, quite possibly, the most friendly, kind and generous person I've ever known.  I feel grateful to be able to consider her a friend.  She is a devoted mother, raising her 3 girls (and another little one on the way) with her heart and soul.  She has a passion for connecting with people and greets every new face with a smile and an acceptance that I can't quite describe.

Katie grew up in Grass Valley, California (Northern California) but when she was in high school, she and her family took frequent summer trips to Portland, Oregon.  Ever since those trips to Portland, she has been particularly drawn to those less fortunate than herself.  During that time, she spent time with old family friends Lynn and Dan Griffith, who had started an organization in Portland called "Blanket Coverage" that goes around the city at night, literally covering people sleeping outside in the cold with blankets.  They are not striving to change "the system", only to give those people who are cold and lonely some warmth and compassion.  Watching and working with this selfless devotion, seeing how Lynn and Dan value people and the individual in every walk of life, left an impression on Katie that has never left her.  After high school, she went to Wheaton to study Anthropology with the goal of working overseas, focusing on cross-cultural relations and working with the poor.

Like Lynn and Dan, Katie is drawn to grassroots stuff as opposed to larger, established organizations.  Connecting to people on a relational, individual level is what moves and motivates Katie.  She feels that all levels of work and commitment are invaluable and that each of us has unique strengths and visions that need to be respected in order for the big picture of change to occur, and that her place in this picture is at the most intimate, human level.

Katie moved to Boulder in 2006 with her family, and felt a need to reach out to the homeless population of nearly 900 individuals.  About a year after their move to a new city, and while pregnant with her third child (Ruthie), Katie, her husband Mitch and their two young girls (Josie and Anna) started reaching out by making dinner and taking it to people who looked hungry.  It wasn't uncommon for the small family to make a big pot of soup, load it into their red wagon and walk down the Boulder Creek Path, sharing warm food and friendly conversation.  They didn't do this once a winter or here and there, they did it consistently with the intention of getting to know people and proving that they could be depended upon.  Not just for food, but for connection, respect and friendship.  Over the years, these relationships have allowed Katie and her family to more easily see the specific needs of specific individuals and they now provide support on even deeper, more rich levels.  Recently, Katie and her family were able to provide temporary shelter for a pregnant, homeless friend.  They took her in at the end of her pregnancy, offering their home as a peaceful setting for a midwife assisted birth and fed and nourished her in the first week of her new life with her baby.  After their friend and her new baby left their home, Katie worked together with a system of supporters to provide meals for the new mother for a time after the birth.  They continue to communicate on a regular basis and provide emotional support whenever needed.  Katie knows that she would not have been able to provide this comfort for her friend if she hadn't taken the time to get to know the homeless community intimately.

One morning over a cup of tea, I asked Katie a lot of questions about her inclusion of her young children in her work (Now ages 7, 6 and 4).  I think that many of us, despite our best intentions, shy away from approaching the homeless because we fear them.  We hear many stories about drug abuse and violence and those stories are hard to ignore, especially when we have our precious children in tow.  If we are hesitant as adult individuals, add in the protective instincts we have for our children and there's not much more we can muster other than the sporadic donation of spare change.  The truth is though, that drug abuse and violence exist in almost all circles.  The key to steering clear of dangerous situations is knowledge and familiarity and getting to know people is the best way to gain that.  She stressed to me that this knowledge and familiarity is not something that happens overnight, but that small steps in a specific direction lead to trust and fears (on both sides) eventually breaking down.   While she acknowledges that she stays vigilant:  telling the kids to stick close by her, always having an eye on them, keeping her ears and eyes open for signals to whisk the kids away at any given moment and being sure to stay in public places where there is a strong police presence, Katie maintains that she almost always feels safe and protected while spending time with her homeless friends.  She and her family are such a constant presence that a number of her homeless friends are able to let her know of possible dangers before she even has a chance to sense anything.  In many cases, they are her first protection.

Many parents might choose to focus on the influences children in this situation are exposed to.  Katie admitted that she probably has a higher threshold for things like swearing, for instance, but I specifically asked her if she worries about the exposure to the drug culture, since it is something that I know many of us worry about.  She said that mostly, the kids don't even notice the colorful language (or use it themselves) and consequences of drug addiction but that if and when they do, Katie and Mitch are sure to talk it all through carefully with the girls at home.  Through these conversations, it has become clear to Katie that the kids don't idealize the drug culture but see the pain surrounding it, which leads to sympathy and a natural inclination to exercise compassion.

This approach is certainly not for all of us but for those like Katie who deeply believe in the importance of human connection it is extremely meaningful.  For Katie, it is not only significant for her own individual life journey but for her parenting journey as well.  She sees and hears the results of her work every day through her girls.  They end each day with a prayer for those friends who do not have a roof over their heads or a guaranteed meal.  She proudly watches them take on time consuming tasks at the shelter without being asked and swims in the warmth of their smiles and giggles while sharing a meal with people who would otherwise be alone.  These are just some of the many reasons she never questions the work she is doing.

If you would like to join Katie in her efforts, she encourages and reminds you to start small.  If you feel compelled to get to know a group of people, but are feeling nervous she suggests just sitting and observing for a few weeks.  Get to know the culture, the tendencies, the possible dangers and the needs before approaching and when you do approach, go with someone who is familiar with the culture.  Volunteer to serve a meal and then go back...again and again and again.  Watch and listen.  Be kind and reserve judgment.

Katie is the volunteer coordinator for BOHO (Boulder Outreach for Homeless Overflow) here in Boulder, which provides shelter throughout the winter months (Emergency Warming Centers) at various congregations around the city.  Although their focus is on shelter, most nights there is also food to share, which is either donated by the congregations or provided by an organization called FEED (Friends Encouraging Eating Daily).  FEED provides food at the BOHO warming centers whenever possible, and they also offer Saturday meals (at noon) during the summer months by the main branch of the Boulder Public Library.. If you are interested in volunteering with BOHO or FEED, you can email Katie directly for information.


Maybe you can already sense this, but I have a tremendous amount of respect for Katie and the work she does.  Although our passions lie in different areas, her devotion to hers inspires me to focus and work harder for the things I believe in deep in my heart.  Thank you for everything you do, Katie.

CrAzY CoLoRaDo

If you are friends with me on Facebook, no doubt you are really tired of my snow picture posts and believe me, so am I.  Every time it snows I tell myself to resist the urge to take a picture and post it but I can't resist--it's baffling!  I know that historically, March and April are Colorado's snowiest months but still...I also know that all of this Spring snowfall will help with the drought (although I read we are still not out of the woods in that regard, despite the weekly dumps this month), but STILL....we did have a very pleasant winter at our house, but at the tail end here it seems we've all developed cabin fever.  I think we got that taste of Spring when it started warming up and just didn't want to put our coats and shoes back on and keep the doors closed.  Owen has turned into a stereotypical 2 1/2 year old boy seemingly overnight.  Yes, I'm aware that I've said this before but I'm finding that, similar to when Zoe was in this stage, it seems to get worse and wor--I  mean, more and more magical, enlightening, humbling, hilarious, torturous, confusing, character building and typical every month or so.  Some days I swear if I could just go 10 minutes without hearing Zoe say "O-WEN!!!" from the other room, or come running to me crying because he's pulled her hair, hit her, knocked her carefully constructed set up of "buddies" over, stolen her musical instrument or is copying everything she is saying I could add years to my life.  I cannot wait until we can open the doors and let the little bugger run around hitting trees with sticks and pulling the grass instead of taking that pent up energy out on our poor defeated bodies and souls. *sigh*

Today, I realized that this last snowfall might very well be our last for the year and I've been horrible about taking the kids sledding.  It's not really my fault because taking them sledding can be pretty torturous.  Zoe likes to sled if she's in a good mood, but Owen is at a stage in which many things make him nervous and sledding has been one of those things this year.  It was hard enough when Nathan and I took them together once so I never ever ever found the energy to give it a try on my own.  Today was so  beautiful though and since our sledding hill is pretty much right across the street from us, I decided to give it one last go.  I figured if it didn't work out, at least it was warm enough to not have to add being freezing cold on top of it all.  I can say that I'm glad we tried it, but I also have to admit that it was almost a total  bust.  I say almost because Zoe went down a few times and Owen and I successfully went down together once.  When I tried to get him to go down again though, he threw a fit and refused to believe me when I reminded him that just 3 minutes before, he had gone down the hill  laughing hysterically and yelling "YAHOOOOO!".  Zoe starting whining "I'm tired of walking" after run #3 so we officially bagged it and played at the playground for a bit before heading home.  Oh well!  Hopefully, winter is now thoroughly convinced that I've done my best to enjoy it and will give us a break for a few months.

Scott Carpenter, aka "The Rocketship" Park

I have a picture of Zoe doing this from when we first moved here.  Crazy.

I don't know what you call these things...they make your voice sound kind of tinny when you sit  between them and talk

If nothing else, the venture out helped with the cabin fever problem.  We seemed to get along a bit better than we have been after getting back.  The kids picked out a bag of marshmallows at the grocery store yesterday for their treat this week, so today after lunch they built some stuff with toothpicks and marshmallows.  Zoe seemed to vaguely remember doing this a couple of years ago  because she quietly said a couple  of times: "Wow,  we haven't done this in a really long time..." which is weird to me.

Owen made a ballerina and was asking it all kinds of kooky questions before munching the marshmallows off the toothpicks..."Bowahweena?  Weah is da paint?  Oh! Sank you!" munch  Huh?  Weirdo

Zoe made this!  I was really proud of her, although she "hates" it because it didn't look exactly like the one I'd made as a model for her.  I think she finally started believing me after the 3rd or so time I explained that this is a difficult skill to master and this was really awesome for her first attempt.  That kid is really going places, I think!

The forecast is looking pretty perfect for the next week or so, so we are all excited.  Thanks for the lovely time, Boulder Winter!  On to Boulder Spring and Summer!  Hooray!