Peep-Peep-Peeping Along

We took the boys up to the Colorado Train Museum in Golden yesterday for a day with Thomas the Tank Engine. Bode has been into trains since conception and has played with Thomas trains since about 18 months. It is quite possibly the best investment when it comes to toys that we've made in our house. He still plays with them at 4 1/2 and Keegen has joined him in the fun, too.

I've seen these "Day Out With Thomas" activities and kept it in mind for the past couple years. I decided this year was the year. Both boys were old enough to enjoy it.

Golden is home to Coors Brewing Co...

It was a lot of fun. A tent with temporary Thomas tattoos. A tent with a bunch of train tables to play on. Pictures with Thomas and Sir Topham Hatt (you had to wait in line for pics. We chose not to). We were allowed to climb into a bunch of different trains and cars. There was a firetruck to check out (and a plastic firehat for the boys. I don't think Bode's taken his off yet!). And the best part was actually riding on Thomas. We loaded onto (cattle) cars and were taken around three loops of the train museum yard. The boys loved it. They also loved the charter bus ride to and from the parking lot. Hey, we're easy. It was a good time.

On the train-ride. Waving to their fans. Excuse Keegen's mouthful o' pretzel...

Things That Turn Me On; Part XII

When we moved here we bought within a couple blocks of what was going to be a great park. Play structure, basketball court, picnic pavilion, maybe a skate park area. I was so excited for it to be built because that's one of the few things i need in life with small children--a great park within walking distance. We were spoiled in Maryland in that we backed to open space and a walking trail that took us on a stellar walk around the lake and to a great playground.

Fast forward to the actual park being built. It was a battle. Supposedly the community "ran out of money" for this project. Thankfully one woman who bought a house directly across from the would-be park (for that specific reason) was TICKED and wasn't going to just let it go. She threatened to sue, went around with a petition. And in the end a play structure was put in. A superbly LAME play structure. Pathetic and sad and nearly embarassing. My boys were bored with it even when they were little. We're talking Little Tikes slide-sized play structure. To its credit, it did have swings. It's a huge area with a sad, dinky playground that has suffered much vandalism (and not to justify, but the preteens and teenagers really do need something for them. Bball court? Skate park?). So big that soccer games are played there. I've been really bugged that it is so not worth going there when it's just around the corner. And even more bugged when the community built a brand-new decent playground on the other side of the neighborhood (where just about NOBODY lives).

We just drove home and passed by the park and what did we see???? A BRAND NEW play structure wrapped in DO NOT TOUCH ME YET yellow tape waiting to be installed. I actually let out an audible gasp when i saw it. Yippeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!!

It really is the little things...

You May Bow Down to Me Now...

...the DOMESTIC GODDESS that i am!!

Now, not only do i grind the grains and bake the bread with all of this gluten-free baking that's been going on for the past 4 months. i now CAN the beans and pears, too! What is going on?!

I know that's exactly what Doug is wondering when he looks at me in a "Who the hell are you and what have you done with my wife?" sort of way. A comment he made when he walked in on me decked out in my apron and my grain grinder?--"Wow. I never thought i'd see the day..." My response being, "This is LOVE, baby." (Meaning i'm doing this out of pure love for my child in need of non-wheatables).

I went to the farmers' market the other day and got it into my head that i wanted to make dilly beans. Basically, pickled string beans. I remember my mom made them once growing up. At the time, i thought they'd be totally gross, but they were yummy. And then lo and behold my friend calls me up the next day and asks if i want to join her in a canning class she's going to. Why yes i do!

We went to the class and then high-tailed it to the Ace Hardware they kept saying had all the supplies we'd need. Then we headed to the farmers' market and picked up boxes of fruit and some more beans. Then, of course, we had to do lunch. And a fun errand. By the time i dropped Kristen off and got home she was already calling me to say her peaches were in their water bath (bragger). So i got to work on my beans. Totally quick and easy. It took FOREVER for the water to come to a boil, but that's my only complaint. We'll see if they turned out tasty or not.


Then onto the pears. MUCH MORE WORK. Unlike the beans, they had to be peeled and cooked before canning. (Yes, i read that you can leave the peels on and make them raw, but i also read that they're oh so much better peeled and precooked and if i'm going to go to the trouble...) And i had to make a light syrup. And i'm a total hypocrite because i made a sugar syrup and i'm always really annoyed when i can't find canned fruit in JUICE in the stores. Here i am making my own and tossing sugar in the mix. But that's what i remember about my mom's canned pears. Oh, how yummy the syrup was. And i didn't have white grape juice on hand. And i made it extra-extra-light, so hopefully that counts for something. And am i using enough "ands" for ya?

I only got four quarts done before i burned out (and i swear i have the same amount of pears left that i started with!). I did some fresh salsa and finished the pears last night for a grand total of ten quarts (much thanks to Doug who peeled and cored the pears whilst he watched the season premiere of Heroes). So bring on the blizzards! We are set. (TOTALLY JOKING. We still need to get chips for the salsa. And please no snow until at least AFTER Halloween. Thankyouverymuch).
Here's hoping for some delicious home-canned fruit on my storage shelves!

And Kristen? Next time, let's split a box of pears!

Wear 'Em Out Wednesdays

Cruisin' on his scooter

Wednesdays have become our busiest day of the week with our new school year and new routine. Bode has school, Keegen has a tumbling class at the Y and they both have soccer in the evening. They are good and tired by the end of the day (well before the end of the day!). Bode is doing great in school--dealing well with being dropped off and seems to jump right in and participate. Keegen and i get our time together at the tumbling class. And soccer is just a hoot. Truly. And it's late enough that sometimes Doug can drop by (since it's close to his office) and watch, too, which is always a treat.

He's so fast you can barely see him!

Today was a fun school day for Bode since they got to go on a field trip. To Safeway of all places! The school is in a strip mall right next to Safeway so they all walked on over using the tried-and-true buddy system. They got a tour of all the departments, being allowed into the inner workings of the place. Produce and floral, meats and deli, bakery and all the coolers, freezers, compactors and truck-loading areas. They got goodies along the way from every department and were given a special treat from Starbucks

The next Starbucks Generation

and an apple and Odwalla smoothie on the way out (i was surprised by that one!). Keegen was allowed to tag along and fit right in--well--pushed himself right in! He's so ready to be a big boy and go to school it just makes me laugh. After the field trip we headed back to class where they had circle/story time (and Keegen found a spot for himself right next to the teacher). I was happy to see Bode interact so well with his classmates and teachers, volunteering answers and seemed to be so comfortable.

Dribbling skills

They both love soccer. Bode's class is first and Keegen just about dies from lack of patience waiting and watching for his class (and asking repeatedly if it's time for his class). They have a great coach and it's lots of fun games to build soccer and social skills. This was the first class where i've seen Bode just jump right in and have a blast. None of this "I'm scared!" crap! He was the first to yell out answers and was full of confidence ("I'm really good at this" when asked to be goalie). I was happy to see it, although now that he's coming out of his shell and actually speaking in a group setting we might have to talk to him about boasting and yelling and talking over his coach; etc. But i'll take it! He was asking before we even left at the end of the classes when he could come back. Money and time well spent!

"Good job, Soccer Buddies!" cheer

Reason #5483 Why I Love My Husband

I took Doug to see Mamma Mia tonight. He likes musicals and doesn't mind a chick-flick every now and again. In one of the early scenes in the movie, the daughter was singing and i think she's darling, so i said to Doug, "Isn't she darling?" And he agreed. He's already totally into the movie and says, "We're going to have to own this one." It was so fun seeing this with him. We've been listening to the soundtrack ad nauseum so it was fun to sing along with the show and with him. And now he wants to learn to play "Our Last Summer" on the guitar. What a guy.

The end.

Sad but True

I make gluten-free graham crackers. They are awesome, in case you were wondering. So i went out and bought marshmallows and Hershey bars to make s'mores with the fam. Before i could put them all together, the boys ate all the grahams. But don't you feel sorry for me. I ate the entire bag of marshmallows all by myself. And realized how good they were with a bite of chocolate added to the mix. Yep. One bite of marshmallow+One bite of chocolate=Gooooood. Repeat. One bite of marshmallow+One bite of chocolate...

Big News

Kristen called to tell me she had big news. Which is....IKEA is coming to Colorado! There's hope for this place afterall! I mean, really, how is there one in Draper, Utah and not Denver? While it will still be a couple years, there is joy in my heart and an extra little jaunt in my step. ;)