Another Scout photo session

I tell ya, if there is one thing that Scout's photos tell me, it's that you see the whole world differently when you are a four-year-old who measures approximately three and a half feet.

Scout took these photos today and a few the other night (not sure exactly which night). Since she's asleep, I'll do the captions myself this time.

 This is me, the momma

 

This is Scout's foot, coming down the stairs

Scout's room: her bed and her doll house

Little sister with a messy face. This reminds me that everytime my dad calls on the phone he asks to talk to "The Sisters." I think it's funny.

My bathroom sink

Over Scout's doorway is a sign with "S-C-O-U-T" in bunting form (Thank you, Hilary!)

Me and the Rubes in Ruby's room

Me acting goofy in front of my closet

The dresser in my room

The door handle. I find it interesting/annoying that these are our door handles. They are extremely easy for young children to open.

The doll house in the play room. This one is Ruby's from Santa.

My coffee mug. Scout must have taken this photo because she recognized what an important fixture this item is in my life.

Rapunzel doll wearing some barbie clothes

Halloween themed push-button fan which is also a M&M dispenser

Fancy Nancy book, close up on Nancy

Fancy Nancy book, sitting on the shelf

Ruby playing with the Rapunzel tower in our playroom

My vacuum in the closet

Sweet sister

Sadly, a permanent fixture in our lives: Beamer's Cone

And here is a photo that I took of the shutter bug herself.

Photos and thoughts pertaining to mid-January

It's now January 23, 2012.

And so far I can confirm that I have accomplished a few things on the "to-do" list for January, including writing the date of Kindergarten registration on my calendar. February 9.

I cannot help obsessing over this decision to send Scout to Kindergarten. It manifests itself like this: On Saturday, I was pouring over the IKEA website INSISTING that we needed some new storage options. And if you are Cory, you certainly know that when Jayme starts going on an organizational bender, you had better look out.

But amidst the latest in my ongoing terrifying agony over making the wrong decision, I try to find a minute to enjoy these sweet children.

We've had a few pretty days around here, definitely making January all the more tolerable. Preschool spent time today on the subject of "Chinese New Year," and we brought snack. I wasn't there, so I can't be 100% positive if the feedback was honest, but it appeared to be quite the hit: Fortune Cookies. $2.50 well spent!

We were out in front to do some chalk drawings, but it was pretty windy

Fortunately, Ruby got plenty of use out of the chalk before we went back inside

A rare photo of my two beauties looking AND smiling! Yay!

Scout positioned her stuffies so that they could view us eating dinner

Playing playdough

Scout wearing her fancy glasses (they are a headband, but she wears them like glasses)

All in all, plenty of fun times to be had. It's good to think about the future, but also important to keep focused on the present--the silly, awesome present that I am so grateful for. I know that in a few years, I won't even remember what I was all bent-out-of-shape about, but right now it seems so monumental. Here's hoping for the right choice... and then, after that, a smooth transition to whatever that choice might be.

MLK Day weekend in Colorado Springs

This past New Year's Day was a busy one for Cory. With a few changes to the laws that took effect on 1/1/12, he logged into work for the day. As a 'thank you' his boss told him to pick a different day to take off. He picked MLK Day because Scout also had the day off of school. So, we asked our reliable dogsitter (Lacey) if she had plans, and she didn't. So we made a plan of our own to explore someplace. Oooh, where should we go? Breckenridge, Estes Park, maybe we could go all the way to Moab? OR, MAYBE WE COULD GO TO COLORADO SPRINGS!!!! Just kidding.

Not that there is anything wrong with Colorado Springs, it's just not the first on our list. However, it won by default--easy to get to, predictable roads (no mountain passes), and lots of stuff to do with kids (at least, according to this book that I got Cory for Christmas about day trips in Colorado with kids). Cory found a hotel online. I packed up a bunch of stuff. We left Saturday morning and returned Monday afternoon.

Of course, if you ask the kids what their favorite part of the weekend was, they'd say the pool. Unfortunately, Ruby's skin reacted quite severely to the chemicals in the hot tub (at least, that's our best guess at where she got these crazy red welts all over her legs). But we did also check out The Dinosaur Resource Center in nearby Woodland Park, and we hit the Garden of the Gods before heading North on Monday. Mostly we just bummed around--enjoyed the pool, the free chupa-chups provided by the Spring Hill Suites, had a few meals out (kind of a big deal for our kids, if you know how leery we are at venturing out for meals!), and spent a lot of time just the four of us. Weather cooperated, too! We were only greeted by snow upon our return to Fort Collins!

My babies in the offending hot tub

Smile, Ruby

Look ma, I'm wet and cold, but I'll still let you take the photo

Scout's all-time-favorite swimsuit: Circo brand pink tutu swimsuit, $14

Stay away from the light! Stay AWAY from the light!

The little nature walkers--plus Cory (he's way up there in the black)

It was cool, but clear and gorgeous.

In conclusion, Colorado Springs was a good time. I'm sure there would have been a lot more to do if it wasn't the middle of January, but all the same we had fun. I mentioned to Cory, "We should make this a tradition!" and he said, "WHAT? Colorado Springs???" And then I explained, no, maybe we should just make going someplace on MLK Day weekend a tradition. Most of January seems like a funky month (recovering from the holidays, it's cold, etc) so it's nice to have something to look forward to. We shall see...

Christmas and New Year's

This year we tried to make a new tradition--stay home for Christmas, and let Santa come to our house.

Then, we headed up to Sundance for a week.

It was a very nice time, on all fronts. I personally enjoyed waking up to our house on Christmas morning, and I felt the week in Sundance was a great time to "visit" and share some time with Grandma and Papa--we also overlapped with the cousins for a few nights, too, which was awfully nice.

I believe this was Dec. 23rd--the kids playing with dad and the race track

Our "Christmas Dinner"--served on Dec. 24th--Yum! Dad made an apple pie!

Opening gifts on Christmas morning

Santa brought Scout and Ruby a Dora suitcase and a dollhouse

Ruby and her suitcase, with Penny looking on

At Grandma and Papa's house--Scout and Ella open up a few gifts

Addy and Lexie

Look, her very own personalized plate!

Papa and the girls

Cory and Grandma Marlene

Ruby and Grandma Marlene

Party time!

Papa and Cory

Let the party start!

Whoa! Maybe one too many shirley temples...

Standing in front of the TV for Wii bowling

And a video of Scout and Papa's outdoor recreation

Happy New Year!