Put down the BINKY!!!

There are times in life you are tested, times you learn, times you teach, times when you watch and times that they all come together. Man those are the times when they all converge as in the big storm the Nor' easter that you find what your foundation is made from.
I am speaking as a parent, a father of little ones. You know the ones you want to protect, to give everything and to also enjoy. Mine are small ones, one just 6 days into her 3rd year and the other 4. God you know your heart is so easily contorted by these little ones. Well I have a little one, my girl just 3 in this past week and she has been using a pacifier for a life time, her life time and we have tried a few times give it up. Well let me rephrase that we have tried to take it away. Tell her it's bad for her teeth, she is too big, and the days of what she calls her binky are over. How do you think that went? I can say 'NOT SMOOTH" we had no, we had NO and we had NOOOOOOOOOOOO! just incase we didn't get the jest. Ok so we tried to tell her we are just to big, it does not suit her looks and she should give them up. We have tried not caring them so she can't not have them when we are out, that OK you can use them only at night, we should give them to babies that need them. maybe we can tie one on to a balloon and send it off to binky baby in the sky, we had many plans, but we were always met, via-mentally with not gonna do it- and don't go there if you value your peace and sanity. So with all are attempts and all our pleas it took Sydney misplacing the 4 or 5 Binky's we had lying around to put a non planned plan into the works.
Sydney has a habit of leaving items where she is, when she is disinterested or just when the spirit moves her. So one by one the binky's were hiding, leaving and disappearing. We have had this issue for sometime and we had reserves and hidden spares but it was getting old and Sydney was getting too old also.
Last night was DT time. She has not had the use of a binky for 2 or 3 days. She has had moments and a few real hard cries, but last night was a real moment. A monumental one, she had returned from a YMCA Halloween party was tired, was full of sugar charge, had an over load of activity and needed her BINKY. She tried me and I told her we were done with them, she went upstair had heart to heart with Mommy and then came down full tears, full cry full oh my god she can hardly breath. Sydney was in full melt down. A "OH MY GOD NO MORE BINKY"S IN MY LIFE" epiphany had set in. She came over to barter, to cry, to need a hug to unload. I tried your a big girl, I tried all the stops but this was going to be a make it moment. I almost broke down myself, I did have a reserve binky in my pocket. I have been hauling one around for the last several days, for a JIC (just in case). To me several times I reached for the holy grail the hidden one which would have stopped all crying right in it tracks. Giving me peace and made me the man, in her eyes, but thats maybe more then 2 steps back, that could mean we have a harder time on the next try and the next and so on. We have been down this road, lightly but down this path. Now we have made a real stride and do I want to go through it again and maybe for the worse. This is breaking my heart, Sydney is in complete remorse, it as a death has been learned and on to stepping towards the 7 stages. I am so close to acceptance that I can not go back. My heart can't take it.
So lessons, convergence, the perfect storm- NO. this is taking me down and I am now bartering. I am telling Sydney that she has done a hugh thing. She is to be so proud of herself, as I am and she will be able to go get something for herself at the end of the week. That got a few cogs turning in her brain, she thought that this may be a good thing! I have heard that she wants a new Baby Einstein doll, we have Anne but June, or Leo or Quincy would be nice. I have heard that she wants a dress and some shoes, now they have to be Princess ones. Thats was on the list, so I do believe that we are going to be seeing a new pair of shoes around here shortly. She has made it through that wall, that was last night. I made it through that wall too and I don't even remember using a binky.
Binky is a pacifier till it becomes hell. And a baby hell is not one that is easy. Not one that is easy. Please no more Binky's that just spring up in hidden places. This is not one I want to go through again. It now has been 2 weeks. We are not free and clear but she has only asked a few times and they seem to be fleeting. The one one of faced to face, crying as if her world was coming to an end seem to have passed. It my have taken a year off my life as it broke my heart not to give her the blessed binky of peace, but it was just a crouch. It was worse trying to always have one on hand and now we travel and it is not demanded till all hell breaks loose. I will miss being the trusted binky carrier. Sydney got used to handing me the binky to stick in my pocket. I was honored to be that holder of peace, but it is so much nicer to be binky free.

Bear bears, no bears

Wow 4 in a tent.
Oh me Oh my 2 kids- 2 1/2 & 4
We went to Rocky Mountain National Park to camp with the family and all survived.
I have visited Rocky MTN National Park many times but never to camp. Never with my family to go over night and to be honest very few camping trips with the family at all. I can think of 2 with the whole family. They were one nighters and they were in the camper. I also did two other nights out but that was just Jack and I. This was 3 days, two nights-in a tent. In the Rocky MTN National park, lions and tigers and bears oh my. Ok forget the tigers, But MTN lions and bears, and coyotes, big horn sheep, and Elk and moose, plus a few others, and otters too.
Ok so we start our day out with sending the kids over to a friends home so Rhonda and I can pack for the trip. Our 11 - 11:30 get us out the door at 12:30, not too bad. As we had read the reservation a day or so before our departure the camp site D151 said that it was a walk in site. Walk, was it so that meant that unless I could put the VW camper on my shoulders we would not sleep in it OR we would not sleep at camp site. We have an Outdoor world here in Denver and I made a trip to see a tent selection the day before. I found a nice tent that would sleep us all, I could stand up in it and on sale for 99.99. I have spent 3 to 4 times that for a small bevy tent so I considered this a good price. Good that we can share a tent and not be right on top of one another. There was a another tent which had two rooms, was much larger and cost 230.00 but not only was that much more in cost and size but the sales man thought that it was quite possible that this tent would exceed size limits of a national park. So with that knowledge in hand and not having bigger pockets I bought the smaller size which was on sale and going to be an easier sale on Rhonda too. I consider this camping , fat man camping. It has help this name for many a years with me. 1st as a joke as I would take hiking trip with my buddies, We packed in and out, carry what we needed and sleeping in a tent or lean-two and made fun of those that did not do so. The fat man in his BIG OL' camper on top of his ford 350, which carried in is big ass fishing motor boat or chair. You get the picture! We later revised that to our brand of fat man which we might pay a snow cat to carry in our food and beer to the 10th MTN huts that we did hike too. Now here I am thinking of two kids under or just 4 years of age. My wife and now my daughter asking about bears, Are there Bears? Are they going to eat me? and Are there any bears, it as if by adding the any it was a new question. My son too was scared but he was little more on the adventure side and wanted to go. He was so looking forward that this carried Sydney into the excitement side. So off we go. New tent in hand and riding in the camper, just in case we could use it.
Rhonda let Jack sit up front in the camper with me, as she and Sydney took the back bench. We were off and going do the road. We were all looking forward to getting away, and to camp. Jack loves being up front and was asking all sorts of questions, seeing everything from the front prospective of the camper and and then he hit me with, "Does this radio play my music?" I am not sure what his music plays but whatever was coming out of the one small speaker from my 1974 VW camper was not playing the right tune. I told him that we have to listen to what is playing on the radio, Hum, well can't you Jack ask, email some of my music to it. I just busted out laughing. I guess I can't blame him as his world is much different then mine. Oh God he I go sounding like my Grandfather or my own Dad, but I grew up with B&W TV, wood skis, a bike with no gears only to upgrade to 3 gears and no when this camper was built I don't think that even the military or AL Gore had email yet. So I had to burst his hopes and let him know that , no I could not do that and to look out the windows at the amazing views we were just coming into. Anyone that has taken this drive from Lyons to Estees Park will know that you drive by some of the most incredible rocks faces and mountain side, full of reds and brown colors and as this was the start of July and we had such big snow the rivers were flowing fast. Amazing stuff, but I still could not email Jack's music too this radio.
Along we go and make Moraine Park, our camp ground. They was a guard shack and two or three other cars in line, so we waited. I was curious as to what the camp ground was going to look like and looking forward to seeing our spot. We had been told by the person who we got out reservation that this was one if not the most remote camp sites in the camp ground and we were not to be disappointed. Jack looks over at that man standing in a box and talking, He says "and what's that man doing over there?" Well here was a sight that is becoming extinct but that man was talking on a phone in a phone booth. Again both Rhonda and I bust out laughing. I am sure by this point Jack can not understand what is so funny. So we tell him that they used to be everywhere and that it is just a phone booth that he is talking on. He's making a call to his friends.
The guard gives us our map, direction to camp site and a few rules. Times to this and that and no food around camp ground, don't feed the bears! We are driving further and further out of the campground and yes we do go to the outermost site of the camp ground. Past a sign that reads no generator in this area and then we see camp site D151, well let me rephrase that we see a sign that says D151. I get out and with Jack in tow walk up a little berm to see camp site, I see another small hill and walk up that. I see a tent to my left and a trail that continues down a small path. I would say it was not long but we are looking at a 1/4 of a mile to our camp site. This one I would say is the most remote in the grounds, and very nice.
Now I look forward to unpacking and bring our things down. Sydney of course shoe less is on the trail, with pillows in tow and ready to help out. I am moving things in and out, as is Rhonda and Jack and Sydney. I am amazed by what the kids are doing and helping out bring down to our site. Sydney makes this trip once or twice, in bare feet and Jack is doing his best to keep up. On my 3rd, maybe forth trip, we did have a lot as we are doing FATMAN camping, Sydney comes over that 2nd berm towards me and says "you really missed it" Missed what I said? Just as Rhonda clears the hill and tells me that not only did they see an elk or deer walk by the camp site but as they were walking back to the camper to get more things Rhonda say to Sydney to look to her left, which somehow she did and walking parallel along side her is an elk, larger then me is all I am told so over 6 feet and only ten feet from Sydney. Sydney stops, looks as this huge elk is here, our camp site and crosses the path in front of her, and that's what I really missed. Sydney is just fine, I think this is what she has expected, and is in so many books that she reads. So we finish the moving of things from our camper to the the camp site. I am almost thinking it would be so nice just to pop up the camper sleep on the beds in there, and only stay at the car park. But I say nothing and head down to put up our new tent. I unroll the tent. Unpack one piece , two pieces, three pieces and four, now there are poles in a bag, and no instructions that I see. I am not to worried as I am a man, that has camped before, and set up tents. That should work! Well as I did unfold the tent completely out of the bag which is more of a duffel bag with a sipper on the inside sew to the inside our some direction, but there are also some more within the tent as you unfold it.
1st direction, do not attempt to set up tent for the first time at your campsite, Don't set up in front of family and friends and when done spray tent down with goes to activate the water prof treatment the tent under goes at the factory. Well, everyone please turn your backs and I will get through this. With Jack as my helper we get to work, this is a good start because he can't read so he has no idea that the direction say Hey Fool, set up at home and practice. Tent goes down and of course the back side is where I want the front to be but that is no big deal. I have poles that work on a budgie cord. Easily put together, there are two huge one, two smaller one and one very small one, maybe two. So big ones are the cross poles and the hardest part is feeding them into the top of the tent. Now I did a little more reading tried to set it up with Jack but it takes a little strength and understanding as to what we are doing so I get Rhonda to help. The tent goes up easily BUT I still have, three or four more poles to connect, a rain cover, and front piece to collect dirt and divider and what is this? So tent is up, its looking like a tent and size is nice. Now it looks like rain and YES that's a rain drop, so waiting to put on the rain cover is not an option. I have left the direction somewhere around and I am flying on that I don't need no stinkin' direction bone that most man have and most women dread. Come out of the same part of not stopping to ask for directions. Thinking that this too will fade from the history books as GPS, phones and Gamin's now replace the need of anyone having to ask for directions. Well back to the camp. I am racing the storm to get the tent up. I figured out the rest of the rain tarp which covers the tent and it looked almost as good as the picture on the box. We set up dinner, cook a fast meal so we can go to the ranger talk that night.
At the ranger talk we arrive a little early and she ask Rhonda and I if we could both read for a park in her mock trial. The trail of the Badger, the predator is he guilty of being just bad or living in his and with his environment? Very entertaining show was put on by the ranger. Rhonda and I were both asked to read part of other defendants and the trail came to a not guilty verdict, as the Badger was just living in his environment to survive himself. Back to camp, back to our tent and back to the 1st night in the tent. Now I have done many a camping trips, slept outside many times, in a few times in just a bag or under some branches piles up to make some sort of barrier. Here we are, new tent, big tent all four of us together. I made sure the food was back in the camper, I made sure kids were not sleeping with candy, and as the ranger said the bears in these part have a hankering for flavored lip balm, I think cheery flavor- some fruity flavor, in any case we did not have it. I packed us all in, kids in there sleeping bag on top of mats, Rhonda and I on cots and settled in. I did fall asleep, but at night you hear things or I did. I hear wind, I hear so barking of dogs, maybe coyotes, I hear the horses down at the guided horse corral even making a fuss at one point and I am not sleeping. I never had any issue sleeping outside before why now. Only one difference my family. I am worried about them. What to do if I do hear a bear? Do I make a loud noise to scare it off? Do I throw the cots over the kids and wife to hide them, do I run outside and hope the bear follows me, do I just lay very still and quite and wait till he goes away and if that is the case wouldn't it be just better if I were asleep and getting rest and never be going though all these thought. Dam why do I have a family, it was so much better just thinking about myself. I just did not worry so much! So I make it though the night, the family survives all those scary noises and I am tired but that does not stop the day light from coming.
We cook breakfast and clean up to head off to the visitor center of Moraine park and get t talk on how the valley was formed and how many years it took place to do so. He said we would know ever rock in the park, And made some joke about if we did not know just to say it was a nice something, I can not listen as we have two kids, one 2 one 4 and unless you are throwing rock counts as learning about them. So I had to walk away with the kids several times, we enjoyed the hike in our own way but we did not get the full tour as they say. I did learn that a Moraine valley which is name of the camp ground was caused by a glacier that has receded and not that of a canyon which is caused by water, and some trees in the area, pine spruce on the west side where it is dryer and plants that are waxing which are better able to deal with dry climates and then fuller trees and many more close together on the east side where there is more moisture. In any case I will have to go back but we had a nice hike and then while we could have gone back to the camp ground I feared that if we did we might just stay there. Kids were voting for that. I instead turned the wheel up the mountain and proceeded up. I was not sure that the camper was up for the trip but hey thats living. So we go up. We are doing fine, there is food in the camper as we are keeping it from the bears which I am sure are just circling are tent at night, and there is plenty to drink also. We get up to the very first viewing area that has neat rocks to climb on, follow by a good fall off the mountain on the other side of the rocks. Both Jack & Sydney think they are excellent climbers, so again I lose so years off my life, hair gets a little grayer, that is what I have left as I try to corral them and keep track of just how far they are allowed to climb the rocks. I am amazed at the size of some of the campers, hell thy are mobile home that are making the trip up the park. huge and wide and driving mostly be much older folks, they are the only one able to afford the gas these days for them. I can just hear the bells ring as the pumps turn at the gas station, what do you think cost me 50 to 65 dollars to fill up, what is there bill-500-1000 dollars, If it were me I might just drive down the road to a local park and set right there if I had to pay that bill for gas. I mean your self contained, its really just another house does it matter where you camp in it. Ok so if they can do it, my 74 camper is ready to go higher, we proceed upward and see snow. I love it and we get out to take a picture of the snow adjacent to a waterfall which is flowing right along side. Water is cold if you did not guess- wow! So up we go, camper is running great and we reach the 2nd lookout that I love. Here we break for lunch. Could not be better, we had sandwiches, chips, ice tea and a view. Plus the lot is full, there are many people and here is one time we are aware of how many Canadians are around. If we did know there we be so many we should have thought so, with the currency and change in value of the dollar it is much more affordable to travel over here for them. Our trip up was full of looking at Elk along side of the road and brave (stupid) visitors that want to have their picture taken next to. AND I do mean next to sitting Elk. There was one daddy elk lying not far from the road and edge of the field, he was resting-for how long I do not know but there were those folks dressed as if they were on their way to a nice tea party. Closing in to have their picture taken not near but next to this elk with the 6 foot 8 point rack, amazing. He was resting but for how long I don't know and nor did they. He could stay there and let them snap a picture for their coffee tables or walls or he could just as well step up and make it so they could mount their own heads on the wall after he struck. I waited as if ready to see this unfold, but there the Elk stayed and they live to shoot another picture of themselves next to the next tragedy of errors around the corner. Makes me think I could do a good business of selling t-shirts with bull zees on the front, at least they and those that see these pictures would know the truth.
Ok so Rhonda, Jack Sydney and I are off to the top to have our next adventure. We arrive just in time for a talk on lighten in the park. There are lighted clouds around with flashes of bolts and some thunder to be heard. Jack and Sydney are so NOT into this that they go about trapping all the mouths flying around, they run out to the walk way in which the winds have picked out and of course Sydney has barely any clothes on. The people go from watching and listening to the talk to watching our kids run in and out. It all I can do just to sit but I am tied from our early exploration so I sit and try to learn about the lighten strikes. Well lighten does not come from the clouds it comes from the ground, hey was that Sydney flying by the wind, the sound comes from the air coming together, did Jack and Sydney just run out the door, the particles of high and low get agitated and start to move fast- oh shit I think I have to get control of my kids, well so much for lighten storms I have one of my own here. So we and those around us act out the storm, Jack and Sydney are the storm and off we go to collect our clothes and selves and get some hot chocolate. As we drive back down it is still only around 3 and feel to early to go back to our tent. I see a sign for Bear lake, I had not been here so off we go to the other side of the park. Bear lake is very wooded and a nice drive. As we get there the kids are sound asleep and my feet are hurting so Rhonda goes off on a hike around. She is off for around 3/4 of an hour and then returns saying we need to follow her back. Partially caring and some walking the kids we hit the trail, very nice lake. Great hike that is only a 1/2 mile around and very easy. The kids find some areas to dip their feet, some snow to freeze their hands and sometime to just be held and carried. Nice way to end our long day in rocky mountain park.
Camping is such a treat, I loved it as a kid, I spent many a great trip and times with my folks and sisters camping, now to pass on that love is fantastic.
We end up packing to one of lives toughest lessons. A mother deer and her 3 little doe's are jumping, and I mean jumping on the rocks behind our tent. These little guys had to jump rock to rock but where very good at it. I watch at first thinking they were large jack rabbits then I did get a good look at them. We watched, we packed up, we carried our belongings back to the camper and then we heard a scream. It sounded like kids fooling around at first, then when it did not stop and grew on volume we wondered around wondering what it was. There were 2 other camp sites close and they too looked. The sound was much to much to pass up. Some guesses a mountain lion has taken one of the doe's, others guessed bear and coyote. Some riders on house came around the bend and said that it was a coyote, sad but that too is the cycle of life and how the wilderness works. Kids learning, not always what you want them too but what they will and have too.
Trip was an amazing lesson for us all and we will go back.

Summers is going swimmingly- well is it summer?

It's been sometime since I have sat down to write and I need to do so more often so that there is one idea I can write about, not a myriad of memories antidotes and vast pit of situations we get into as a family. Situations is a good POV as you keep contact on children. Yesterday as I think we are just driving along I hear. "I swallowed it", while in highschool or college that can be a badge of honor for some, a good night to others and today you just expect it to make youtube, coming from the back seat it means only one thing-NOT GOOD. and I Knew exactly what that not good was. Jack just prior to getting in the car found a metal ball. It was heavy for its size, smaller them a marble but larger then a pee. I believe I called it a ball barring but more then likely since it came from outside his church that doubles as a school and now summers camp program is being run from there I think it is a piece from some game. In any case I know what it was, I yelled WHAT! Not the right first reaction when the poor little kid is already concerned and scared. I had to do some quick back paddling and tell him its not a big deal, no problem. I tell him that it will go through his digestive system and come out in his BM. He has all sorts of ideas that it will get stuck or hold food back or come out his ear, maybe even weight him down swimming, but I calm him and say no, That even I as a little kid had swallowed a dime and it too made the same journey. I told him that him my Dad tried to hang me from my feet and even shake it out. But in a day or two it made its way out on is own. I let him know that it was much harder for the shape of a dime to do that. I had him calm down and he was even trying to feel for the ball inside him, His sister was making a little song or limerick out of Jack swallowed a ball and is going to poop it out. AND then I called the doctor's office. Was looking up the number of the hospital on my phone and Jack did not understand this, In fact he was quite concerned, this even heightened his wonder past his very 1st reaction because I had just said, No Big Deal, no problem. I could see him thinking then Why Dad, then why call Hospital- PROBLEM. Why the hospital, the call at all if I were fine- I could see the cog wheels of his mind working over time, double time! I quickly tell him that all though I am sure he his fine I want to double check and it's the smart thing to do. As all I could do was leave a message for the doctor he did not give more thoughts to this ball in the gut issue. We proceeded to get some bambino burgers at Good times burger and then off to the pool. In the pool he wonder a bit about this ball it pull me down, I think I can feel it and where will it come out and how and will I see it. Those are a few of the questions he is ask of me and himself. I too am wondering when and will we see it. I am not to concerned that it will not make the journey, I only wonder how long, day maybe two and will I see it. Well since this is about 3 or 4 weeks now that I am writing to finish this up, the answer is no, I never did see it. BUT Jack is pooping fine, there - well I do not need to get into any of that, but he's cool. So we continue to swim, we don't eat anything but food and hopefully it was a good lesson, for Jack and Sydney.
We have been good not to put anything else in mouth-so far! But god things change so fast and you never know what is around that corner-Dad is living with, what next will I hear, Besides Dad I swallowed it, Just I put my finger in it, on it, over it, my head is stuck, my leg/arm fit in there but it wont come out, Dad can you find me cause I have no idea where I have gone to- just a few to follow, some have already happened.

Memorial day- Last day to ride the train

So it is Memorial weekend 2008
Sydney & Rhonda went out to yoga and that left Jack & I behind.
So after we cleaned up the house I promised Jack a McDonalds hash brown.
Jack loves the hash browns and the play area at Mcdee's
Next a stop to the sports store to get a pump to pump up soccer ball, football, and basketball-everything in house is going flat except me!
That 1st Picture is of Jack holding mannequins hands in store. He was saying that it was bigger then me!
We next moved onto the lake to help a Buddy build steps of rock down to his new storage and launch area for his boat
After which we went on to Boulder on to the creek feast-very cool, very fun.
They have the rides which make all town fairs. The merry go rounds, the provable trains that go round in a circle, and then the pirate ship which swings back and forth till you are looking straight down.
Jack look at the merry-go-round and passed on it, he rode the train-that was just ok, now he looked at the pirate ship-that one's cool Daddy.
I was not sure he really meant that, not sure he would pass the height requirements, and what if he wanted off while in full swing?
I looked at his want added no fears of mine too it and we got on.
We sat in the middle of the swinging boat (Pirate ship) and off we went. It starts with little swing and progresses. We hit the top and Jack said "this is fun" "this is cool" as the ride stopped Jack said "can we just stay on?" Success he like it, he didn't fall out of seat as my fear of him being to small and he had no fear of ride at all.
We proceeded to ride it 3 more times and the last two times we sat in the seat which went the highest, which are the seat on the far outside. So as we passed the train jack said "those are for babies and I'm not a baby. I think I have ridden my last train!
We met up with Rhonda, Sydney the Liebers and played frisbee and then listened to the bands playing at the band shell in Boulder for the fair. Jack has one hack of a toss now. Amazing to see how fast he learned to throw the disk. And Sydney and he took over the dance floor at the concert. Sydney has a natural sprit to move to the music. Fun day by all and we slept in till almost 7:45, thats a record around these parts.
Happy Memorial day weekend all
Love John

I'm so hungry I could eat a Pig!

Alright so now is this my life or my son, seems to be a little grey area!
Friday night was a benefit auction for his school, kids not allowed - both food and drink BYO. One parent was very eager for big numbers and he brought with him a small keg of beer. The silent auction began and the raffle tickets went out and the big ticket items brought some large numbers. Winners took house in Hawaii, ski house at winter park, massage tables and day spa and clothing and and and the drinks helped. Get them drunk and they will buy! I hear today that 18,000 was raised.
While my wife and I went with intention of not getting anything we did buy 8 raffle tickets and my wife put her name down on multiple items at tables. I too saw a little pair of skis and a coupon for ticket to use at Vail/ Beaver creek, good for the year. In this case the year was 2 days. This was Friday night, and mountains close on Sunday. Two days to go. I have a friend that has a place in Beaver Creek, I jump on the phone and he was there with family for last weekend of the year. I bid on tickets 30 dollars to ski, two tickets. Thats back to 15 dollars days not seen since the 70's I am sure, I won both. All other tickets we had were out bid- thank God, so now to ski this weekend- with Jack. I wanted him to ski at age 3 now this was going to happen!
Jack had a soccer game saturday, there was a YMCA healthy kids day after the soccer game, and then we quickly went home, packed and Jack and I head up for the drive into the mountains. Jack was asking - where I we going skiing? Which mountains are we going too? and then telling me he wanted to start at Scott Carpenter park, Scott Carpenter is where we go sledding, I had told him, and Rhonda had also said that is where I should start him off, He remembered and that's what he is now wanting. Scott Carpenter is all of 45-60 feet run off, 2 1/2 sec ride, jack is seeing the continental divide and THATS TOO BIG! He ask again where we are going I say Beaver Creek, he ask if there are Beavers there? (I knew that was coming) I tell him no it's just a name, but he still tells me he is going to hit the beavers with his skis and KILL them. I don't know how I got such a violet son. I think it is just a boy thing, I just don't remember wanting to kill , shoot, and sword fight everything. So here is Jack, looking at the rocky mountains, talking about a 60 foot hill that we should be going to, and now throwing in beavers that not only is he going to have to ski around and over, but he is ready to hit them with the skis and kill them. I really don't think I have much of a pray of getting him on the hill/ mountain tomorrow to ski. So, I'm I pushing him to my expectation? Some where in the back of my head I had always wanted to have my son ski by age 3, this was his age and this was the last weekend. This year saw epic snow fall, Sunday was going to be 60 and as I drove through the tunnel at Eisenhower out the west side it was snowing, and not just a little but a winter wonderland had presented itself. So here I drive, Jack now asleep in the back seat and I am not sure if he is sleeping because of the car ride or so overwhelmed with the thought of NOT starting off at Scott carpenter park and all those beavers chasing him down the hill that he has just shout down into the over load sleep zone. Now am I giving him my experience or his?
We arrive to the Lieber, our friends house and Jack is very happy, he walks in and all seems fine. In fact John my buddy says that he has tickets to an outdoor show and his wife is done in so he is taking me. Ben Harper is the show and, it is out doors. We have to go to east Vail, it is packed and we park only 2 miles away, to walk to the show. LOL. Oh baby, night time, snow is coming down we are walking and I am in sneakers. Dam I must be from Texas! So I sketch my way into the show, slip sliding on the new snow, over the old snow and show my ticket as I slide past the gate keeper. At least I think he saw it as a skidded past him Show had not started as we met about 10 others from Boulder waiting and grabbed a beer. In line I saw such a sight. Poor kid was caring in 8 bags of ice, Mind you it's 28 outside, snowing, with snow piles all around the beer tent, and here is this poor sucker caring in ICE, well that is just the poorest joke you ever saw. Ice into an area of snow, cold and still snowing! I bet summertime he is caring a stove into the lava crater too! Or something to that effect. Now show is starting, the area is pack, hell it's just a parking lot converted into a band shell and all 16,000 of us huddle close to the stage area. Very cool show, no play on words there, it was cool.
John Lieber and I stay for hour and 1/2 of show and then he ask when I want to go. I said anytime and we where gone. As we left there was just as many people going as coming. It was a little disconcerting to those avails but for those of us leaving, we had seen a good part of the show and snow was a driving force to us leaving. Plus last day of skiing tomorrow and we wanted to be up for that day. That day which I was still not sure if it my drive or Jack really want to ski too!
The next day, Jack woke up next to me. I had left him at the Lieber almost as soon as I got there. He is so good and a very easy kid, I love that about him. I ask him if he was ok that I was headed to the show and he was so involved with play that all I got was a wave, kind of and later Dad. Now he waked next to me and say- "I'm going skiing dad, today is the day. We grab breakfast at the Lieber and head to the bus for the ride to the mountain. A bus can be a big day, Here was a bus to the mountain full of beaver. At the mountain here where elevators, really escalators but Jack kept calling them elevator, and we ascend too ride up to the rental place. Jack got fitted for boots, skis and no polls although he wanted some. I thought it best not to give him a weapon to swing and take me out with them. I could just see him swing poles around, me laying flat out on the snow as the patrol arrives and Jack saying' He was not doing what I wanted so I hit him with the poles. , so no poles.
Now we see the lifts, the mountain and Jack looks at me and says- "Where are we going?" I say up there, and he looks at a flat area and says lets go here! Maybe we should have but I think that if we start there we may end there. Not much fun, as there is really no hill where he wanted to start out. Only two others walking in their skis and neither one looked as if there is even a hint of a smile. Skiing is to be fun, there was no fun there. I could see that. It processed only worried people, anxious moments and that was a long way from a fun time. We had no time for that, we press past and moved on.
Now the Gondola is fun. Beaver Creek has a Gondola and it is only for the beginner mountain. Before Jack knows it we are stepping into the Gondola, door close and up we go. Now this is fun, he looks around enjoys the ride, although he says we should ride it down too. LOL Not going to happen doors open out we go. I going to get him skiing? Is this going to be the wrong way to start. I take Jack by the hand and we put his skis on, I look for a smile on his face but, vacant is the best I can recall. Jack is void of reaction although I can see he has plenty of thoughts, just all bottleneck up and not one is making it to the surface. I start off trying to have him walk in the skis, NO he does not want that, I say lets just slide over here, NO not going to happen! Jack is not saying anything, but he is eyeing the Gondola, ride down I can feel this in his none worded way. So I grab both hands look him in the face and start off. I am going backwards, he is looking directly at me and I think I hear ASSHOOOOLE. Ok so we start down, I tell him to bounce on his skis, to stay over them and watch his balance. We are moving, he is skiing!!!! I take the hill skiing backwards the complete ride down as he goes forward and watches me. He is starting to breathe again, and we reach of this 1st hill and not the bottom of the whole hill we step onto the moving carpet. I believe that if we had reach all the way down I may not have any more to write. Although he likes what we have done he could have stopped then and there, being happy with what we had done. We get on the moving carpet, which is a moving lift that you just step on and it takes you to the top of the hill. Very nice, not the rope tow I had to deal with and we could relax. Jack ask how we get off, how we ski again, how we find are way back and how , well just how, I will never know how so many how questions are asked but they are. Now we are back on the top and backwards down the hill I go again. And it's getting better, we are picking up more speed, Jack is smiling and I am in a sever leg and back cramp, but smiling and telling him what a skier he is. We are a sight. Up again and this time I am going to hold him from behind, we are going faster, it is a bit easier for me and we turn. Back and forth and Jack is looking around, he is skiing and he is happier. Jon and his sons show up. we make some more turns we are skiers and Jack is asking about the elevator, which means chair this time around. Now Jack is very smart and he knows what a elevator is but I think there is such an overload of thoughts going on that words don't have much meaning, all oxygen and all action is used up, geared towards using it on this new adventure of skiing. So I take this op to say lets try the chair. Before he knows it we are we are in the air on the chair and he is riding his first chairlift. I think is height going to be an issue? Is getting on and the thought of getting off going to be hard. Well hell I just lifted him on and do the same getting of but NOW we can see more of the mountain and Jack says WHAT! Where! and why not ride the chair down. But now we start off, we are skiing down I am holding him from behind and we are doing a green trail from the mid mountains. We make it back down and now decide to hook up the poles as Jack stabilizer. We get duct tape from a patroller rig it for Jack and we are off. Down down down and speed has now entered our world. Jack is skiing faster, sometimes faster then I want, we are a group, and Jack is getting it. He has balance, he is making some turns, and he is now relieving me of all the work. I still have to be there, but not as much. I am not sure he even knows that he is doing much of the work. I give him signs, people, trees to look at, which makes his head turn, that make his body follow, that puts him in the position of following his body and turns. Nice, it is really going well, No more, why are we here, when can we go down, Now it is, can we ride that chair? can we go here? and when are we going to jump? Jump!, hell 40 mins again it was jump ship, now he wants a jump. So he we go up, he we are skiing faster, here is the epic day. Not a cloud in the sky, 55-60 degrees and snow that is white white white. Jack is smiling and well so is my heart, Done I have created a skier. I have introduced my son to this world I love so much, and it is no longer my dream, it is his love. He wants higher, he wants faster, he wants turns he wants the top of the mountains. So up we go, green runs are the way down and the way down is just to get back in the chair to talk about the next run down. We go to the top, top of Beaver Creek, all of three years old and he start his skiing on a beautiful day, a great area and the rocky mountains. I think I got freezing wind ice and a sore ass for my 1st day. I grew to love it, I wonder what is in store for him. We take the ride down from the top, stop at mid mountain and he goes inside for a lunch as Jon and I take a few turns on stepped and bumpier runs, We do Birds of Prey, which maybe the steepest down hill course in the country. I have my fun, fun on skis, and I did say skis. This is the first time I have been on skis in at least 15 years. I have turned to the dark side of snowboarding and have not even owned a pair of skis in 20 years. I knew that I had to teach Jack on skis and I was looking forward to that and curious about the shape skies which did not even exist when I stopped skiing. It was interesting, skis, down hill corse and I was making turns. I told the girl setting me up I had skied and was a good skier but had not done so in some time. She gave me her suggested skies. Now skiing on this slope and picking up speed I can hear the skis start to chatter, and shift under me. I need to break and slow down. If I want to let myself go I would need to get a better pair of skis and longer ones. No matter these skis works very well for Jack and this is his day. As we head back to the mid mountain lunch spot I am still not sure if Jack is going to want to go back out of stop for the day. But as we get there he is ion his skis and is asking where we are going and he is not even remotely wondering when the end of the day is. He wants up, he wants turns, he wants that chairlift. By now it is a chairlift and by now he his wanting me to hold the poles under his arm for support as he skis but I am doing more breaking to slow him down then to hold him up. I am doing more talking of ski towards that sign then steering him with the poles and we are going faster then I am starting to feel comfortable at times. I and breaking he is skiing and I am using poles to hold him back not up. He wants blue trails, we do 2 or three I am now working harder, holding him up more and I see a jump. I say want to do a jump and before he answers we are jumping over a mind you small jump but we are in the air. I land and find out that I have no back left, my legs are tired and I ache. I am tired but so happy that Jack is loving this day. This makes most of the pain go away, but I only have one run left in me. I get Jack all the way to the bottom and it is 3:30. I pul my phone out, take skis off and start to do the same for Jack, What he says, we are not done, cant we do another run Dad? Just one more, the chair is still going!
I am done, I have made Jack a skier and be no means did I ever think we would do so much, By no means did I believe that we were going to the top of the mountain and by no means did I think Jack was going to make turns, last so long and so just one more PLEASE DAD. Dad is toast, this dad was done but very happy.
I tell him how proud I am of him, I let him know that many people have not done anywhere as well on there 1st day of skiing but not many have done better. He has scored a perfect day of skiing. Man what the hell have I done! I think I need to find how to pay for this now. I will pay I know but what a great way to start. Jack is so a happy, he ask as we pull out of the parking lot. WHEN ARE WE GOING AGAIN DAD? On the drive home we talk about the day, we talk about what was the funniest, and how we started on a little magic carpet and then took on the whole hill. The top of the mountain. I call home to tell Rhonda how well it had all gone. She let me know that she had picked up some ribs, was cooking them with her girl friends on the BBQ and Jack said he was so hungry he could eat a baby pig.
When we go home had just ran around in circles or being proud. He ran outside, around the couch, around the rooms, he was dizzy with being proud of himself and could not talk about it that much. His emotion was in his moving and dancing feet. He danced his way to bed and woke next to me this morning, a skier woke that day and a look of a peaceful I i did it Dad also with the sun kissed face to prove it, A true skiers tan.

Keep on Keeping on- no it's up

This week has been too busy to sit down and write! I'm stepping into my 40's, ok mid 40's and I have to be the dog that breaks the rules. You know that "you can't teach an old dog new tricks", one. I'm trying, I swear I'm trying and I think I am getting better. My patience is growing, my listening, I'm tuning in, and my eyes and ears sometimes can't believe what they see and hear. The kids are good teachers, and it's true that they learn and mimic from what they see. It's not a pretty picture when you act out and see your kids acting out too! You know that's a boomerang shot to the head. That's what got me to be a good listeners, take a breath or two and then have action not reaction. I am going to give myself a pat on the back for that self taught insight. I know that's not my and only my thought but what it is is mine, in that it's now a learned lesson. Now I am a true believe that on the book side you learn the basics but it's in the trench that you see the light. Same with business, you can formulate an IRR, you can have a business plan, know your competition and I still belief that limitation are mostly self imposed. Its how to massage them into working muscle that makes them part of your soul-your badges of honor, it's takes the trench to draw them out. Like a good sweat you feel it, in the beginning its hard breathing, you feel only pain, can be daunting but it still feels good. It's the trying, pushing and reps that get you into better and better shape. Pretty soon your way past that first wall, the one which felt like a barrier is so far behind you that you don't remember the burn but it's the lesson that lets you go to places. Places you could not have done without the 1st steps. I belief caring , raising and hell just trying to keep up with kids is just like that. The issue is that you can not fail here, to much. These kids are yours, you want them to be the best that they can be, you want them to have a good view of the road but not so much that its scary. My daughter, the one that will jump from just about anything she can climb, will also be the 1st one to say that's scary. Not the jumping which I wish she would but other things. She seems to know when she is not informed enough or this is not a scene she has knowledge of. At 2 you would think everything is unseen and can be scary, but thats not true. She has a uncanny internal radar that will go off when she needs more help or too back off, at least I prey so. She does get into things that make me say WHAT. I get my fill of kids books and there is one called bad dog Marley. Marley is a dog that is full of puppy wow. Marley gets into what he should not, till the day he saves the baby that tried to get up on the frig top. Well were is Marley- I need him. For I have a daughter that got up on to the counter, up to the frig and was enjoying herself some mini reese's peanut butter cups that we keep around as rewards. I guess we weren't rewarding enough and Sydney took it upon herself to do so. Think for her birthday I will get her a parachute. So I will keep trying to improve myself parenting and myself. This is for one I want to raise good healthy and well developed children, and two because I want peace in the house and not to go up on charges of killing anyone. LOL (thats a joke for you social humanitarians which see it as your responsibility to patrol the world and have no humor. )
I have the kids hiking. I am so proud of them as they are of themselves. My son and daughter made it up a rock face with little help. We went much further then I thought we would. I taught them both how to use the soles of their shoes to get the best grip. How not to step on lose gravel and dirt as it slips. The proper use of hand holds and to use both legs and arms to propel themselves up the rocks. What a great job. As we went up a stepper rock face we came down a dirt road. On that my daughter just laughed the whole way down sliding on her jean bottom butt. Jack my son proceeded to climb the playground rock climbing wall by himself after. I was there to spot him but he did it himself and was very proud. They are working well together and are the best of friends- I love it!!

Coal Truck headed North!

Monday- weekend in back pocket and we lost an hour. My thought for the weekend was to out maneuver this spring forward day light savings in my favor. Friday, I planned on turning my clocks ahead two hours. I figure there is no hard feeling of staying up late on friday night. By turning the clocks ahead it is just like the days of old pushing my bed time past the midnight hour. Saturday was still Saturday and NOW Sunday, instead of losing an hour I get an hour. An extra hour on Sunday is precious. My feeling is we should bag this day light savings and leave the clock alone, BUT if your going to mess with my weekend it's not my Sunday thats going to suffer. We had a nice weekend. Saturday was mine as Rhonda had a early yoga class and then she sat in on a 9-5 class "WHAT TO DO IN A DISASTER". So I guess putting your head between you legs and kissing your ass goodbye is not good enough. She is going to know what to do, where to go to keep our family safe from terrorist, flood , famine, over population, under cropped, and burning a hole in the OZONE suffering people that Al Gore has told us we are. Hell I'm betting if we had listen to Al in the 1st place when he told us about this internet that he and a few of his close friends had made that all of this would have foretold and fore warned to us from the get go. I am sure the clues were there. Dam, that Gore for knowing so much and doing nothing till he won an Oscar. My guess is he is really going to let us have it when he lets it know that he is Nostradamus reincarnated, but we won't know till Up your Noastra the 2nd coming is released and out in a theater near you. You know I still am going to put a bottle of Scotch and a big ole fatty in the survival kit. So while Rhonda is saving our skin the kids went over to one of Jack school mates home to play. His buddy at school was nice enough to invite Sydney too, so I had 10 to 1 to myself. Plan was, and it was the plan to come home and work on basement. Thats my story and I'm sticking to it, but sunny day, close to Boulder, and no kids, I wondered. I went to Peets coffee then just walked around and till a grab a sandwich later, the next thing I knew is that it was time to get Jack & Sydney, so wasted no, productive not really but it was nice. I got the kids and came home played a little with the two of them , But Sydney went down for a nap and Jack had seen a golf game or something because he a bug in his shorts to play golf. I put him in the front year, showed him a few things. How to hold the club, foot placement, line up and back swing, and that was all it took. Jack said he had it, and did not need me any more - go get my own clubs. Amazing I have at the age of two heard my son I can not teach him any more - I can go- he knows enough! I did not think that would happen till the rip old age of 9 or 10, but 3! I know he is smart but 3 maybe not smart enough. Now I had a few things to do, the computer and my office looks right out into the yard, so I let Jack play out his front nine there. He was the new champ, maybe a tiger. Hell my nick name was tiger growing up. Maybe this would be the real or another tiger of golf. I can carry his bag! Well Jack hit some, whiffed a few more and then I came to look out and he was not in the front. I go out side and he comes Jack around the corner. He had Just asked Howard our neighbor to play. Now this is nice that he has a little neighbor to play with, but only problem is Howard is 82 maybe 84. His wife has just come around from a dog walk and let us know that Howard has been sick for the past few days. Went to see a doctor yesterday and is now on cough meds and antibiotics. Tess his wife goes in and here comes Howard out. He sounded as if he has just gotten though playing a set in a smoke filled jazz club. Voice as he calls it is weak, but he could not turn down his invitation by my 3 year old. Nice guy, howard. So he plays a short few with Jack and heads back in. Rhonda returned and had a good class with everyone learning a lot, She informs me that there is another class that runs 3 to 4 weeks, and at the end your receive a yellow hard hat, whistle. I am betting they ask all to line up bend over to see who has the biggest asshole. I pray she has not signed up for that. She was smart said no to that class, to the first aid kit they where selling and I bet they had emergency radios. Planning and supplies where the main staple I do believe. Nice but I have been there done that with the boy scouts, first aid, life guarding and my EMT, WEMT, ski patrol and mountain rescue classes. I been then done that with classes and with real life. Coffee, walk and the 10 deep breaths I was able to get in today were my 1st aid package and refresher course. Sunday was nice, and to tell you the truth the time change was a non event as I had conspired to spring my time back. We work around the house a bit, then we went to a one year old party. Someone I did not know. This was a party of a girl that works at the YMCA and gives massages, she also does them at her house. Rhonda has done both and got the invite. I went and had a great time. Many younger people there so we raised the mean age but what we added in years we also added in clean skin. There where more tats then I had seen in years. I don't know the biker bars around here but I did have run in with Tattoos in NYC on the lower east side. I like them and if I where not such a chicken I would most likely have one. I dated a girl that had one of a dolphin and that was one only a few saw, I think! I have know just a few others but not a lot. In this room we where the outsiders, and I looked around. Most were just simple and one girl, lady as my sister would tell me to call her. I don't know I would call her girl, but my sister would give me shit saying she is a women. To me calling a women a girl or a man a boy is all about attitude. I like it when I can say I am going on a ride with the boys or that girl will smoke you in the pipe, whatever. So I say girl, and she was covered with many tattoos shoulder to foot. I asked her a few questions but I did want to sound like the old daddy. I can relate to thinking back when I started riding a snowboard, sport was brand new. Many per day where seeing a rider for their first time, I was asked all the time. What is that? Is it legal to do, does the mountain support it and why or is it fun. NO MY MOM MAKES ME DO IT! was my pat answer in my head! Don't believe I ever really said it but felt like I should have. So been there don't do act like a ninny was running though my head. Plus I might have one if I have had come across the one which grabbed me. Anyway, nice party, and this one as all one year old birthday parties should be was for the parents that made it through the 1st year. Nice and lively. . Well Rhonda was off again for the week on biz and the kids and I drove her to the airport at 7:30. I was still feeling the party from yesterday and the kids wanted to go to the rec. center, or so they thought. Sydney had not slept well and feel asleep in the car driving back home. Jack saw opportunity to put in his vote for things to do and we talked about options. I would have been happy with a nap. As we where driving Jack saw a truck loaded with coal. He asked me where is that truck going? I did not know I told him so. He very quickly responded and with no doubt said, I bet it is going to Santa. It's for all the bad people! Nothing to argue with there! So I am home. We snuck in, made sandwiches and then hit the road. We went up to Nederland, but it was very cold and no real place to eat. So we picnic in the minivan,Boulder falls very cold, and still some snow and ice on path way. No place for a 3 and 2 year old. So we went down to Ebin Fine park in Boulder. It's right along boulder creek, slides, swings, rocks to climb and a rock climbing wall. Everything you need. Throw in a tunnel for the bike hike path, a creek, and a few trees with bugs and it's good for 3 hours, trust me. The bugs and a tree was good alone for an hour and fifteen minuets alone. Home now and it 5 as I pull in to driveway. Kids are asleep and I am writing. Enough I have dinner to do. My advise is just don't do anything that's going to have one of those pieces of coal showing up in your stockings. Jack and I we've seen the supply, its big and it's headed north.

Coyotes at the door!

Today or yesterday thursday, now that it is Friday, I spent another day with Jack and Sydney. Somehow I feel it should be Jack and Syd, but I don't want any correlation with the music of Syd and Nancy of NYC. I know a real stretch but thats just my bad. This Jack & Syd feed off one another and I belief benefit each others soul. Syd & Nancy ate each others soul- sad story but so long ago many will not even know what I am talking about.
I have a small office that looks out to the front yard., which in turn is at the end of a cul-de-sac and the start of a park for the kids to play in. I believe it is safe and I can watch them play outside my window. Most of the time they can play in the front yard, play around the car and the camper. I have a VW camper that is from 1975 and both Sydney & Jack think it is the best. One day about a year ago I came outside to find my daughter hugging the back right side of the camper- I do not believe that you can write a better ad for any vehicle. We live in Colorado and the weather can change and it does. Winter's are thought of by other people in the country as- "Oh you live in snowy Colorado- COLD, DEEP SNOW. In fact the mountains can be so but more then often I get by in a fleece pull over, that works for most of the winter. So I work in the morning and the kids ride bikes, play outside my window and then almost on Que. I can tell Sydney is going to make a break for it and head to the park. The swings are calling, the slide is too too much to resist, a sand pile just has to be dug in. She is b-lining it for the glory of the park. Today she is no different and I leave my seat and window and follow her and Jack. We are met with many other , same idea has drawn them to the park. I play with my kids and other kids- a big chase is on. Fun for all. We play for an hour maybe more and then today go shopping at costco. Alway fun trip, I pray! Kids want to be in the cart, but riding on side of cart, riding under cart, running down isle,always win. It never fails that on the way to the store I can always hear. "I'm thirsty, and I have to go the the potty. 1st stop is a dash to the rest room. I have a little of a system once in Costco, see where the samples are being giving out, and avoid the things which drawl kids in. It can navigate the store and maze, down this isle not that one, turn quick right, reverse and push through here while asking questions so they keep there eyes on me and not the new candy piles that call out Easter is coming or only 15 weeks to the start of the december season. Yes you can make it through the store towers of evil so that will your kids will not turn into a whinny state of I want, I need, I am going to get it and the shrill cry you hear which will rip the skin from you body, turning you into a state of "WHO THE HELL ARE THESE PEOPLE AND IS IT OK FOR ME TO LEAVE THEM IN ISLA 15?" Today was a good day. All I had to deal with was a little race down the freezer section, can I have 2 yogurts from the sample table and this looks like a great place to hide in the newly brought in oven, fridge, and appliance display. Then we all got what we want. Cheese and little play house. I had a traveling cheese display, here for the final weekend and my kids had a play house. I got to sample 4 or 5 different cheese. The blue being my favorite, and Jack and Sydney played in the play house. This play house had a front door, with mail box, 3 windows one in the front, one in the back and side one and then a porch with two bench seats along opposite walls to complete the total outside look. Inside I saw a sink and I am sure there was more. By this time I had taken a seat on the outside furniture around the fire pit. only 1100 for this piece of relaxation. To me it was free to sit in, digest and watch the kids climbing in one window, out the back, and around to the front door. Good for 20 mins by my clock. We all went home happy to have had play time, down time and sample food from around the worlds of Costco. Dinner was quickly put on table, Sydney went to bed very nicely but jack would not do the same. He has more energy then I and he is only 3 1/2. While My wife Rhonda and I went to get our room ready- praying and hoping Jack would go to his room, we hear a scream down stair. I thought Jack had cut his foot off, burnt his head or maybe found a dead person. This scream meant business. I almost flew down the stairs as Jack is climbing up and he mets me with there is someone at the door. I flick on the lights and see a little dog. A small collie type dog that is trying to get in. This is a lost dog, it's cold outside and he , she is hoping we take him/her in. I say him/her because this dog is not in good shape I would say at the least it has hip displacer and worst maybe old broken legs. Fur has some very nice spots on top but under coat has many knots, bundles of fur which have not seen a brush since Bush took office, Not sure if that is Bush one or two presidency. While Rhonda and Jack keep our dogs upstairs they feed this dog some treats and water. I proceed to walk around to our new neighbors that I know have a small dod. Maybe this dog got lost , knew almost where it lived but was off by a backyard. The night has numerous stars out and a few people walking in therapy of the night air. I ask one if they had a missing dog, but no luck. I do spend a good part of the walk looking to the night sky and reach our new back yard, fence sharing family home. Nice lady with three kids and she tell me they have there dog inside, she is a big horse person that loves all animals and they have just moved here so her children can go to Erie school. Nice to hear as we are not sure if the schools are good enough for Jack & Sydney. She is very happy as are her kids which show up to the door also. No man so she maybe a single mom! I go home, dog has had a few treats, but no hard food as it teeth are in poor condition. Walking is slow and I still do not know if this dog is female or male. Not going to try and find out. Fur is matted and back legs, hips are painful to watch faulted movement. We proceed to get the cage from downstairs which our dogs have used, put blanket, water and treats inside and go up stairs. Jack has been watching, little help but very curious as to why this animal has shown up. In bed we find out that Jack thought he had been greeted by a coyote at the front dog. We have many around here. Our cat had even shown up here one night last summer with a bite to the back side. This is the only time this cat let me attend to it. Brush fur away, clean out wound and give it some TLC. Most times this cat only action is to whine to get in, out and to be feed. Further then that, she just tolerates our existence. Since it being that Jack has nightmare about coyotes it's no wonder he screamed He has worried about coyotes outside asking if they will come to the house, in the house, or to his room. I am not surprise that he let out this boom curdling scream which he did this night. He had his own private night name staring him in the face with only a pain of glass separating him and the beast of outside his door. That night I checked on the visiting dog and slept on couch after daughter woke up around 1:30. I put her in my bed with Rhonda and Jack and I went down to couch. Dog was ok, I was not sure it would live through the night! In the morning I left this dog out back. Poor thing could not make it down from deck, did not even try, and relieved itself 5 feet from the door. We called the police around 7 and had dog picked up. As the police walked the poor thing to his car I saw a man walking another pooch. I yelled to see if he had run across anyone missing a dog. He ask what type and after I told him a small collie. He said that maybe just maybe there was an owner which had a small collie across the park. The officer said he would cruse by to see if anyone flagged him down. Thats the end of our meeting of the wild beast which hit up my front door, and scared my son. The coyote at the door!

Out of the mouth of 3 year olds

I have a three year old and a two year old. Nothing is boring around here, and there is never real peace, or should I say down time. Monday I have the kids for most of the day, and we are starting a ritual of going into Boulder to the Scott Carpenter Park. Nice park with a rocket for the kids to climb in, slides and rocks to climb are around. If there is snow, a hill to slide down too. Monday we had enough snow and a place for the kids to burn off some energy. Of course I get to pull sled up hill, sled maybe empty of not! Sometimes I am riding in sled or running along side so I can met them at the bottom. I then get to pull sled back to the top of hill. But I am always paid off with smiles, laughs and sometimes a thanks or I love you. So this fills up my tank and all the while it keeps my tank in shape. Both good for my heart and good for my head.
After were finished sledding it's up to the mountain above Boulder. We hit up table rock and do lunch at the picnic table and a short hike with scrabbles up the rocks. This is with one of the nicest views in all of Colorado. This Monday we had Mountain top view covered in snow and a bright blue sky. Kids got to try out their new hiking boots too. My son's name is Jack he is a good teacher for his sister Sydney, while Sydney has a go get em sprit and not much that hold her back she needs Jack to give her a balance. Now Jack was showing his sister how to scrabble up the rocks, were to put your feet, she showed Jack how hopping down the rocks was fun to do. She just loves hopping sometimes does not matter the height she jumps from. I have to watch her. Both giving each other attention and showing each other how to do things in a diferent way, a different approuch. Some of the things they say are precious and driving down Jack just burst out in song about a beautiful day. I am sorry I did not have a video camera to take it in. I was very lucky to hear it and that I will always have that memory. A proud Dad is the pay off. I had been treated with the adoration of others that day too. As while we were at Whole foods I was given a "oh such beautiful kids comment by a lady waiting with me in the deli section. At the check out a lady behind me said what adorable kids, and I had to look around for a camera, thinking this was a set up as we walked to the car through the parking lot, a lady driving by stopped, roll down her window and said what beautiful kids I had. A perfect hat trick! And how could I argue! I had to agree and say thanks, but some how thanks doesn't sound right. I mean they are my kids so I had something to do with it but they are there own persons. Now people that are taking an active part in dressing themselves and that is nice, but that is not the good looks they were showing this day. What I saw was kids having a good day, the smiles they were giving where from the heart, the inside. As I saw Jack stopping and waving to the lady in the car, along with his smile, the good vibes he was passed along. In the store, both of them were taking care of each other, Deciding which sandwich they would like to split. Working it out as they each wanted a different sandwich, Saying ok, today we get this one and next time we will have the other. They had decided it was better to agree and to be cautious of the niceties of being with each other, not fighting. The people in the store I am sure were seeing this too. This is what makes people really beautiful. It was showing in them that day.
Yesterday I spent with my daughter as my son goes to school from 9-1. Sydney right now is hooked and I mean hooked on the little Einstein. Oh baby, is she even. She is hooked so much so that I now have a copy of one DVD on my phone. This works all the time. If she is coping and attitude, pull out Little Einstein, if she is impatient - tune in Little Einstein, if we are trying to distract her- Little saviour comes out. I knew she was going to like seeing what I had made for her but I had no idea to what extent. I made a picture of her and all of the little Einstein people aboard the red rocket. When I handed it to her. They was no reaction at all. She just stared at it. She just stood there and looked and looked. I wanted to see if she was ok, if she was still breathing because I had not see any movement, no reaction and no sound coming out of her. What I saw was that she was in heaven! She just could not believe how she has made it into the red rocket. She had made it. A picture of her aboard the red rock. She just carried the picture around with her the rest of the day. Her Mom put it into a frame and she was so proud. She did not ask me how she got into this picture, she just accepted it and loved it. Her brother asked to be put into Nemo, which I did for him but there was not the same reaction or love for the picture, he just wanted one of himself. One like his sister's. Well Little Einstein can work for me, what is nice is the baby sitter that baby Einstein can be. While yesterday I wanted to do some work, and do a little cleaning- Sydney is happy to watch the DVD of Little Einstein. And after I did a little work, we had lunch and, we then rode our bike to the library. I have a seat that lets her sit on the back of the bike. She has good protection and a great view too. In fact while we where approaching the library she called it out from far away as she can see well. Both kids love the new library and rec. center which the town just added. They are only a mile or 2 away from our house, so it is easy to get to them.
Today what inspired me to write was my son Jack. Now they are kids of 2 and 3 but Jack says things which amaze me all the time, Today was such a day. As Sydney looked up to the shelve that holds ours cereal she spots a box that shows a bowl full of the cereal with blueberry and raspberries in the picture. She starts to yell out Blueberries, blueberries. I turned around then because I did not think we had any blueberries. To my amazement I hear Jack, saying to her. No Sydney there not blueberries, it is cereal and that is the suggested way to have it. WHAT I say to myself, suggested way to have it. Here he had broken it down so quickly, and without any question. He knew thats they way it is in the picture but not what is really is in the box. His sister just stopped asking and knew that her brother had the answer, no more asking was needed. No doubt that her big brother had given her the answer and she was satisfied with it.
Well today is my 2nd post- I am going to try and add more. I want to remember that this is the most amazing time, watching the kids grow, hearing their words of wisdom. This is my out of the mouth of a three year old wow factor for today.