an average conversation with Allen...

On the way to soccer tonight, Allen and I had the following conversation...

Allen:  "Is Daddy on his way home now?"

Mommy:  "No, not until Friday."

Allen:  "Where is he?"

Mommy:  "England"

Allen:  "What is that?"

Mommy:  "It's a different country - across the ocean."

Allen:  "Oh.  I thought he was in a pool."

Mommy:  ...pause... "Oh! He is in Liverpool. It's a city in England."

Allen:  "That's what I thought. Is he swimming?"

Mommy:  "What?"

Allen:  "Is he swimming in that pool?"

Mommy:  giggle giggle... "No buddy...there's not really a pool there!"

 
I love how his brain works!!

A little soccer...

Both boys have started soccer this fall. We decided to put them in a "class" setting where they can learn the basics and get an idea of whether they like the sport before pursuing a real team setting. Allen's class is strictly "games" (drills) and he absolutely loves it. Drew does his drills the first half and then they scrimmage the second half. He is enjoying the drills but doesn't care much for the scrimmage yet. He doesn't "get it" yet - he just wants to score. He hasn't grasped the fact that defense is part of it or that passing it off is part too. So we'll see how it goes!
My pictures didn't turn out great this week...I'll have to take the real camera with the big flash next week and see if I can do better!

"Drew"

For school, Drew had to make...well, himself. It turned out pretty cute! He requested the bow tie...he said it made him look "grown up"!

An early surprise...

On Sunday, Patrick decided it was time to get Drew a new bike. We had over-discussed various aspects of this decision so my husband decided it was just time to get one. We went to a bike store to have him fitted as we knew he was between sizes and we didn't want one too large to manage or too small to be comfortable. They picked out a 20" with a slanted crossbar so he can touch the ground without getting off the bike. He also picked out a new helmet...because my children have big heads and keep outgrowing headgear! We spent some time that afternoon on the field at school practicing balance to get ready for the big step onto concrete. The bike is officially his birthday present (although his birthday isn't for 8 weeks!) so I promised him I would wrap up a picture of him on the bike for his present that day! :)

Just Because...

Saturday we spent a day out as a family...just because... We drove to a "train park" up near the airport (nothing like the one we had in Scottsdale, but a train to ride all the same!), had lunch at a hip, downtown burger joint, spent some time at Union Station, and drove home in a monsoon. It was a great day and we had fun just being spontaneous and letting the day lead us. We don't do that very often...I don't know why because it usually works out pretty darn well!

Ready for a train ride!

Our little engine

Love my boys!

"It's a real live steam engine bell and headlight!!"

This guy was in the shed but was so cool...

Making music at Science City

He has an electric personality...

Making fog/clouds

It's a police chopper...should I worry?!

Pull!

Help a brother out!

Back to School II

Today Allen finally got his Back to School day! He was so excited this morning to start back to preschool! He has a great teacher, Ms. Chris, and a few friends from his class last year. He already met some new friends last week at Open House and was ready to start playing with them today! I have honestly never seen a little boy so excited to get into his classroom and say goodbye to his Mommy. He was beyond ready for this day!

Love these...

I'll post more from Nana & Grandaddy's latest visit, but for now I had to get these two out there. Love these pictures! And their subjects, for that matter...

Colorado...The End...

We finished up our very busy trip to Colorado with the boys and their grandparents spending some time at the Colorado Railroad Museum. This has become a "must-do" on our trip every year. This year, Grandpa bought a family pass so if (when) we make it back before next summer, they can go again!

After their fun morning, Patrick and I took the boys into Golden for lunch and to tour Coors. Lunch was great. The tour didn't happen. Did you know people wait for hours to go in the brewery on the weekends? We know that now. And we didn't wait. So I went to get a pedicure and Patrick took his mom laptop shopping. Grandpa had grandson duty. Unfortunately, not long after we left there was some major excitement next door to their house. The neighbors' back deck, and subsequently their home, caught fire. The boys had a front row view of multiple fire trucks and firemen doing their jobs very well. They even babysat the dogs that were initially trapped in the house but thankfully survived without injury. We spent the remainder of the afternoon and evening helping with whatever was needed, including Patrick going into the house to help salvage what they could get once the fire was out. It was a sad sight, but thankfully no one was hurt and, as they kept saying, "stuff can be replaced".

In the midst of the chaos I managed to pack our stuff and load the car. We left early on Sunday morning for the drive home. The boys did great and we made it back to Maddie relatively quickly. It was a long trip but a great one!

Some photos from the train museum:

Colorado Part III...The Mountains!

Caution...lots of photos ahead!

On Wednesday morning, we packed up and headed to Rocky Mountain National Park for a few days of hiking, camping and exploring the beauty of the mountains. We camped at Glacier Basin with the boys sleeping in Grandma & Grandpa's pop-up camper (on its last adventure...they sold it the day we returned!) and Mommy & Daddy slept in a tent. (Yes...I slept in a tent...for two nights...onn an inflatable mattress, but still...a tent...) We hiked to Nymph Lake, Dream Lake and around Bear Lake. We visited the Alluvial Fan and threw rocks in the water. We drove up the Old Fall River Road, thankful it is one-way! We marveled at the beauty of the mountains and the change in scenery the higher we went. We stopped at the Alpine Visitors Center and learned about the animals that live at such a high altitude. We saw snow...in August. We drove back down Trail Ridge Road. We saw elk, deer, marmot, ducks, ground squirrels and chipmunks. We enjoyed beautiful weather. Somehow, even though the sky was pitch black at one point, we never had any rain. We ate hot dogs and S'mores. The boys completed their Junior Ranger badges, including attending a Ranger talk. They made new friends in the campground. We walked around Sprague Lake in the morning, hopeful we would see the resident moose. He did not make his scheduled appearance, much to our dismay. We had lunch and wondered around Estes Park. We ate ice cream...because that's what you do in a town like that!

The boys absolutely loved every minute of it. It was one of those experiences that we will remember for a very, very long time.