10th anniversary jam.

10 years of wedded bliss.

Griff and I celebrated by spending, almost a week, sans children in Boston and Maine. Madelyn and Sawyer (and Sadie) spent the week with grandparents. We certainly missed them but knew they were well cared for and we had a great time.

Day 1.

Flight to Boston. Dinner at Eastern Standard.

Our dinner at Eastern Standard was outstanding -- possibly one of the best I've ever had. The atmosphere was cool, the service was excellent, and our food was delicious. We had full tummies and passed on dessert. However, our server insisted we couldn't leave without dessert and she delivered  a dish of custard with raspberries and chocolate.

We stayed at the Sheraton Boston in the Back Bay. The hotel was within walking distance to Fenway, Commonwealth Avenue, Newbury Street, and T stations. Once we parked the car in the hotel garage on Sunday afternoon, we didn't get it back out until we'd checked out on Tuesday morning.

On a side note, it is so much easier traveling without children. Wink.

Day 2.

Fenway Park tour. Freedom Trail. Afternoon swimming at the hotel. Boston Red Sox game.

We had the 900A Fenway Park tour on Monday morning. It was the PERFECT way to start our day. Other than the grounds crew, we were almost the only people in the park. Fenway Park is such a neat stadium with so much history and so many preserved artifacts. Even if you're not a baseball aficionado, I would recommend the tour.

Standing on Yawkey Way.

Original grandstand seats.

View from atop the green monster.

Our ballpark tour wrapped up at 1000A. We walked back to the hotel, sunscreen-ed up, and headed north to the T station. We picked up the T near the convention center and rode up to North Station. Our plan was to follow the Freedom Trail from the north southward.

If you are the least bit interested in United States history, the Freedom Trail is such an incredible experience. The red brick path insures you don't get lost along the 2-1/2 mile walk. It wanders from point to point through the various neighborhoods. In the North End, I truly felt like I could envision it 250 years ago before our country gained its independence. And, the fact that the settlers built all these churches and homes and meeting houses without the use of modern construction tools constantly blew my mind.

Street's a little uneven.

We capped off day one by attending the Red Sox - Orioles baseball game. Talk about a fun place to watch a game. The fans are so devoted. We now consider ourselves Red Sox fans.

Oh, and I figured out we walked a half marathon, logging over 25K steps. Whoa!

Day 3.

Breakfast on Newbury Street. Drove to Camden, Maine. Lobster roll for lunch. Sunset schooner sail aboard the Appledore II.

We stayed at the Lord Camden Inn in Camden, Maine. It was right in the center of main street and across from the harbor. Our room was on the fourth floor and we had incredible views. Both mornings, I watched the sunrise over Penobscot Bay. And, I didn't even have to get out of bed for it!

View from our 4th floor balcony.

Our first evening in Camden, Griff really wanted to go on "an old people cruise". I was wanting to hold off until our second day but caved and we went that night. We booked a sunset cruise on Appledore II. While it's true we were the only people under 50, other than the crew, that didn't matter. It was a 2-hour sail from the harbor out to wherever the wind blows you and back. And, Griff got picked to help raise the main sail. Thank goodness for our youth!

Raising the main sail.

Returning to Camden Harbor.

Sunset over Penobscot Bay.

Day 4.

Run from Camden to Rockport (and back). Walked the Rockland Breakwater. Lobster roll for lunch, again. Low key pizza and salad dinner from Camden House of Pizza.

According to Fodor's Travel, the walk from Rockport to Camden is one of the prettiest in the world. We did it from Camden to Rockport, and back, and can agree that Fodor's Travel was not lying.

Rockport's harbor was much quieter than Camden's although it was still fairly early in the morning. We saw the remains of lime kilns that were used 200 years ago when Rockport lime was harvested, processed, and loaded into windjammers to be taken to Boston or wherever lime was needed in construction. What's cool is the trains would pull up above and behind these, dump in the lime, it would get processed in the kilns, and then loaded into windjammers docked directly in front of them to sail off to wherever. The railroad tracks are gone and the harbor has been changed. Now there's a gravel road instead of water right in front of these but still...so hard to imagine!

After our run, we cleaned up and went to Rockland to visit the Rockland Breakwater. It's a man-made granite pier, built in the 1800's, that is 7/8 of a mile long with the Rockland Harbor Light House at its far end. Due to tides, the breakwater is only "open" from 1100A-200P. The walk out is a little disorienting but nonetheless incredible.

The lighthouse is W A Y out there in the distance.

Day four's lobster roll came from a little roadside lobster shack called Claws. The line was long but the food was worth it. This was my favorite lobster roll of our trip.

My future's so bright, I've got to wear shades.

Lobster PILED high. Yum!

Day 5.

Drove to Portland, Maine. Visited Fort Williams and the Portland Harbor Light in Cape Elizabeth, Maine. This was awesome. Walked around the Old Port in Portland, Maine, and visited Harbor Fish Market. Almost got pooped on by seagulls but - HA HA! - they missed us. Dinner at Walter's.

I had heard about Portland Harbor Light but I wasn't familiar with Fort Williams. Holy cow. Fort Williams -- what's left of it, at least -- is so interesting. The remains of the batteries and bunkers for placing and sweeping mines during World War I are still present and accessible. And, the cliff walk was breathtaking. It's hard to imagine axis forces trying to get access to Portland during this time but I read on one of the plaques that a U-boat was intercepted in Casco Bay...which is just around the corner from Cape Elizabeth. It really brings the world wars so close to home.

Seriously. This state is so photogenic.

Beautiful day.

Day 6.

Drove back to Boston. Flight home...FIRST CLASS.

We had a very full trip, both with activities and fun. It was so nice to be alone together. I realize those two words are in opposition but whatever. I ain't no grammar expert.

It was nice returning home and getting back into our normal routine. Grammy and Grandad and Honey and Poppie obviously fed Madelyn and Sawyer because I swear they grew while we were gone. Thank you for making our trip possible...and for feeding the kids.

Griff, here's to 10 years and many more. Thank you for choo choo choosing me.

Sawyer speak.

Post-bedtime books and after catching a hug and a kiss and a quick snuggle.

Sawyer (to me): "If you want to marry someone else, you can marry me. But Daddy will still be in our family...When I grow up, we can get married."

I love that boy. His heart is so sweet.

Happy anniversary, Honey and Poppie!

48 years, 8 cross country moves, 6 different states, 3 children, 4 grandchildren, a couple of cats, and you STILL look as happy as the newlyweds from Omaha that you were on this day on 1967.

Happy anniversary to you, Mom and Dad. I love you.

Friends and cousins having breakfast.

A little light reading.

Nothing like getting ready for gymnastics with a little light reading.

Thankful turkey

"I am thankful for...

 

"wanting to play on the playground at 5th grade.

 

"wanting to look at owls.

 

"Yo Baby yogurt at school and at home.

 

"that I will try roast marshmallows roasted.

 

"trying pumpkin pie."

 

- Madelyn

 

Oh, to be three and experiencing all these things for the first time. I love how she sees life in such a simple, happy manner. Somedays I'd like to be more like her.

Happy 1st Birthday, Little Brother!

Two weeks ago, we celebrated the first birthday of our very own Little Brother aka Sawyer. It was a wonderful day that came much faster than I anticipated. Funny how 365, make that 366, days can fly by so quickly!

Sawyer had a great actual birthday which included macaroni and cheese, cake pops, and birthday presents. A few days later, in spite of the heat, we threw a big backyard bonanza and partied it up with our good friends and family. Below are a few pictures from the birthday celebration -

The birthday boy -- officially one year old!

Playing with a new birthday toy.

Give me that cake!

Mmm...cake.

Chocolate and frosting make a little boy happy.

No too much frosting on the face.



Cheese!

Unfortunately, I didn't get any pictures that caputre the rest of the party but it was quite a party. We had kids rumpusing in the yard, climbing the fort, and adults playing "corn hole". Cinderella even mopped up our deck at the end of the party! Uncle Gabe, Aunt Kari, and new cousin, Sloane, sorry you missed the party this year. But, we can't wait to join you at your first birthday NEXT year! Thank you to everyone for the phone calls, emails, cards, and gifts. Happy birthday, sweet Sawyer! You're one-derful (cheesy, I know) and we love you SO much.

And, last but not least. Vital stats from our twelve-month appointment with Dr Marc:

Height: 29-1/2 inches, or 50th percentile

Weight: 23 lb 5 oz, or 75th percentile

Head: 46 cm, or 75th percentile

Father's Day

Yes, it was last month.  But, we just finished our Father's Day gifts for Griff over the weekend.

This year, we wents the arts and crafts route.  Madelyn and I purchased two stepping stone kits (in May) for Griff.  One for her and one for her soon to born little brother.  With Honey's help, we made hers in May and hid it at Honey and Poppie's house until we were ready to gift it to Griff. 

As for Sawyer's, rather than try to complete it after Sawyer arrived and before Father's Day, we decided to gift it un-made so Griff could help put it together.  It sort of seemed like the kind of thing Griff would enjyoing doing anyway.

So, on Saturday morning, the project began.

And on Sunday morning, the completed stone was placed in the yard next to Madelyn's stone.  The two look perfect together.  Madelyn and Sawyer get bigger every day but their hand and footprints won't change.  They will forever remind of us 2011 and our first year in this house.

Week four

Life is finally starting to feel like normal again this week. While it's not the pre-June 6 normal, and I'm happy for that, we're getting back into our routine. Madelyn, Sawyer, and I have had quite the busy week.

Monday - Grocery shopping in the morning. Playground and fountains in the afternoon. I really want to use the Baby Bjorn more with Sawyer than I did with Madelyn. We successfully grocery shopped with Sawyer in the Bjorn. And, Madelyn got a Lightning McQueen car for being such a good helper.

Tuesday - Play date in our old neighborhood with our friends, Andrea and Rowen (former next door neighbors). It was HOT and fun. Life in Stapleton appears to be good. Our old house looked fine but weird with someone else's furniture on the front porch. But, it was good to return to our new home afterward.

Wednesday - Swimming at the rec center with Honey and Poppie. Poppie and Madelyn swam at both the indoor and outdoor pools while Honey and I watched and Sawyer slept. It was another hot one but, luckily, we got a little relief with some afternoon clouds. Also, had dinner with the Andersons at Grandpa's house.

Thursday - Playgroup and bike parade with the Mom's Club. Still tired from yesterday, Madelyn didn't want to stay too far from my side and that's okay. We had a good time with our new friends and Madelyn marched in the parade since we didn't bring her bike along.

Friday (TBD) - Weight check for Sawyer and story time at the library. A quiet day before the long weekend might not be such a bad idea but we'll see where the day leads us.

Sawyer is still eating a lot but we're settling into a little schedule. He's sleeping between 3-4 hours at night. I'm getting a little more rest as well. I'll never again be fully rested and I'm okay with that. That's why they make under eye concealer. I wouldn't trade my Mdelyn or my Sawyer for anything.

He's Here!

After making peace with a scheduled Cesarean, I went to bed on June 5 with a renewed sense of calm about the upcoming week's events.  However, at 1:15A on June 6, this baby decided he was coming on his own and I went into labor.

Not having had this experience with Madelyn, the two hours between when labor started and we were admitted to the hospital were exciting and scary.  Thank goodness we weren't making the drive from our house to Rose Medical Center during morning rush hour.  And, a big thank you to the karma folks for the fact we hit no red lights on Colorado Blvd at 2:30 in the morning!

At 4:07P on June 6, our much anticipated "new hire", Sawyer Mally Anderson, came into the world.  He was delivered at Rose Medical Center in Denver by Dr Honey Onstad and weighed 7 pounds 7 ounces.  (Yes, I did find it ironic that she has the same first name as our Honey.) 



He's a sweet little boy with a head full of dark hair and eye color that is yet to be determined.  His feet, hands, and arms make us wonder if he might not someday break the Olympic swimming records set by Michael Phelps a few years ago.

Madelyn adores her little brother and has been a great big sister from their very first meeting at the hospital.  She brings him his pacifier or his burp cloth and does her best to comfort him.  Last night, as we drove home from Grammy and Grandad's, Sawyer sneezed a few times and later began crying.  Without any prompting from us, she blessed him for each sneeze and when the crying started, in a sweet, soft voice repeated, "It's okay. We're almost home, buddy."

I can remember what it was like to get a little more sleep.  But, the pre-Sawyer days seem like they were ages ago.  When I get really exhausted, I just remind myself of the Darius Rucker song "It Won't Be Like This for Long" and it puts it all back into perspective.

Welcome home, Sawyer!  We love you and are so happy you're finally here.

I made this for you.

Madelyn's class made flowers for the mothers yesterday. The teacher put paint on each baby's hands and gave them a paper coffee filter to crinkle (and color). When I picked her up yesterday, Ann handed me Madelyn's flower and said, "We made this for you for Mother's Day."

My flower is definitely going in the keepsake box once I'm done enjoying it.