Odds and Ends

The kids asked to watch a movie in the back of my car the other day.  It reminded me of when I was little.  Emily and I used to always try to make cozy spots in odd places.  Whatever keeps them busy. 

Mia's signature.  Complete with a heart over the I. 

Our neighbors had an outdoor movie party to celebrate the end of summer and it was one of the best nights of the season for us.  The kids piled onto sleeping bags and blankets and watched Alice in Wonderland while we adults sat and chatted.  Most of the little ones fell asleep and the older kids freebased chocolate and popcorn until they felt sick. 

You've Got Mail

Luca is now a mailman.  A real one.  He made a mail bag in preschool and comes home everyday to fill it with handwritten notes to all the neighbors.  We then walk through the neighborhood delivering his notes - illegally - into everyone's mailbox.  One neighbor assured me that no one would accuse a kid as cute as Luca as tampering with the mail system. 

He takes this job super seriously.  He has begun getting mail back from some of the neighbors which forever warms me to them.  Anyone who takes the time to write to my budding postal worker is good people. 

He has special notes to certain neighbors and drops his bike to find just the right note to deliver. 

Who doesn't love mail?

This whole process takes several hours.  All of the cutting and writing.  The packing of the bag.  The delivering.  As a mom trying to keep her super busy kid entertained, this is the best activity to come our way in a long time.  Illegal or not. 

Rain

The floods were disastrous for some.  But for this four year old, the rains were something all together magical.

Glenwood Springs

We hit Glenwood Springs for some R and R last weekend and had a great time.  The horrible rain that plagued the state had let up and it only sprinkled a few times.  The sky was a brilliant blue and the sun was shining, with a slight chill in the air, when we stopped at the hot springs. 

We had a ball...just getting away with no expectations or agenda. 

Some park time....

time to check out new surroundings....

and spending great time with Melanie, who joined us for the weekend!

It was so fabulous to be able to linger over long conversations, although interrupted by excited little people.  Melanie moved to Montrose several months ago so we were long overdue for some quality face time. 

Being away always reminds me how good life is...how good it can be.  We all laughed a lot and unloaded some of the baggage from a long summer we've been carrying around.  We still fell asleep to the kids fighting on the bed they shared and we woke up to fighting too.  But it felt lighter...easier.  I always say it, but I'll say it again: breathing different air every now and again is just good for the soul.   

Us. 

Remember the fighting I referenced?  Yeah...these two are at the epicenter of that.  Luca pulled her right off the cart after this photo was taken.  Look at that smile; I should have known trouble was abrew. 

They loved the gondola. 

I can't believe how much older they look to me!

Melanie and I strolled through town and did some window shopping.  I saw this through a window and loved it. 

V and I listened to music and had a long conversation on the say home.  The kind of conversation that feels like a warm cup of coffee or a great glass of wine...satiating, needed, and totally comforting.  We were able to do this because this happened.  Sleeping kids.

No trip to the mountains is complete without a stop at our beloved candy store.  We filled our bags and jumped back in the car to get home to begin our week.  Refreshed and renewed.