New Favorite Image

Mia took this on the train from NYC to Boston.  She took it on her ipad and I simply love it.  Mia is great with photos and editing.  She said this picture was actually a mistake but she loves how it turned out.  Me too dear girl, me too.  

My girl...queen of the selfie

I love finding sweet selfies on my phone that Mia has taken.  She has fast become the self proclaimed, "Queen of the Selfie".

Love this one!  

Christmas!

Mom gave me the Nativity set that I grew up with.  My grandmother painted this set many years ago, and it was a staple in my home growing up at Christmas time.  It was fun to set up this year and watch Mia and Luca sit by it and move the figures around, just as I did as a little girl.  

I love the beauty leading up to Christmas.  In fact, that's my favorite part.  I don't really love all of the food, parties, presents, and hassle.  But I do love the quiet cold nights and the twinkling lights.  I snapped this photo driving to my yoga class one night.  I take back roads, and they were snow covered.  It was a freezing night and I pulled over to get a picture of one of my favorite house all sparkly and magical.  I just wanted to remember this moment.  

It isn't Christmas without making a gingerbread house.  Mia worked hard!  Luca made one too but was more excited to take it out back to smash it.  That was a highlight for him.  

Christmas morning was so nice at home with the kids and V.  It was relaxed and fun.  We then met up with everyone at my Mom's for a big family dinner.  

Nana gave Luca a Bronco scarf and Monica gave him a Peyton Manning bobble head.  He was in heaven!

The three littlest cousins after a game of "Pass the Pig" which is always a huge hit.  Luca is wearing his new Odell Beckham jersey.  

December

Stacy was in town for a bit and we had such a nice time catching up.  When you're with girls who have known you since 14 years old, it's hard not to feel like you're home when you're with them.  

V took Mia to see the Moscow Ballet again this year.  It was a snowy afternoon and I love the image of them in a theater together.  

We had an unexpected snow day a few weeks ago and the kids and I had fun.  We made gingerbread poodles and other treats.  These were Mia's creation.  That girl loves the kitchen.  

Lots of games of checkers on that snow day.  Luca has become the master of this game.  

I took my sweet students to the museum and I took this selfie of us on the bus.  We grow to be so tight throughout the school year.  I tell my students often, "We may not be blood....but we're family."  

A very fun visit from dear Sarah!  She had just returned from hiking the Alps AND the Camino trail (she's my hero!) and was stopping in Denver on her way to Montana.  We got caught up over wine and could have talked 10 more hours.  When we studied abroad together, we grew to be kindred for life.  We slept next to each other on little twin beds in Italy and would whisper long into the night back and forth about what we wanted to be when we graduated from college.  We talked about our deepest fears, our highest hopes.  We shared so much during that time and have just grown closer over the past 20 years.

I have been feeling very grateful lately about the friends in my life.  Either I have chosen wisely or I am damn lucky.  All of the people whom I call my dearest are wise, compassionate, giving, understanding, smart, and fully supportive of me.  What makes me marvel is how much they value me as well; they are willing to trust me with their needs.  It is an honor to have friends and to be a friend.  

Mia's sweet Brownie troop at a really cool event down at Children's Hospital.  The girls packed bags of basic medical supplies for children all around the world in developing countries who have no access to toe nail clippers, band aids, or rubbing alcohol.  I love actually teaching young children how to be active participants in their lives, as well as the lives all around them.  

Stumbled across this gem.  Me, circa 1977.  Mia saw it and said, "Mom?  Is that me?  OMG...this is YOU.  YOU look exactly like ME!"  

V took Luca on a solo date to the Nuggets game.  Dipping dots, great seats, and hoops.  Doesn't get much better.  

Fall

My girls.  

Mia wrote this piece and it sums up how we feel about fall.  

Crafty Friends

Melanie has been making some beautiful wall hangings and table boxes and sold at her first craft fair this past weekend.  Mia and went to check it out!  Here is one of her pieces.  

And this beautiful box full of tiny inspirational quotes.

So fun to have crafty friends.  

We ran into Amy and Maddie too!  Great weekend!

Halloween 2015

A gorgeous Halloween day this year.  The anticipation is high, as always.  

Luca had a soccer game this afternoon and Mom joined us....on her birthday!  I love that my family is so supportive and we rally for each other when we can.  I'll miss these days.  

Luca's pumpkin

This one is one of Mia's.  The dry ice was new for us and pretty cool!

Some photos just melt you right away.  The moment I took this one, I just knew it would be one that bring me to tears when this kid is older and on his own.  He was happy today, and so excited to dress as a soccer player.  He is confident, and so proud of his great assets....one of which is being a great athlete.  

Mia is a cat this year.  She had another idea, with a costume she put together, but at the last minute, she decided she wanted to be a cat.  I told her to pull it all together herself and....not shockingly....she did.  She even had a You Tube video of the make up she wanted me to apply.  

Gilligan and a cowgirl

Mia and her bestie.  These two girls are so great.  

All of us at a neighborhood bonfire before the big event of trick or treating.  

A season to remember...

This was a season to remember for sure.  They boys figured it out this season.  Passing, Defense.  And ball skills.  I can confidently say these kids are soccer players.  

Throw Back Thursday

We LOVE to look through all of our photos.  I have archived photos for over a decade, carefully uploading and putting photos into folders by month for each year.  I often find the kids on the computer in a quiet moment looking back through a memory.

I did just that last night.  I gave myself permission to just sift through years of photos.  I found myself audibly gasping at how tiny the kids appear, or calling V over to remind him of a trip or a moment.  I kept commenting that we all look so young, but I know that in ten more years, I'll be saying the same thing about us now.

Here are two sweet moments...

February 2011.  Tulum Mexico.  I remember this vividly.  It was essentially beach camping for a week.  We love "eco-chic", because it means beautifully done but affordable and.....camping with a twist.  We were covered in sand and oh so happy.  

July 2011.  Backyard.  After sifting through hundreds upon hundreds of photos, this one just jumped out at me.  There are so many of Luca....that grin.  That doggy that he dragged around until this year.  He's such a playful spirit, always wanting to engage physically.  This is how he interacts with the world - with his hands, through his voice, through touch.  

She's 9!

Mia had a great birthday weekend!  I joined her and her friends at school for lunch on Friday to celebrate.  Her birthday was today, Sunday, so we started the party a few days early.  It's always so cute to listen to the kids together.  

She chose to have a sleepover with a handful of girls and did all of the decorating and planning herself.  

Gumball center piece with a number 9 sparkler candle.  

Ice Cream Sundae bar....

with tons of toppings. 

Pizza dinner....

followed by swimming.  

I screamed when I lit the sparkler because I didn't realize it would REALLY sparkle.  Mia said, "Easy Mom.  Haven't you ever done this before?"  After dessert, the girls watched a movie and finally asleep around 11:30.  

Her day was super special and I can't believe she's 9.  October 18th may be her birthday, but it's a day I got incredibly lucky too.  A part of me was born on that day, and I'm eternally grateful.
Happy Birthday Mia!!