Running, climbing, jumping, running, cli...

October 2015

Let me tell you about a renewable source of energy that seems to outperform every other sources on earth: yes, you guessed it: boys (I could probably extrapolate to kids in general).

As a mother of two, I have gained huge respect for parents of more than two children. My friend Leslie has four boys. She’s a superhero to me.

 

Seeing this overload of energy-filled precious children makes me hopeful for the future. I really don’t think there is anything more rewarding and important I could do, than raising these children.

Getting into the Halloween spirit

September 2015

 Sometimes being a parent feels like a thankless job. You think you’re never doing enough. That’s how I feel today. But then I look at these pictures and I realize it doesn’t take much to make kids happy: some paint, a couple online tutorials and a choice. The choice to focus on the moment.

That day, they came home from school and asked me to paint their faces. I had fun doing it, they loved it, and I’m glad I made the choice to focus on that moment rather than worry about the work I wasn’t getting done and all the mess I’d have to clean up. I have to remember to make that simple choice more often...

Here are the boys meeting our new neighbors : Romy the cat and Socrate and Izac (the dogs).

 

I bet you didn’t know Dracula was a karateka

Also, Grandma sent some fun stickers to play with for Halloween. William looked amazing with a mexican mustache:

A new school year and a new apartment

September 2015

 After our trip to Boulder, the boys only had a couple of days to recover from jetlag before it was time to head back to school: 2nd grade for Joshua, Kindergarten for William.

Since there’s only one class per grade level in this school, there’s no surprise which friends will be in the same class

William (far left with striped Tee) in his classroom

 The day before the beginning of school, we got the keys to our new apartment: a two bedroom ground floor apartment with a small garden in the front and the back. It is perfectly located: pretty much next door to the school and the park (including a soccer field and an old tennis court) and five minutes walking to my parents’ house. The boys need to share a room but considering it took us two years to get this, I won’t let them complain.

William found the perfect spot to play Nintendo while I stripped the walls and painted

The front door

The boys bedroom

The kitchen my Dad spent an entire week building (there was only a sink before)

The living room and the garden in the back

 I’m so grateful to have this place so close to my parents, in a quaint, peaceful, little village. Life continues to be difficult and frustrating sometimes (did I mention I spilled 2 or 3 gallons of white paint in my car the week we moved in?) but there’s so much to be grateful for. This entire year has been a happy and blessed year.

Summer trip to Boulder (August 2015)

In August (2015) the boys and I flew to Denver so they could  spend some time with their Dad. It had been two years since we had last been in America and I was wondering what the boys would remember and recognize.

As expected, the plane ride was fun and exciting. The first thing we did when we landed (on our layover) was getting some Jamba Juice. They didn’t remember it, but now they keep asking for it!

Denver at last : Happy to see Dad

The boys stayed with Rex the first week and a half while I stayed near our old appartment in Family Housing. Uncle Cody and Gramma came to visit.

Chuck E. Cheese with Dad

The boys hanging out at Dad’s place

Boulder playgrounds and Pearl street fountain

Hanging out with Cody, bowling, mini-golfing, sun-bathing etc.

Visiting museums

Fishing at Gross Reservoir

 While they were having fun with their Dad, I visited friends and hiked and shopped and did all the things I never had time for when we were living there.

I will never be tired of these rocks and mountains and blue skies

The Royal Arches, the Flatirons and the view from Flagstaff (Sunrise amphitheater)

The Flatirons on the left and Amy overlooking the Rockies on the right

With Jennifer, Amy, Sarah and Emily

With Clancy and Linda

The boys and I had three or four days together before heading back home, so we packed them with yet more fun and visits with friends.

Our favorite playgrounds (Josh remembered that one)

Deer sighting in Smiley Court

Playing in the creek

Dinner with friends

On the bus going to the pool

We used to go to that pool all the time (North Boulder REC)

Another pool we used to go to, near Spruce street

Mexican food and deserts from Panera. Josh wanted a second cookie after dinner so I gave him some money and told him to go order it. He was so cute, he recited the sentence I had told him, then the waiter told him it was $2.85, he gave the money and then he left, without his cookie, or his change!

Our beloved library, the penny fountain and the creek

More playgrounds, more memories

The day before we left, we had a potluck dinner with many friends who have stayed in the area. Several of them have moved out of Family Housing so it was fun reuniting around our old appartments, just like before. This place is full of wonderful memories: so many babyshowers, potlucks, birthdays, play dates and so many hours watching our kids run around while discussing life and parenting, crying, laughing, encouraging and supporting each other...

Brian and Marisa, Ben and Stephanie, Heidi and Kevin, Maggie and Dean, Sarah and Nathan, Maria and Patrik, Emily and Justin, Mike and Jeannie, Leslee and Wayne and all the children

How wonderful it was to spend some time with dear friends, and to say one last good-bye to Colorado. We have really loved it there.

Summer activities (July 2015)

Josh and Timothé build a dinosaur model

Joshua gets a fencing lesson at the park

Fun at the park

Cousins

Josh on the rope course