Mountain Fun

Ashlyn had a great first week at school. She came home everyday in such a great mood. She has made lots of friends and already adores her teacher. One of her friends that she went to her old school with goes there too. She was very excited to see her in her class. I am really liking the Montessori method so far. It really teaches kids to be responsible for themselves. They must finish an activity and put it away before starting something new. Joey and I were noticing after the first day Ashlyn was picking up after herself without being asked. I can't wait to see what else she learns this year.

We spent another weekend at the cabin As usual we had an absolute blast! Katy agreed to watch Dawson for a little bit on Saturday, and we took a ride on the Prowler up Tincup Pass. I had never been before and it was just beautiful. Ashlyn really liked it too. We are planning on going up there Labor Day weekend for what will probably be our last time for the summer. We will sure miss it this winter!

I am in the process of training for my first half marathon with my sister. I am so unbelievably excited about it. The race is October 8th. Last week, I faced my first running injury. As I log more miles, I become more susceptible to injury. Being injured is the worst. I have a training regimen that I have to keep up with and I can't while I'm in pain. I did feel good enough to run while up at the cabin. There is nothing like running 3 miles at 10,000 feet. It's challenging but very exhilarating! I pray that I continue to heal quickly so I can still do my half marathon that I'm so looking forward to.

Ashly has really been practicing riding her bike. Joey takes her outside every night so they can do "lessons". She has so much fun. She's only ridden her bike a handful of times, but she is already getting so good at it. I bought her a very cheap bike at a garage sale to see how she liked it. After seeing how much she enjoys her bike, Joey and I decided we are going to let her pick out her own bike very soon.

Dawson has a new favorite pastime- his jumperoo. He just loves that thing! He will jump in it for 45 minutes straight. Ashlyn never cared for it, so we are getting quite a kick out of watching Dawson just go crazy in it. His other favorite thing to do is pull himself up on furniture. He is just growing up so fast!

Here we are at the Continental Divide.


This is what it looks like at timber line. It is just gorgeous up there.

Ashlyn had fun exploring a bit.

We start them very young in Broncos Country.

Getting a bike lesson

She looks so big.

Riding all by herself

Here was Dawson jumping before bed. It was hard to get a picture to show how much he likes it.

How did my sweet boy get so big so fast???

He looks very shocked in this picture.

Smiling away

New School Year, Wonderboy and Misc.

This past week has been incredibly busy around our house. I have done such a good job blogging every week, but I'm afraid going back to work has messed with that a bit. I'm going to try my best to still blog once a week and I really hope I am able to.

The biggest change around our house is that it is back to school/work for both Ashlyn and myself. Ashlyn started preschool today. She was very excited to go. I walked her to her room, and she just took off. She kissed me goodbye, but didn't cling on or get upset. She said she had a great day at school. She came home in a great mood. She will go to preschool three days a week. I am very exctied for her and her new adventure.

I went back to work last week. Thursday and Friday were teacher work days. The first day of school was today. Since I am part time, I taught a half day today. I will also teach Thursday and Friday. It has been a very big adjustment for me and the kids. I miss them both so much. I really miss Dawson and hate to leave him. Ashlyn doesn't need me as much anymore, but Dawson does. I have learned how much prep work working requires for me. We all have to be out of the house by 6:30 a.m. on Thursdays and Fridays, so I like to get as much ready as I can the night before. Its like a madhouse around here to get everyone dressed, fed, and ready in the mornings. I hope it becomes more routine and gets easier. I like my class and know a good majority of the students since I taught a lot of them last year when they were in 3rd grade. I have four students that were in my class last year. I was a little concerned about being rusty since I haven't taught since December, but it came back to me quickly. I am really hoping to have an easier class this year. Only time will tell how the jobshare will work for me.

I also wanted to write about what Dawson is doing this week. He is our Wonderboy!!! My kids are such overachievers when it comes to developmental milestones! Dawson is now pulling himself up on furniture!!!! I just can't believe he is doing this at only 6 months old. He loves to stand . Yesterday, I discovered he can pull himself up on furniture. He has become so mobile. He now will crawl laps around our living room floor. I guess he has places to go! Tonight, he started to crawl up the stairs. We need to get our gate up stat. We just didn't realize we would be needing it quite so soon! I predict he could be walking early. Nothing is going to slow my Wonderboy down.

Here are some pictures from the last week.

Dawson and Ella having fun with the laundry basket

They are too cute together.

They love playing together.

My smiley boy.

I pulled out a toy that used to be Ashlyn's the other day. Both babies just loved getting to stand and play. (Excuse Dawson's hair, he got a visit from the hair fairy the night before.)

Here is Dawson sitting in front of the chair.

Here he is mid-action

Ta da! He is standing.

Here is my beautiful princess on the first day of her new preschool.

She enjoyed modeling for the camera.

Doesn't she look so big in this picture? Is she starting kindergarten or preschool????

Showing off her backpack

She just loves her little backpack.

First Foods

We have finally started Dawson on solids. I wanted to introduce them slowly. This time I am making all of my own organic baby food. I also decided to skip rice cereal. It is so much fun to make the food. I also love knowing exactly what Dawson is eating. We started with a sweet potato. I didn't puree it because I am also exploring baby led weaning which involves giving babies cooked pieces of food and allowing them to feed themselves. The idea behind this is that it teaches them to eat only until they are full and not until someone stops spooing food into their mouth. It's supposed to teach them healthy eating habits for later on in life. I'm doing this along with some purees. It's just too fun making food. So far Dawson loves bananas the most. He is also a big fan of avacados and peaches. He didn't like peas the first time we gave them, but I gave them to him two more nights and he grew to like them. Here are some pictures from his first food experiences.

All clean ready to eat. He thought he would just eat the bib.


Wasn't too sure what to think.

What is this?

Ashlyn was very excited for Dawson to finally be able to eat real food.

As you can tell by his face, he wasn't too sure what to think.

Big boy feeding himself

Still really likes the bib

He really was enjoying it.

What a mess!

Look at the way he looks at Ashlyn.

Trying some peas

He always goes for the bowl.

The peas were very messy

Some how a picture of Alli snuck in here.

Another random picture that snuck in here.

Ashlyn loves feeding her brother. I am so lucky to have such a good helper.

New School

This week was another quick one that seemed to just fly by. We spent the weekend at the cabin again. We have just been having the best time up there. The kids just love it there. Ashlyn really likes getting to spend time with everyone and all the stuff to do there. Joey and I are trying to go up there as much as we can because we know that once winter comes, there will be nothing to do on the weekends. I think we will be making two more trips up there before summer is over. I have such fond memories of spending time at our old cabin as a child. I am so excited that my children will have similar memories.

We got Ashlyn enrolled in her new school this week. I had previously mentioned that she would be going to a preschool five days a week. The more I thought about it, the more I realized I wasn't comfortable with her going five days a week. I feel that she has many, many years ahead of her going to school five days a week. She will only be this young once and I don't want to miss a big chunk of it. I found a Montessori school that is very close to where we live. We toured it and I was very impressed with what I saw. The Montessori method is very different than a traditional preschool setting. It allows kids to work at their own pace and level. It really focuses on differentiating instruction for each child, which is the direction I definitely see education going in the future. Ashlyn is a very independent child, and I see her thriving here. On Thursday night, we went to an open house at the school so Joey could see it. We met her teacher and got some one on one time with her to really explain things. Ashlyn got to go Friday morning for a trial day. She was excited to go. The teacher had told the class that they were getting a new student and the girls were excited to meet her. When she walked in all the girls said, "She's here, she's here!" They do show-and-tell every Friday and she brought something to show. When I picked her up her teacher said she has a great first day. I asked Ashlyn in the car what she thought and she said she loved it and the kids were nice. Every time we drive by the school, Ashlyn says. "There's my school." I pray this is a good fit for her and that she continues to love it.

Sadly, I will be returning to work on Thursday. This is a very hard transition for me. I am blessed that I got to spend six months home with Dawson. However, I feel that those six months have made it harder for me to go back. I have just so thoroughly enjoyed my time as a stay at home mom and I wish I could always be one. I am doing a job share with a friend and we will be teaching 4th grade. I will work a half day Wednesday, and all day Thursday and Friday. Katy and I worked it so we are covering each other's work schedules so we don't have to put the babies in daycare. I know Dawson will be in great hands, I just know I will miss him so much. I also pray that it is a smooth transition and I am able to cope with going back to work again.

Dawson got his second tooth yesterday! He tolerated this one much better than the first, but I have noticed some more fussiness and he has been sleeping horribly. This could also be a result of a growth spurt. I am just hoping he starts to sleep better. I am very nervous about being up half the night and then having to go to work the next day.

Here are some pictures from this week.

Playing at the cabin

They love playing together so much

Mommy and Dawson

Ashlyn was feeding her baby

Daddy and the kids sitting by the fire

Already a Broncos fan

Ashlyn loves riding in her Papa's Prowler

Of course, we had to have smores.

Chipmunk girl

Joey is brave too with the chipmunks, I don't like to get near them.