The Huntoon Family

Pumpkin Patch 2011

2011-10-16T20:35:00.000-07:00

So, it's been almost a year since I posted on our family blog, and while I do not make any unreasonable claims that I *may* actually post more than once a year, I had some fun putting together a little collage (using Picasa), and figured that I would dust off our blog a bit. :) And, maybe, just maybe, I will make some more digital collages and post them right here on this little blog, too. Here's to hoping!

Cottonwood Farm ~ Boulder, CO

First snow of 2010!

2010-11-09T22:30:00.000-08:00

The snow and cooler weather is finally upon us. Thank you, fall, for staying so long and blessing us with your warmth, beautiful colors, and sunshine! Now, onto winter. John is so excited about the snow. He was jumping up and down today saying, "Winter came today!"

The snow was fun, but we spent most of the day cozy and warm inside the house. We played Go Fish; we danced; we played with Superheros; we made and decorated cookies. There wasn't any theme or holiday we were decorating for...just homemade sugar cookies with frosting and sprinkles, per John's request.
And played with John's drill set.

Sammy played, too.

Look at that concentration. :) He is a very determined little fella.

Fall in Boulder

2010-11-06T22:45:00.000-07:00

The boys at the Munchkin Masquerade on Pearl St.

John and his friend, Lake, playing on the rocks on Pearl St.

Sammy fell in love with lollipops during all of the Halloween festivities.

Yum!

And, finally, the grand finale of Halloween - trick-or-treating with John's best buddy, Isaiah! The little Superheros took the neighborhood by storm and had a blast!

And, some of the wee trick-or-treaters, Sammy and Sophia.

This week, we have had temps in the 70's, so we are making the most of our beautiful weather. One day, we hit the zoo with the Lillies - Jenni, Anna & Justin. Here are Anna and John with mama lion behind them.

Another beautiful day at playgroup - when we asked John and Mercy what they were doing, the reply was, 'We are on a date.' :) Oh, I love it.

Showing mama some of his stunts.

Sammy's stunts are still a bit tamer.

On an early evening walk. Sam loves this little car.

At Isaiah's soccer game.

Sammy's getting the hang of it.

Cute boy!

My dear friend, Natalie (Isaiah's mama), with Sammy and another cutie-pie, Emy.

A beautiful fall day...

2010-10-30T22:21:00.000-07:00

It was a fabulous fall day today in Boulder, so after having a nice morning together at home & playing in the backyard, we took off on our bikes and ended up at the Boulder Creek and a local park.

Hello from the sandbox. :)

Enjoying the fall colors down at the Boulder Creek.

Testing out the water.
Climbing, finding sticks, throwing rocks, jumping...repeat. Happy boy!

Come on, daddy. Let's go this way.

The Huntoon Halloween

2010-10-29T22:29:00.000-07:00

It's not even Halloween yet, but we have already had 2 parties, so here is a preview of the boys in costume (Ironman and Spidey). Let the fun begin!!

John made a costume change once we got home to match his lil' bro.
Mama and her Spideys!

A Huntoon Weekend...

2010-10-18T19:30:00.000-07:00

Ben's parents were here for the weekend...we had a great time playing around Boulder, at a pumpkin patch and at Rocky Mountain National Park. What a beautiful weekend to have family in town and enjoy Colorado!

Sammy taking in the view at Rocky Mountain National Park.

The boys at the Pumpkin Patch...

Sweet baby Sammy!

Matching jammies.

John near Emerald Lake on our hike at Rocky Mountain National Park...yes, that is snow behind him on the mountains. :)

Papa (Dave - Ben's dad), John & Ben...I love the sunlight streaming down as they look out onto Dream Lake, one of the three lakes we saw on our hike at RMNP.

Nana & Papa with the boys during a stop at RMNP to get a close-up view of the elk.

Celebrating Sammy!

2010-08-28T22:06:00.000-07:00

Our sweet Sammy-boy (or Sam-Sam, or Sam-Bam, or Samster) turned ONE on August 26th! He is such a joy to all of us! He is a fun-loving, spunky little guy who is always on the move in some form or fashion. When music plays, he starts dancing; when he sees his chance to get up the stairs or out an open door or play in a toilet, he crawls like mad in that direction (until he is caught, of course); when his brother is laying on the ground, Sammy is climbing on top of him. Sammy wants to be where the action is and where the people are, waving to and charming anyone who passes by. He is a smiley, chatty, happy (and sometimes fiesty) baby boy and we are so thankful that he is in our lives! Here are some birthday pics along with some others of our cute boy (and his family)!

I love this picture of Sammy's fun personality and adorable smile. :)

All of us at Rocky Mountain National Park on a camping trip this summer.

Sammy had 2 little celebrations...one with friends and one with family. In this one, he is wearing the same birthday hat that John wore on his first birthday.

Yep, a mess. But, hardly a lick got in his mouth.

Celebrating with his birthday buddy, Isaiah, and big brother, John.

What mud?

Hummmm...maybe they won't notice how dirty I am?

Sammy thinks his big brother is the best!

The boys loved their visit from Bukka...

...and Grammy (who watched the boys while Ben and I went backpacking - thanks Mom and Dad)! :)

Are you looking for me??

Where are we off to next, mom?

Hello world!

What fun it is to play at the creek!

The big 1 year old.

Ahhhh...Summer!

2010-06-20T23:02:00.000-07:00

Hiking on Father's Day.

I just thought this was funny because we have the same expression. :)

The family!

Mama and her boys.

Playing in the creek.

Sammy kicking back in his new swing.

John is learning to swim! Yahooo!

Daddy and Sammy.

The boys at a wedding.

Mama and the boys at the wedding.

I'm crawling!

Johnny mountain biking with the 'big' guys!

Isn't this cute...Johnny's little bike on the top of the car with daddy's.

Colorado sunset.

Sammy is quickly becoming a pool kid.

Just looking sweet, which he does well.

My babies are growing up!

2010-05-17T23:59:00.000-07:00

John decided that the time has come to get a buzz. So, off went all his thick hair and his 'little boy' haircut with it! He keeps looking in the mirror saying, 'I LOVE it!' :)

Sammy is quickly becoming a mobile, fun, playful, spirited little guy! He is almost crawling, getting one of his top teeth in, and finally sleeping through the night!

Silverthorne - May 2010

2010-05-09T23:31:00.001-07:00

We spent this past weekend at my Jason's townhouse in Silverthorne, CO. It was beautiful up in the mountains and a very fun way to spend my Mother's Day weekend. Below is a link to the pictures. :)

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=217792&id=627249049&l=79fe8069de

April 2010

2010-04-25T23:27:00.001-07:00

Our family on Easter.

Sammy at 7.5 months.

Super-hero brothers.

John has been playing on a soccer team this spring.

Ben and some neighbors before a 26 mile bike ride.

John & Sam playing in Sam's crib.

March 2010

2010-04-02T21:57:00.000-07:00

At Grammy & Bukka's house for a little visit.

Sweet brothers.

Yep, I'm cute!

Skiing at Copper with the Mann's.

John's first time on skis going down the bunny hill.

Lisa & I on the chair lift.

Our friend, Jon (i.e. 'Big Jon') came out for a visit.

Mama learns to snowboard!!

2010-02-27T23:45:00.000-08:00

I have wanted to learn how to snowboard for a while now. So, my friend Heather and I headed out for a lesson one Sunday afternoon at a small hill near our house. It was fun! I had a couple of falls, but did manage to get all the way down the hill a few times on the snowboard. :)

February Fun!

2010-02-27T23:29:00.000-08:00

Sammy is now 6 months old!! He loves to jump!

John out enjoying another snowy day.

Happy Birthday, Mommy!

This is what happens with you are the little brother! :) (No, they were not shot at him, just hand-stuck onto his head).

Big brother is quite amused with himself!

Cutest baby boy!

Morning grins.

More of sweet Sammy...

2010-02-09T21:05:00.001-08:00

My friend, Natalie, captured some cute pictures the other day at the park. Thanks, Nat!

John wrote his name!

2010-02-04T22:53:00.000-08:00

Check it out! :)

Sam ~ 5 months!

2010-02-04T22:13:00.000-08:00

Here is the sweet Sammy at 5 months. He is a big boy - 19lbs, which puts him in the 95% for his age. You should see this kids thighs! :) He is affectionately referred to as a future linebacker and is already well into 12 month clothes. Sam is a happy, jolly little guy who smiles and laughs at just about anything and anyone. And, he is a really 'chatty' kid...he babbles all the time and just makes a lot of noise, in general. He still just has a head of fuzz and his first tooth is just breaking through this week. Sammy is such a joy and delight!

January moments

2010-01-26T22:54:00.000-08:00

Family Birthday Celebration - John is 4!

First time rock climbing!
Sweet Sammy!

Brotherly love.

Christmas 2009

2010-01-26T22:30:00.001-08:00

My parents drove out to CO for two weeks over the holidays. We had a great time together and enjoyed Christmas up in Silverthorne, CO at my brother & Regina's fabulous new townhouse.

John is 4!

2010-01-26T21:24:00.000-08:00

We celebrated John's 4th birthday with a Superhero party. It was a blast. The party was on the 9th (John's birthday is the 7th) and he insisted that he wasn't 4 until he blew out the candles on his cake at the party. So, he is now officially 4.

October Photo Album

2009-10-26T23:09:00.000-07:00

Click on this link to see what we have been up to in October.

http://picasaweb.google.com/MegganH/October09#

Sammy & John Growing Up!

2009-10-10T22:12:00.000-07:00

Here is a video of baby Sammy at 6 weeks. He is such a cutie!

Also, John learned to ride his bike with no training wheels this week! Here is a picture of him. I can't upload the video on the blog because it's too big, so I put it on YouTube. Check it out here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p5qcgGFp99Y

Sammy ~ First Month

2009-09-26T23:12:00.000-07:00

Sammy is one month old today. He is huge and chubby and adorable! John makes it very clear that Sammy is 'cute', but he is 'cool & awesome.' The transition to having 2 kids has been a very challenging adjustment for me, but it seems we are finally getting in a groove and I am not feeling quite so overwhelmed (although, that can change by the moment)! :) I have added some more pictures of Sammy on Facebook -- here is the link to view the album: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=151405&id=627249049&l=1215e21b9f

Welcome to the world, Samuel David Huntoon!!

2009-09-04T13:50:00.001-07:00

Samuel David Huntoon arrived into the world and our lives on August 26th at 7:56am!!! He is a sweet little guy and has already brought much joy to our family. John has been very affectionate toward Sammy, with a few 'less than gentle' pokes & squeezes, but that is to be expected. We are thrilled and thankful to have Sammy in our lives! Here are a few pictures from our first week with Sammy. If you use this link below, it will take you to an album that I put up on Facebook where you can see some more pictures.

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=144010&id=627249049&l=7593b0b4b0

CO summer fun!!

2009-07-06T14:49:00.000-07:00

We are most certainly enjoying friends, water & the mountains this summer in CO!! :)

Curtis & Annie Miller, dear friends from Michigan who now live overseas, came for a weekend visit. Here we are on a hike to the top of Sugarloaf Mountain.

Our family on Sugarloaf.

Annie & I.

John has spent many hours at pools this summer with friends. Here he is with Olivia, showing their colorful tongues after enjoying 'ring suckers.'

Floating on noodles with Anna.

Ahhh, what is summer without a popcycle to end an evening?! Here John is with our neighbors, Cam & Owen, after they were riding their bikes around and around the cul-de-sac.

Oh, what would our weeks be without our Wednesday morning playdate with Isaiah and Natalie!?!? These boys adore each other!

Hiking with friends...lovely CO wildflowers.

The mamas on the hike.

The kiddos on the hike.

Playing in a creek along the hike.

Anna, John & Justin ready for the fireworks.

Loving the water at our friend's resevoir (that is about as close as we get to lakes in CO).

Catching up ~ Spring 09

2009-04-27T00:08:00.001-07:00

Happy Easter!!

Family Easter Picture.

John & his buddies Lake & Karsten after their Easter egg hunt.

Playing with dad at the indoor water park.

A shot of the indoor water park we went to for a family outing on a cold, rainy spring day -- sooo fun!

Look what I cut mom! (Note the chunk of hair missing on John's forehead).

After our last spring snow melted, there was a lot of water just pooled up in various places and it was really hot, so John and some friends took a dip in the little lake that had formed in the sand volleyball court at the park.

My friend, Melissa & I (and her daughter, Sara) ~ she is due 2 weeks before me with another girl.
A classic of Spiderman at the zoo with a lollipop.

John & Isaiah on the teeter-totter.

John & Tyler having fun with Sara's baby dolls & strollers at our Playgroup Family Spring Party. :)

This is John's favorite babysitter, Megan.

Just scootin' along...

2009-04-11T14:39:00.000-07:00

Snowmen, Scooters & Friends

2009-04-11T14:07:00.000-07:00

With the crazy spring snow we had this year, we finally had a chance to build a snowman.

John is having a blast learning how to use the scooter that Nana & Papa gave him for Christmas.

Out for a ride with Isaiah and Spiderman.

We love our friends ~ John, Mercy & Isaiah.

Blast from the past ~ Isaiah, Mercy & John in June 2007!

Spring Blizzard '09

2009-03-28T00:14:00.000-07:00

I didn't think winter was actually coming to Colorado this year...but, alas, she came with a furry. We ended up with about 18" of snow, which more than doubles the amount of snow that fell in Boulder all winter! John has had a blast playing in it and getting the most out of our big snowfall of the year! Since we were snowed in, we decided to focus some time on potty training. John is quite excited about his new 'big boy underware' that both his Grammy and Nana gave him, which you can see him 'modeling' in the last picture. :)

Happy New Year!

2009-01-10T15:21:00.001-08:00

Whew! Life sure has been crazy over the past month with Ben losing his job, the job search beginning, and the holidays. We enjoyed having my parents in town over Christmas and the chance to rest & refocus a bit before the new year began and we really had to face what the unknowns of our new situation. I will update my blog from time to time, but will be lucky to get a 'picture of the month' up vs. a 'picture of the day'. Oh well...so much for good intentions. :)

John turned 3 on Jan. 7th and is jumping into little boyhood with both feet (and Spiderman light up shoes on those feet to boot). He said to me when he was sad that I had to leave for work (at Panera), "But I'm ok mommy because my Spiderman light up shoes make me feel better.' Ahhh, the days when it was that easy for our problems to be resolved. He had been talking about getting those shoes for months and finally Grammy came to town and saved the day. He had actually convinced himself that his other pairs of shoes light up, but he is more than thrilled to have the real thing!

We have no news on the job front. Ben is working hard looking for a job, follow-up leads & getting his resume out there. Once he is officially finished with his job on Jan. 17th, I will increase my hours a bit at Panera to help make ends meet. We are trying to make the best of this unexpected and challenging situation, while remaining grateful for the support of our friends & family and hopeful in God's love, grace, provision & plans.

Here is our family picture from Christmas Eve, which I would have used for a late Christmas card picture had I sent one. :)

Cousins

2008-12-05T15:56:00.000-08:00

A highlight of our trip to Indiana was spending time with our niece and John's cousin, Ella, who is 7 months old. Here are the cousins in their Christmas jammies. John has not yet accepted that he is no longer the 'only' grandchild and that he now has to share the spotlight with his cousin, as adorable as she is. It's tough being a kid! :)

Spiderman Birthday

2008-12-03T14:04:00.000-08:00

We are back to Colorado from our trip to Indiana for Thanksgiving, so I will be getting back on track with my 'Picture of the Day' posts.

John got to celebrate his birthday (which is Jan. 7th) early with Ben's side of the family since we won't see them again until summer. Of course, he requested a Spidey cake and finished off the theme with his Spidey costume. He was one happy almost 3 year old!

My Mommy works at Panera! :)

2008-11-26T22:43:00.000-08:00

As you probably know, I now officially work at my favorite restaurant/coffee shop and I have the hat and nametag to prove it.

Mountain Biking

2008-11-25T13:20:00.000-08:00

My first 'Picture(s) of the Day' post! :) John was 'helping' me with laundry, which turned into 'Mountain Biking' over the hill of laundry he created. I love his concentration, which is evident by his tongue sticking out in the first picture (click on it to make it bigger). After braving the rough terrain on his ride, he needed a little break.

Catching Up...

2008-11-23T20:44:00.001-08:00

Sorry for the very long delay in posting anything on my blog. I am going to catch up with some pics from this fall, but from here on, I am going to try something new. My friend, Shannon, posts a picture each day on her kid's blogs, so I am going to **try** the same thing. That way, I won't have to tackle so much at once, and 'blogging' might be a bit more managable.

As for catching up with our lives this fall...

...We enjoyed wonderful visits from both my parents and Ben's cousin Ryan, his wife, Alyssa and their son, Luke.

...I have started a new part time job at Panera, which I am really enjoying so far. I am learning the cash register, coffee bar (barista), and bakery.

...John loooooved being Spiderman for Halloween and Spidey still makes his appearance at least once a day around our house.

...We are spending Thanksgiving in Indiana with Ben's family and exicted to see everyone soon!

Hiking with Ryan, Alyssa & Luke on Flagstaff Mountain.

John and Luke had a great time together.

John with neighbors (and fellow Superheros) Owen (Robin) & Cameron (Batman).

Trick-or-Treating on Pearl St. for the 'Munchkin Masquerade'.

Halloween Party with our Playgroup.

The piles of leaves are too tempting...and so much fun!

At the pumpkin patch finding the perfect pumpkins.

Grammy & Johnny in disguise.

Bukka and John as 'Skateboard guys'.

Hiking with Bukka & Grammy.

Mom, Dad & Jason (my brother) hiking up Sugarloaf Mountain.

The whole group on top of Sugarloaf Mountain.

Fall Fun

2008-10-18T23:55:00.001-07:00

I love Boulder in the fall...so much so that I think I am changing my 'favorite season' from summer to fall. :) This fall, we have spend a lot of time soaking in our marvelous surroundings and the beauty of Boulder. John can't get enough of hiking. He starts asking to go hiking about 2 minutes and 16 seconds after he wakes up in the morning...and doesn't stop asking all day. John has quickly become a Colorado boy. :)

At Chautauqua Park.

'Fishing' with a stick in a creek at Chautauqua Park.

Balancing sticks.Sunset at the park by our house.

And, more of the sunset.

John and his friends, Anna & Justin, going on a hike.

Anna, me, John & Justin.

Just hanging out waiting for mommy.

At the 'Pearl St. Stampede' - a Friday night 'pep rally' of sorts which happens the night before each home CU Buffs football game.

We had a great time with our friends at the 'Stampede' - Andy, Betsy, Mercy & Eden Zenz.

The crowd and the CU Marching Band...John was not a fan of the loud band. After each song, he would ask, 'Is it all done?'

Happy hiker boy.

Taking in the view overlooking the Flatirons.

Blazing the trail.

John reading in his 'little house', which likes to build with pillows in the guest room.

September 08

2008-09-28T00:46:00.000-07:00

Due to the fact that something strange is happening with my blog when I add pictures, I can't figure out how to put captions under the pictures. So, I will fill you in on the happenings in our world in Sept., which should explain most of the pics. :) Some of the highlights from Sept. don't have any pictures to go with them - they are just interesting tidbits that I wanted to share. So, in no particular order...

--John started riding a 'balance bike' (a little bike with no pedals, which teaches kids to balance before trying out the 'real thing'). He is a pro! It's really fun to watch his little legs just propel him along on this bike. He can even lift up his feet and coast for 10-15 feet.

--Mid-Sept., we started a weekly 'family fun day' tradition. So far, have been to the town of Golden, CO to walk along the river & eat some yummy pizza, as well as hiking at Rocky Mountain National Park where we saw a great waterfall & the beginning of fall colors with the brilliant yellow of the Aspens.

--Ben went on an amazing men's weekend retreat called 'Men at the Cross.'

--John, our incredibly picky eater, downed an entire Filet Mignon at a party and even wanted more. We now know that mac-n-cheese, hot dogs, pb&j's, (enter any typical kid food of your choice) don't cut it with him - he wants the good stuff. Of course, Ben says he gets it from me and my Hudson upbringing. (You may be thinking, "Why on earth is this one of her Sept. higlights?"...but, if you know how much of a challenge it has been to get John to eat much of anything in his 2.5 years of life, you would understand why this IS a highlight)!! :)

--Ben taught John how to catch grasshoppers & feed them to the fish at the lake near our house (a talent that he got from his Indiana upbringing). :)

--We have been on a lot of fun outings with friends - to the zoo, hiking, to a really great local farm & to a little place in the mountains called 'Tiny Town' with a train & a 'town' made up of kid-sized buildings.

--We spent an afternoon with my brother, Jason, & his girlfriend, Regina, down on Pearl St. for the Fall Festival. It was John's first time in a 'bouncy castle' and he loved it.

And, here are the pics for your enjoyment:

August 2008 in review...

2008-09-03T22:02:00.000-07:00

Our Trip to Ohio & Delaware

2008-08-28T00:44:00.000-07:00

At the end of July, John & I traveled to Hudson, OH to visit my parents. John had 2 weeks of non-stop fun and attention from his grandparents! He loved it. While we were there, I took a little side trip up to Michigan to visit some girlfriends. And, we took a road trip to Delaware for my cousin's wedding - it was beautiful and such a great time catching up with family. We also hit a few beaches while we were out on the East Coast. It was John's first time at the ocean and he was absolutely delighted by it all (although didn't care much for the waves as they came crashing into the shore).

Jesus Loves Me!

2008-07-18T01:39:00.000-07:00

A sweet little song from a sweet little boy. :)

Nana & Papa's house

2008-07-12T13:57:00.000-07:00

We spent a week in Indiana over the 4th of July visiting Ben's family. It was a blast hanging out with grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, great-grandparents, etc.... And, there is always fun to be had in the country! John enjoyed exploring his Nana & Papa's 10 acres, playing with the kitties, eating black raspberries right off the bush (one of my favorite memories from visiting my grandma), swimming, watching the fireflies, listening to the 'ohwee-ohweeies' (coyotes) at dusk. We also met our new little niece (& John's cousin) for the first time. Ella Grace is 2 months old and a cutie pie!

Ben's Family.

4th of July family photo.

Super boy & Super daddy!

"Watch me run fast! See that, Mama?"

John & Luke playing in the water (Luke is Ben's cousin's son).

Checking out the beach at Lake Michigan.

Even though it was not quite beach weather, John had a blast running through the water and sand.

"Look at my worm! Want some, Mama?"

Breakfast with Nana

Picking (and eating) raspberries with Papa & Chester, John's little kitty pal!

Ben's sister, Kristin with our new neice (and John's cousin), Ella!!

Jumping 'way up high' into the pool to daddy.

Riding on 'the daddy boat.'

4 generations of Cowles/Huntoon women.

Happy Birthday, America!

Ben jumping off of the swing!

Mommy & Daddy swinging John 'way up high.'

Trying to convince ourselves that we can still climb on the monkey bars.

So, this is just a really cool photo! That is a real bubble and Ben is trying to catch it. Within milliseconds after this photo was taken, the bubble popped, so it's amazing that Ben's dad caught it on film when he did!

Friday Fun!

2008-06-22T14:55:00.000-07:00

We have started a new Friday activity with our friends Heather & Lake. John and I meet up with Heather and Lake on our bikes. We then bike down to the Boulder Creek Path for some fun at the park and throwing rocks into the creek. After playing by the creek for a little bit, we head a few blocks over to Pearl St. for "Noon Tunes" where they have a great band playing for an hour. There, we listen to music, have a picnic and *think* about playing around in the splash park (the boys have yet to actually venture into the water). John and I then take the bus back home (there is a bike rack on the front of the bus for me to put my bike), which is super exciting for John and saves mama a 5 mile ride uphill. It's a blast!! We are definitely planning to make this a regular summer Friday activity. :)
Heather, Lake & John having lunch on Pearl St.

John & Lake at the Splash Park.

To get wet or not to get wet...that is the question?

Come on, Lake...let's go dance!!

John and Lake dancing to the tunes!

John loves the bus ride!

Good times in June

2008-06-22T14:38:00.001-07:00

The Baby and The Little Girl

2008-06-08T23:55:00.001-07:00

Our friends from Michigan, Laurent, Julie, Lucie & Agathe Porte, came to Colorado on vacation and stayed with us for a week. We had a great week taking them all over Boulder and up into the mountains to Breckenridge. The whole week, John referred to his new friends as 'The baby and the little girl.' He would wake up in the morning asking, "Mama, where is the little girl?" :) Lucie and John were great playmates and hiking buddies. Lucie even took quite a liking to John's cars while she was here and was willing to put aside her baby doll to take a car with her when we went out. Ben and I so enjoyed reconnecting with Julie and Laurent and showing them around our new city and home. Here are some pics from our time together.

Friday Fun!

2008-05-24T12:01:00.000-07:00

We had a fun day on Friday just playing at parks & with friends.

Below, John & Mercy stop for a break while walking home from the park to hit their sticks on the sidewalk and make some music (or 'moooosic', as John says).

One for you and one for me...

Dancing among the wildflowers (ok, weeds) in the field.
Look what I caught!
Cute!
And cuter! :)

2008-05-21T21:17:00.000-07:00

Just some pics of recent Huntoon times...

Here is the banner that John and Ben made me for Mother's Day.

A Mother's Day picnic.

The boys throwing rocks into the river. My dear friend, Natalie & I on Mother's Day...our hubbies planned the picnic for us on the St. Vrain river in Lyons, CO. John is mastering the art of spitting out water, which he thinks is hilarious!

The little Colorado Cowboy! John looooovvvves baseball...and he's really good, too! :)

I had a booth at a local Town Fair for the line of handbags that I sell.

Randalls Visit & More...

2008-05-10T00:02:00.001-07:00

Just a quick update - My parents came to visit a couple of weeks ago. The great thing is that they now get to visit both of their kids when they come out here, since my brother moved here 2 months ago. We had a fun time together and John just loves to have his 'Bukka' & 'Grammy' visit. Another exciting piece of news - Ben's sister had a baby girl, Ella Grace, on April 30th! We can't wait to meet her in July during our visit to Indiana. And, lastly, I just took a trip for 2 days this week to Chicago mainly for business (to meet with the owner of Ragamuffin Jewelry, the sterling silver jewelry company I work for), but I also had a great evening with my friend, Malissa, on Michigan Ave. while I was there. Enjoy the pics!

Enjoying Spring!

2008-04-22T22:54:00.001-07:00

We have been doing a lot of biking around town this spring down to Pearl St. and to the local playgrounds, of course. John starts asking to 'go outside' around 6:45am and doesn't really stop the rest of the day. I am amazed at the way his mood can change the moment he is out in the fresh air with a ball, rocks, dirt, sand & his shovel! One of my new favorite lines that John says with much enthusiasm when we are talking about going to do something is, "That will be fun...let's do that!" Hummm...I wonder who he hears say that all the time - maybe his cheerleader mama! John also talks about going hiking all the time, and it goes something like this..."Let's go hiking with daddy...daddy hikes in mountains...daddy see bear...roaaaarrrrr...let's see bear, mama...go hiking with daddy!" Priceless. :) John is anxiously awaing a visit from my parents (Grammy & Bukka) this week, so some fun times ahead.

Playing on the rocks on the Pearl St. walking mall.

A fun moment with daddy.

Driving with Oscar at the children's museum.

Loving the slides!

Quite the pensive moment.

I am not sure which boy is happier to have a digging partner!

April update

2008-04-11T13:16:00.001-07:00

So, nothing all that exciting to report. We have been doing lots and lots of spring cleaning (i.e. getting rid of Meggan's junk). After spending an entire Saturday cleaning out our garage (thanks, Bart and Jenni for watching John), it's organized and we could even fit our car in it if we tried (it's only a one car garage, just so you don't think I have THAT much junk)! I have been taking clothes and household items to consignment stores as well as donating carloads of stuff, too. We also are selling some of our books on Amazon - we have made a little over $100 so far! Whew! The whole process is no fun, but very rewarding in the end. I am heading up to the mountains this weekend for a women's retreat called 'Women at the Cross.' I am excited about the time away to reflect, focus & relax a bit. Next week, the weatherman is saying we will be in the 70's all week! Hallelujah!! Here are some pictures from the last week.

John's favorite new activity: 'Playing Dishes.'

On a bike ride last Saturday around town and to the park.

Flying high on a rocket ship with daddy.

Taking a nap on the ride home.

Digging in the mud with Isaiah.

Bowling with couples from our playgroup.

Climbing at Eldorado Canyon

2008-03-30T12:35:00.000-07:00

With the influence and encouragement of Ben's work buddies and other friends, Ben has really jumped into the climbing scene, which is something he had been wanting to do since our move a year ago. I mean, how can you resist scaling the side of a mountain when they are the backdrop of your city? :) Although, quite sore as his muscles adapt to their new task, Ben is finding it to be a great new challenge and adventure. On Saturday, we headed out with our friends, Lisa, Holden & Saoirse (pronounced Sear-sha) to a popular climbing area just outside of Boulder - Eldorado Canyon. Holden and Lisa have climbed for many years, so Ben had some great help & support from their expertise. Since Ben had climbed 3 times this week, his muscles were really fatigued, making the climb a bit more difficult. About 3/4 of the way up, he told Holden that he was ready to come down. Holden's response was, "When you ask me 5 times to come down, I will consider letting you down." So, needless to say, Ben made it to the top...and, in the end, was glad that Holden didn't let him off the hook too easily. :) Enjoy the pics...

This is the view from the bottom, where the mamas and kiddos watched... Ben starting his ascent...

He made it to the top!!

Cheering daddy on from the bottom!

March Fun...

2008-03-25T22:34:00.001-07:00

John and his buddies, Mercy & Eden.

John and Eden just chillin' on the bean bags.
Oh, I am too funny!Daddy introduced Johnny to his favorite book.
Fun for John...a mess for mom!
Riding the merry-go-round at the zoo.
This is soooo fun!
With sweet friend, Anna, at the zoo.
Checking out the elephants with Saoirse.
Mom, look at my glasses!

Catching up!!

2008-03-11T21:49:00.001-07:00

Hello all...it's been a bit too long since I posted some pictures, so here are quite a few to keep you entertained. Boulder life is treating us well...here 10 highlights of the past month:

1) My brother just moved to Denver! Yea - the family is starting the migration west!!

2) Ben climbed to the top of a peak near our house (Bear Peak) a couple of weeks ago, which he was quite excited about. He literally walked out our door to the mountains and then went up the trail 3,000 feet to the top. Pretty cool. It took 6 hours and he was sore for about 6 days!

3) Ben just took a weekend trip with a friend to Moab, Utah - they went rock climbing and explored Arches National Park.

4) My mom drove out with my brother last week when he made the move out west and spent the week with us, so John has had a blast playing with 'Grammy'!

5) We took a family trip up to Vail for a weekend and enjoyed our stay with some family friends. We went snowshoeing, sledding & just took in the beauty of the winter wonderland up in the moutains.

6) Spring has come to Boulder! It seems that winter sort of just dabbles upon Boulder...as a whole, we don't get much snow (in a 'normal year' that is), temperatures are fairly mild, and spring arrives in late Feb./early March! Here are some examples of this: Ben laughs at how many times I have had the air conditioner on in the car this winter; A couple of weekends ago, I went from wearing sandals while out with some friends on Saturday night to snow boots on Sunday morning; the last week of February, I got a sunburn while at the park for a couple of hours with John on a 75 degree day! :) Even with the temperatures climbing up to the 50's & 60's most days now, everyone is warning me that we will still have one or 2 more snows.

7) We dedicated John on Feb. 17th at our church here in Boulder.

8) On Feb. 15th, I turned 34!

9) Some of John's new phrases are: "Mommy, Daddy, I'm Superman!"; "Hey Mom, Whatcha doing?"; When someone asks him how old he is, he answers, "I'm five"; Ben or I will say, 'Shake, Shake, Shake' and John will finish our sentence with, "Shake your bootie!" (charming, I know), he just learned, "Praise the Lord" at church on Sunday...and, of course, "I do it!"

10) We are celebrating our 1 year anniversary of our move to Colorado!! Check out the pictures in the slideshow of John & Mercy as well as John & Isaiah from 1 year ago when we moved here and then from just the past couple of weeks. Where have our babies gone!?!?!

Winter Family Hike

2008-02-09T12:53:00.000-08:00

We went on a hike today on this great trail in North Boulder. It's scenic and perfect for a toddler since it's pretty flat & easy, as John now wants to walk by himself (not to mention that mom and dad certainly don't mind the break from carrying him in the backpack or pushing him in the stroller)! When I asked John if he was enjoying the hike, his response was, "Yes! Big Hiking!" :) It will be a fun trail to hit when the weather warms up since there is a stream & lots of rocks to climb and play on.

Quick family shot while hiking.

Playing in the snow.

The boys waiting for mommy (who is of course stopping to take too many pictures)!

Hummm...Lions & Tigers & Bears - OH MY!

Mommy & Johnny checking out the stream.

Following in daddy's footsteps with a love for the woods & trails!

Very happy hiker!!

Another happy hiker!

John-John confidently leading the way.

Cute things John says!

2008-02-03T21:25:00.001-08:00

John has become quite the spunky 2 year old. I just wanted to share a couple of fun things he has said. Recently, when we have gone to church, John has walked into the church and pointed to the sanctuary saying, "Sing to God!" He hasn't wanted to go into the toddler room because he is more interested in going in with the adults so that he can "Sing to God!" The interest only lasts a couple of minutes and then off to the kid's area to play with toys, but the fact that he has picked up even a tiny bit on what we do at church is priceless. The other night when Ben and John arrived at the church for their Wed. evening activities, everything was cancelled because we had just gotten a bunch of snow. John was upset that he couldn't go in, so Ben tried to explain in 2 year old terms by telling him that "the church went Nite-Nite." When they arrived home, John then told me the reason that they had come home early by saying, "Mommy, God is sleeping." :) Another cute one - tonight we were at a friend's house watching the Super Bowl. John wanted me to come downstairs to play with him and I told him that I would be down in a few minutes. He kept persuading, with a final determined command, "Mommy, Obey!" HA! :) Oh, the things they understand and pick up on...and then repeat! Enjoy the pictures.

John's 2nd birthday & January pics

2008-01-25T20:17:00.001-08:00

We had many fun celebrations for John's 2nd birthday including parties with both families as well as friends back here in Colorado. John's favorite part was definitely the 'cake-cake' (adapted from 'cupcake'), which was great since he wanted nothing to do with his cake on his 1st birthday. Below in the slide show you will see pics from the various birthday festivities. There is also a picture of the amazing charcoal portrait of John that my parents had done for us for his 2nd birthday. I included some pictures from the last couple of weeks of John doing some of his favorite activities. You can stop the picture and see the caption by holding your mouse over the picture.

Christmas 2007!

2008-01-19T23:56:00.001-08:00

I am back!! I am finally posting some pics from our time with family and friends in OH, IN & MI over Christmas and New Years. John loved his time with all of his grandparents, aunt & uncles! It is so fun to see all of them become such a special part of John's life, even though we are far away. I am finally feeling 'back into the swing of things' here in CO after 2.5 weeks of traveling in the midwest. One highlight is that I am actually keeping my New Years resolutions so far this year, which is not often the case. :) They were 1) to exercise more and 2) to start using the reusable grocery bags that I have had in my car for months and never have used. I made a conscious effort to make managable resolutions so that I might actually keep them, so I am quite excited that I have seen progress in both!

John turned 2 on Jan. 7th, so in a few days, I will post John's pictures from our celebrations.

December 2007

2007-12-17T23:12:00.001-08:00

From Fall to Winter in Boulder...

2007-11-25T21:49:00.001-08:00

We had a beautiful, warm fall with lots of time to be outside up until this past week when our first snow hit. Now we are enjoying a beautiful winter! :) This slideshow captures the end of fall and beginning of winter for the Huntoon family.

Fall Family Pics

2007-11-15T23:15:00.001-08:00

Our friend, Andy, took these great shots of our family and captured some of John's precious expressions, as well as a few of all of us smiling and looking at the camera! Don't be surprised if you see one of these pics with our Christmas greetings. :)

The Cute Little Bear

2007-10-31T19:58:00.001-07:00

This was John's first Halloween to jump into the Trick-or-Treating scene. We had a couple of costumes to choose from, but as you can see in the pictures, John was not a fan of the lion costume. So, we went with the bear costume, which he seemed pleased with. And, off we went with the neighborhood kids. John got the hang of saying 'Trick-or-Treat' quite quickly and had no problem reaching into bowls for the candy. He was careful to just take 1 piece and mommy sometimes steared his hand toward the candy she likes (I mean, hey, if I am going to be the one eating it, I might as well enjoy it)! Overall, everyone seemed to enjoy the first of many nights involving costumes and loads of candy.

John and our neighbor, Owen, the firefighter.

The lion costume that didn't make the cut this year.

Mommy & her cute little bear.

The neighborhood trick-or-treaters.

The cute little bear face on the costume.

And, the cute little bear with the pumpkin that he decorated.

Fall Fun!

2007-10-28T01:18:00.001-07:00

Hi Baby!

2007-10-12T21:00:00.000-07:00

Tonight we captured a cute little moment with John on video. Whenever we have the video camera out, he wants to see 'the baby' in the screen. So, I typically flip the screen so it faces him while it's recording so he can see himself. During this video, I had the digital screen turned toward him so he could see himself on the screen, and he was quite amused with it as he was talking to and laughing at himself. It's really adorable! Enjoy. (P.S. I have no idea what commercial is on in the background...we were watching the Cleveland Indians in the Playoffs). :)

Another trip to Ohio!

2007-10-08T21:53:00.001-07:00

John and I took another trip back to Ohio, but this time, it was for the purpose of gathering with my college buddies as we do every year. John stayed with my parents while I traveled with friends to meet up with the group in the mountains of North Carolina. We had an amazing time, as we always do - refreshed & encouraged from a weekend of laughter, catching up with one another & true friendship at it's best. Unfortunatly, Ben had to stay back in CO to work as he didn't have enough vacation time. So, here is a little glimpse of our weekend.

A view into my world

2007-09-25T10:49:00.001-07:00

Lollipops, Puddles & Hiking

2007-09-19T19:48:00.001-07:00

Our Past Week...

2007-09-09T21:36:00.001-07:00

The Midwest Tour

2007-09-03T12:49:00.001-07:00

John and I just returned from a trip to Ohio, Indiana & Michigan to see friends and family. I tried to capture an overview of things we did and people we saw on this slideshow. Enjoy!

Swimming with friends!

2007-08-16T21:03:00.000-07:00

We have spent some time this summer at our friend's pools. Here is John and the ladies - Caroline & Mercy. We also spent an afternoon with friends at the Boulder Resevoir, which was great fun and we so enjoyed being at a lake since they are few and far between here in Colorado. Lakes are definitely something I miss from living in Michigan!!
Friends, from L-R: Mercy, Betsy, Lauren, John, Me, Natalie, Julie & Isaiah.

John had so much fun digging in the sand. In the 2 pictures below, he is with Mercy (Mimi, as he calls her) and Isaiah (Iya, as John says) as they all discovered the thrill of sandy beaches!

Hiking & Splashing

2007-08-11T14:16:00.000-07:00

Our friends from Michigan, Dan & Krysta, were in town this week. We went on a couple of hikes and then John had a chance to play and cool off in the Boulder Creek. He had a blast!

The Pitch...

2007-07-31T21:51:00.000-07:00

Hummm...should I throw it at mommy or daddy?

Here we go...mommy, it is!

Watch out, mommy...here comes my fast ball!

Indian Peaks

2007-07-30T13:06:00.000-07:00

We went hiking this weekend at a place about a hour from us called Indian Peaks Wilderness. It was a beautiful hike, as you can see from the pictures below. We made it to a lake and a waterfall before getting caught in the rain.

Enjoying the ride...with a stick, of course.

Action Shots!

2007-07-25T20:51:00.000-07:00

Here are a few fun shots of John doing some of his favorite summertime activities...

Kicking the ball!

Climbing up onto his sand & water table!

Running through bubbles! Splashing in the pool!

The Stick Obsession

2007-07-19T21:00:00.000-07:00

For our little guy, bright toys, cars & balls are all fun, but nothing beats the joy of a skinny brown stick. I am NOT joking when I tell you that John has sticks in both of his little hands at least 6 of the 8 waking hours of his day (other than when we eat dinner, yet even then he has been known to hold onto a stick with one hand while eating with the other - see picture below). John has figured out how to play with other toys while holding a stick in each hand. He will pick up a ball or another object with clenched fists, just so as not to let go of the sticks. He will wake up in the morning or from a nap asking for his "gicks" and quickly head to the sliding glass door and then outside to select the "gicks" for the day. Sticks go everywhere with us...in the car, in the bathtub, on walks, and even have ended up with him in the crib on occasion for a nap. We can only hope that John will make it through toddlerhood without any injuries from sticks, because at this point, the obsession with sticks is just too deep to go back.

More friends and Funny Faces...

2007-07-17T19:42:00.000-07:00

Another one of mommy's friends came to visit, Malissa. I had lots of fun with her. As you can see below, mommy takes everyone who visits to this park to see the Flatirons. If you come for a visit, just know what you are in for. :)

Here are mommy and me on Pearl St. listening to music and having lunch.
I am quite expressive, as you can see here (and quite messy).

Who needs the Mr. Potato head when you can have a live one?

2007-07-10T19:31:00.000-07:00

My friend, Janet, has been here for a few days for a visit. Today we went on a hike in the area of the Flatirons here in Boulder. Here are some pictures of the hike (and, yes, I did get a new short hair cut...fun, fun, fun)!

John and I with a view of Boulder behind us.

Janet with the Flatirons in the background.

Janet, John & I along the trail.

A visit with Grandma & Grandpa!

2007-07-07T21:26:00.000-07:00

My parents (aka, Grandma & Grandpa Randall) just left after a 10 day visit to Colorado. A great time was had by all, especially John! :)

Holding hands with Grandma & Grandpa.

At the playground.

On a hike at Flagstaff Mountain in Boulder.

Happy 4th of July!

2007-07-04T20:32:00.000-07:00

Celebrating our freedom...
...with a hike in the mountains...

...a nap in the stroller...

...and with daddy & grandpa randall...

Enjoying summer...

2007-06-29T16:03:00.000-07:00

Ben has been riding his bike to work lately. John enjoys greeting him when he arrives home.

Daddy, John & Anna (one of John's friends) on a swing together at a birthday party for another friend, Caroline.

A visit with friends...

2007-06-22T19:19:00.000-07:00

Two of my friends from Michigan, Lindsey & Meredith, came to visit us for a week. We had a great time. Our adventures outside of Boulder included Estes Park, Rocky Mountain National Park, White Water Rafting, Breckenridge and a ride down an Alpine slide.

Here we are at Rocky Mountain National Park.

John and I with Breckenridge Ski Resort behind us.

Our Eventful Weekend!

2007-06-11T22:12:00.000-07:00

My brother is in town for a few days for work, so on Sunday, we enjoyed a hike. It was actually quite eventful as we SAW A BEAR run across the trail we were on!!!!!!!!!! He didn't see us (whew!), but it was still a bit of a shock to actually see one in the wild. Oh, do I hope that is the first and last encounter with a Colorado black bear!!

This weekend, we also attended a wedding of some Boulder friends. Here is a family shot with everyone looking and eyes open!
A couple of John's little friends were also at the wedding...

Isaiah & Mercy.

Some of Mama's Favorites...

2007-06-08T22:21:00.000-07:00

Here are a few pictures from this week that I thought were cute...

Pretty much at any point during the day, you will find John playing with a ball. When he wakes up in the morning or from a nap and he sees one of his balls, he gets so excited, as if it's the first time he has ever seen a ball! He loves to throw the ball, whether or not he has someone to throw it with...often he just throws the ball, goes to get it, and throws it again, only to continue the pattern. Or, he will just walk up to another mom the he doesn't know at the park and start a game of catch. His favorite person to play catch with, though, is daddy. :)

Hiking and picking wildflowers. Playing in the backyard.

Little Mountain Man

2007-06-01T14:19:00.000-07:00

Johnny is finally walking on his own!!! Here he is blazing down a path by our house. Since the path has cows on one side, a little stream on the other and is covered with rocks, it offers hours of entertainment for a little boy! Behind John are the Flatirons, Boulder's famous landmark. After doing a hike in this area with John in the backpack, he enjoyed having some time for his own little hike. With a stick in one hand and a rock in the other, he is all set to take on the mountain!

Memorial Day Weekend

2007-05-28T21:51:00.000-07:00

We had a beautiful Memorial Day weekend. On Sunday, we went on a 5.5 mile hike on the trails near our townhouse. John loves his baby backpack and just chattered the whole time, sometimes with words we could understand ('flower,' 'cow...mooooo' - no we didn't see any cows on our hike, but it happens to be a favorite word of his - 'rock,' 'oh man' - I wonder where he got that...) and sometimes just happily speaking his own little language.

The area that we hiked in is covered with gorgeous wildflowers.

Today, we rode our bikes downtown Boulder for the 'Boulder Creek Festival', which includes 3 days of various festivities, food & entertainment. I guess we wore John out, as he fell asleep in his bike seat on the way home.

We ended the weekend cooking out with our neighbors. John and our neighbor, Owen, are quite a little pair.

Nana & Papa's visit

2007-05-26T16:47:00.000-07:00

Nana and Papa Huntoon just left after a week long visit to our home in Colorado. We had a great time and John loved the constant attention! Here are some photos from the time together.

Rocky Mountain National Park

2007-05-22T20:36:00.000-07:00

Ben's parents are in town and we went to Rocky Mountain National Park for the weekend. It's only an hour away from us (that is a plug for you to come and visit)!! :) We saw Elk everywhere, which John affectionately called 'cows', so all we heard while we were there and since the weekend is, "Hi cow," "Moooooo," "Bye cow,"...over and over again! It's quite cute. Anyway, here we all are at Bear Lake.

Enjoying the view!
Nana, Papa & John by a river.
John hanging out in the baby backpack.
Daddy & John ready to hike!

Boot Camp Graduate!

2007-05-18T20:16:00.000-07:00

Today I finished my 5 weeks of 'Boot Camp' (we met 3 days a week for a hour just at a park here in Boulder)!! Here are some of the ladies in my class with our trainer. It was a great experience for me and a great start toward getting back into shape. I haven't worked out as hard as we did since high school swimming and track. We even ran a timed mile twice, once at the beginning of camp and one at the end, and although it brought back bad memories of high school gym class, I improved my time by 45 seconds between the 2 runs, which was quite exciting!! So, all in all, I have seen much improvement over the 5 weeks in my physical fitness and endurance. Yippee!

Spring Fun!

2007-05-14T16:21:00.000-07:00

Mother's Day Bike Ride

2007-05-13T15:22:00.000-07:00

We tried out Johnny's new bike seat today (thanks to Uncle Jason for getting us the seat). He seemed to enjoy it - what he could see of it, that is, since the helmet is a bit big and kept falling over his eyes. We rode along the Boulder Creek Path, which pretty much takes you right through the middle of Boulder. It's a very scenic & enjoyable ride. We also enjoyed a picnic along the way.

Blogdett Peak, CO Springs

2007-05-12T20:23:00.000-07:00

Ben and his college friend, Shane, went on a hike in Colorado Springs today. At the top, they had a great view of Pikes Peak (the peak to the right of Ben in the picture).

Colorado Friends!

2007-05-12T14:16:00.000-07:00

Here is a snapshot of some of our Colorado friends.

First, Meggan & some girlfriends...

(L-R) Jen, Betsy, Julie, Natalie, me & Tammy

Next, John's friends...this is Justin & Anna...
...Mercy...
...Isaiah...
...and, Caroline...

Out for a drive...

2007-05-11T22:58:00.000-07:00

Since our neighbors are out of town, they let us borrow their little push buggy, which John loves! The stroller may not be quite cool enough for him anymore now that he is apparently able to drive himself.

So close...

2007-05-07T20:20:00.000-07:00

John has been teetering on the edge of walking for about a week now...
Hopefully he will get it down soon!

In the meantime, he is quite the cute little mascot for my Alma mater!

My new hat!

2007-05-04T20:27:00.000-07:00

Here I am in my new hat...it's a bumble bee, if you can't tell. Mommy thinks it's adorable, but daddy...he doesn't seem to think it brings out my manly side. Me...well, I like hats and I call anything that I put on my head a "hat" (my plastic bucket, my blanket, paper, books, food...), so I kind of like it.

So Handsome!

2007-05-02T20:59:00.000-07:00

This picture is from Ben's sister's wedding in March. I just came across it and wanted to post it since he looks so handsome in his little suit.

Playin' & Relaxin'

2007-04-29T21:18:00.000-07:00

Taking a break from playing at the park to pose for mommy...

...and relaxing in his chair after a day of playing hard

(and apparently eating too much)!!

Fun at the Park!

2007-04-26T15:14:00.000-07:00

We had our Play Group today at the Park. John had a blast climbing all over the playground equipment and was not about the let the little challenge of climbing up this tunnel stop him! He proudly made it to the top and headed straight down the slide on his tummy. He is also shown here with his good friend, Anna, as they bounced on the rocket ship. John adores Anna, often pointing to little girls in his books saying, "Anna." At our swimming lesson a couple of weeks ago, he was quite determined that a little girl in another class was Anna and repeatedly (and very loudly) called out across the pool, "Anna" while trying to swim out of my arms to get to her. Anna seems to enjoy John just as much, often giving him a big hug when they see each other. So cute!

All smiles...

2007-04-24T22:12:00.000-07:00

Running Errends with Mama!

Saturday afternoon hike

2007-04-21T22:31:00.000-07:00

The joys of...

2007-04-20T13:47:00.000-07:00

Flowers!

DIRT! yummy...

Mac & Cheese!

Getting settled in Colorado

2007-04-14T01:55:00.000-07:00

Here are some pictures: Our townhouse; Ben & John hiking; John swinging at the playground near our home. After the pictures is an update...

The boxes are finally unpacked and most things have a 'home' (with the exception of everything that is in the garage, but according to Ben, 'wherever you put something, that is it's home'...we tend to have different philosophies on that). :) We are renting a wonderful townhouse in South Boulder, which is right up against the mountains...great views & great access to hiking trails! Pictures are not yet hung, but our townhouse is really feeling like home. We are making our way around town, finding the grocery story, the parks, the Panera & Target(of course) & checking out some churches in town (although, we have not yet made a decision about which one that we will get involved with). We have met some great people in our neighborhood, through Ben's company & at the churches we have visited. We have also reconnected with friends that we already knew before moving out here, which has made a new place feel much more familiar. And, of course, John has some new friends, too...Isaiah, Anna, Justin, Mercy, Caroline, Owen & Cameron...and he even does pretty well at saying most of their names! He is now standing on his own, but not walking (he still prefers his infamous scoot) & he chatters all the time. I can actually make out a good number of words he is trying to say, such as "ela" is elephant, "eye" (typically said while poking his finger in your eye), "baby," "kitty" or "kkkkkk" (a very excited repetition of the 'k' sound) which he says for most 4 legged, fuzzy animals, "shoe," "ball," "car," "duck," "cracker," "hot" (all foods are 'hot', even if it's cold, and therefore John blows on everything to cool it off), "ba" for sheep, "owl," "water," etc... He brings so much joy to our lives and home!

Ben is eager to get out in the mountains. Unfortunately, work and the weather have caused him to delay plans, but that is making him all the more ready to get his backpack on and start exploring. We have managed a few short hikes on the trails near our townhouse. He likes his job with Eldorado Wall Company and is enjoying the dynamics of working for a small company as well as some new responsibilities that he has with this job, including managing the team of guys that assemble the climbing walls. He is hoping to actually learn how to climb the walls that his company builds one of these days. Tonight he is going to a Survival Skills class at one of the outdoor stores near us...he is thrilled about the abundance of opportunities to invest in his passion and love for the outdoors.

I am getting settled into life at home with John. John and I have had many play dates with my friends and their kiddos, spent lots of time at the park & on walks, taken a few trips to the zoo, and we are currently in a moms & tots swimming class (John loves the water and is definitely the most excited kid in the class). This week, I started going to a 'Boot Camp' here in town, which is an intense exercise program that meets for 5 weeks, 3 days per week for a little over an hour each time. My hope is that this will be a springboard for me on the road to getting back into shape. Also, as many of you know, I get strangely excited about purses & accessories, and have actually been looking for an opportunity to sell them out of my home. I found a great company that I am going to begin working for as an independent sales consultant called Purseonally Yours (http://www.purseonallyyours.net). Cute name, huh?! If you are interested in any of the products for you or someone else, let me know. :) There are also a couple of part time job opportunities at 2 of the churches in town that we have visited that could possibly be a good fit for me, so I will keep you posted on that.

Thanks for reading. Most of my updates won't be this long. :)