Llama

Today we explored a huge park in Greenwood Village. It was truly amazing. I've never seen a more diverse and exciting play space. The only one I might compare it to is the children's pavilion at the World's Fair Expo 86 and I don't know if I remember that well enough to be sure. I just remember it was cool. This park is cool too.

It has a two-story tree house, lots of levels and bridges, a concrete climbing wall shaped like rocks and trees, and a slide built on the hill side (like the one in Wray, only newer). Above the playground area is a huge, manicured, grass field perfect for playing ball or flying a kite or picnicking. Jace just likes to run and run and run on the grass and down any hill he can find. Honestly, he is obsessed with hills lately. He loves to run down them. He looks totally out of control, hands out to his sides, feet just barely able to keep up with his momentum. I've decided his fascination is a pre-skiing skill. He is learning to appreciate the sensation of speeding down hill.

I'm not sure why there were two llama's tied up in the shade at the park today. They caused a small sensation with all the kids.

1st big slide

As promised, here is the photo Grandma Elaine shot of Jace going down the big slide for the first time. I just love the surprise on his face. He looks like he needs a parachute or something.

Sliding last Sunday

This was last Sunday at the playground near Gary and Elaine's house. It was the first time Jace did a "big" slide on his own.

(The video is the 3rd or 4th time on this slide. I'll post the photo of the first time down. It was hilarious)

He loved it! Since then he has been testing out slides on lots of different playgrounds. He loves the tunnel slide and the spiral slide at the playground near our house. Today, he tried a huge downhill slide at an amazing Greenwood Village park. I was holding my breath but he did great.

happy bath night

CLUE

It was Jace, in the stairwell, with kisses.
If a toddler leaning toward you with lips pursed DOESN'T make your heart explode, you need to seek medical attention.

Cold Green Tomatoes

is what Jace ate out of the garden this afternoon. The sudden cold weather has us shivering tonight. They say we could wake up to snow! Poor Jace was going stir crazy today so we finally bundled him and let him go outside to play this evening. He "helped" Joel check our garden for ripe cherry tomatoes. We keep trying to teach him the difference between red ones and green ones but he just wants to pick them all. Tonight he discovered that he could hide behind the plants and pick as many green ones as he wanted.
See if you can spot him hiding back there.
I think he only ate one but who knows for sure. They have to be sour. Right?

As I ducked out the door headed for my class this evening, Joel was taking Jace back outside. He had to have a change of clothes after he sat on the strawberry plants and stained the butt of another outfit. I never did get the last strawberry stains removed completely. Jace was bundled in the cutest fuzzy jumper. He looked like a teddy bear with tennis shoes and no ears. I will definitely post a photo next time he wears it. I was almost in tears. So cute. So hilarious.

I came home after class to a quiet, tidy house. Jace was fed, bathed and tucked in. No offense to anyone else but I have the best husband. :)

Yep, that's a green tomato in his mouth. Ewww.

softball game

It was a beautiful night at the ballpark. Janet and Aaron both played great. Aaron made a slide at second base that was impressive and amazingly it was called SAFE. Bummer they lost the game.

Jace watched, cheered, climbed on the bleachers and chased after some friendly dogs. We joined some of the team for pizza afterward. Jace hung in there like a champ. He was easy to put to bed tonight. I hope he sleeps through the night.

playground welcome wagon

Last night's memorable outing was to a nearby playground. Jace had been home all day and was more than ready for some active, outdoor time. He went to get his shoes when we said we were going.
At the park he was a one-man welcome wagon. Each new group that arrived at the playground was greeted by Jace, offering them a handful of rocks.
He dug in the rocks with two preschool age boys that kept calling him "the baby".
He watched attentively as an 18 month old girl, no bigger than Jace, climbed a spiral ladder. Joel and I shot each other nervous looks as the tiny girl scampered to the top of the playground. Her Mom didn't seem surprised or worried at all. Several minutes later, a 2 year old boy began climbing the same ladder. Jace moved closer to watch. When the boy was more than half way up, his Grandpa decided it was to dangerous and pulled the boy off. There was a struggle because the boy didn't want to get down. Poor Jace, who had been quietly observing at the base of the ladder, took the toddler's shoe right in his forehead. The only adult on the playground who seemed not to notice this contact was the Grandpa who caused it. Jace cried, mostly because he was shocked and scared, he was not hurt. Joel and I took a few minutes to calm him down and moved away from the playground to play in a nearby field until he felt better.
When he recovered he was back on the playground exploring a tunnel, climbing a hill and gathering more rocks. It was time to leave when Jace got overexcited about a giant Labradoodle tied up nearby. Jace didn't want to leave. Joel carried him to the car. He was blowing kisses to the dog over Joel's shoulder.

Track Meet

Joel is in town this week! He has a couple days off and then he will work a job in town. It is amazing (and not likely to happen again soon). It will be interesting to experience a "normal" day. A day that he goes to work in the morning and comes home for dinner in the evening. I am really looking forward to it.

Today Joel watched Jace all day while I worked on different projects for school. First, I spent the morning observing the preschool classroom at Meadow Point where I used to work. It was fun being back at the school but also strange because only one of the teachers that I worked with was there today. Everyone else was new or out today. Then, this afternoon I worked on a written assignment for class this evening.

Once all the work was done we were all able to go watch Dustin and Alyssa compete on the Liberty Middle School track team. This was the second Meet in a week that Jace and I have been able to attend. Today was a perfect afternoon to be out at the track. It was mild and overcast. Jace enjoyed playing in the grass and clapping for his cousins. Joel and I had fun taking pictures and cheering with Don, Jessica, Janae and Elaine. I saw Alyssa run the mile and a relay. Dustin did the long jump and the 800. They had more events but I had to leave for class. Which, once I got to campus, I found out was canceled. Dang.

Alyssa running the mile and still able to smile for the camera.

Dustin's long jump.

full day

I was so excited to post the videos of Jace's breakfast and dancing. The keen observer will notice that Jace fed himself breakfast using his Left hand. I'm not sure that really means anything but I'm sure my Mom will be excited.

We were at Palmer's house this morning because I had class last night. Gary and Elaine fed Jace dinner and put him to bed. My classes are going well but I have lots of reading and homework to keep up with. I spend Jace's nap time trying to get ahead on the work.
This evening we had dinner at Jessica & Don's house. They made a birthday dinner for Elaine. It was fun. Jace and I were late getting home so I need to get to bed.

Happy Birthday Elaine!

I miss you Joel. Get lots of work done and come home soon.

dancing with Elmo

eating oatmeal

Estes Park trip

The weekend was a blur of packing, unpacking, eating, playing, repacking and driving. We had a wonderful time this year but it just seems to have come and gone so quickly. On our way to the cabin we encountered the Elk standing at the edge of the road. Joel pointed out that we should not have been surprised. The name of the road was Elk Way. Jace was amazing. Saturday evening, when we got settled into the cabin, we headed down the road to visit the Wyoming cousins in their cabin. Jace walked/tumbled down the steep drive and through the tall grasses. He didn't ever fall but it was tough for me to watch. He just loved the freedom and open space to explore. He chased after any ball that he saw with his arm straight out in front of him shouting, "baa, baa". He did the same to the Romsa's dog Max only he would shout, "daa, daa". I followed him around trying to steer him away from the mud puddles that were all over after the rain. It was starting to get dark when we headed back to our cabin. Jace was tired but would not let anyone carry him. It was adorable watching him march back up the steep hill in his hoodie sweatshirt. He looked like a little penguin with his small hopping steps. He did fall backwards three times on the hike. He never cried (except when we tried to carry him).

Sunday there was lots of time for playing outside. My favorite photo of the weekend was this one of Jace and Emma at the screen door Sunday morning. Both of them were anxious to get outside. Everyone else was busy with breakfast.

Victoria was there for a little while on Sunday. She is just a few days younger than Jace. They are about the same size. Jace didn't take much notice of her unless she had a toy he wanted. She cracked everyone up when she took off her shoes and smelled inside them.

Jace enjoyed corn on the cob at lunch and I did not enjoy the diaper a few hours later. Yikes.

Joel practiced his horseshoe throwing in a friendly competition.

I partnered with Lori in an exciting round of Nertz (card game). We almost beat the dream team, Jessica and Travis. While the card game was going Jace started snacking with Grandpa Gary and Joel. He was so cute he kept coming over to them, pointing at the open bag of potato chips, and saying "peeeeeas". Of course no one can resist him when he is being so polite. After several times we figured out that he was feeding the chips to Max, the dog.

At the swimming pool Jace was in the water maybe 10 minutes before he decided he was done. Instead of swimming he wanted to march all around the edge of the pool. The wet, tile surface was slick so he kept Grandpa Gary and Aunt Jessica very busy following him around holding on to him so he wouldn't slip.

Jace slept great after one of his busiest days ever.

Monday we packed up and went over to the main YMCA center to check out. There was a lot of posing for photos with not a lot of successful shots. The ones you see in the slide show had to have a bit of editing. It is tough to get Jace to ever look at the camera when you want him to. It is even tougher to get the adults in the shot to look at the camera when Jace is there.

We spent a nice afternoon in Estes Park exploring the craft show and having lunch at a rooftop Mexican restaurant. We enjoyed Aunt Debbie's company and wished that Uncle Greg and Christopher could have come with her.

Today it is back to work for Joel. He is in Angel Fire, NM again. I have to figure out a schedule to keep up with homework. I am taking three classes this fall working on getting my Group Leader Certification. With it I will be able to lead early-childhood classes.

Happy Birthday to my Mom

who celebrated her birthday over the weekend.

Congratulations to Sarah

for doing the Disney Half-Marathon over the weekend.

Can't wait to hear how it went.

Visit

We were so excited to spend a little time with Dan and Becky last week. During thier quick trip from Florida they had lots of family to visit in a few days. They spent two mornings at our house. Jace was thrilled to show off. He marched around and got out toys to show them. Recently the wooden blocks have been the favorite toy. Jace had both Uncle Dan and Aunt Becky building towers for him to knock down. They brought a new "distraction" for Jace, a little magnetic barn and farm animals for the refrigerator. Jace can make it play music while he dances around. There's been a Ho-down in my kitchen every morning since.

We also had a great time going out to dinner with Dan, Becky, Mat, Pam and Tim. There were margaritas and lots of laughs. Jace was the only kiddo at the dinner. He loved all the attention that he got.

As always, it was hard to say goodbye. Can't wait to see them again. Not sure when that will be.

to my laundry

Today I am not as thrilled with the strawberries. Less than 24 hours after I harvested them I am scrubbing stains out of three articles of clothing. Somehow, without EATING any strawberries, Jace managed to get red stains on the elbow of his pajamas, the butt of his jumper and the back of Joel's shirt.

from my garden

I can't believe how many strawberries I picked this afternoon. We have never gotten more than one or two at a time before. Usually the bugs of birds get them before we even realize they are ripe. They are beautiful and delicious.

Joel made it home today. Now we have a long holiday before he travels again next week. He thinks he will be back in Angel Fire.

Jace was so excited to have his Dad home to play with. Mom's block towers are not as fun to knock down as Dad's.

Here is Jace doing his best Godzilla smashing Tokyo impression.