Yes, I love the fact that the local VFW puts on the hunt on the town field. Yet another reason I'm so happy with our location. I heart Louisville.
Sunday, March 31, 2013
VFW Easter Egg Hunt
What a gorgeous day for an Easter egg hunt. The local VFW put on an Easter egg hunt at the local ball field. T-man was a bit scared, but Marshall worked his magic and strategized with him so he could bring in the loot.
Yes, I love the fact that the local VFW puts on the hunt on the town field. Yet another reason I'm so happy with our location. I heart Louisville.
Yes, I love the fact that the local VFW puts on the hunt on the town field. Yet another reason I'm so happy with our location. I heart Louisville.
Saturday, March 30, 2013
Friday, March 29, 2013
Pop in, Pop out
With mon in Chicago. Dad arrived in Denver on Wednesday. I worked from home both days and the boys enjoyed some time at home during spring break. Dad took them out for breakfast, out for lunch, to the pool and ice cream and also played catch and went to the driving range.
Tonight we took T-man to his first baseball practice and the went out for sushi, sake, and ice cream. With basketball watching, card games, and me very busy at work, it was a crazy couple of days. But, it was great to have Dad here even it is was so quick.
Tonight we took T-man to his first baseball practice and the went out for sushi, sake, and ice cream. With basketball watching, card games, and me very busy at work, it was a crazy couple of days. But, it was great to have Dad here even it is was so quick.
Sunday, March 24, 2013
Ski - Day Three
Well, today was the family ski day. Unfortunate, it was FREEZING (around 5 degrees at noon) and windy and snowy. Marshall did get to participate is "first tracks" which meant he and around 75 others got to get on the mountain at 7:30 before the lifts opened to the general public. While this meant great snow, it meant skiing in below zero temps (yikes!).
So after two family runs and tears and whining, we called it a day. Fortunately, I had free skiing and we all survived. It felt like much longer than a 3-day weekend - I think we all needed it!
The family picture was from yesterday - we took the boys to the tent and we all had "special drinks" and watched the pros race at the end of the day.
So after two family runs and tears and whining, we called it a day. Fortunately, I had free skiing and we all survived. It felt like much longer than a 3-day weekend - I think we all needed it!
The family picture was from yesterday - we took the boys to the tent and we all had "special drinks" and watched the pros race at the end of the day.
Saturday, March 23, 2013
Friday, March 22, 2013
Vail Ski Classsic
Bluebird day. Kids in ski school. Free food and drink. Hanging with great friends and watching our friend race. No work. What a day.
Saturday, March 16, 2013
St. Patty's Day Party
We were invited to our first neighborhood party tonight to celebrate St. Patrick's Day. Check out our green outfits! The host couple even hired the high school girl across the street and her friend to babysit the kids downstairs. The boys got to hang out with the boys from down the street and we got to meet many of the neighbors.
Unfortunately, we were the youngest people there. But, everyone was great and it was great to meet lots of neighbors and hear about the neighborhood and have them all talk so positively about it. There are tons of kids in this neighborhood, but there are also families with kids in high school, empty nesters, and people who have their post-college age kids living with them and wishing they were empty nesters. But, if we only wanted younger people, we wouldn't be buying a 20 year old house.
So while we weren't able to meet a bunch of new young families, it was great to introduce ourselves to many neighbors and have lots of yummy food. Looking forward to nicer weather and meeting more folks!
Unfortunately, we were the youngest people there. But, everyone was great and it was great to meet lots of neighbors and hear about the neighborhood and have them all talk so positively about it. There are tons of kids in this neighborhood, but there are also families with kids in high school, empty nesters, and people who have their post-college age kids living with them and wishing they were empty nesters. But, if we only wanted younger people, we wouldn't be buying a 20 year old house.
So while we weren't able to meet a bunch of new young families, it was great to introduce ourselves to many neighbors and have lots of yummy food. Looking forward to nicer weather and meeting more folks!
Friday, March 15, 2013
Walk/Bike to School
Beautiful day. D-man wore shorts. T-man and I walked to school while D-man rode his bike. T-man even held my hand. I know those days aren't going to be around for long. What a great way to start my Friday.
Thursday, March 07, 2013
Swimming Lessons!
With the play and art over, the boys are signed up for swimming lessons at the Louisville Rec Center. While D-man really wanted to join the local swim team, we can't commit to such a rigorous summer schedule (practice every day for 3 months and meets every Saturday). With practice over at 10 and camps to get to (and being gone most of July), we had to tell him no.
Hopefully, these swim lessons will appease him and his brother for now (and get us ready for a fun summer at the pool down the street!).
Hopefully, these swim lessons will appease him and his brother for now (and get us ready for a fun summer at the pool down the street!).
School Age Care (SAC)
We are so fortunate to have a wonderful after school program at Monarch. Most days, the kids are not happy to see me because they want to stay at SAC. What a wonderful "problem" to have. The directors are so creative with the activities. One of the biggest "hits" is the plastic tunnels.
Tuesday, March 05, 2013
Suessical the Musical
8 weeks.
2 performance.
1 great experience.
Last week, D-man had his theatrical debut as a "Who" in the Monarch K-8 production of Suessical the Musical. Experiences like these are one of the reasons we are happy with the K-8 format. Without the middle school, there would have been no play for the elementary kids to participate in. It was a lot of work, but fortunately, practices were at the school and he could simply go to the after school program when practice was over. He couldn't believe they would practice 8 weeks for only 2 performances!
One of the great things about this experience is that D-man's singing actually improved! He enjoyed picking out his costume, figuring out the make-up and how we were going to do his hair. This is likely one of the few times I'll be headed to Target at 9:00 at night picking out makeup for our son!
Fortunately, we had purchased "front row seats" for Monarch events at the school fall festival. We had great seats both nights. It was also great to see so many neighbors and others from the school at the event - even though they didn't have kids in the production.T-man was a great brother and we enjoyed watching him singing along to the songs during the show.
D-man is already asking if he can be in the show next year. Here's hoping they have parts for elementary kids again next year because being part of a show is a great way to be part of a team. It's also great way to learn that big things take a lot of effort and time.
2 performance.
1 great experience.
Last week, D-man had his theatrical debut as a "Who" in the Monarch K-8 production of Suessical the Musical. Experiences like these are one of the reasons we are happy with the K-8 format. Without the middle school, there would have been no play for the elementary kids to participate in. It was a lot of work, but fortunately, practices were at the school and he could simply go to the after school program when practice was over. He couldn't believe they would practice 8 weeks for only 2 performances!
 |
| The final product! |
 |
| The "Who's!" |
 |
| Brotherly support |
One of the great things about this experience is that D-man's singing actually improved! He enjoyed picking out his costume, figuring out the make-up and how we were going to do his hair. This is likely one of the few times I'll be headed to Target at 9:00 at night picking out makeup for our son!
Fortunately, we had purchased "front row seats" for Monarch events at the school fall festival. We had great seats both nights. It was also great to see so many neighbors and others from the school at the event - even though they didn't have kids in the production.T-man was a great brother and we enjoyed watching him singing along to the songs during the show.
D-man is already asking if he can be in the show next year. Here's hoping they have parts for elementary kids again next year because being part of a show is a great way to be part of a team. It's also great way to learn that big things take a lot of effort and time.
Sunday, March 03, 2013
Pendragon Pride
Last night after listening to the first part of the Pender girls' basketball game in the car, D-man, Marshall, and I all huddled around the computer to watch the Pendragons claim their first state girls' basketball championship. Other members of the Karlen family were watching in Minnesota, Arizona, and in person. D-man got nervous at the end of the game - it was cute.
Recently, I have had 2 separate discussions with women from Nebraska that have left the state and have young children like me. Both of them talked about the sense of community and the support system in a small town. And each talked about how we won't have that for our children. When one is 500 miles away and watching a high school girls' basketball game online, one is reminded of the influence of that community.
While I have no expectations that Louisville will provide the same support system that one gets in a town such as Pender, I do hope that it provides us all with a sense of belonging. From running into a kid from the musical while getting our haircut to sitting here in the library while T-man is at a new session of reading buddies (with his same buddy!), we can definitely start to feel it a bit. I can already see the positive effects on D-man - he wants to join every local sports team, he notices when someone is wearing Monarch gear, and wants to attend every event at the school.
And even though we don't live in Pender, I'm glad the boys are able to go back and enjoy all the great things a small town has to offer. And soon, they will (hopefully) be able to enjoy the same things here in Louisville.
Recently, I have had 2 separate discussions with women from Nebraska that have left the state and have young children like me. Both of them talked about the sense of community and the support system in a small town. And each talked about how we won't have that for our children. When one is 500 miles away and watching a high school girls' basketball game online, one is reminded of the influence of that community.
While I have no expectations that Louisville will provide the same support system that one gets in a town such as Pender, I do hope that it provides us all with a sense of belonging. From running into a kid from the musical while getting our haircut to sitting here in the library while T-man is at a new session of reading buddies (with his same buddy!), we can definitely start to feel it a bit. I can already see the positive effects on D-man - he wants to join every local sports team, he notices when someone is wearing Monarch gear, and wants to attend every event at the school.
And even though we don't live in Pender, I'm glad the boys are able to go back and enjoy all the great things a small town has to offer. And soon, they will (hopefully) be able to enjoy the same things here in Louisville.
Saturday, March 02, 2013
Brecken In
When you ski at any of the Vail Resorts, your activities are tracked via RFID technology on your ski pass and you can earn "pins" for your activity. Today we all earned the "Brecken In" pin for our first visit to Breckenridge. It was a beautiful day with new snow and nice temps. We got on the mountain late, but skied until the last run.
It was a really great day followed by some shopping and dinner in downtown Breckenridge. We had purchased a gift card to a restaurant in Breck at a school auction and this was the perfect time to use it. It also made for a great commute back home. How lucky we are to be able to hit world-class ski resorts on a day trip.
It was a really great day followed by some shopping and dinner in downtown Breckenridge. We had purchased a gift card to a restaurant in Breck at a school auction and this was the perfect time to use it. It also made for a great commute back home. How lucky we are to be able to hit world-class ski resorts on a day trip.
Friday, March 01, 2013
Young Rembrandt's
This February, T-man participated in the Young Rembrandt's art class that was at Monarch. For the last two classes he was the only student which was great. The first lesson was very difficult for him, but e really enjoyed the rest of them. It is great to have him excited about something! And what great work he did!!
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