Open Gym!!!

We met up with some friends from work at Danik Gymnastics down in Eagle and this is our new favorite place to hang out.  The studio started allowing "open gym" to the public a few months ago.  Whoever came up with the idea to open their doors and pair up with the inflatable guy is a genious!!!  We (do you notice that I am included) had a blast!  Who doesn't love going crazy with their kids for a few hours,  burning off some energy,  and burning $5 in my pocket (whoop de doo).  To top it off, Allie was so warn out after her 21/2/ hours of play, she crashed on the way home for a 2 hour nap :)

The inside of this gym is so cute.  This was a climbing wall that is set over a "marshmallow pit" (a.k.a.-foam pit) as I used to call them as a kid.  Of course this was the first thing my monkey climber went to do and just loved climbing up and over the top, or just loved climbing up and falling into the foam

Practicing some moves on the balance beam.  When I told Allie that we were going to the gymnastics studio that Til and Tal go to, she wanted to wear her "leo" like the girls 

Having some fun in the inflatables

Jumping off the mini tramp into the foam

Practicing some moves on the bars. 

I don't think there is a better way to learn how to do the monkey bars....you fall right into the foam and you don't end up with any broken arms.  Thanks Danik, we will be back for more fun!

A Week of being BALD

Well it has been an interesting week to say the least.  I have LOVED having my head shaved.  I love how fast I can get ready.  I love how I can quickly jump in and out of the shower and throw on some make-up and go.  I love how you don't have to think about this aspect of yourself and making yourself pretty, and how you come to realize that you are a beautiful person and "hair" doesn't make you more beautiful (maybe it does a little).  Blake loves me hair-less too:)  It's always a bonus when your spouse still finds your attractive, maybe even more attractive without hair.  I was thrilled when we went to pack my bags for Blake's Grandma's funeral and I didn't need to throw in my blow dryer, the curling iron, the straightner.....oh my the list of hair care products.  My one complaint, if I may just have one, is that you don't realize how much heat is held in by your hair and how freezing cold your whole body is when your hair is gone.  I have been wearing a beanie around the house to stay warm.  I bought a new wardrobe of hats (prior to the shave), thinking that I was going to be wearing hats every day, but they feel really funny on a bald head.  There is all of this dead space above the hat and it is a weird feeling.  The down side of wearing my beanie every day is I am breaking out across my forehead because I am constantly wearing my beanie.  

My friend had mentioned how she was going to record thoughts from her first week bald and I really liked the idea and wanted to share some of my experiences.  Some observations that I have had out in public the last week have been unexpected and surprising.  I truly forget that I have no hair and so having lots of random acts of kindness has been so appreciated.  It makes me realize that I need to go out of my way and be the initiator of random kindness towards others, just because it makes you feel good.  

When I go out in public I don't wear anything over my head, I usually just wear my beanie around the house.   I have only had good things to say about how nice people have been.  I don't know what their thoughts are when they look at me,  I'm assuming most people think I have cancer, but everyone has been so compassionate.  Complete strangers will just walk up and say, "how are you?",  "are you doing okay?"  Depending on my time frame, I will fill them in on the scoop of what my cause was, but other times I have just responded that we are doing GREAT!  Besides peoples concerns that they have expressed verbally, people have been so kind in their actions.  Whether it has been people letting me go in front of them in a line, people offering to bring dinner and pie over (Blake was a little mad I didn't take this offer up), people are so nice.  It is interesting that I don't get these actions of kindness in a "normal" day of life, but I guess we can all start to be more aware of others and offer kindness ourselves.

Here is one week post-shave

I am sad that my hair is truly growing fast.  I have contemplated whether I am going to shave it again because I am enjoying my time not doing my hair.  I know it still doesn't require maintenance at this point, but soon enough I will have to weigh the decision whether to let it grow or buzz again.

Spring Planting Is Here

We had a very productive Saturday getting our garden soil prepped for growing season, getting the crop planted, and sitting back to wait.  It seems like the past few years we have been building boxes or building covers (I can't really complain, I just sat by the sidelines while Blake tackled those projects); so to just mix up some soil and call it good was a nice change.  

Here is some of our spring crop.  Now if we can just keep our cat from digging up the seeds we might be able to get something to grow

After a long days work we found Allie asleep, still "praying" for our garden crop to grow (that was the focus of our prayers that night).  

Growing Girl

We have a first in our house.  I was cooking some stuff over on the stove and when I turned around Allie was out.  I'm not sure if Allie is growing or what her little body is doing.  The last few nights Allie has been out around 6:30-7:00 p.m. and she is out cold.  I tried really hard to get her to wake up and eat dinner, but I did not succeed.  I'm not complaining about this new bed time (if that's what she's decided this is), but I just want to make sure there is some reasonable cause to this new bed time 

I love this picture.  Her little feet are curled up under her and her head is resting on her plate

She was in such a deep sleep that when she would breathe, her plate would rhythmically move with her because her little head was resting right on the edge.  Happy dreaming baby girl!

Cat In The Hat Off To The Bunny Hill

We woke up and had a busy day planned for our little family.  We started the morning by celebrating Dr. Seus's birthday and eating green eggs and ham.  Allie wasn't quite sure what to think of her green eggs and wouldn't dare eat them. It's funny how the color of our food changes our perception on it.



We made Dr. Seus hats at preschool the previous day.  Allie decided to wear her hat to breakfast.  Following breakfast we got lunches made, warm clothes on, and the car packed as we prepared to spend the day skiing at Bogus Basin with Papa Jim.  Papa is an avid skiier, making it up to Bogus 3-4 times a week.  Allie was just thrilled to be traveling to the mountain where Papa ski's.

Getting the boots on.  I was impressed, I used to hate my ski boots when I was little so I was a little worried about what Allie might do, but no fuss

Our ski bunny ready to hit the slopes

Okay, this little conveyor belt is the nicest replacement to the rope toe.  When I was little my gloves got ripped to shreds as I would hang on for dear life going up the rope toe.  Great improvement to the ski hill

Going down the bunny hill a few times.

We tried skiing with Allie in between legs, on the side, everything.  She was just loving it.  We took her down the bunny hill a few times and then she went down all by herself.  She then decided after a very short time that she was ready for more.  She wanted to ride the "swing"- a.k.a. the chairlift.

So, off we headed to ride the chairlift to see how Allie would fair down a little bit longer run

I wish I could have captured her face better on my camera.  Her mouth was wide open and she had the biggest grin on her face.  Priceless!!!

We then tried a few runs with Allie hanging onto the pole; we found that she had to balance on her own more when she was hanging onto the pole

She had a few lessons with Papa on how to make a "pizza" and then she decided she was done with everyone and wanted to take everyone's advice and put it to use.  She took Papa's hands and pushed them off of her and wanted to ski all by herself.  

And she did!!!  Practicing her "pizza" while skiing by herself.  Allie is one determined little girl.  I am so impressed with her drive to pick things up and run with it

Kids really learn so quick when they are so little.  Allie took off down the hill, turning, and doing way better than we had expected.  We were all impressed.

Kids are little and skiing wears you out.  After a few hours Allie needed a break.  So into the lodge we went to warm up.  Blake and my dad hit the slopes for a bit and then my dad and I switched spots. After Blake and I headed out to ski for a bit, we found Papa and Allie outside the lodge with skiis on ready to hit the slopes for some more.  What a fun day we had accompanied by gorgeous sunshine!  We hope to return again soon.

Springtime Is Here

What a beautiful day!!!  I am so excited that spring is near. I sat on my blanket and soaked in some rays while Allie tried out her skates for the first time.  Allie got a pair of skates for Christmas, the ones you wear with your shoes and strap in.  These skates bring me memories of my childhood.

Allie and Max out enjoying the rays

There were a few falls throughout the afternoon,  but we ended up with no hole in the knees of Allie's tights

Allie's good friend Macy came out to play and had a pair of princess skates just like Allie's.  These girls had a great time together and I am so excited for spring time.