Estes Park with Friends

We just spent an amazing weekend at the YMCA of the Rockies in Estes Park, with some of our dear friends. We picked up O on Friday after school so that the girls could ride up together.



The girls all played happily with Lalaloopsy dolls in the back, including Aspen, and we stopped in Lyons for ice cream. (And to let everyone's inner ear settle down before we headed into the mountains.)



We arrived and the girls settled right in while we got the keys to our cabin.





We attempted a sleepover, but by 10:00 PM the big girls were just too hyped up being together, so everyone agreed it was probably for the best for them to each go back to their respective cabins to try to get some sleep. Still, it was fun going back and forth between our cabins!



That night we heard the elks bugling right outside our cabins, a whole herd settled into the field next to us for the evening, and in the morning we got to watch them slowly wake up and wander off.









We had a great day, eating and hanging out together. The daddies went on a run together, completing 52 floors worth of elevation in the mountains, according to Dustin's FitBit!


(That's them running out on the road.)

We took turns going for hikes, collecting and painting rocks, hanging out in the various cabins playing together, and going down for naps.




(Aspen very much enjoyed her reflection in the stove.)

In the afternoon, we got to check out the new Arts & Crafts center, where the girls picked out different things to paint.



O painted a unicorn, Sabine painted a little wooden house, and Aspen painted the table with water. Until she managed to upset the whole can, then we went for a walk!



Fortunately it was quite warm and she dried quickly. There was a playground outside, and all the girls ran off a little energy, until we had to get them out of the sun and heat.



In the evening, the dads and the big girls went for a hay ride.







where they got to roast marshmallows.



The moms hung back with the little girls, and watched the elk return, along with a mama deer with her two fawns,



On Sunday morning, we got up and got the cars packed up, checked out, and then went to the livery for pony rides.





Aspen was determined to wear a "horse hat" too.

She got to take a picture on the horse with sister, but then was satisfied with the experience.



Which let Sabine get on with the pony ride.







And we got to watch from nearby.





Sabine rode a pony named Star, and apparently bonded with her.







She remembered her pony, Strawberry, from last year, but apparently had an equally excellent experience with Star. We hung out for just a little longer at the livery...



...took some pictures...





...and said goodbye.



It was quite a successful trip!

On the way home, we stopped in Lyons again for some lunch, and Sabine and Aspen found a deer statue.




Aspen is just in love with the animals, and now says "DEER!" all the time.

It was a perfect end to a really special weekend.

19 Months...Busy Busy

Time keeps slipping away! Somewhere in the last few weeks, this sweet girl turned 19 months old!



Aspen is talking more and more. She does now say "Sssssss!" very distinctly for "Sabine," sister finally has a name! She has also started stringing together words, like "Bye-bye dada" and "Mama help!" Her new favorite phrase is "Iwalk!" (still followed closely by "MINE!"). She can put on her socks, and sometimes her shoes, and she still loves buckles and zippers. She likes to try to do summersaults, pretend to talk on the phone, wear everyone else's clothes, and watch Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood on TV. Aspen insists on walking down the stairs now, no more belly, though she still needs a hand; also she loves to "DRIVE!" and requests time in the driver's seat every time we come home.



All four molars are in, but now we think she's cutting her canines. Poor Aspen has also been sick with colds and coughs, non-stop, for several weeks now. It has been a little tricky with sleep, the coughs are always worse when she lies down, but otherwise she is sweet and playful and strong-willed! She knows what she likes, and she gets very frustrated when things don't go her way.



Our weekends (and weekdays, for that matter) are quite full these days. Here are a few highlights. Mommy and Sabine went out for tea with old preschool friends:





We are still regulars at the farmer's market, and recently discovered onigiri. Those have been handy for Sabine's lunch box.





We went to a party for Aspen's good friend, S. (Also, family friends!) And we had a blast catching up with some of our best friends.









Sabine's elementary school had a jog-a-thon to raise money for the PTA, which Aspen and I got to go watch. Sabine ran 11 laps around the track in 20 minutes, completing just less than a mile and a half! Way to go, big girl!








(Aspen was not always able to focus on the runners, fortunately we found friends to entertain us!)

There were popsicles for all the runners afterwards.







And then they got back to regular class.

Sabine's school also had their first in-service day. So we got a sitter to cover Aspen's nap, and I took Sabine back to Sunflower Farm, where we met up with some of our old preschool friends.











Aspen has also managed to have a play date or two







And, of course, so has Sabine



We are staying busy, if nothing else!