Fiesta Hispanica

Every year, the boys' school throws a huge celebration. Each class comes up with a dance from a different region of the Spanish-speaking world. They practice for months. Parents create elaborate costumes. It's a fantastic night that takes months of preparation. This year the theme was Carnaval.

Owen's class dressed up like the traditional Carnaval de Barranquilla dancers of Colombia. Their song was "Moviendo la Cadera" by Oro Solido.

I had several teachers and parents comment on Owen's amazing dance moves. My boy has an inner Latino!

Jack's class danced to "Mi Gran Noche"by a famous Spanish singer from the 60s named Raphael.

Here's Jack, our resident class clown, running up to center stage for a bowing session.


At the end of the night, all the kids came up to the stage for a final dance with the teachers. So much fun!


Here's what happens when Daddy and Uncle JM get a hold of the costumes!

September weekend

Jack following in Daddy's footsteps, making charcuterie boards to sell at my preserves party.


Making Concord grape jam with grapes from our friends' vines. That smell! Heady, foxy, tangy delight.

Soccer game! Jack is on the same team again this fall, the Wasps/Red Devils. We love his coach Dawit and he's having so much fun and learning a lot.


I caught them listening to an audio book just like this. I love how they love each other.

First Day of School

Fifth and third grade: here we come!

Swim with the Fish

Since kindergarten, Owen has been saying he wants to be a marine biologist when he grows up. The Denver Aquarium has a special program called "Swim with the Fish," where you can suit up and snorkel with sting-rays, Moray eels, nurse sharks, a 400-pound Queensland grouper and 400 other underwater animals. Owen has been wanting to do it for months. His birthday seemed like the perfect time to surprise him by granting his wish. Jack was more than happy to be his buddy.

 Getting suited up, Daddy-style. It is virtually impossible to get those wetsuits on!

 All suited up and ready to dive. A little nervous but mostly excited!

And away they go!

I headed down a few levels to see the tank from underneath. Owen kept the blue floating dumb-bell, so that's how you can tell the boys apart in the pictures.


Both boys loved every second of their adventure and they've been talking about it for weeks.

soccer

Check out our adorable soccer player!




Go, Wasps!

Mountain Goats

The last trail run of the season took place at Three Sisters Park. Jack ran the 5K as usual, but this time Owen joined him. It was his first 5K! As usual, I ran/walked with Owen and this trail was definitely the toughest one yet. It was rocky and steep, but absolutely beautiful.

What a gorgeous trail. Four deer ran across the trail in front of us. Owen loved that. We're so proud of our friends who founded this organization to promote trail running for kids. Every child gets a medal. It's not timed and it's not a race. The focus is on enjoying nature, getting exercise, and finishing strong. You can read a great article about it in The Denver Post.

And away we go!

Here they are headed off for their first day of school. We have a 4th grader and a 2nd grader. Wow!

Owen is showing off his bus card. He was pretty nervous about riding the bus. (He has to take a shuttle from one campus to another this year.) When he came home, he told me the bus was "outragingly hot." Later in the week, he came home with a big smile and said, "My teacher is so nice. He understands that it's hard for us to come back to school. We don't even have to work!" I said, "Well, what do you do?" He replied, "Well, we are getting to know each other and learning about our new building because it is very serious. There are babies in our school." (Our school, along with a daycare and several other schools, is renting space in a large church.) Today he told me, "I love school!" This is a new enthusiasm from Owen, so we're happy to hear that.

Jack was thrilled to see all his friends and go back to school. He's been counting down the days for weeks. A few days into the first week, his teacher told me he was talking too much in class. He cried all the way home. Poor guy. It's a big transition, getting back into a school routine. I don't take this reprimand too seriously because every teacher Jack has ever had tells me the same thing the first week of school. This kid is just like his mom! He loves to talk with his friends.

VBS and Retirement

Pastor Dick and Pastor Char showing off the thumbprint crosses the children made for them during VBS week.

Here's a video of the kids singing "Ten Thousand Reasons," a beautiful song they learned during VBS. Can you spot Jack and Owen singing their hearts out (in the back middle, wearing blue and turquoise shirts)?

This was my third year working in the kitchen with my friends Emily and Marnie for VBS week. I kind of grumble about it but then it's always a lot of fun.


Pastor Dick and his wife Esther. After a lifetime in ministry, Dick retired. He is so loved and there were lots of tears shed in church on Sunday. We are deeply grateful for his sharp mind and tender heart. Someone stood up in church and said it best: Pastor Dick has the ability to combine intellectual rigor with messages that comfort the heart. He makes everyone he talks to feel like they're his favorite person. And he truly reflects the love of God, challenging us all to "live freely and responsibly in Christ." We are very sad to see him retire but we honor his years of faithful service.

Pastor Char, our Children's Minister, also retired on Sunday. She has been such a light to our family and many others. Under her watchful eye, the children's ministry has grown enormously. She knows each child by name and makes them feel so special and loved. She has taught the boys so much about Jesus.

It feels like the end of an era at our church. We're sad to see these precious leaders go but also excited to see what unfolds.

First time for everything!

Last day of school

Birthday party for the summer birthday kids.


Singing Happy Birthday to the summer kids.

Crazy moms on the loose! My partner in fun.

Owen's wonderful teachers. Sra. Diva, on the right, has been his lead teacher for two years and she was such a blessing to Owen. We are so grateful for her!


What a treat to have my parents and Aunt Katie in town! I always get so jealous of the families who casually bring grandparents and aunts and uncles to school events. It was wonderful to have family there to celebrate this milestone.

Jack and his assistant teacher, Sra. Nicole.

Jack with his lead teacher Sra. Tracy.

Congratulations to my boys! On to fourth grade and second grade!

Trail run

Our friend Heath Kirschner, an ultra-marathoner, has spearheaded a great organization called Mountain Goat Kids. It's a series of trail runs for kids. The focus is on completing the race, doing your best, and having fun on our beautiful Colorado trails. Every kid gets a medal as they cross the finish line. The boys love it!

And they're off!

Great job, boys!

Owen's music concert

Check out this sweet video.

Spring in the garden

These babies are tough! We had not one but two late-April snowstorms, after they'd already started blooming. The poor daffodils were bowed to the ground under the weight of the slush and snow. After each snowstorm, I watched with amazement as little by little they lifted themselves out of the snow--a little battered, a little bruised--and perked right back up.

Hispanic Heritage Night

Last Friday, the school had a huge event--Spanish Heritage Night. The teachers and students practiced for months to present a special dance, song, or performance from each class (grades K-6).

Pre-performance jitters!

Jack's class performed a series of children's playground games--in Spanish, of course. It was fun to learn Spanish versions of "London Bridge" and other games.