Colorado Adventures

At the end of June / beginning of July Leah and I were fortunate enough to spend a week visiting our very dear friends, Deborah, Julian, and Kate, in Glenwood Springs, Colorado! We had a fabulous time! The best part was just hanging out together, but as you'll see, we ventured out on some fun excursions, too.

Kate, Deborah, and Leah on a walk

Kate with shades and a gorilla (what was his name?)

Leah adored Big Man - the most kid-friendly cat I've ever met!

Bath time fun times two!!!

Celebrating Leah's 1.5 birthday (I'll admit I realized this after the fact...)

Kate enjoying mint chocolate chip ice cream - this one is for the alumnae magazine!

Leah didn't leave much for mom!

Grocery shopping has never been so much fun (and easy for the moms!)

View of Mt. Sopris from Red Bluffs

We visited a local fish hatchery and the girls had fun feeding the fish. This video is cute - notice the matching outfits!

Feeding the fish was fun, but Leah really wanted to get in the water herself! This summer we can't keep her out of puddles, pools, fountains, and the lake - we love it!

We were so lucky to get the chance to hang out with Shawn and her daughter Quinn during our visit, too. We are so appreciative that they made the trip over the mountains from Loveland! Leah is just 3 months older than Quinn, and they had lots of fun together on a hike up to Hanging Lake. They burned some energy walking to the trail head, babbled to each other (and themselves) from their packs, enjoyed lunch and wading in the lake at the top, slept much of the way down, and shared a post-hike snack of graham crackers and goldfish!

Leah on a mission to get to the trail head

Quinn and Shawn on the trail

Leah looking like she hiked up herself!

Quinn and Leah watching Shawn skinny dip! (Just kidding...)

Leah wading and taking in the view

The three girls!

Gorgeous view from Deborah and Julian's deck

If you can't get enough and want to see all of the pictures from our trip, click here!

Out with the Old, In with the New

Our first summer project (back in June - I've got a lot of catching up to do with the blog...) was to replace our backyard fence. It was certainly in need - there were missing and broken slats and it was leaning way back in some sections. Our work happened to coincide with some other neighborhood work - new windows and siding on the house directly behind us and a new deck for the neighbors next to us. Needless to say, we got to know our neighbors a bit better throughout the process!

The old fence coming down (further...)

No fence at all!

Leah loved climbing on the newly delivered fence sections. She's quite a good little climber - maybe I'll have a partner (and can get back into it) in a couple of years!

The new fence is coming along - great entertainment for Leah's dinner on the deck!

Here's Erik working to get the back panels up. This project certainly tested our practical math abilities. Are the posts in line, exactly 8 feet apart, set deep enough, and level? (In our learning phase(s), we replanted a few...). We also pondered whether or not the fence should be level, staggered, or follow the terrain. Take a look at fences as you drive around - we now have a whole new appreciation!

DaDa Day

We celebrated Father's Day at "camp" with Birdie and Grumps. My dad has finally migrated north, and this was the first time we were really able to spend time with him since he arrived and the busy school year ended. Here's a cute photo of "the dads" wearing their matching shirts. Ha!

The weather wasn't great on Sunday - overcast and off and on showers - and unfortunately there wasn't enough wind for Erik to get out on the windsurfer. But, we did a lot of playing on the beach! Leah (a little nap deprived) was content to lounge in Erik's lap on the swing.

Celebrating Summer!

Just a few cute pics! Summer has arrived, both in terms of the weather and our schedule. For me, classes ended last week. Meetings and professional development are wrapping up this week, and then it will be official! We're looking forward to lots of sunny days to chase bubbles and eat yummy yogurt popsicles!

After hearing so many people recommend it, we finally made it to Wolfe's Neck Farm! We met Cathy and Michael Kirby there on Sunday morning... before the heat was too oppressive. Leah certainly "fit" in this farm (see the "Fitting in the Farm" post below if this doesn't make sense). In fact, she was a bit intimidated by some of the animals - the sights and sounds are not quite like the books you read!

Checking out the goat.

Cathy and MK with a sheep.

Leah petting an Angora rabbit - so soft!

Dad might like the goats, but I couldn't be convienced to pet the Pigme. As you can see below, MK's used to furry, four-legged animals!

Walking with Dad, and headed for the puddle!

Cathy snapped this nice family photo!

Owen's Garden

Owen and Leah are good buddies from day care. Two weekends ago now (yikes... I'm a bit behind on blogging), we visited Owen, Katye, and John at their home for some play time. Fun was had by all exploring the gardens, eating some yummy banana bread and berries, and blowing bubbles!

Fitting in the Farm

Leah is REALLY into animal noises, so it is no surprise that she loves playing with this little farm and the animals that live there. She loves it so much that she wants to do what the animals can! In the first photo she's trying to fit inside the barn - she tried so intently and really felt frustrated that she couldn't fit in all the way. Part of the farm roof acts as a slide for the animals - what will Fisher Price come up with next? Anyway, Leah loves slides and she couldn't resist trying it herself. Again, it didn't occur to her that she was too big. We were really fascinated by her play and the way she related to the space and characters. That sounds very child-psychologist-like.... mostly we thought she was pretty darn cute and funny!

P.S. Don't worry.... the silo was designed to detach!

A Memorable Memorial Day Weekend

Our weather was beautiful for Memorial Day Weekend, and we took full advantage of it! We met the Plummers at our new favorite playground - Riverbank Park in Westbrook! Payson and Leah had lots of fun swinging, sliding, and exploring!

The tire swing made me nervous - I had visions of the girls being funneled through the middle to the wood chips below - but they did a great job holding on! In fact, Leah's "thrill seeker" side came through - she wiggled to rock the tire more, grinning all the while!

I was more relaxed with the "safer" swings.

The big slide was a blast - I don't know who liked it more!

As you'll see in the video, it whips you around at the bottom. Notice the BIG smile on Leah's face!

Leah and Payson were able to do this double slide on their own.

An adorable shot of Payson enjoying her blueberry muffin!

After a snack and a bit more play, we headed home for lunch. We're looking forward to seeing more of the Plummers this summer!

On Saturday afternoon, we headed up to camp to see Birdie, Mimi, Kristin, Emily, and Josh. Earlier in the week, my mom found a great climber / slide for sale and she picked it up for us. It was a HUGE hit - Leah loved sliding (all by herself, of course) and climbing on and under the platform. It's perfect for the beach - we can't wait to make a water slide out of it this summer!

The big chairs are fun for chatting.... and climbing, too.

Watching dad windsurf - brrrr!

Walking back to the slide with my big cousin Emily!

Wading with Mimi!

Reading Nursery Rhymes with Birdie and Dad.

Leah must read nursery rhymes at Kay's house. As she was listening, she consistently made some noises and gestures that we hadn't seen before and didn't recognize. It's so strange that Leah has a whole set of her very own experiences - I wonder how often they intersect in this way for her. It's a puzzle to us. Kay's been on vacation this week, but I can't wait to ask her what they have done reading nursery rhymes.

Watering the plants in the barrel at the top of the drive with Birdie.

Leah's infamous shrug. What she's really saying is, "Phew, what a long post. Who knows when mom will get around to it again?"

Lip Smackin'

Raspberry ice cream in a cone my size!



Blowing kisses - awwh. We snapped this one to put on a 'we'll miss you' card for Simon, Leah's buddy from day care. His last day was today.

Animal Sounds

Celebrating the Big 33!

The weekend of Erik's birthday was packed with activities. On Saturday morning I monitored a face painting booth (staffed by 6th graders) at Waynflete's Spring Fling. We all ended up going - Leah particularly liked looking through the children's books and playing on the Lower School playground! Upon returning home, we remembered that Hall Elementary School (just down the street from our house) was hosting it's 50th Anniversary festivities. We've been wanting to see the inside of the building for a while, so we headed over. We were actually more impressed than we thought we might be - the building is old and run down, but the hallways and classrooms were vibrant and inviting. We happened upon story time in the library where one of my Waynflete colleagues (a visiting teacher from China) was about to read a Chinese story. We also ran into three other couples we know - as the biggest city in Maine, Portland is a pretty small town!

Erik's birthday celebrations were really a treat for all of us! My mom came to Portland for the weekend, and Leah just LOVED playing with her Birdie (if you know my mom, you'll immediately understand why this name fits)! They played in the yard, walked around the neighborhood, went to a playground, and ate some exciting foods (my mom's casserole, jello, and a mini ice cream cone). Spoiled - yep! And so were we! Erik and I enjoyed a delicious sushi dinner in the Old Port and then went out for coffee drinks and dessert. The following morning, we hopped in the car to go on a mountain bike ride. On the way to the trail, we both thought, "Our weekends used to always be this carefree." We wouldn't want to change a thing, but it just makes you appreciate the time together even more.

I sort of surprised Erik with a Norske Lage Kake. Surprise or not, he was so excited about it that he had his first slice at breakfast!



Leah tried some, too. Don't worry, Erik salvaged all the crumbs!



On the Mountain Division Trail in Windham.