Winter vacation by Sawyer.

Translations below.

I had fun when I...played with my kitten. I named her Penny. This is Penny.

I was surprised when...I got for Christmas Maz's temple.

I was sad when...I was not sad at all.

The best part was...when I got my new kitten.

Friday funny.

Dinner for two by camping lantern in the circus tent.

I can't get enough of these two and really will miss Summer.

With a little tug.

Pop! Out came the tooth.

Be still my beating heart!

F I N A L L Y.

The tooth FINALLY came out today.

Little Miss Muffet was snorkeling around the pool this morning and came up and said, "My tooth! It's gone!" Sure enough, that hanger-on of a tooth had come out. (Back story: This tooth had been completely detached on one side but rooted solidly on the other side or at least a week. Without using unnecessary force, we could not get that tooth out.)

Madelyn had been convinced this was her sweet tooth. (Thanks a lot, Pinkalicious.) Also, given this was one of her big front teeth, it was presumed to be worth more to a tooth fairy. Needless to say, she was upset that she'd literally lost her tooth.

So...I donned my goggles and swam around the pool looking for a teeny-tiny front tooth. And, I found it. Thank the Lord, I found it.

Now all is well. She has her tooth and can set it out tonight to see what that tooth fairy brings. What is the going rate for a front tooth?

Friday funny.

Friday night = sleepover for these two (or three) besties. BYO sleeping bag!

Mummy cat.

Beware of the mummy cat. Original artwork by Sawyer Mally Anderson.

Please note the cat is saying, "FFTFFT," as in he's hissing. :)

Friday Funny

Start 'em early. Like father, like son.

Thursday night dinner guests.

It's not every night you're joined by the queen and wicked Captain America for dinner.

Sometimes these kids are just too much. But, then again, I think they're just right. :)

Vista Cheer Camp

Madelyn spent two days at Mountain Vista's Junior Cheer Camp last week (June 5-6). She had a GREAT time. And, all the parents got treated to a show off performance at the end of the second day. 

I'm not biased at all but Madelyn's squad (grades K-2) was by far the cutest and best group of the three (grades K-2, 3-5, and 6-8). They cheered, danced, and made two pyramids one of which our very own Mile High Madelyn was at the top.

Please pardon the blurriness of the pictures but my iPhone couldn't quite keep up with the action.

"TD! We want a touchdown!"

How cute is she?!

Rockies pre season game

Day two of our Spring break trip to Arizona included a Rockies pre season game at Salt River Fields against the LA Angels. We sat in the outfield lawn and caught most of the game. We even had a spot of shade which stayed with us throughout most of the afternoon. The weather was perfect and the company was good. Rumor has it, the Rockies even pulled off a victory.

Meeting Dinger. No tears here!

Post ice cream mustache. (Can you guess the flavor?) And, a happy boy.

 Tuckered out.

Thanks for the lift, Poppie.

Best friends

"Whoa...cool."

Cherry picker inside the rec center ALL the way up at the ceiling replacing the light fixtures.

Needless to say, Sawyer was not the only little person eagerly watching this project.

Steamboat sillies

Sawyer aka Houdini escaped twice from his Pack N Play on Friday evening. One of those times, we are certain he had assistance from his older sister. As for the other, no one is quite sure or will admit to anything. On Saturday afternoon, he managed to get into the Pack N Play unassisted only to find himself stuck. Oh, Sawyer.

I never get tired of delightful decor of mountain condos. As is the stereotype, there was a lot of antique ski pictures, posters, and gear. However, this condo also had an equestrian theme which included a bridle, reins, and bull whip hanging on the family room wall and a friendly sign on the front door reading "Please wipe your hooves!" which we did. Sawyer was even so kind to wipe his hooves on the way out the door as well.

And, I almost missed this little beauty. Thank goodness I noticed it on Sunday afternoon so I could capture its essence.

One of the downstairs bedrooms featured denim bed spreads along with this fancy matching valence. Yep, handkerchiefs and jeans. Do you suppose this was found on Pinterest?

Children drinking coffee. NO, we didn't actually let them drink coffee but they did get to have their milk out of coffee cups each day.

On our gondola ride on Sunday, Sawyer literally had sweaty paw pads and left steamy handprints on the gondola window. He wasn't so sure about the whole thing. Luckily, he was able to relax a little on the way down.

All in all, I'd say we had a pretty good trip. Madelyn was sad to leave on Monday morning and return to the city. But, it was also time to go home to the rest of our family, including cats, and friends. Interestingly enough, Griff and I stayed at this same condo complex in August 2004. Hopefully it's not another 9 years before we return! Something tells me we'll be back sooner.

A little light reading.

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

Herb planter.

Madelyn's special project.

On Saturday, we stumbled upon the Kids Workshop at our local Home Depot store. Madelyn has wanted to participate on one of these workshops for a long time but it's just never worked out. We weren't planning on her participating this time either. Our shopping list didn't include a kid project and it was getting close to lunch time. Luckily, the check out clerk told Madelyn and I that we could take a kit with us to put together at home.

We told Griff and Sawyer we'd be right back and made a bee line to the back of the store. A nice, older gentleman got Madelyn an apron and a kit and directed us to the marigolds.

After lunch, and Sawyer was down for his nap, Madelyn and Griff got to work on her project.

Instructions.

Love the mini Home Depot apron.

Apron loaded up with kit supplies and instructions.

And, construction begins. 

A little sanding.

Note the safety goggles.

Pose for a picture.

What can't you do in a tutu?

Wood glue and a screwdriver needed.

Insert project helper here.

Painting. Purple, of course.

Thank goodness I have a rainbow of paint colors available!

And, the finished project.

Two little marigolds ready for some sun, water, and warm weather.

Way to go, Madelyn! I look forward to watching these grow with you all summer long.

Never a dull moment.

Let's set the scene. The time was a little after 600P on a Friday. Griff was on his way home from a business trip in Lake Tahoe. The kids had just traded in their old balloons for new ones. Madelyn chose purple (her favorite!) and Sawyer chose red. I'm in the kitchen with my back turned -- Yes, I realize this is ultimately where I went wrong. -- putting together dinner plates for some Friday night homemade macaroni and cheese.

I should tell you that these two LOVE balloons. Really, what kid doesn't? So, the amount of happy noise and playing I was hearing behind me was not alarming. There was much pitter patter of feet and a Sawyer cat meowing. I'm not sure for how long he was meowing but there was a lot of it. In fact, there was so much, Madelyn admits that even she tuned it out.

When I turned around, I was stopped dead in my tracks at what I saw. Sawyer was on all fours on the kitchen table...crawling laps around the center piece...meowing like a cat. I didn't know whether to yell, laugh, or grab the camera. So first, I grabbed the camera. To give you an idea of his speed, he made at least three laps in the time it took me to grab my phone and start recording.

Yes, the video's short but in the interest of my child's safety, I thought I should cut things off pretty quickly. Apparently, I've got a climber on my hands!

Meow, meow, meow, meow, meow.

Sunday, snowy Sunday.

I've got a secret to tell you. It's snowing today.

Madelyn really wanted to go sledding yesterday morning on the snow that was left from Thursday but that didn't happen. Fortunately, for everyone in my house, we've got a lot of snow coming down today!

Mid-morning, Griff, Madelyn, and Sawyer got bundled up and headed out for some snow day fun. I think the driveway might have been shoveled, too, but that's beside the point.

 Snow? Check. New snowsuit? Check. Here we go!

FINALLY enough snow for sledding.

Taking a ride down the street.

This is more fun than he expected. We might need a bigger sled.

The three amigos.

It's a good thing Oshkosh B'Gosh practically gave me Sawyer's snow suit. He was toasty warm and not a bit wet. In fact, I had to lure him inside with the promise of chocolate milk. For everyone else, hot chocolate with marshmallows waited for them inside.

Happy snow day!

Snow day hobbies

One of Madelyn's snow day hobbies is shoveling. She loves to get all bundled up and shovel the deck.

Sawyer's hobbies, for now, include standing at the window watching.

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.

Afro Circus

This boy is always ready for a good time.