Jack and Jim went up the hill.....

........to celebrate their birthdays.  Yesterday we celebrated Jack Arnold's first b-day and Grandpa Jim's 66th.  Jack's parents are my friends from college who I had the pleasure of helping choose engagement rings a few years ago.  Ryan and I enjoyed their wedding in Vail and it has been a joy to watch them become parents.  Though we hoped they might become neighbors, they stayed north of the city and have done an impeccable job updating and decorating their home.  Erica's perfect navy blue powder room was like home to me and her style inspiring.  Ben was nearly the oldest kiddo in attendance but there was a big back yard and enough watermelon to keep him busy.
Happy Happy Birthday Handsome Jack!! We look so forward to watching you grow!

the birthday boy

another baby friend, Bo

After a quick stop at home, we headed to Nana and Papa's for an impromptu evening of grilling.  We had celebrated the week before in Breck but were thrilled to see Papa on his actual birthday.  Ben has slowly started calling Papa "Grandpa" as Papa was always easier to say and someday if it sticks I'll bring myself to make the transition.

Ben had a great time and lots of kisses and hugs for 96 year old great grandma Lola.  He talks about her frequently at home and I love that they get to see each other and that he might grow with fond memories of her. 

Spooning in Breck

This past weekend we had a mostly delightful trip to Breckenridge with the Heimers (Nana and Papa) and the Witherspoons, (Christy, Dave, Ian and Luke and Dave's parents, Bruce and Diane.)  Nana had wanted to have a family ski trip and after some difficulty finding an affordable and small place during Spring Break, the Witherspoons kindly made room at their mountain house for all of us.  By Friday at dinnertime we had all arrived and made plans for skiing for the grown-ups and kiddos alike the following day.  I awoke at 5 to get breakfast in the oven for the skiers and start consuming the copious amounts of coffee I thought I might need to get Ben to the ski hill.
Shortly after the skiers departed, Bruce and I took Ian and Ben outside to play in the snow.  Spring sun and temps made standing outside very enjoyable for all of us. 

Nana and MomSpoon helped with a post-play snack.

A storm blew in on the mountain and we changed plans to have the kiddos ski after lunch rather than before.  Poor Ian sat down to watch a movie after playing outside and never recovered.  He battled a high fever all weekend and upon returning home was diagnosed with hand, foot, and mouth disease.  Our house made it through the incubation period unscathed but sadly baby Luke has come down with it too.

After lunch we got Ben together to ski and with Nana and I on our feet and Ryan and Papa on their skis, we set our monkey free on the slopes-ha!

Thanks to cousin Ian we didn't have to rent a helmet though his noggin' is lots larger than Ben's.

There's a longer video with a mama cameo here.:)

Three generations of Heimer men on the slopes.

Skiing with Grandpa

 

After needing to be held up on his inaugural ski adventure last year, he took to the skis with ease this year, frequently catching himself and uncrossing his skis without falling.  I wasn't sure if I delighted more in seeing Ben doing so well and having so much fun or in seeing Ryan's face light up at observing the same. 

 On Saturday night we celebrated Christy's birthday which was that day as well as Grandpa Jim's which was the next week.

We spent Sunday at the Grand Lodge at Peak 7 where MeeMee has her timeshare so we get day use privileges.  Only Nana and Papa joined us as Ian was still sick and by the time we returned to the Spoon house, we were the last men standing.  We had planned to stay until Monday to avoid the Sunday evening ski traffic and nonstop service straight home made that plan quite worthwhile.

This view from the Spoons' upstairs sitting room never got old

Pools, hot-tubs, and bloody's while watching the skiers was perfect for me though the Spring conditions were tempting.

 

We took a similar pic a couple years ago and he still won't be still! All the teams everyone loved went down that day. :(

We had a delightful weekend and are so thankful to everyone for making it possible.  We felt so badly that Ian wasn't well and hope the whole Spoon clan feels like themselves soon!

bye-bye Breck-until July!!

craigslist to the rescue (and Moms are ALWAYS right)

Last Sunday during one of our delightfully warm Spring days, Ryan's mom mentioned to him that Ben needed a larger outdoor playset than the plastic Little Tykes hand-me-down he had really enjoyed the last year.
I giggled because I'd been telling Ryan this for a couple of months.  While we do have plans to expand some day, we will have our "big" yard for another 5 years at least and that's plenty of time for Ben to enjoy a larger swing set.  I'd been looking on Craigslist occasionally and showing things to Ryan that mostly fell on deaf ears.  There is something magical though, about a mother's advice, and suddenly Ryan was more on board than he had been. 

I found a set as we sat around talking and wrote the owner to inquire.  After discovering I was second in line, I knew I'd never have a chance at the custom Trex playset with all the goodies for less than $200.  Many similar used sets on Craigslist were selling for between $400 and $600 and any selling for less were plastic or needed LOTS of work. 

Well, Monday came and I thought I'd check the listings again in a few days when the owner emailed to say he couldn't reach the first party and could we come look that afternoon? He had a long list of interested parties and was going to move through it quickly.
He lived near MeeMee in Arvada so I headed to the bank and Ben and I headed to the burbs to beat rush hour and go claim our prize.  MeeMee joined us for safety and and was hushing me as I gushed about the good deal while putting Ben into the car.  I believe her words were, "Shhhhhh! Yes, it's a great deal. You're stealing that thing!"

With rain forecast for lots of Saturday, I convinced Ryan to take off early Friday and dis-assemble so Saturday would only require a quick morning move.  Thanks to help from Nana and Papa with watching Ben and on the front construction lines, and no precipitation from Mother Nature, by 4 pm Saturday, the play set was ready to use.  Though the moisture had held off, it was brutally cold and windy so the real playing didn't happen until Sunday.

 

Those men made quick work of this beast!

Luke knew something was exciting!

The inaugural swing.

The previous owner had a sandbox under here but we might keep his table and water table here as he has another sandbox.

Ben has really enjoyed the new set and even begs to play each morning before school.  The truth is that this new toy was more a gift for me than Ben and it's location in perfect view from the deck and kitchen window will make it the gift of time and relaxation that keeps on giving.

Wow! Wow! Wow!

Well March in Denver has lived up to full Springtime in the Rockies weather glory.  Yesterday was over 70 degrees and today brought cold, fierce winds, and snow.  A couple Thursdays ago promised one of those near 70 degree days and though the sun hardly peeked and the temp struggled to reach that high, I planned a picnic in the foothills.  I had the thought to take Ben to Red Rocks amphitheater for the first time and looked forward to it all week. :) Had I known his reaction upon glancing down on all of the glory for the first time would be so great, I surely would have had my phone or camera recording. He looked down and back up at me and said. "Wow! WoW! WoW!wowwwwwwww. Wow mommy wow!"

So, admittedly at that point I teared up a bit because it really is an amazing place and I never dreamed he'd have such a great reaction the first time.  We explored a little and sat down near the top for lunch.  

I told Ben about the concerts and the fun he'd have there one day and told him it was where daddy had told me he loved me and where we'd been married. My mind then wandered to all my previous visits and all the good and bad things I'd done there and decided we'd leave the sharing at the love. ;)  There were the usual tourists and runners to observe and many people to take pictures for.  The stretch of holding onto a little one and helping him up and down the seats made me sore for days. I unknowingly created a new workout for the next time I go there to run.
Ben had an absolute blast running around on the stage and climbing the "red mountain."  He's asked to return many times and it will surely be a regular stop during our upcoming Summer of Fun!

These two hold so much symbolism for all the wonder my little man has ahead of him in life.

Cat in the Hat's loooooong birthday

Dr. Suess's birthday was on Sunday March 2nd and was celebrated at Ben's school on Monday.  I told Ben is was Cat-in-the-Hat's birthday so it might have a little more meaning for him.  He ran into school saying, "Let's find Cat-in-the-Hat and tell him Happy Birthday and eat cake!" Ben enjoyed a school-wide pajama day and continues to enjoy the amazing artwork done by Ms. Lacey, one of the four-year-old teachers at his school.  Nearly every classroom replaced all the books in their rooms with Dr. Suess books and had parties in his honor.  Ben is STILL talking about it and looks very forward to greeting the Cat-in-the-Hat upon arriving at and leaving school. 

His "One-fish, two-fish, red-fish, HUGE-fish" from my beach trip last year was perfect for this day.

As his main classroom teacher, Ms. Corina, has been out recovering from surgery, I've offered to help the para and sub however I can.  Cutting these hats took many hours of my weekend but walking into the class and seeing all the kids (except Ben,) wearing them proudly made every hand cramp worth it!

Happy Birthday Dear Dr. Suess! Thanks for all you did!

*Please excuse the phone pics in this post.  I'd hoped to go back to the school to capture all the art, of which this was about 50%, with my big camera, but haven't, and want to get on with life.