Spring Break - Day 1

So fun starting out our spring break today with a run and hike at Red Rocks, followed by ice cream (let's be real here).  We love staycations. 

Having a tween is so fun because she'll let me take pictures of her.  Luca is not a fan of the camera really so I have to rely on Mia to let me play with portraits. 

Beautiful light today, which makes for fun shadows. 

Turns out this out take is one of my favorites.  

High Flyer

Mia won an award at school called "High Flyer".  Her teacher e-mailed us several weeks ago to let us know that she had been chosen as one of the handful of kids this year to be recognized for her academic achievements and leadership in school.  We had to keep it a secret for two weeks and then surprised her at the ceremony on Friday.  Vince couldn't come because he was taking his mom to VA but he was there in spirit. It was really really special and hearing some of the things her teacher announced about her made me get teary.  He said that she is an advocate for herself and others and that when he had to think of one word to describe her, he thought of "opportunity"....because she seeks them out or creates them.  As a woman, watching a young girl hear these things being said about her, I felt immeasurable gratitude.  I commented to Mia later that I was happy he didn't say "sweet" and "thoughtful", or any of the other qualities that are often pushed onto women.  When I said this to Mia she laughed and said, "Mom, he didn't say that because I am more than that".  Watch out world. 

Skiing

We plan to ski a few more times this spring but then we'll close out the season and await summer.  We'll miss this until next winter.  

I am more than willing to take pictures of Luca speeding down the mountain, but when he sees me with a camera, he groans.  Mia is a willing subject still.  That is why there are so many photos of her!

THIS is one reason why I love to be on the mountain with the kids and V.  It just doesn't get much prettier.  

Mia is such a pretty skier these days.  She is happy on the bumps and I know my days of being able to keep up with her are numbered.  

February

 February went by in a flash.  Our winter has been so so nice....a lot of hunkering together in the house.  The kids skied this winter on the weekends but didn't have an after school sport during the week and we loved having the time together.  Evenings have been all about dinner and hanging out.  Having an aging dog we adore has kept us all close to home and the comforts we crave. 

 Valentine's Day is of course something we recognize.  The day reminds me of so much I have to be grateful for....and my dad is always near my heart and mind.  We celebrated by going out to dinner with my mom at a fun burger place.

 Mia loves to paint and this picture was inspired by the Olympics, which we watched religiously.  She wrote the date as 2017 and then said, "Mom!  I wrote the wrong date!"  She has developed such a love for skiing and this is an action self portrait. 

I just love this photo and pulled it out again on Feb. 16th, the 11th anniversary of my dad's death.  Man I was lucky.  

February in Colorado.  Several family track days.  This weather has been amazing, and confusing.  

No winter weekend is complete without some kind of sweet treat.  

Melanie has moved back up to the Western Slope!  We'll be visiting her this summer and hitting Telluride again hopefully.  

Another of Mia's great pieces of art.  We adore this one, and have hung it in the dining room.   A portrait of our poodle.