August 2017

Aurora and Connor both started school. Aurora is in Kim and AJ's class and adores her teachers. She has made a bunch of new friends and as always is excited everyday to go to school. 

Connor is a Puddleduck this year with Molly and Jennie. He goes T/Th full days and seems to be transitioning very well. His first day he was more interested in the play dough than me leaving so I’d say he’s happy!

Cooper started a parent tot class at Paddington on Tuesday mornings that should be really fun for him. Playground, playdough, water table, finger paint... what could be better for this mess-loving kid?

Before school started back up we went to Jackson Hole for a week. We stayed in Teton Village and it was amazing. They did such a great job of designing that place — the residences are all surrounding this main grassy commons with picnic tables, events, a playground and splash pad. We did head up the mountain for a short “hike” one day as a family and then Aurora and Dad went for a longer hike another morning, but otherwise we pretty much stayed in the commons. On the one hand Matt and I said we felt like we should have done more, but this kept the kids entertained without being too many melt downs.

I took Aurora to the opening night of Frozen right before school started too. We won the tickets at the Logan auction last year. It was really special getting to share that just her and I, and it didn’t hurt that we were in the third row and sat next to Elsa’s husband :)

We are packing our final boxes at Grape Street to prepare for the big move. It has been in the works for a long time and I couldn’t be more excited to finally get there!

July 2017

We spent the 4th of July in Breckinridge this year. We haven't been up there much in the summer, and it is so much fun! The kids loved the parade and we spent a lot of time at thee playgrounds. We only did one small hike but it was perfect. The boys and I stayed close tot he base and just played in the fields and explored. Matt and Aurora went a bit farther up and also had a good time.

Our house contract fell though, so its back to showings! They pulled the contract a few hours before objections were due... for absolutely no reason. Super frustrating!

On a more positive note we are wrapping up decisions at new house! The new island cabinets are in, the floors are stained and the painters have started prepping the walls. The kids adore playing at the new house, and it is getting so hard to wait.

On one of Madeleine's last days with us this summer the kids got to go back to her house for the afternoon. They had such a blast -- Aurora adores Madeleine's brother Henri and Connor couldn't get enough of helping Suzie in the barn. Cooper had a blast visiting the mini horses and the chickens. It's a house that is hard to beat!

We had a bunch of camps this month that the kids loved (Avid, Learn to Bike, DCPA) Connor learned how to ride a pedal bike and Aurora put on an original 10 minute mini musical with her class. So super proud of both of them!

-- Cooper at 21 months --

This boy is constantly amazing me with his exploding vocabulary and understanding of what is going on. He picks up new words effortlessly.

His new favorite words are "Nothing" "no way" "why" and when he wants to do something we have told him not to he has started saying "Be right back" and holding up his pointer finger. It is hysterical.

He loves Tacky the Penguin and wants us to read it constantly

He has a Beatles Yellow Submarine shirt that he likes to wear while he sings the song, but the song has morphed into "We all live in a Cooper submarine"

He loves singing and being sung to. He watches us intently when we sing trying to get a better understanding of the words. His favorites are twinkle twinkle, abc, baa baa, and patty cake.

He loves being outside. He is always asking to go "outside back" or "outside front" and he cried all the way home from the new house last night because he wanted to be outside playing.

June 2017

We sold our house! After getting a really early low-ball offer I was starting to feel discouraged, but I guess we just needed to find the right buyer. Yay!

Our house was officially put on the market over Father's Day weekend. Unfortunately we did not get anywhere near the traction on our house that we had hoped. I think we only had 2 people come through on Saturday. I guess Father's Day weekend was a bad pick, but Gina didn't expect it so... and it worked out okay in the end!

Aurora had her last day of Kindergarten! We have been so fortunate that Aurora adores her school. I can't wait to see what her little brain decides to study next year!

Right before the end of the year Aurora got to go on a special field trip with her teacher Lainey to the Museum of Nature and Science. This was one of the items we won at the auction, and she was so excited about it. Lainey is very special to Aurora and getting to spend time with just her and one other friend (Harry) was wonderful.

Thinking we were going to have a lot of people in and out of our house the first weekend we headed up to Breckenridge to celebrate Father's Day with Nanny and Grumpa. We did a little hike, went swimming, walked around the town and had a really nice relaxing weekend.

Unfortunately we came home to another complaint from Animal Control against Chile. That poor dog is going to get herself into trouble if we aren't careful. The worst part is she isn't doing anything, our crazy neighbor has just decided that she is the new target. Our other neighbors have had just about every complaint under the sun filed against them (all completely unsubstantiated) and I guess it is just our turn. So Matt and I decided that the best course of action was just to board the dogs until we move to the new house.

Connor is such a good worker. He loves to help Dad in all things yard work. In fact he likes it so much he was in bed once when Matt was out front laying seed and he started crying asking why Dad wouldn't let him help. Of course I let him get up and he did such a good job raking and helping Matt spread the seed.

-- Cooper at 20 months --

Cooper is absolutely loving big kid books. He still enjoys the board books, but he is asking for pictures books more and more. I am amazed at how intently he listens to the longer books. He definitely has gotten his sister's love of books!

He is napping without a diaper! We are down to just one diaper a day! He stayed dry the first 3 days after we started potty training so I figured we would just go for it. It has been a bit hit or miss but he will work it out.

Cooper is putting his own shoes and shorts on. He hasn't quite figured out how to get the shirt over his head, but even I sometimes have a hard time pulling shirts over his big McCord head so that may take some time!

I am constantly amazed with how much awareness he has of his surroundings. The other day I walked into the new house with him and he asked to go to "Cooper's room" and then pointed out exactly how to get there. I don't know that he understands that he will be living there soon, but he definitely knows that is what we call it.

Cooper is such an empathetic guy! I don't remember his brother or sister ever doing this, but he comes running with hugs whenever anyone is sad or hurt. The other day Connor fell and hurt himself and Cooper came running over to me, pulled on my hand and said "Mama come. Ga-ga sad!" What a helper.

May 2017

We are still trucking along at the new house. It is becoming clear why Joe said end-isa summer! We have hit a few snags (permitting issues concerning asbestos being the biggest) which means some weeks we see a ton of progress and then others absolutely nothing happens. I am trying to get things knocked off my list - picking sinks was easy, granite however has been a headache. So far we have made a "final decision" on 3 different slab only to be told later "I'm sure someone has talked to you about this... but this isn't a good choice for your situation" AHHHHH!

I had a meeting with our realtor, Gina, recently, and she said she wants us to get our current house on the market as soon as possible. So that means we are going to be doing nothing but getting this house ready for a while. Mostly I think that means boxing up anything extra laying about and then tying up a few small maintenance projects.

Aurora had her violin recital, and she did so great! We had a bit of a struggle with practice because she didn't think she needed to and that she was "good enough" but in the end she got down to it and played a beautiful Popcorn Twinkle Variation, which she chose because it's her Dad's favorite rhythm that she plays.

Mothers Day was really nice this year. We didn't get to go to brunch at Jax (the usual Mother's Day plan) and instead went to the nursery and got all our plants for the vegetable garden and window boxes. I am so thankful for my family and how much love they showered on me by helping to plant our garden that day.

We took the kids to see The Secret Garden. It was one of their Christmas presents and they have been looking forward to going. Unfortunately, when we got the email reminder, it also stated that children under 4 would not be allowed. I knew Connor could handle it even though he was only 3.5 so we decided to see if we could get away with it. I had two different ushers question me but no one told me he couldn't come in. Both kids behaved spectacularly and didn't cause a single issue. I then had multiple people comment on how impressed they were that Connor had behaved so well during the show. Win!

Connor had his last day of his first year or preschool! His class went to a park to celebrate and it was hysterical to watch him interact with the other kids. He has a new buddy at school, Torin, and when Torin showed up Connor's whole body language changed. He started talking lower and moving around in a different way. But really cute, he said to his friends "Hey guys, this is Cooper, he's my brother. He's a good guy!"

-- Cooper at 19 months --

We potty trained Cooper over Memorial Day weekend! I am so happy to be essentially done with diapers. These first few days have been a bit rocky, but things seem to be falling into place.

Cooper's favorite book right now is Pete the Cat and the Brand New White Shoes. It is absolutely hysterical to read it to him because he chimes in at certain points and gets super excited about it. He loves to point to all the shoes at the beginning and tell us what color they are. He also likes the "Oh No!" and "Goodness No!" parts :)

Cooper knows most of his colors pretty solidly. I especially like when he points to something and says the wrong color, pauses, shakes his head and says no, then tells the right color.

He is obsessed with putting on boots. I think he just likes that he is able to do it all by himself.

April 2017

We actually got to attend the Logan Auction this year and it was a ton of fun. This year the theme was "novels" so most people dressed up as characters from a book... but Matt and I were super boring. Next year maybe! Matt loves auctions, clearly because he likes to win things ;) We got tickets to Frozen the Musical (which Aurora doesn't know about yet!), a painting for Aurora's room, some wine, a trip with one of her teachers to the science museum and a week's stay at a chateau in France. Should be interesting!!

I am starting a class called Strong as a Mother that focuses on rebuilding and addressing weaknesses postpartum. The woman that teaches it, Zoe, is a student of Katy Bowman so I'm really excited to work with her!

Easter was especially exciting this year because we got to do our egg hunt at the new house! Aurora and Connor loved the extra challenge that came with a much bigger search area. We did have to keep the kids away from one set up bushes, however, there was a half eaten rabbit that a coyote (we assume) had stashed for a later snack... how festive right?!

Connor got to go to his first friend birthday party, for Sloane. He and Sloane unfortunately crashed into each other in the bouncy castle so we left early with a swollen and bloody face. He was a trooper though!

We have started a new 'behavior motivation' system. As a parent it is very easy to fall into the "expect good behavior and punish bad behavior" trap. It is especially difficult when you can't seem to find very many consequences that are motivating to your kids... So Matt and I have decided to try rewarding good behavior (being especially kind or helpful) with a counting bear. When their jar is full of counting bears they can redeem it for a special date with Mom or Dad. Aurora and I went on a special date to The Brown Palace for high tea.

-- Cooper at 18 months --