Thatta Girl!

We decided we'd start teaching the importance of good health to the girls at a young age.  With childhood obesity being such an epidemic now, we think it's more important than ever to teach them about making smart choices and keeping them active.  The active part is pretty easy, but the eating healthy part is a little more difficult.  They constantly ask, "Is this healthy?  Is that healthy?", but while we're devouring a bowl of ice cream and we tell them it is unhealthy, do they stop?  No way.  Nor would we expect them to!  Brooklynn is a great eater - eating almost anything, Chandler a little pickier, but always up for a treat for eating her veggies, and then there's Adaley.  Uggghhh!  She's just too young to bribe with treats, so she eats only what she wants.

A couple weeks ago after a soccer game the girls got their usual soccer treats, and usually they get them for both teams.  Brooklynn actually declined her 2nd treat, saying she already had a treat and should save it for later.  We were shocked!  Proud though.

Although I don't expect them to turn down Cheetos or an ice cream treat, I want them to understand what is and is not healthy and how to make smart choices down the road.  Baby steps, but we'll get there.  Until then, we'll keep working on it!

Some ideas/goals I have for our family:
1.  Have a snack schedule in the afternoon, so we have something healthy planned and aren't just grabbing whatever we find!
2.  Give Adaley her fruits & veggies first, so if she's really hungry she'll have to eat them!
3.  Serve more raw veggies to the kids
4.  Keep them involved in the garden, so they'll be excited to eat what they harvest!
5.  Try one new recipe a week to expose them to different foods and flavors.
6.  Make some homemade cereal bars, yogurt popsicles, etc. to make "treats" healthier (Thanks to Pinterest)

Colorado Springs or Bust!

Last year with having a new baby we missed our favorite stay-cation spot - Colorado Springs.  So we were anxious to go back and have a fun weekend with the girls.  We actually found a free weekend and jumped on the opportunity, heading out after the soccer games Saturday morning.  After lots of searching for hotels, trying to figure out what to do with 5 of us, we decided on a little place in Manitou Springs that had a kitchen and outdoor pool, of course.  We wanted to feel out how it was to travel with the 3 girls and stay in a hotel.  

When we arrived in town it was rainy, but we thought we'd try Garden of the Gods and hopefully it'd clear a little.  After driving around and waiting it out we were able to do some rock climbing and enjoy the scenery.

The girls on Balance Rock

 They can all finally hold still for a sec to capture a "sisters pic"

 They were so excited to finally be able to use our umbrellas!

 We even got a family pic.  Holla!  (Can't believe Steve and I are both wearing CSU shirts - what dorks!)

 Chandler absolutely loved climbing the rocks.  She always loves a good adventure.  Then when she got to the top she broke out in song and dance (which she does frequently now).  I'll have to post a video - it's hilarious!

 That evening it was still rainy, and the girls were bummed we didn't get to swim, so we decided to tour Cave of the Winds.  We hadn't been there for a long time, but it's a sweet place.

Brookly Bear and a real bear

 We had to bribe Brooklynn into a smile.  She was freaked out the entire time - worried that the cave would fall, it was too dark, and we would lose our groups.  This girl is such a worry wart!

The next morning we insisted on going to the zoo again, because the girls loved it last time!  Not gonna lie, I love it too!  The first stop - feeding the giraffes.  Brooklynn loved it.  Chandler refused, and Adaley wasn't sure what to think of it.

 Love Addy's expression

 Steve kept plopping the lettuce on her gut (because it'd sit there) and let the giraffe eat it off.  She didn't cry but didn't seem to enjoy it either.

 Chandler watching from a distance

 Petting the baby wallaby

 More Sista Pictures

 When we ask Brooklynn to look at the camera this is what we get!  She totally poses.  We are in some serious trouble with this girl!  I don't know where she learns it.

 After a good soaking  

 They had to do the pony rides, and thankfully they got the sparkle pony

We finally had some clear weather and was able to swim that afternoon.  Brooklynn is a fish that loves nothing more than the water!  We had to drag her out after 2 1/2 hours.  Chandler and Adaley, on the other hand, rather sit poolside and snack (just like mama).

 That evening we drove into downtown Manitou Springs for a delicious meal and walked around the shops.  It's such a cute downtown, and we'd never been there.  They had a huge outdoor arcade we spent some time in before calling it a night.

There goes Brooklynn again.  Serious?

Our last morning was super rainy, so we decided we needed to do something low-key indoors.  The girls were running out of steam, since they weren't napping or sleeping very much at night.  So we hit up the Ghost Town Museum - full of artifacts from the Old West.  It was a neat little place, but I'm sure the girls missed Santa's Workshop.  Maybe next time.....

 Panning for gold

 Last sista picture

 What a fun weekend!  It's so nice to just get away and spoil the girls!  Maybe next summer we'll get a little more adventurous and try a road trip.

Happy Birthday 'Merica!

And we're back!  We've been busy, but mostly it's been awhile, because I've had some technical difficulties.  Let's just hope the camera is gonna survive our latest adventure.  Anyway, we spent our 4th at Magra and Papa's for dinner and fireworks, and we were lucky enough to have the Deegans join us.  The kids had a great time and were able to have their long-awaited sleepover.

BFFs

 Jacked for the fireworks to start!

 Best kids' table!

 Still waiting.....

 Awe............we actually got a family pic.

The next day Hazel and Sawyer stayed with us while their parents closed on their new home!  We had a great couple of days with our wonderful friends.

Little Miss Independent

The last few weeks have really been fun watching Addy walk even better (although she still looks a little tipsy) and becoming more independent - just wanting to be a big kid.  Up until now we've dragged her around to all our favorite places, but she hasn't been too interested in participating.  But now...she's a girl on a mission - climbing up anything and everything, going down slides herself, and even pushing her sisters out of her way.  It's been so much fun watching her have a blast everywhere!

Our nightly "buggy" races down the driveway

 She absolutely LOVES the jumpy house

 She even rides the car at the WOW museum

This is an amazing time for her as she's starting to learn a few words, pointing to everything she wants, and just  tearing up discovering the house.  I guess she won't be my tag-along shopping buddy anymore!

Soccer Starts...now where's my minivan?

We were debating whether to do soccer again this summer.  It really messes with your Saturday mornings the entire summer, but the girls were adamant about playing.  We had a long talk with Chandler explaining that she'd be on a different team (Brooklynn would be playing with her old soccer team).  We decided if Steve coached her she'd be able to do it.  Both were excited!

 

Fast-forward a couple weeks to the first game.  Steve was out of town for the weekend, so I was left with coaching duties.  Chandler refused to play and held my hand the entire game as I coached.  There were a few other kiddos with the same problem, so we set-up a playdate the next week and tried again.  This time Chandler practiced with the team but no game.  Ugghhhh!  Kids and their "stages".  I'll never understand this girl!

 

Practicing with the team (Chandler on the right)



Let the hand-holding begin!

Brooklynn, on the other hand, was so excited to play with the same team and her friend, Chase.  This year she's playing with the 5 & 6 year-olds, so they actually practice during the week.  At the first practice we learned she's the only girl on the team, but she said it was fine and didn't mind.  I think she's just excited to have all the boys to herself!  She's been a real trooper and working hard! She mostly follows the groups with the ball, but at least she's cheering on the sidelines and having fun.

And so the craziness begins.....eating early on Thursday so we can make practice, packing food for a day at the soccer fields on Saturday.  Oh man!  Let the taxi service begin.

Do they really only retain 10%?

The other day the girls and I were just chatting as we're headed to the zoo when Brooklynn starts talking about families and mommies and daddies.  Then, from out of nowhere, she says, "Well, boys can marry boys and girls can marry girls."  I stopped dead in my tracks!  For me, it was a proud moment.  Although we've talked about it before I never thought she was actually listening.  I mean, I'm pretty sure she only hears about 10% of what I say.  I calmly reassured her she was right, but in my heart I was super proud of her.

Fast forward a couple weeks.  Uncle Andy is babysitting the girls, and Chandler walks up to him and says, "Sometimes boys marry boys and girls marry girls.  I don't know why, but they do."  Of course Andy started laughing not knowing where this randomness came from.  When he told me, again, super proud of my girls!

When I student taught at Rishel Middle School in DPS, they had a LGBT group that was started by one male student there.  I remember how surprised I was to see that in a middle school, and especially a school riddled with gangs.  My first reaction was to feel sorry for this kid and all the scrutiny he must've faced on a daily basis.  Now as I look back, I think of him as a brave kid, who had the right idea.  We shouldn't "hide the issue under the rug", even with our kids.  It's amazing to me that we could potentially live in a society where kids feel comfortable to express who they are without embarrassment.

As a parent it's easy to feel overwhelmed with everything we have to teach our kids - the ABCs, how to count, how to share, etc.  Of course this is all important, but the most important thing we can teach them is acceptance and kindness.  It's important they be who they are meant to be and we all accept them for that!

She's a Famous Character

For a few years now we've been a part of Parents as Teachers, an organization that helps parents make sure their kids are on-track and provides activities to help them excel.  We've really enjoyed the program and are always looking forward to Mrs. Pam's monthly visits.  A couple months ago Mrs. Pam asked us if Brooklynn would like to participate in a special program, where a 6th grader who is attending a writing camp would write a book about her.  We instantly knew Brooklynn would absolutely love it, so there was no hesitation to agree.  

Fast forward a couple months - we were invited to the book ceremony, where Brooklynn would receive her book and meet the author.  We didn't know what to expect, so we didn't prepare Brooklynn, catching her a little off-guard.  As soon as we came into the room, the  cutest 11 year-old walked over, introduced herself, and told Brooklynn she was the author and would read her the book.  It was love at first sight for our Boo Bear.  After reading the book, Aleksi played games with Brooklynn, did some group activities with the other kids, and just hung out.  It was one of the sweetest moments.  The book was fabulous, since it was about Brooklynn the Princess.  Aleksi is an amazing kid who we had a great time with, and Brooklynn was so sad to leave her. I felt like she was Brooklynn in 5 years, as a sweet girl who loves kids and girly things.  For weeks now Brooklynn has been inseparable with the book.  What an experience for her!

Aleksi reading to Brooklynn

 How cute are they?

 Even Chandler was in love with her

 The girls with Mrs. Pam

Daddy's Day

I know I'm getting futher and further behind on posts.  This summer has been absolutely crazy!  We've been super busy everyday going to the park, museums, and zoo and have had hardly any days at home.  Not to mention I have two older girls who are starting to refuse to nap.  Oh no!  

Anyway, we did celebrate Father's Day a few weeks ago to say thanks for all our daddy does for us!  The girls were anticipating the day for a long time, because we checked out a Father's Day book from the library.  So when it was finally here they were ready to cater to daddy for the day.

Chandler was excited to make daddy breakfast in bed (she really cracked the eggs herself; she's really a natural)

 Even Bug was willing to help

After breakfast we went to "The Bay", which is a little water park near us that's great for the little ones, because they can do all the slides!  We had a great time until we got kicked out because of lightning.  Bummer!  After our much-needed naps we went to Magra and Papa's for some dinner and fun times.

The girls love to wrestle with their daddy

Steve's gift was tickets to a Rockies game.  We learned years ago to not go on Father's Day, because it's too crazy.  So we bought him tickets to the Mets game on June 27th.  Fast forward a couple weeks and we were ready to go!  Shirts - check!  Peanuts - check!  Lots of sunscreen for the hot temps - check!  We snuck into some seats on the 3rd base side for some much needed shade.

 Chandler just wanted a hot dog!

 But then insisted on eating our burrito!  This girl can eat!

 Rockin' daddy's shades

 She couldn't be outdone by her sis!

Even though the Rocks lost and there was no Tulo, we had a fun time!  We are so lucky to have a "super awesome" dad (Chandler's words).