Travelin'

We flew to Denver, just me and the kids. And then we drove to Guernsey.  And we made it back home again. It turns out that my two kids?  They're wonderful.  They are troupers and amazing little travelers and they have been so very very tired since we've been home...

 Jack loved take-off and landing, was marvelous in the airport, and wished the train ride to the terminal could have been longer. Ivy was sunshine and patience and cuteness the whole time.  The portable DVD players in our upgraded Ford Edge didn't hurt, either....

Both kids were happy to get to Guernsey.

And we had two very happy grandparents, too.  Sadly, Grandpa wasn't feeling well this week, so it was a quieter visit than everyone had planned.  But, it was time together, good time together, time watching my babies get to know my daddy, watching them laugh together and seeing Ivy turn her flirty face to her "bampa" in adoration....

The kids learned how to use the Wii Fit, painted, and played on the ATV.  We visited all of the playgrounds in Guernsey.

The weather was sunny and windy and warm.

 On Wednesday we had a trip to the top of the world.  The Castle, the world's grandest picnic shelter.

 Jack remembered it from last summer, and climbed the walls like a little mountain goat.  Ivy clambered up and down the stairs and played peekaboo.  Last year she toddled around holding her Grandpa's finger.  Time, measured in steps on Guernsey stone...

I love my family. I love Wyoming sunshine and high mountain air. My girl started talking so much more this week; the boy ate well at most meals.  The altitude is good for them, apparently.

On Friday, a sunny drive took us back to Denver to spend a quick afternoon with Leigh and Blaine and their little boy Wyatt (and the amazing Porter, too!)

We always have a magical time in Denver.  The weather is invariably perfect as is the leisure time we spend in our friend's beautiful home.

Can we move to Denver yet??

Our trip home was almost... fun???  Everything went smoothly, and we had time for pizza, and ice cream, and plane watching at the gate.  My children ran like banshees and charmed everyone in sight (can you say free ice cream?) and Ivy girl went to sleep before take-off.  Jack, on the other hand, held out til the descent.  Getting off the plane was an interesting challenge.

It only made me happier to see my husband waiting to greet us.

It was a lovely trip.  I am happy we went, and rather proud of myself, if I do say so...

And, I am glad to be back home...

Flower Children

Here for your viewing pleasure:  pictures of my little sunshines, in the sunshine....

Nat took them back to Daffodil Hill today.  How could he not?  What a glorious week it has been. 
Can you believe it's only March?
Perhaps global climate change isn't all bad.
 

March flowers

They've come in advance of the April showers, these flowers.

Spring has sprung, in all its fullness and glory.  The air smells of lilies and lawns shimmer with daffodils and the trees are greening.  Dogwoods and magnolias have burst forth, overnight, a profusion of pink.  It is heady and rich in the world.

The sunshine has continued into the week and my children are pink-cheeked and tired at the end of an 80 degree day.

Life could just stay like this, I think....

Wonderful Weekend, take two

The weather!  Oh, the weather!

It couldn't be better.  Even the thunderstorms have been delightful.  The ensuing humidity has made both my and Ivy's hair ring up into sausage curls.  Jack loves lightning.  It all works.

But before I linger on the details of a lovely two days (a trip to the beach, a trip to the zoo, family swimming, lots of burgers for the kids and lots of salads for Nat and I, sunny 75 degree days...) I have promised a post updating you on the amazing Ivy.

The girl is in the midst of a language explosion.  She is using 2 and 3 word phrases all the time, and its just making her more hilarious.

Most things are "mine" or "me" (as in "ME walking kick" -- my walking stick, or course)

"O-tay!" said in many and various inflections, from super agreeable to signed and sorrowful, depending on the situation.

"Luboo!" (I love you!!!)

She fills in numbers for us when we count...she can do 1, 2, 3 on her own, and then fill in "ive" and "en" in the right spots.

She's finally mastered saying her own name. Though, to our chagrin, she often says it in an exasperated tone...

"Me down.  Daddy." This is an example of her 2 +1 style of sentence:  a two word phrase, followed by a single word, usually a name.  Just to be sure we know who she's ordering around.   Other examples?  'No bow!  Mommy!"  or "No yick! (lick) Doggie."

She continues to be fascinated with "that one" and "another one", both referred to as "one" and she continues to love sorting her world into the categories of "big" or "niny" (tiny).  At the pool yesterday she rejected one blue kickboard in favor of another, identical one, as her chosen one was "biiiig!".  She pushed away the other with a "niny." of utter derision.

Other words that are just cute: "Hannies" (hands), "tack" (stack)

She also likes to walk up and down stairs with no help, and she loves jumping, even though she only gets both feet off the ground on about every 5th try.  She dances when she runs. She is fiercely independent and loves giving kisses.  She's a delight, this little girl.