Post-Thanksgiving Hike : Chautauqua Trailhead, The Flat Irons

Notice how the flat irons and skyler's hair are twins? Awh cute!!

This hike felt like Everest . . . in that there were crazy numbers of people hiking!

I guess everyone had the same idea we did; time to work of those Turkey Calories.

The beginning of the hike was, well, full of people and very muddy, but once we got up higher and followed a less traveled by trail at sky's suggestion, the people "thinned" out and the snow melt disappeared. 

It was very pretty and I loved getting out. Next time we need to go to the tops of the flat irons. With their access to the mountains,I think I could get behind living in Boulder.

After our hike, we got our favorite Mochi Balls from smooch.

(Li Hing Mango & Guava are the best!)  

Then we wandered Pearl Street (Black friday doesn't exist there) and basically hung out until it was dinner time so we could enjoy a belgian pretzel burger and fries from Rueben's Burger Bistro. SO GOOD!!

smooch and Rueben's are a must if you find yourself in Boulder, CO. 

Epic Saturday Morning of Train Tracks

I don't know why Charlie thought this would be a nice quiet place he could chew on his rawhide, cause he was definitely wrong! Enter River . . . 

River's Favorite, "Tom Tom"

How do you spend your Saturday Morning waiting for Daddy to come home from his week long National Meeting? 

Building the Ultimate Train Track of Course!

We used every single piece of track and it was epic. Ok, I thought it was epic. River just loved playing with his trains, and tearing the track apart once I figured out how to arrange everything. But the important part is, we had a lot of fun.

Do all boys play with cars and trains laying on the floor? I've seen River and a couple of his buddies do it, so I'm thinking it must provide the best perspective.

Cutest thing ever though was when we picked Sky up at the airport that evening. River ran straight to Skyler his hands reaching high in the air for him. (I am not sure I would call it a run though, more like a happy dance/hop in Skyler's direction) River wrapped his arms around his Dad's neck, squeezed as hard as he smiled, and wouldn't let go. Kisses and Hugs abounded. River loves his dada. Too Cute!

Just catching up on some "Tom Tom" .

Snip! Snip!

River's First Haircut : Before & After

We have been putting this off for a while because I loved River's little curls, twisting them around my fingers, those sweet strawberry blond baby curls.

I guess I knew when we cut his hair, he would stop being my baby and turn into a little boy, because that is how it has been from the beginning of time - or at least the beginning of cutting little boys' hair. 

You see, I didn't want to be Delilah cutting Sampson's hair; 

him losing all his power and me losing my baby.

Even Skyler was reluctant, pushing the date back repeatedly. 

Even though 2 was the age we decided we could emotionally deal with cutting his hair, we waited an extra month.

But the curls became an wild mess, to long and fine to tame. So today as I watched his curls tumble to the floor, I thought I'd be sad, but I wasn't. I felt relief and excitement.

River was very nervous about it at first, crying and insisting that I hold his hand and lean into him as the very nice girl snipped snipped away. A single crocodile tear landed on my hand and in someways it broke my heart. But my River is brave and soon nervousness turned into "I don't know what's going but I kind of like it" and then he let go of my hand and played with the toy as he thought, "ok, this ain't all that bad" especially when they gave him a sucker at the end.

And so my sweet River emerged as a boy with a really cute faux-hawk, 

{but I still have some of his sweet baby curls in case I ever need them}

Little Brent

Sunday River wore the really cute outfit my parents gave him for his birthday to church.

He looked so cute in his dog sweater, and he looked just like my dad.

So for the whole day we called him "little brent".

It's a good look for you son. :)

Striped

On Saturday we painted my bed room with horizontal stripes, and it turned out AMAZING!

All thanks to my amazingly talented and kind friend Amy and her master-painter skills and multi-tasking abilities. We got the whole room done in one day. She taught me the most amazing painting trick ever! It involves a little caulk to get the crispest lines imaginable. I could not have done this with out her! 

I love love love the color and the stripes - Behr Valley Mist. Now when I walk in my room it feels fresh and homey. It definitely doesn't look like a renter's bedroom anymore. Now I am on the hunt for the perfect drapes.

I am so lucky to have such an awesome friend, who would give up their whole saturday to come help me paint. Thanks Amy! You're the Best!!

Photo from their family session. Check it out HERE

These Curls

These Curls Melt Me

10 degrees

This is how River entertained himself while I tried to fix our garage door.

10 degrees outside turns everything into ice, 

and apparently glass doors into ice cream.

LICK!

Funny Story

On our adventure out with the Clarks to free Museum Night in Golden, CO we had a funny experience. Here's as Rachel Tells it: 

Mattix & the Yetti

I've never been stared down by a grandma before. 

Had to laugh to keep from feeling the daggers she was sending our way. 

But the Mountaineering Museum was pretty cool. They kids had a lot of fun jumping back and forth over the crevasse. I guess a little too much fun.

We also visited the Geology Museum and Astor House Museum

Fun night, and we learned two things:

1. There is a yummy mexican restaurant in Golden, El Dorado, and you have to make sure to get the Special green Chili.

2. There are a lot of Grumpy Old people in Golden, expect at the Astor Museum where  a "leaden pill" is slang for bullet and they serve pickled watermelon rind. 

Billings, MT

We spent the week exploring Billings, MT. 

River & I played and entertained ourselves while Skyler worked.
And this time we brought a long Charlie Dog. 

River loved it, Charlie was happy, but I'm not sure we'll be doing that again. 

Sorry Charlie, we love you but you're not a good multi-day traveler.

Dog and hotels are tough

Some highlights:

1. Indian Tacos from the Custer Battlefield Trading Post Cafe in Crow Agency. YUMMY! 

via

2. Walking the Black Otter Trail on the Butte in Billings. River loved watching the planes land and take off, Charlie loved the walk, and I loved the fresh air and beautiful views.

3. Pompey's Pillar - Lewis & Clark Expedition. Seeing Clark's signature and River being over the moon about walking Charlie all by himself and also joyously watching trains pass by and blow their horns!

4. Pictograph Cave State Park.