september highlights

It's October! I've got mixed emotions about seeing September go. It was a fun month with lots of great activities and a new routine. But I'm also ready for the fresh start of a new month. Here come the highlights!

 Camping over Labor Day weekend! I had heard for years that Golden Gate Canyon was the best place to camp with kids, but it books up super early. We managed to score a camp site a few weeks out and saw what all the fuss was about. It was awesome! Tons of forest to explore, kids at every campsite to play with, beautiful nature, and quite a bit of privacy. The kids did great, and we'll definitely be back next summer. 

 Tessa's favorite activity. Give her a stack of books in her chair and she'll sit still--at least for a little while. 

 Trip to Utah for Finley's blessing. The kids had so much fun with their cousins, and we all loved snuggling sweet Finley. Tessa was obsessed and would just follow her around to whoever was holding her. 

 Fun at the library!

 We ordered a new bedroom set and ended up with a ton of cardboard. Andre constructed a Bat Cave that takes up almost the entire play area in the basement and is full of secret tunnels and spy doors. Rhett loves it!

 Nana and Poppy came to visit! The kids had so much fun with their grandparents and it was great to have them here. We played, went on walks, watched Rhett play soccer, went to the lake, went to the museum, and did lots of projects around the house. 

Tessa is a walking machine! A physical therapist suggested using a push toy to encourage her to walk, so we brought it up from the basement and she loved it. She's still not standing or walking on her own, but she's getting really good at pushing the cart and turning it around to do laps in the family room. 

 We took Nana and Poppy to the science museum to check out the travelling mind bender exhibit. It was super fun, but Tessa's favorite part was the photo op in the winner's circle. 

 Putting Rhett to work...he's gotta earn his keep! 

 Tessa climbed up on the play structure at the library all on her own and was so proud of herself. 

 Tessa's first ride on the King Sooper's penny horse (which Rhett has named Cheese). Rhett was a great big brother to keep her safe. 

Saturday date to Elitches! We finally got to escape from KiddieLand and ride all our favorite rides!

the rest of may

It's summer time! We have lots of activities and fun planned for this summer, and things are just getting started. Some of the best moments from May:

 Just a boy and his balloon on the grocery store horse. I can't believe how huge Rhett looks in this picture!

 Park season! We found an awesome park with a super unique playground that I'm sure we'll be back to many times this summer. 

 I had to bring Rhett to the pack meeting where the scouts built and launched rockets. He joined right in and loved it. The look on his face and the "oh wow that's awesome!" every time his launched was great. 

 Andre's birthday! Rolling into the last year of his 20s in style

 Just a casual day finding the weiner-mobile at the grocery store. The worker even played the horn for us--the oscar meyer jingle!

 We went to a graduation party at a park I used to take Rhett to alot when he was small. I have a picture of him in this very spot with his arms in the air when that was his new trick as a one year old. He was happy to recreate the picture now. 

 Giant checkers! Turns out Rhett is a checkers natural 

 Cruising at the children's museum 

 Tessa is already following whatever her brother does

 This girl doeesn't like to stand and doesn't pull up on things...until one day I left her on the ground and turned around to her like this! Maybe she will walk one day after all!

Rhett started track last week. He loves it, and it is so fun to watch them practice. This is Tessa's future for many years--playing on the turf or in the stands while her brother runs. 

april highlights

How is it May today? I am having some serious issues over here--wasn't it just Christmas? April was a good month, even if I'm in denial that it's already passed. Highlights!

 The science museum is always a good idea

 Tessa's eating adventures continue

 Tessa modeling Rhett's basketball shorts--so proud of herself!

 Rhett and I got passes to Elitch's for the summer and plan to go to the amusement park all the time. The day to pick up our passes and get some freebies happened to be freezing and rain/snowing, but we went anyway! (What won't we do for a freebie?) We rode some rides and had a great time, but we came home freezing and looking like drowned rats! 

 Tessa is on the move! She loves exploring the library

Rhett's story made of emojis...something about an octopus that went on an adventure?

We went to Utah for Chelsea's graduation. The BYU baseball game was a highlight--both kids loved meeting Cosmo!

Cousins at the park. Can't want to see what trouble these girls get into together in a few years!

wrapping up march

Spring is in full bloom over here! (Except for our plants, which we think may have died). The weather is getting warmer, and we are loving it! Here are some of the un-blogged highlights from the month. 

 Repping our teams on Opening Day! Rhett was wearing his Rockies shirt, but he didn't want to be photographed that day. Tessa was a willing subject. 

 St. Patricks Day! We made a leprechaun trap but didn't catch anything. Rhett was pretty excited when a leprechaun came to preschool and flipped a table over and peed green in the toilet. 

 Andre scored some chicken wings from the Amazon Treasure Truck and set out to make the best BBQ wings ever. They were so good we forgot to take a picture until all that was left was the sauce and bone. If the lawyer thing doesn't work out, he could always go into the BBQ business

Rhett's teacher sent me this cute picture of the day the chicks came to school. 

 Free cone day at DQ!

 Tessa's eating adventures continue. This girl will eat anything!

 A trip to the train museum. Rhett is obsessed with the garden trains. 

 Cutest train kids!

 Guess what happened right after this picture was taken? A face plant in the wood chips. Don't worry, she's fine. 

 Lots of sunny afternoons cheering Rhett on as he plays soccer in the backyard.

little moments: february 2018

Ok, what happened to February? I swear we were just cleaning up Christmas and setting New Year's Resolutions.
But it was a good month! I've been trying to be more intentional and also have more fun with the kids, which means separating mom and work and just being in the moment. That's to say we had lots of routines and also lots of fun this month. Highlights!

Open play at the indoor soccer field. Rhett was in heaven to be able to play with a real goal while our backyard is covered in snow (He asks every day if the snow is melted so he can play soccer. Luckily now it is). 

Tessa and her cucumber. 

 Sunday naptime...usually I can get her to sleep in my arms during sunday school, but one day I had to hide in the mother's lounge. She finally fell asleep on me so I couldn't move.

 "Mom, take a picture of me with the Easter Bunny"

 We scored a deal on a sleeping bag for Rhett in anticipation of all the camping we plan to do this summer. Naturally, he had to "camp" for a few days in the living room. 

 Rhett made a zebra pasture for him and Tessa one morning. They were the zebras inside. 

 So obsessed with this girl and her giant bows. 

 Tessa goes to the science museum 

 Frog Tessa after a bath. Those eyes kill me!

 Ok, this needs some serious explanation. Rhett calls his stuffed animals his "team". He's their leader and they fight crime together and save the day. Each stuffy has a huge back story and big personality (Toadie the frog has a credit card and has been to Paris, for example. He's currently reading the third Harry Potter book). Some kids have imaginary friends, Rhett has his stuffed animal team that he trains and has made up stuff about. Anyway, one morning we were getting ready for church when Rhett said it was team picture day and we needed a picture of all of us. This kid. 

 Tessa is turning into a park fiend to match her brother. I love it! These two playing together is my favorite thing. 

Our downtown adventure to the firefighter museum put us a few blocks from Andre's office, so we stopped by. Rhett loves Dad's comfy work chair.