Bein' Bold and Gettin' Old

This week was an exercise in bein' bold and gettin' old.

First, gettin' old.

The class of 2022 (wha--whaaaatttt?!) graduated from preschool on Friday. They were adorable, silly, looking-too-old-to-be-our-children, and sad. Sad that they "won't even see our friends every single day anymore!" and sad that they "won't even get to sit by ____ every day at circle time ever never again!".

Isabel loved the graduation flower we gave her. Milo? Not so much.

The greatest preschool teacher ever (seriously), Mrs. Bonnema, giving Milo his diploma.

Isabel trying to get away with a side hug. Mrs. Bonnema put the hammer down and insisted on a "real" hug. :)

My four faves.

Keeler was pretty bummed that they didn't all wear "Peter Potter Costumes". Milo was so worried that they would have to wear those dreaded "Peter Potter Costumes". Also known as a cap & gown. Or, apparently, in his mind--something resembling Harry Potter's garb.

Enjoying the preschool picnic with Daddy.

Next, bein’ bold.

Yesterday I ran in the Bolder Boulder. Finished only 2 seconds slower than last year and felt better coming across the finish line. Next year, I’ll try for breaking 50 min. Now, if you haven’t heard, it’s only the greatest 10K ever. Bands all along the way. Belly dancers at TWO different points. Spectators galore. 55,000+ runners. Need more proof? Here are some highlights:

• Getting passed by a guy wearing butterfly wings. Slightly humilating? Yes. Funny? Definitely.
• Seeing fools jump off the course to tear down the slip ‘n slide in one of the yards along the course.
• Seeing a GIANT sign that says “BACON: The other PowerBar!” and the accompanying folks cooking up bacon and attempting to pass it out around mile 5 (not many takers in my wave of runners).
• Finishing with a lap around a very full and loud Folsom Field (where the CU Buffs play).
• Running past drunk (at 7am) frat boys holding up vulgar signs and whooping and hollerin' at all the ladies.
• Sharing the excitement with all of the kiddos.
  

Now, further photographic evidence of the afflication which my children suffer each time a camera is near. Please see Isabel (above) and Milo (below). Sheesh.
After all of the faces Keeler was pulling in that previous post, I worry that we may never have an acceptable family photo again. ;)

Keeler loved walking around the expo afterwards in the sling checking everything out. Some funny older man (who had run the race too and should know better) asked me, in all honesty, "Did you run with him in that thing?!". Um, no.

This is how we roll.

This is how we roll.

First, we run. In a 1/2 mile kids' run at the Fit Family 5 Festival in Estes Park that is.
We get out our summer hats. This Rocky Mountain sun can be intense! Some mornings--like this one--we might have to combine a little fleece with our summer hats.

We visit one of the many fab visitors' centers in RMNP and rock the pioneer costumes and we even ask our mom to take our picture "like husband and wife".

We climb every rock in our path. Or next to our path or any where near our path...especially as we walk around Sprague Lake in Rocky Mountain National Park.

We (being Sage and me) brave a midday-midweek adventure to the mountains (Viestenz-Smith Park in Big Thompson Canyon). Two moms, five kids, and two slings. We rocked it.

We make ridiculous faces every time someone tries to take our picture. Sometimes, the faces are intentional.

We love, love, love our slings. and our yummy perfect-for-Colorado muslin blankets.

We play in the river (over and over again--never tire of it) and quake in our flip flops at Porter's impression of a ferocious dinosaur.

We play in the river some more. Even when it's a wee bit chilly. (This time with all of the Pierces.)

We put up with our mom's "picnic in the canyon" even though we know that it is simply an excuse to bust out the s'mores already!!

(Again!!) We make ridiculous faces every time a camera is around.

We work on acting silly like a big kid--as opposed to the silliness of little kids. You know what I mean right? 5 years old is already moving us quickly into big kid territory.

Walkin', Lovin', Hearin'

Walkin'
When the weather is nice (read: not freezing, snowing, or raining), we try to take the kids on some sort of walk or bike ride every day. There is so much to be said for allowing them to just run, walk, or ride--feeling the breeze, smelling the air, and enjoying the sunshine. Sometimes, it's just around the block. Other days, we feel a little more ambitious. Thursday was one of the latter. We drove down to Grandma Kim and Grandpa Manuel's house and went for a nature walk around the lake just off their property.

Approaching a group of fishermen. Milo asked me "Mom, do they put fishy toys on the ends of their fishing poles?" You know. To lure the fish. I mean really, who wouldn't hop onto the end of a fishing pole if a toy were being dangled? So cute how their little minds translate the world.

Milo splashing and crackin' himself up.

Wading in. Note that Isabel's skirt is already wet. I swear she would wade in up to her NECK without realizing it. She was on a hunt--find the biggest rock to throw!

Leaving Mommy and Keeler in the dust as they race to the launching ramp (nonmotorized boats only, thank you).

Milo following the trail south the other end of the lake to look for "nature treasures".

Isabel's "nature treasures". These were all put in a giant old canning jar that is now the centerpiece on our kitchen table.

Lovin'

Friday was the Mother's Day Tea at preschool. The kids gave us corsages, sang a few songs (of their choosing and including a Halloween song--no joke), served us snacks, and were generally hilarious.


Holding up the tiles they made for Mother's Day. Note my TWO paper corsages. "For when you get married!" said one of the little boys in their class. Nevermind that his mom is already married. To his dad.

The lovely spread--served up by I&M. They were HILARIOUS. "Can I get you anything else?"

Isabel's wrapping paper--I had to take this picture so fast because she was already ripping the paper off the tile!

Once I got Milo's wrapping paper off and looked at the entire pictureI could see that it was a picture of him holding Keeler. :) (All those lines across his chest--Keeler's limbs!) That boy loves his brother.

Hearin'
Turns out that this super-happy-face-pullin'-baby can hear. Out of his right ear at least. He still has not passed a hearing screen on the left. We're gettin' there though. We'll see an ENT in a few weeks and they'll see if they can figure out if he can or cannot hear out of that ear and if all looks structurally normal. As you can see, Keeler thinks this is fantabulous news.

The Many Faces of Keeler and Hippie Haystacks

This weekend, after Keeler's birthmom told us about the difficult weekend she was having, we decided to try to catch one of his killer smiles and post the picture on the private blog we have set up for her.

Well, Keeler had other plans for this photo shoot. Please see the evidence below.

Almost. Not quite a smile.
I swear that this is the look on his face 75% of the time. He is a very intent baby (and appears to be a little suspicious of our activities).

This could be what he REALLY thinks of us posing him on the couch and making ridiculous noises and faces at him.

Dr. Evil. That's all I can say.

Hilarious. Again, that's all I can say.

Tonight for Family Home Evening, we made cookies. Spencer affectionately referred to them as "Hippie Haystacks". Well, he can call them whatever he wants because they were so good!! We're definitely making these again and heads up Abbie because they are egg-free! :)

~

Oatmeal Chocolate Chip (or raisin) Cookies

By Terry Walters, Clean Food Cookbook

2 cups rolled oats

1 cup unbleached white flour or brown rice flour (I used 1/2 cup whole wheat and 1/2 cup white)

3/4 cup shredded coconut

1 tablespoon cinnamon (yes, a TABLESPOON)

1/4 teaspoon salt

3/4 cup maple syrup (or agave nectar)

1/2 cup canola oil

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 cup toasted walnuts, chopped (optional--I used 1/2 cup of dried cranberries instead)

1/2 cup dark chocolate chips or raisins

Oven: 350ºF / 180ºC

~

Combine oats, flour, coconut, cinnamon and salt. In a separate bowl whisk syrup, oil and vanilla. Pour wet ingredients into dry and combine. Fold in nuts and chips/raisins. Press dough together into small balls and place onto parchment-lined cookie sheets. Bake 14-16 minutes or until lightly browned.

~

Now, DON'T PANIC. The dough is super crumbly. Just do your best to smoosh it together and rinse your hands often. When you're done, they will totally come together and look like real cookies, I swear.

~

Also, I found a link to this recipe on my favorite non-family-or-friends blog, SouleMama. If you haven't read her book, The Creative Family, you totally should. So inspiring and lovely. :)