apAdventures

There were nuts, or something that looked like nuts, all over the kitchen floor this morning. I was picking them up and Ivan was next to me, so I asked him what all this was. He said bird poop. He said birds flew into the kitchen and pooped all over the floor. I said oh yeah? Well how did they get in? He said the door was left open. I said we left the door open yesterday? (when we all left to head down to the climbing gym). He said no, we didn’t leave the door open. The birds used their beaks and pecked on one of the little cracks in the door and then they came in and pooped all over the floor.

I’m 99.9% sure it was nuts.

posted by arr

We’ve never done a proper photo shoot before! Well, if you call wearing your climbing duds and playing around in front of a professional photographer “proper.” Jade is awesome. I’ll share some of the goodies over the next few days.

posted by arr

Taken over the last few months. Had to share…

posted by arr

Silas and Ivan’s Grandma and Pap Pap were in town visiting last week for the birthday.

An evening stroll along the wash behind our house

A morning trip to the Agua Caliente Park, aka “the duck park.” Magnifying glass and binoculars ready.

A mini train ride at Trail Dust Town

And “bubble fun.” Ivan doesn’t ask if he can play with the bubbles, he asks “me do bubble fun mama?”

While mama and dad get a double date night with friends Linda and Ty. Agave Fest….a tequila tasting extravaganza!

posted by arr

…announced Silas during his first swim in the pool this season. He played in the chilly water until his lips were blue!!

Three, two, one, blast-off!

The plunge

Dad’s turn

Now Ivan’s turn

Ivan’s not nearly as psyched as Silas about this

And after a few test-dunks with his life jacket on Silas wanted to practice swimming ‘for real’ without it. He jumped in and swam just fine, first try! He had only just barely got the hang of swimming on his own at the end of last summer. Guess it’s like riding a bike? Waahoo!

posted by arr

I love the sound of your cute small voice, trying to articulate big, grown-up words.

I love how in-love you are with your big brother, and how the first question you ask when you wake up from your nap is “Where’s Silas?”

I love watching you cruise on your balance bike, with those chubby legs running and pumping along.

I love how you take that first bite of your peanut butter and jelly sandwich right in the center on the cut, so that the gooey corners smudge on your smiling chubby cheeks.

I love how you say “whitsle” instead of “whistle.”

I love how you refer to the leftover crumbs on your plate as giblets.

I love that little ‘humph’ sound you make when you think something is funny but not funny enough to full out laugh about.

I love how when you’re concerned about someone or something you ask “What’s happening?” instead of “What’s wrong?”

I love when we curl up for a nap together and you want to pet my face.

I love it when you figure out something new on your own and announce “I’m a genius!!!!”

I love coming in your room late at night to tuck you back under your covers and find you laying there in the same position you would sleep as a newborn – on your back, head to the side, arms out like a cactus.

And yes, I’ll admit…I do love seeing you grow up into a big boy and celebrating another birthday…..even though I always joke about wanting to keep both you and your brother small so I can fit you in my pocket and nuzzle you close forever. Happy Birthday sweet Ivan!

…oh, and one more thing. I love how you adamantly kept asking for a “construction cake with strawberries and blueberries and all kinds of berries” for your birthday. By the look on your face when you saw it, I think I got your creative little vision just right. 😉

posted by arr

posted by arr

For Christmas this year Paul and I decided to give the kids an ‘adventure’ versus ‘stuff’. On Christmas morning Silas and Ivan opened envelopes containing tickets for A RIDE ON THE DURANGO & SILVERTON NARROW GAUGE RAILROAD!!!!!!! Now, having been in Durango earlier last fall on our Anniversary Trip, the kids did have a clue as to what this meant. They remembered the big old black no-kidding steam engine well. The steam engine that, yes, puffs steam and yes, goes chug chug chug. I had glued fancy gold glittered paper to the backs of the plain and boring paper tickets that had been emailed to me, printed and cut out with scissors, just to add to the wow-effect on Christmas morning. As expected though, gold glitter and all, the enormity of such an adventure didn’t quite sink in at first. But….ever so slowly….with each passing day….their excitement began to grow. It grew until eventually it was a countdown as to exactly how many days it would be until we were going to ride the train. Four days at Grandma and Papa’s house and then we would drive to Durango. Three days in the van and then we would arrive in Durango. Sleep one night in Durango and then the next morning we would wake up, grab our tickets and go get on the train. Silas went over the schedule again and again and again, subtracting off the spent days until finally, FINALLY!, we pulled into Durango around 6pm Friday night and drove past the glorious train station. “TRAIN!” both boys screamed from the back of the van. We were here to ride the train.

Posted by arr

What happens to boys that are forced to sit too long in their carseats? Uncontainable goofiness.

And what happens to their parents? A fervent desire to stop at the So iLL Climbing Gym in St. Louis to flex their muscles.

posted by ARR

No visit at my parent’s is complete without a trip over to “Digger Man’s” house for a digger demo. This year was especially special because not only did Ivan get to ride the backhoe loader for the first time, but Silas GOT TO OPERATE IT!

posted by ARR