Settling Back In- Just one day

Oh did I have a blog. Actually I have been wanting to blog but our internet was a headache for a week and with everything else going on I just couldn't bring myself to sit down. The move has been really stressful for all of us but we are starting to get into a rhythm that works. Today was as close to normal as I've had in what seems like a year. We started with stopping by all three of us stopping by a bakery. Then Kevin headed off to work and Alder and I headed for a wander.



First to the bead store for supplies for a birthday gift. Which turned into a bit of a toddler time at the bead bath.



Then to the art store to visit the fish and all the colors. We spent ten minutes pointing to colors in the pastels and Alder started to understand that there are lots of different sorts of blues and greens.

After that it was off to the library for puzzles and choosing books for the week.

Then we were going to head home but it was getting close to one and I had to head off a mini meltdown by eating at the food co-op, Alder's favorite because he can have a plate of Peas, Olives and Tomatoes. It actually is the best lunch in town, both of us ate for seven dollars.



Then it was outside to the midweek farmers market for peaches and apple. Then we started for home... except we met another mama and kids and started talking so we went for a long walk with them. Until we passed by a playground and Alder was set on going (did I mention we didn't have the stroller) so they went home and we played for an hour or so. Then I carried him the mile home (have I mentioned just how hilly Brattleboro is?).

Once home we played with the beads on his table and made cookies to freeze. There was an almost meltdown when the cookie was too hot but we made it all the way until without any tears from either of us. I can hear the buzzer for what ever Kevin's cooking so I should end now.

Autumn

Erin reminded me that Fall is quickly coming to an end yesterday. So Alder and I took an amble on a near by Rails to Trails savoring an unusually warm afternoon.







Alder loves to give my gifts as we walk along, he carefully chooses the right pile of coal remnants.


Autumn is a time for cozy clothes, cardigans and clogs .

The sun was getting low as we headed back (I am still getting used to being in the north again I forgot just how early the sun sets, I love it)

A Day in the Life

8:30 am-10am Bike ride, Clear Creek Trail Lowell Blvd to Sheridan Blvd plus around Mountain View lake. Riding around is the perfect nap activity. He always starts out the ride happily watching everything go by but after ten minutes he's out. I need to figure out a good pillow for him since every time I put one in there for him he leans the opposite direction.

10-12 Play around house, Alder figures out how to open the gate at the bottom of the stairs, we figured six foot heavy wooden screen might keep the kid in, ha! Another figuring out project, how to make a lock. It isn't that I don't trust his ability to climb the stairs, it just his habit to slide down them and crumple into a heap at the bottom that concerns me.

12pm Walk to library to pick up books on hold and have picnic. Denver Library is great I can find just about everything I want to read and have them drop it off at our library. I used to love searching things out but now taking Alder to the library is a little chaotic, his Shiva really shows through, so we limit ourselves to children's sections.

1pm- 3pm Swimming both in the big pool and the kiddie pool. As the temperature rises into the nineties here there is really nothing else we can do but go to the pool when Kevin has the car. Alder loves the water and is even moving himself around a little in it. Of course he loves the kiddie pool where he can cruise the edge, but we have fun in the deep water to, although a lot of parents cringe or are in awe when I dunk him under.

3pm- 3:30 Picnic #2 under shady tree.

3:30- 6pm Long walk that includes buying Koolaid to dye yarn and searching out a creamcicle. It was one of those days where just being outside in the shade was where I wanted to be, we just never quite made it home from swimming since I had two goals in mind and a habit of choosing what streets to go down by how much shade they had.

6pm- 7pm Collapse on floor together.

7pm-8pm Make and have dinner.

8pm Alder crashes on meditation mat in living room (his new favorite cozy spot is the mat and a two pillows on it which he dives on to with a look of glee).

8:30 Dye yarn, berry blue and lemon-lime. One of my hands is still greenish the other blueish. And I still need more color. The yarn is not turquoise/ green / natural I think it needs a darker blue tone to fill the natural areas, I'll get some food coloring paste today to do that. Otherwise the process was really simple. All you need is large containers (I used the giant yogurt ones), lots of Koolaid, white vinegar and water.

8:30 Watch Transamerica. Really great movie.

10pm Kevin unearths himself from studying at the library.

10:30 All of us are in bed.

Self Portrait Challenge; A Well Loved Vehicle

This is my first Self Portrait Challenge post. Since the topic is bits and pieces I thought that I would photo my feet. They are my favorite part of my body, not because of their looks but because of what they have done and where they have taken me. The one month that I could not use one (ten years ago) was the longest of my life. Walking is my preferred method of getting places, but my feet have also peddled bikes, climbed rocks, danced with my husband at our wedding, and kept me up right for all of my long labor. It is though walking that I have understood my soul, made friends, discovered small places, seen mountain tops and climbed trees.

Click on them to see them larger.

First Hints of Spring

I love when spring feels like it is really settling in, especially after winters as snowy as ours has been. But March and April are those tricky months so I know that the snow is not done and that there will be the day that I go out dressed for sixty when it starts to snow. Alder and I can get out and wander. The last few days have been in the sixties so we have been taking advantage of the weather (except yesterday when I was randomly sick and spent my time sleeping or going to the acupuncturist).

Wednesday we spent an hour or two in the front yard. Alder has figured out that only hard things are good to put in his mouth. This means we're just eating rocks and sticks, the pointy things are quickly disappeared. Alder is truly a summer boy he loved the chance to be naked in the sun.
Alder his new crawling skills.

He wouldn't be my son if he didn't know a tasty rock when he saw one.
Now lets explore the rocks.
Today we walked down to the river, I think I was getting ahead of myself since it is still running high and cold with spring run off. Instead we visited the REI and used part of our dividend on a rain jacket for him (baby's first piece of gear) and to play in their play ground. Afterwards we walked along the river for a bit and then over to a quiet square where Alder could crawl around while I ate. On the way home we stopped by a friends house where Alder spent some time chasing his bottle around the slanted patio.
At the REI playground.
Alder gets up close with the art.

Here's a mini video of Alder VIDEO

And this is for Sam who couldn't be here for the walk... we love you Sam!!!!!!

Now were home and tired. Alder is a sticky dirty tired kid who does not want to go to sleep and I am in a tired, sore (7 mile walk), ready for tired boys to be sleeping, sort of mood.

End note: Alder ate a bowl of beans and a bowl of yogurt this morning, it worked we to keep him happy all day. When Kevin came home he just fed him a ramekin full of yogurt and apple sauce. This kid loves to eat real food.