engage-a-versary

 Saturday night randomly happened to be the 7th anniversary of our engagement.  I had been planning for a couple months to pull Ryan aside at the kangaroo exhibit on Friday night to acknowledge the special day that had happened down under 7 long years before.  With the time zones, I actually think Friday would have been more appropriate, but Amy reminded me of our wine-tasting plans for Saturday night and I opted for the actual date.  I had Whole Foods write on a chocolate decadence cake and had the wine guy bring it our to Ryan about half way through our tasting.


It did take him a couple (long) minutes to figure it out, and he said it scared him as he racked his brain trying to figure out what he'd forgotten.  

In the end, it was a simple gesture that meant a lot and really took him off guard.  I think the busier life gets, the easier it is to forget the magical and meaningful moments.  Taking time to reflect can have an amazing power of reconnection and I hope I'll be successful in taking time for reflection more and more as life gets more and more crazy. :)

Freshwater and sand-bottomed Lake McKenzie is one of the natural world's mysteries.

That's a happy girl! She got the ring and the guy!

Our safari cohorts were thankful for the extra champagne broken open by the generous guides.

Boo at the Zoo after dark

Last night we joined Cole, Amy, Grace and Sara at the Denver Zoo's Boo at the Zoo after Dark.  It was lots and lots of fun wandering around the zoo to different trick-or-treat stations and surrounded by lots of the lights that must also be used for Zoo Lights during the holidays.  After what seemed like forever we found the adult's only station, although they made us pay for our treats at that one. :)  Ben snagged a short nap before we headed in thanks to Friday night rush hour traffic and was perfectly subdued and happy all night.  There was definitely a crisp fall chill in the air by the time we left but Ben's costume had the perfect warmth for the slight chill.  
I never put my faster lens on and should have as the dark dark night was challenging.  I captured a few of my little minion and his buddies the Pirate and Pocahontas.
It was neat to be at the zoo at night, and a little scary, and though this special evening event required tickets even for members, I will definitely pay extra to go again next year.

Dada getting him suited up.  I hope I have as much luck on Thursday.

Yep, he's thrilled. :)

Sara has such great innate posing skills

a minion in a maze

fish

Well, our little Michael Phelps Jr. in the making is having some great successes at Swim Labs but he's also 3.  He recently added Saturday lessons and the first with Miss Kayla was a little challenging but the one following with Mr. John was awful.  Although I couldn't see him, I heard his name over and over, "Ben, back on the wall." "Ben, it's not your turn."  Well this day also happened to be "show and tell," when the parents get to see and hear what the kids have been up to.  John started with Ben and mentioned that he was ready to move up to intermediate!!!!!, but that he'd need to learn to stay on the wall and wait his turn in order for that to happen. :(  He went on a bit about how tough the day had been and how much Ben failed to listen all in front of the other parents.  Needless to say, I was mortified.  As I was leaving John also mentioned that it's hard for him to be firm with Ben because he clearly loves the water so much and is so fearless and so cute.  I told him that what Ben needed for success in all of life right now was firmness and clear boundaries.  I explained how much he'd been testing us since turning 3 and also reminded John a couple times that Ben was only 3 as the others in his group are 5 and 6. 
So, I devised a plan and today Ben made it 17 minutes out of 30 before he failed to wait his turn.  For Ben in the water that means he jumps off the ledge and swims a few strokes before being rescued (not that he's aware he needs rescuing,) from what may or may not be eventual drowning.  Thankfully we've had no close calls and in my book Ben might just surprise us and swim back to the edge but no one is confident in that yet.  Additionally, it is important for him to learn to take turns and wait in line-ugh! NO one likes waiting in line! So, we had talked all week about my expectations and what would happen if Ben didn't wait his turn.  He made it lots longer than I expected before Kayla waved me in.  I think she was thrilled with our plan and level of commitment in terms of Ben potentially missing part of his lesson. So, as discussed, I pulled him out, we left quickly, and he lost all iPad privileges for the rest of the day.  He cried and cried as we changed his clothes and it all sunk in but I was glad the losses meant something to him.  It was a tough lesson but one that I hope doesn't take too long to sink in.

GLASSES OFF!!!

So, many kiddos I've known and loved (especially the girls,) go through stages of weird peculiarity where they demand the craziest things.  They need things lined up or their parents to wear certain shirts or their hair a certain way.  I thought that with a boy and especially with one who was so engaged in the the whole word around him at a typically break-neck pace, I would never experience this strange preference for things to be a certain way.  Well, Ben has decided his "thing" of the moment is my sunglasses.  When we are indoors and my sunglasses are on my head, he asks me to take them off.  This started a couple weeks ago and I thought little of it.  The other day he had the iPad and noticed my glasses on and I tested him.  I told him it was no big deal and to just make the most of his iPad time.  Holy Moly!! He was having none of my shrugging him off and would have surely dissolved into full-blown melt-down had I not finally obliged and removed my sunnies.  We tested him with Ryan last night and he didn't notice or care.  It's pretty hysterical and I cannot even begin to guess why he cares so much.  I"ll let you know if I figure it out or when it ends. :)

#wilsonretreat

Freedom!!

stowaways & Santiago's-yum!

Last Saturday morning we dropped Ben and Luke at MeeMee's and headed south to Colorado Springs for some grown-up fun. We enjoyed lunch at the Wilson's who hosted this months-in-the-making retreat, and then headed to their club for golf and spa-ing. The boys met us back at the spa for some hot-tubbing and champs before heading back to the house. 

Amy "before"

multiple signature cocktails were available upon our arrival

just a "simple" lunch

 

Buster drinking from the fountain cause that's a dogs life at the Wilson House :)

  

 

if only their club had a nice view

 

the boys on the range

 

Back at the ranch we were met by two more couples, making the retreat 10 adults and one sweet baby Quincy.  We had started imbibing at 11 am and after an amazing dinner, lots of Drinktionary, multiple dance parties, more dancing, some bb guns, and did I mention dancing?, we all headed to bed about 3 am.   I got up before everyone else (except baby Quincy) and soon decided I didn't feel as great as I thought I did.  Sadly I slept through the amazing breakfast prepared by Hayley and my dear husband, and finally felt good enough for the drive home about noon.  
By the time we reached MeeMee's to pick up Ben, I had mostly recovered but we definitely ordered pizza for dinner for only the second time in over a year.  
We all had SO much fun and can hardly stop talking about it when we get back together.  Dave and Hayley have an amazing late-1800's home that housed all of us comfortably and EVERY. DETAIL.WAS.PERFECT.  It embodied everything that is "retreat" from the constant barrage of incredible food to the spa-like towels, soaps, and candles.  Hayley even had gift bags for each of us with matching hats for the boys and spa goodies for the girls.  I'm just thankful our house is too small to ever host such an event as Hayley set the bar very high!!  There are rumors a similar event might happen again after the holidays and I can hardly wait!

Now I just need to figure out how to get the videos shared while keeping them private because, "what happens at the Wilson's, stays at the Wilson's." :)
 

the most handsome party-goer

the Turners

apps

handsome hubby

dinner spread

margs-round 1

Christie before she put her dancin' clothes on.

Amy "middle"

cheers

yes we coaxed Hayley into her wedding dress on our basement tour

quadruplets (of course)

North America (I think)

martinis are always a good idea at 230 am :(

drunk-dialing Garth in the eastern time zone at nearly 3am MST

*Note: Amy "after" has been removed for her job security.

we're going on a leaf hunt

Ben and I had great fun adding a little leaf hunt to our walk with friend Towbin and her pups this week.  I saved our hunting bags so we can try again in a couple weeks as this activity includes lots of different motor skills, counting, color recognition, and creativity.  It was his first time gluing at home and he really enjoyed that as well.  I had more luck with this than other creative projects of late and I think the "press press press," after gluing and the texture of the leaves really contributed to the enjoyment.  I hope we can repeat this project once or twice more before the leaves have all fallen and winter starts creeping in.

"I need to be naked"

Yesterday post-festival was trying for Ben and I.  After a failed nap due to extreme crankiness, 2 "mess-pee's" and a second complete spill of a fresh cup of coffee in two days, we headed outside for fresh air and distance.  Upon some successful attitude adjustment we headed back in for some Bronco watching and after washing his hands, I decided Ben's shirt was now too dirty to keep on.  I asked if he'd like a new shirt or no shirt and of course he replied with the latter.  I told him I was heading down to watch the game and would love it if he wanted to join me.  I left him browsing books in the living room.  
Less than 2 minutes later, down the stairs comes stark-naked Ben in all his glory.  After regaining the initial ability to speak I asked where his pants were to which he replied, "I want to be naked."  He now had one foot on the trampoline and I could barely contain myself.  I said, "but Buddy, we wear clothes." He said, while rubbing his belly and sticking it out extra far, "I NEED to be naked."
I literally fell over on the couch laughing as he started jumping.  I did my best to snap a few pics before retrieving his pants and explaining that he needed to wear them.  
I'm hoping the chilly change of seasons will keep him clothed.  Someone near and dear to us started getting naked at bedtime about this age and I think Ben needs those footie pj's for warmth!
I also had visions of a little one I taught in a daycare who eventually required duct taping of her clothes to keep them on.  I. WILL. NOT. duct tape clothes on my 3 year old. :)

more fun & more festival

Today we ventured to the Four Mile Historic Park Pumpkin Harvest Festival.  I've been reading about activities at Four Mile Historic Park since we moved in but we always had scheduling conflicts with their most exciting events.  I had no idea how close the park is or how much fun was to be had.  The park sits in the middle of Glendale and Cherry Creek right on the South Platte River path.  
Admission was free but there were plenty of sugary, carb-laden snacks to spend your money on including apple cider donuts, kettle corn, Indian fry bread, and more.  There were a few other fee-included craft stations including a LARGE scarecrow making station that included a large wood frame, clothes and hay for stuffing and linen bags with paint and markers for the scarecrow heads.
There were also a pumpkin picking patch and stagecoach rides.  Ben got to touch animal pelts, visit an Indian camp, go in a teepee, and pan for gold.  There were stations with period-dressed actors demonstrating crafts, black-smithing, meat smoking and more. Ben's favorite part was definitely the bluegrass band and playing spoons with his Dad.  I could have likely left him there all day just listening to the musicians.  This park would be neat to visit any day but the special fall activities made it extra fun.  The best part was Daddy getting to join us at the last minute before heading into work for the afternoon.  The adults definitely had as much fun as the kiddos at this affair and it will certainly be an annual tradition in our house!

the,"Ok I'll smile but I will NOT look at the camera," progress

such juxtaposition with the towers of Cherry Creek so close

These three show THE Four Mile House-the oldest still standing in Denver