Hunter's Birthday Bash!

blowing out his candles
With his birthday crown and medal
Hunter with his friends

We celebrated Hunter's fourth birthday at Chuck E Cheese. He picked Chuck E Cheese with a little push from me, but not much. I think Hunter LOVED his birthday party - except for the visit from Chuck E Cheese. Hunter clung to me with a death grip while Chuck E was in the room. He invited four friends (and the siblings). We had the party on a Monday night, his actual birthday. Having the party on Monday night was fabulous. Hunter's was the only party in the whole place. Hunter danced around, played games (his favorite is shooting hoops), ate pizza and cake and opened presents. I think he had a great birthday party!

Fabulous Playdate!!

Daddy's Future Cyclists

We had a fabulous playdate today with some very cool friends. We met at the Arcade in Manitou Springs. The arcade is full of little rides for the kids. The kids were completely content with the rides without quarters until they saw one of them move. Then they wanted quarters. Really that isn't bad - a couple of bucks for an hour's worth of entertainment. We ate lunch, then went to Soda Springs park. Soda Springs park is where we always hang out after the Pikes Peak Marathon. I was so pleasantly surprised. The city has put in new playground equipment and spruced the park up. It was really fun!!

Playing in the water at the Great Sands Dunes

We spent last weekend camping at the Great Sand Dunes National Park. I love camping there - the beautiful mountains, the sandy beach like creak, the fresh air and just being away from our house. It is a wonderful place.
Orion wandered around the creak exploring how the water flowed and how he could change the water flow.
Isabella's approach was a little more carefree. She seemed to enjoy feeling the water and sand rushing over her feet and her whole body eventually.

Sabrina was much braver than I thought she would be for a two year old. The weather was nice, but it was still windy, the water was a little chilly and the temperature was probably about 75 degrees, but she got out there to play in the water and sand with the best of them.

Hunter, well ... he was his typical self also. I have often described Hunter as my most demanding kid. He proved this true at the Sand Dunes. I'm glad I took this picture of him playing in the water as soon as we got there because he only spent about three minutes in the water. It was too cold for him. He spent the rest of the morning huddled against me or completely covered by a towel while sitting in a lawn chair. Maybe Hunter will enjoy the Sand Dunes more next year.

Big Girl Ponytail

Last Day of School

I am two for two so far. I am attempting to take a picture of the kids on the first and the last days of school. I'm hoping to take the pictures in the same place each year, so that I can see how much they have grown.

Here is Isabella on the first day of school - excited, but a little nervious.Isabella on the last day of school - confident and sassy
Orion on the first day of school
Orion on the last day of school - just annoyed to have to have his picture taken

Kokopelli Kids Trail Running Series

The kids participated in the Kokopelli Kids Trail Running Series. The weather for the races this year was pretty yucky. We skipped the first race because it was raining. The second race was okay. The third race is was raining lightly, but we went anyway.

Before the start of the raceHunter ran all over the place prior to the race, but during the actual race he cried. I'm not sure why. He didn't run the third race at all.

Isabella started off fast and finished strong. She finished her half mile race in 8th place.
Orion ran strong for the whole race; also finishing in 8th place.

Uncle Mike was visitng from Chicago for the second race.

Big brother reading

Orion was reading Hunter his bedtime stories. Orion likes to doing the reading, but Hunter would really prefer to have Mom or Dad read to him. It worked this night.

These days the only way I get a pictures with good smiles is if I let them make silly faces for a picture also. They are good at silly faces.

Sabrina was SO thrilled to be sitting there with her brothers - to be included like a "big" kid.

Don't they look like they like each other ;-)