Colorado, Part 2

After the wedding, we stayed an extra couple of days to see the sites. First we headed to Boulder to walk down Pearl St. There are loads of shops and street entertainers and the weather was divine.





These musicians were amazing. Felt more like New Orleans or Memphis, than Boulder!



Caught some of it on video...



Evan gives me the stink eye, again.



Then we headed back into Denver to Hammond's Candy. I love these old candy shops that have been around for years and still make their candy the same way they always have. Also, it gave me a chance to stock up on the bribery motivation for my Evan's good behavior on the plane trip home.





It was somewhat of a last minute decision but the small children's museum we planned on going to in the afternoon was closed so we headed up into Estes Park. No children (or Grandmas) were injured in the making of these photos.





**See above disclaimer** I didn't place Evan on the precipice of a cliff. He had just woken up from a nap and was not happy.



We saw surprisingly little wildlife, except a few birds and begging chipmunks.





This is not an Italian squirrel. He no like-ah the pizzelles.



Evan's standing next to a snow marker. They put these on the side of the road so when the plows come through they know where the road is. Insane.



Finally on the way back down the mountain, we spotted this guy.





Gorgeous. I'm going to miss you, Colorado!

Colorado, Part 1

Alicia and I were college roommates way back when email was just taking off, which in my child's eyes will probably one day render me prehistoric. Anyway, Alicia got married a few weeks ago in Colorado. I've been to visit many times since we graduated but now even Alicia has moved to sunny California where her husband was transferred. So knowing this could be one of our last trips to Colorado, it was a tad bittersweet. Thankfully I was pretty well distracted by having a 4 year old with me and a series of unfortunate events that left us carless for two days.

Evan and I were asked to be in the wedding last fall, and thankfully Alicia has spent enough time around young children to know they can be unpredictable. Ok, very unpredictable. Alicia is a smart woman though and she's been buttering up this kid for years! In turn, Evan loves his mysterious Auntie Alicia who sends gifts from afar. I shouldn't have been surprised when he was as enamored in person of both Alicia and James.





While we were in college Alicia would come home with me for smaller holidays and such because a trip back to Colorado was ~1,000 miles. My parents became her Indiana parents. So my mom went with me to celebrate the big day and watch her "other daughter" walk down the aisle. Oh, and help wrangle the kiddo since Dan couldn't join us on the trip.



I forgot just how jam packed the wedding day is. Yet it still feels like it flies by.

Sara and Amy were awesome fellow bridesmaids.



I didn't lug my big camera with me as much on this trip and all the wedding photos were taken with my 8 year old point and shoot, so please excuse the quality here.

It took all of us to figure out the complexities of tying Alicia's gorgeous dress. Where did Evan go?





Evan ended up walking down the aisle with Megumi (flower girl) and her mom, Crystal, which worked out great.







Awesome GQ pose, Ash!



I am so grateful for the number of friends who attended this wedding who helped entertain Evan, especially Jon. Poor guy, he and my friend Emily escaped for a weekend sans kids then got stuck sitting next to mine!





Playing the shoe game. LOVE this!



Evan, totally exhausted, spent the last hour dancing with anyone who would hold him long enough to fall asleep. But Auntie Alicia got showered with kisses instead.



Congratulations, Alicia and James!

Happy Birthday, Dan!

For the past couple of years when Dan has asked me what I want for my birthday, my answer has been, "a clean house." And he's pretty much delivered. Not always BY my birthday, but you know, in the same month. I know, I know, I should ask for something more sparkly or pampering, but if you could see into the past, trust me, this is a better ask.

Dan has the good fortune of having a birthday two months after mine and you know what? He's never once asked me to clean the house for him. Why is that? I'll let the internet universe ponder on that one for a while. All I know is that if it weren't for his birthday, he'd still be wearing the same clothes he had when we met nearly eight years ago. Marriage apparently renders a man unable to buy his own clothes. The tragic part is that I didn't pick up that mantle (for the most part). I read Betty Friedan in college. I just couldn't let four years at university learning to be independent and stubborn, plus another three trying to figure out how to break through the glass ceiling go to waste, now could I? I should think not.

What did I do after getting up on my proverbial soapbox and roaring? I bought Dan a shirt for his birthday. But, but, but, I say! I ALSO bought him this truly nerdalicious board game. It won the 2004 Spiel des Jahres in Germany!

Truth be told, I just don't do well shopping for clothes for other people. I have a hard enough time filling my own closet.

As it turns out, Dan is pretty easy to please. He looks a little nervous here though, doesn't he?



Guess what Dan got from my parents? They match!





Like father, like son.



Happy Birthday, Dan. We love you!

A Day at the Farm

I am so far behind in updating the blog. I'm mostly caught up on editing photos though, so be prepared for the onslaught of summer adventure!

Some friends of ours from church own a farm out in Oldham County, which they somehow manage to run while both working full time jobs and taking care of three kids. I'm tired just thinking about it. For the past few years they've hosted a party on their farm complete with fishing, roasting hot dogs and marshmallows, and goats and chickens running around to entertain us.

Two years ago I managed to distract Evan from the fishing, which was a good thing since I haven't baited a hook in at least 20 years. This year Evan was determined despite my stalling and attempts at distraction. Thankfully, farmer Greg came to the rescue and offered to show Evan how to fish. I am eternally grateful that it didn't come down to me taking on this task.

Evan was thrilled! He caught half a dozen, one right after another.





I took a lot of pictures of the goats. They, in turn, tried to chew my pants.



Unlike my own kiddo who is very much over mommy sticking a camera in his face, the other kids were curious...if only briefly.







I hope Greg and Joshua continue to host this event. The kids have a blast, and if nothing else, it's a good reminder to me that I am indeed a city girl, but a brief escape to the farm is nice now and then.

A Show in Three Acts

I was out of town in early June and my MIL came down for the weekend to see the boys. Apparently Evan pulled out all the stops in entertaining his Nana. I couldn't get him to do this for the camera if I promised him a shopping extravaganza at Toys 'R Us. I started singing the 50 States song to Evan sometime this Spring and apparently he was paying more attention than I thought he was. Dan knew the song too, so maybe he was conducting rehearsals when I wasn't around? I think this is fairly common repertoire for 5th graders, so I'm pretty stoked that my barely 4-year-old has it down. Mississouri and Umont excluded.