Eat Much

Thank goodness Juliet is betrothed to Patrick Duffy as it makes me think that perhaps manners don't matter so much? Just another week in life of Juliet dining...

total waste of a cookie....

"Hm, this buttered pasta is al dente, just as I ordered."

This is proof of our amazing parenting skills; almost naked dinner attire,  complete meltdown, not strapped into the booster seat, food every where and a beer in her hands...

Yes, Juliet does have clothes and we did pack them on vacation. I have no answer for why she was naked eating yet again. If you look closely you will see the ice cream streaming down her face.

I suppose that is one way to eat your popcorn....

Colorado 2012

It isn't possible to have a bad trip to the cabin. This year was no exception. We didn't even let a raging ear infection (Juliet), a no show (Vivian), a houseguest (Molly) or a crooked bench (Dad and Mark) ruin the fun. As for Vivian, we did miss you dearly!!!

Super Girl and Papa swinging at the Allenspark park. And my park I mean the playground equipment behind the fire station. Truth be told I think Amelia was more into the fact that she got to go right up to a firetruck and touch one.

Baby J and her Big Jay shirt may be awfully cute which is really good since we almost got off the plane with just one daughter. I suppose you can't blame Juliet for screaming the entire flight to Colorado as she had just been diagnosed with yet another ear infection.

The first half of vacation we all learned to get Juliet whatever she wanted as soon as she wanted it. There were few things that made her happy and we would all drop whatever we were doing if we thought there was a chance to make her happy. Bowls of water on the cabin deck finally got smiles out of her!

Perhaps she was teething as well as she would scream for cold beer cans and walk around with them in her mouth. I wouldn't know if she actually was getting teeth as I am not getting my fingers anywhere near her Jaws like mouth...

As for Amelia she was a pretty perfect little traveler. I am one of two girls so I know the game. If your sister is misbehaving and getting in trouble you turn on the charm so you can be complemented for being SO well behaved. Amelia has learned this game and was nothing but sunshine and well manners while Juliet tested our patience... And I love this little picture as Amelia's hair is starting to grow in a little more and I'm obsessed with the color. She gets lots of compliments on her hair color and has learned to eat up that attention. My favorite response is when she says, "I know. I am so lucky to have red hair. It is the same color as EE's." Strangers of course have no idea who EE is which makes it even cuter to me... 

Amelia has been waiting for a full year to go back to the Allenspark 4th of July parade. The firetrucks spraying water and the copius amounts of candy make for one happy little girl. We got decked out in our holiday beads, patriotic colors and flags and made our way into "town."

Preface, my dad stayed back at the cabin to wait for a new mattress to be delivered and to work on a new bench he and Mark were building (more on that one later). Mark looks irritated but really he couldn't have been happier  to spend his 4th with five ladies; his lovely wife, Merrill, two daughters and MOLLY HAND! 

Yeah! I miss Molly so much since she moved to Boulder. But at least if  she lives outside of Chicago it is in Boulder where I can see her when we go to the cabin. Molly braved the Allenspark 4th parade, a day at the cabin and even stuck around for the night. Miss you girl, but can't think of a greater town to be in and we will certainly see you back in the Rockies!

action shot of returning with candy

Yes, I'm grumpy! I was happily asleep in the carrier and woke up to a bunch of people, candy you won't let me eat, a bandana around my belt loops and a big red hat....

now this hike took all day :)

The girls LOVE the swing at the cabin. Sharing isn't something they excel at right now and on vacation who has the time to teach such lessons to their children? Um, not me. SO thank goodness they could both fit in the swing together.

Papa needs a little help with pushing the swing straight. This is no Chicago park swing that can't go really any direction but straight. This swing takes a little more skill which Papa can practice for next summer :)

and for the bench... I don't know where the original Preacher's Perch bench came from but what I do know is that my entire life we have been honored forced to go out there once a summer and take a family picture. Mark took it upon himself to break the historic bench last summer. Amelia didn't forget it and throughout the year pulls out comments such as, "my bench that daddy broke." Have no fear Amelia, Papa decided we couldn't possibly go a summer without "the bench." After some whiskey and napkin sketches Papa had a design. Just being honest, building it seemed to take a really long time and perhaps they (being dad and Mark) couldn't find a level when they were building it. I suppose the original one wasn't particularly an example of fine craftsmanship so why should the replacement... I look forward to seeing the picture of Uncle Dan and Sarah on the bench in August :)

Nash-e-Ville

I got to spend a weekend in "Nash-e-Ville" (as Amelia calls it) in June with my Kansas girls. In this phase of my life I don't spend nearly as much time with friends as I wish but it does amaze me that when we get together it seems like hardly anytime has passed. In reality we are pushing 15 years for when we all started to meet Freshman year at KU. Opryland Hotel, lazy pool time, fun country music and the AWESOME company made for a great weekend. Love you girls, miss you already and especially miss all of you who couldn't join us.

Urban Gardeners

Who knew planting our extent of a "garden" could turn into such an enormous mess...