B'Nai Mitvah

Erin and Lawrence celebrated their boys' B'Nai Mitvah last night and it was really a beautiful and special night....and the party was a blast!! I asked the photographer there to get a picture of Noah and Josh with Mia and Luca because these four have grown up together.  It was really meaningful to be a part of this huge day for them and I'm happy we'll all have this memory. They are all at pivotal moments in their childhood and I want to savor that.  When I look at the photo, I can't believe that how grown up all four kids look, and how far we've come.  Most of the pictures are from the photo booth because that was so much fun and hilarious! And I only have ONE photo of me with Erin...and we're wearing super goofy hats in a photo booth!

First Day of 6th Grade and 4th Grade

We can't believe Mia is in 6th grade now...middle school!  She loves it and is trying new things....running track included!  She mastered her locker  and says riding the bus is fun.  We're lucky because the bus picks her up across the street and drops her off after school or on days she has track, after track practice.  All the kids she's grown up with around us ride the bus with her the few miles to the school.  Luca is happy in fourth grade with the same teacher he had last year!  She moved up a grade so that comfort is nice.  He misses having Mia to walk or bike with but he's handling his independence in stride.  

We all went with Mia on orientation and it was so cute seeing me, V, and Luca huddled around her as she carefully decorated her locker with her favorite pictures...of course the animals.  Pip very sadly died the NIGHT before middle school started so it was a bit of a traumatic first day but we're settling into life without our sweet hamster.  RIP Pipsqueak Pellegrino.  

Kids Adventure Games

These two didn't come in first in their division on the Long Course at the Kids Adventure Games in Vail....but they came in second!  Rachel and I have been long time besties and to see our two girls, who adore each other, not only have fun and hang together, but plan, race and win together, was SO special.  Rachel and I spent our time running trails and navigating fun things to do outside....now to see these two.  We just felt like the universe was telling us we did something right all those years ago when we met.  

The Adventure Race is a wildly fun 3.5 mile race on Vail Mountain.  The kids begin by climbing a warp wall and then jumping onto the gondola with a map to navigate a course full of fun obstacles that involve running, biking (yes...there mountain bikes are delivered to the mountain the night before), traversing, ziplining, tubing, ,etc.  All of this is done on a course they've never seen so reading a map is part of the skill involved.  Parents are asked to step aside and let these kids do what they know how to do.  It is SO COOL!

Heidi and Luca were the best sibling support team!

The girls were so happy with their prizes!

Wet, tired, and cold....these two said goodbye so they both could start MIDDLE SCHOOL!