Finally! I am in Preschool!

Hey Guys!

Long time to talk! I was really busy over the summer. Who has time to sit at the computer when there is so much fun to be had outside? Not me!

I have been looking forward to going to Acorn Preschool for more than a year now! Last year I never got to stay. All we did was drop Noah off and pick him back up. Now it is finally my turn! I am super excited! And super cute as you can see in the picture above.

Since I am only going 3 mornings a week, I still have plenty of time to play with Mama and visit my friends at the YMCA. Good times!

Thank you Oma and Opa for being my preschool sponsors!

Ok. Gotta go. I've got places to go and things to explore and a brother to pick up from Kindergarten!

Later, Max

My Man

Happy 33rd Birthday, Karl!

I am not sure how I got so lucky to be married to this amazing man

- but I am enjoying it to the fullest!

I am typing this as he is biking the kids to school

- in the rain

- on his birthday.

These are pictures of their adventure to the

lava tube caves this spring.

I am one lucky and happy girl!

Thank you, Karl!

Places We Like

Oak Creek Canyon

- North Wilson Mountain Hike

Trout Farm

- We caught, grilled, and ate 3 yummy trouts

Mud

- The boys are definitely fans of the Monsoon

Dead Horse Ranch State Park

Puddles

- The bigger, the better

Thank you, Monsoon!

Tuzigoot National Monument

Grasshopper Point

- Swimming hole in Oak Creek Canyon

Snowbowl

- The local ski resort

San Francisco Peaks

- Our mountains

The Creperie on Heritage Square

- downtown Flagstaff

The RV

- Our home away from home these last few weeks.

It takes us wherever we want to go!

Our apartment complex

- we do like home too!

Thank you, Oma and Opa for taking us all these places!

Birthday Party Pictures

Romping through the forest

and

shooting water rockets.

The water rocket is always a hit.

The obligatory cake and ice cream.

We also served whole-wheat/no-sugar banana bread.

Courtesy of Karl.

Time for the treasure hunt.

Blowing up balloons ...

... and letting them go.

Good times.

However, I am considering having Noah be on a play-date for Max's next birthday party.

This older brother has a hard time not being in charge.

RVing with Oma and Opa

I love having my parents visiting us!

What a treat for all of us!

hiking in the hot Sedona sun

After a couple of days in Flagstaff exploring, shopping, and celebrating, we hit the road in their nice RV. First stop: Oak Creek Canyon. Beautiful. Plenty of hikes. Water play. Shady trees. Red Rocks. We're good.

Noah has been quite the hiker. Max - not so much. But we drag him along anyway because my family is avid hikers and he will learn to love it - eventually. After this hot and sweaty hike we cooled off in the Sedona pool and my dad taught Noah how to execute a proper dive - just like he taught me 25 years ago.

Noah and Max love the RV. They have been excited for more than a year to actually ride, sleep, and live in one. They both insisted on sleeping in the alcove above the driver's cabin and so far neither of them has fallen out. It is a great hang-out place for them during the mid-day monsoon and they come up with all sorts of fun ideas.

This kid can't wait to drive one some day...

Opa and Noah both share a passion for fire. It entertains them for hours.

Digging in the mud. What is new?

Today I am home alone while the kids and grandparents went on to Dead Horse Ranch State Park for another couple of days. Knowing the kids are well taken care off and having a blast, I can focus on swimbikerun and whatever else I can squeeze into the day! I am loving it...

Finally a Big Boy

Max has been very excited to turn 3!

(He would have actually preferred to turn 5.)

He could not wait to be a big boy.

No naps.

Potty-trained.

Starting preschool.

I think he finally made it!

He is not little anymore.

(Except for the occasional (daily) tantrum.)

We already celebrated his birthday on Friday.

Presents.

Hash browns and eggs.

Skatepark.

Our little pool.

A little party with friends, water rockets, treasure hunt,

cake and ice cream.

Delicious dinner at the Wildflower Bread Company.

Hanging out in the RV

This week he is having a blast camping with

Oma and Opa in Oak Creek Canyon.

We love this big boy so much!

PS: I decided it would fit into my workout schedule better to celebrate his birthday on Friday rather than today. I do not think this makes me a bad mother. I just wanted to spend all day with my favorite little guy. Besides, what kid would not rather open presents 4 days earlier?