Mason had a great first week of Kindergarten at STEM Launch. Mason is making new friends, seems to enjoy both his new class, his teacher and his after school care.
Lunch is hit or miss, since he is such a picky eater. I tried to check what is on the menu, and I am sure I will have to send him with lunch on the corn dog and turkey wrap days (what kid doesn't eat corn dogs you wonder? well, we found one). I told him he would be having pepperoni pockets today, which he has never had, but they are just like a folded pizza (he loves pepperoni pizza). Today's conversation after school:
C: What did you eat today?
M: Apples and milk
C: Why didn't you have pepperoni pockets?
M: They only had jelly and soy butter sandwiches, I don't like soy butter.
C: they didn't have pepperoni pockets?
M: I want to inform you that they didn't have pepperoni pockets.
C: So you had one apple?
M: I had two apples, a red one and a green one. But then I lost the red one. So I had one apple.
:-)
Bill and I have been adjusting to the new routine - trying to put the kids to bed earlier and out by 7:45 am sharp Mason gets dropped off between 8:00 and 8:05, followed by Audrey in the opposite direction. It is earlier than we were used to with daycare, and we didnt have a set time to be at Gateway.
I'm sure Mason is stimulated at school (getting those wheels turning). He has been sleeping very well at night.
Saturday, August 25, 2012
Tuesday, August 21, 2012
Kindergarten
Mason started kindergarten at the new STEM Launch school on Tuesday. On Monday he went in for a couple of hours for his assessment and today was his first full day. We dropped him off promptly at 8:05 am for this 8:15 start. He gathered with his class and teacher (Mrs. Phoebe Hevers) outside. There was no hesitation or tears, from parents or child. And he had a gray first day and made a couple of friends already.
Mason: I made a new friend today...
Me: Great, what is his name?
Mason: I don't remember. Wait. It rhymes with lake.
Me: Jake?
Mason: No, it starts with a B and rhymes with lake.
Me: Blake?
Mason: Yes, Blake!
Mason: I made a new friend today...
Me: Great, what is his name?
Mason: I don't remember. Wait. It rhymes with lake.
Me: Jake?
Mason: No, it starts with a B and rhymes with lake.
Me: Blake?
Mason: Yes, Blake!
Birthday
My birthday was this past Saturday. For the past few years, I haven't felt any need or desire to celebrate. There are several seasons: 1) my closest friends outside of family don't live in Denver; 2) anything I want for myself, I normally just get it (nothing extravagant, but from clothes to electronic or kitchen gadgets). When my bday comes along, I don't really have anything "gifts" I'm have to have; 3) by August, we have already celebrated Audrey, Mason and Bill's birthdays in the previous months. I don't want to plan another party; 4) unless it is a big birthday, like 40 (coming up), it is just another year.
Even thought I don't need celebration, I normally will take the day off if it falls during the week to have day for myself, read some magazines and to veg. I took Friday off this year, since my bday fell on Saturday, but spent most of the day running to Target and Costco to prepare for Mason's preK party. The other thing is I'd like to sleep in on my birthday, but this year Bill had signed us up for a 5K race. Not only I was up early, I was running.
Bill did sign us up because the race came with a free shirt and personal training session, even if we didn't run. The race was setup by our gym across the street and the trail was around the open space behind our neighborhood, so we didn't have to drive anywhere.
I actually didn't mind the idea of running, since I had been running almost daily and 3.1 miles is not a long run. But since the hike to Grays Peak the Sunday before, I had many blisters on both feet still healing from my bad hiking shoes and my toes were very sore. Until Friday, I wasn't even sure I could wear my running shoes without pain. But we did it, and Bill and Sasha were kind enough to run with me at my pace on my first running race. Not our best run and there was some walking, but all considered, not too bad.
On Saturday afternoon, we had a party for Mason's preschool friends (Jackson, Chloe, Roslyn, Carly and Maddie). All have been together since they were 1. All going to different schools. The kids had a great time playing, while the parents shared kindergarten experiences thus far. We will get the group together again for Halloween.
Even thought I don't need celebration, I normally will take the day off if it falls during the week to have day for myself, read some magazines and to veg. I took Friday off this year, since my bday fell on Saturday, but spent most of the day running to Target and Costco to prepare for Mason's preK party. The other thing is I'd like to sleep in on my birthday, but this year Bill had signed us up for a 5K race. Not only I was up early, I was running.
Bill did sign us up because the race came with a free shirt and personal training session, even if we didn't run. The race was setup by our gym across the street and the trail was around the open space behind our neighborhood, so we didn't have to drive anywhere.
I actually didn't mind the idea of running, since I had been running almost daily and 3.1 miles is not a long run. But since the hike to Grays Peak the Sunday before, I had many blisters on both feet still healing from my bad hiking shoes and my toes were very sore. Until Friday, I wasn't even sure I could wear my running shoes without pain. But we did it, and Bill and Sasha were kind enough to run with me at my pace on my first running race. Not our best run and there was some walking, but all considered, not too bad.
On Saturday afternoon, we had a party for Mason's preschool friends (Jackson, Chloe, Roslyn, Carly and Maddie). All have been together since they were 1. All going to different schools. The kids had a great time playing, while the parents shared kindergarten experiences thus far. We will get the group together again for Halloween.
Thursday, August 16, 2012
Pictures from China
Bill and Mason have been back for more than a month, but we just got the pictures uploaded.
Here is the album:
Here is the album:
Sunday, August 12, 2012
Grays Peak
We just finished hiking to the summit of Grays Peak, 14,270 ft! Grays is Bill's fourth and mine third 14er. It is out first one since having kids and our first hike in a while. 3,000 elevation gain and 7.5 miles round trip, the journey took us close to 8 hours, including many breaks and a snack break up on top. We went with our friends Jef and Michele, and unfortunately Michele didn't make it to the summit. She is in great shape, but all the rocks up on top just freaked her out and she moved slowly up. She stopped and waited for us around 13,600 ft.
The hike up was not hard. We got to thank our workouts and running. I felt great. But about a mile from the bottom, my toes were in excruciating pain, thanks to my old hiking boots. I could not go down very fast in the rocky terrain jamming my toenails into my shoes, and had to walk sideways most of the way down.
Click here to see Michele and Jef's pictures.
The hike up was not hard. We got to thank our workouts and running. I felt great. But about a mile from the bottom, my toes were in excruciating pain, thanks to my old hiking boots. I could not go down very fast in the rocky terrain jamming my toenails into my shoes, and had to walk sideways most of the way down.
More pictures:
Click here to see Michele and Jef's pictures.
Thursday, August 9, 2012
Trip to LA
I was in LA for 4 days for our biannual national sales meetings. I left on Monday morning, feeling guilty about a 3rd trip in a roll, specially as Mason started to show a fever the day before. He has complained about being cold on Sunday morning, and we even teased him about going outside since it was 90 degrees out. After his shower that night, he felt warm to us, measuring at 103 degrees. We felt guilty for not thinking of taking his temperature earlier and more so because he spread his germs earlier at a play date with our neighbors' daughter Megan. We didn't feel any better by his assertion that he felt just fine, no cough, no congestion, no tummy ache.
So as I left, Audrey was at school, but Mason was planted on the couch in front of the TV as my parents watched him. Earlier he has promised not to disturb Daddy during his work day if he could stay at home where he had access to all his toys instead of going to GongGong and Bubu's place. He felt fine, as the Tylenol we gave him in the middle of the night was still keeping the fever down.
I gave my last words of wisdom in the form of "drink plenty of fluids" and "don't let him watch TV all day", "he needs a nap today" even though he normally doesn't take one.
As I made my travel plans before most of my colleagues, I realized over the weekend I would arrive on Monday afternoon before many of them (the ones I need to meet with for work). And as it turns out, my cousin Diana and her husband John had just moved into their new house in Tustin, OC. They were both off on Monday to unpack and start settling in. My company has an office not far from them in OC, the meetings were in the headquarters in Agoura Hills which is more than a hour away with no traffic (not likely in LA). So I decided to take the rest of the day off and head down directly to heir place after I landed in Burbank.
They have a beautiful and new place. However Diana's excitement was damped by the large amount of ants that decided to move in with her. John was more calm about the ant situation and had earlier set traps and splayed the outside perimeter. The verdict after a few hours was more ants had found its way inside attracted by the poisonous ant food. As John explained how the traps were supposed to kill the ants back at their homes after their meal, Diana didn't look convinced. I offered unsolicited advice to get an exterminator, well worth the price in my book to keep pests and insects away.
In between the ant observations, we spent the majority of our times building a Ikea media table. Bill and I had just assembled Audrey's new bed from Ikea on Sunday, so I was well prepared for the 2-hour activity. See the picture of the result below.
Unfortunately I didn't get to see Karen, because the trip down from Pasadena to Tustin requires more than a moments preparation with a 2-year old. I am sure I will be retuning to LA soon. Maybe once it gets a bit cooler. It was HOT this week!
It is Thursday night and I'm glad to be back home and glad to stay put for the next 2 weeks.
So as I left, Audrey was at school, but Mason was planted on the couch in front of the TV as my parents watched him. Earlier he has promised not to disturb Daddy during his work day if he could stay at home where he had access to all his toys instead of going to GongGong and Bubu's place. He felt fine, as the Tylenol we gave him in the middle of the night was still keeping the fever down.
I gave my last words of wisdom in the form of "drink plenty of fluids" and "don't let him watch TV all day", "he needs a nap today" even though he normally doesn't take one.
As I made my travel plans before most of my colleagues, I realized over the weekend I would arrive on Monday afternoon before many of them (the ones I need to meet with for work). And as it turns out, my cousin Diana and her husband John had just moved into their new house in Tustin, OC. They were both off on Monday to unpack and start settling in. My company has an office not far from them in OC, the meetings were in the headquarters in Agoura Hills which is more than a hour away with no traffic (not likely in LA). So I decided to take the rest of the day off and head down directly to heir place after I landed in Burbank.
They have a beautiful and new place. However Diana's excitement was damped by the large amount of ants that decided to move in with her. John was more calm about the ant situation and had earlier set traps and splayed the outside perimeter. The verdict after a few hours was more ants had found its way inside attracted by the poisonous ant food. As John explained how the traps were supposed to kill the ants back at their homes after their meal, Diana didn't look convinced. I offered unsolicited advice to get an exterminator, well worth the price in my book to keep pests and insects away.
In between the ant observations, we spent the majority of our times building a Ikea media table. Bill and I had just assembled Audrey's new bed from Ikea on Sunday, so I was well prepared for the 2-hour activity. See the picture of the result below.
Unfortunately I didn't get to see Karen, because the trip down from Pasadena to Tustin requires more than a moments preparation with a 2-year old. I am sure I will be retuning to LA soon. Maybe once it gets a bit cooler. It was HOT this week!
It is Thursday night and I'm glad to be back home and glad to stay put for the next 2 weeks.
Saturday, August 4, 2012
Manning and the Broncos
Although we liked Tebow and are sad he is no longer with the Broncos, we are excited to have Peyton Manningas our QB! Our friend Eric called and told us the Broncos were running a free scrimmage at the Mile High stadium on Saturday afternoon. We quickly made plans to go.
We got there a little late and the free stadium parking was already full. We parked near the Pepsi center and took a rickshaw to the stadium (mainly because it is a long walk for the kids).
It was hard to find seats and had to sit down with kids on our laps a couple of rows from each other. But both seats were in the shaded area, which was a blessing as we could see the folks seating in the areas without any shade sweating. We were eventually able to spread out as seats became open.
It was great fun. The kids enjoyed it and so did we. Even if the free scrimmage ended up costing us $70 between the rickshaw rides both ways, snacks and parking. Bill complained about the $5 lemonade, but I told him they have to come up with the $90M for Manning somehow.
$5 lemonades are just the start. I got Bill tickets for two upcoming Broncos games for this birthday - last preseason game against the 49ers (3 great seats in section 128) and regular season Raiders games (2 nosebleed seats at half price in section 530). We will contributing to that $90M, hope it is worth it!
We got there a little late and the free stadium parking was already full. We parked near the Pepsi center and took a rickshaw to the stadium (mainly because it is a long walk for the kids).
It was hard to find seats and had to sit down with kids on our laps a couple of rows from each other. But both seats were in the shaded area, which was a blessing as we could see the folks seating in the areas without any shade sweating. We were eventually able to spread out as seats became open.
It was great fun. The kids enjoyed it and so did we. Even if the free scrimmage ended up costing us $70 between the rickshaw rides both ways, snacks and parking. Bill complained about the $5 lemonade, but I told him they have to come up with the $90M for Manning somehow.
$5 lemonades are just the start. I got Bill tickets for two upcoming Broncos games for this birthday - last preseason game against the 49ers (3 great seats in section 128) and regular season Raiders games (2 nosebleed seats at half price in section 530). We will contributing to that $90M, hope it is worth it!
Good eats
I spent most of the week in Las Vegas at a conference. Although the conference was at the Mirage, I was able to get a better rate at the Venetian right across the street. A much nicer suite with access to great restaurants and breakfast and snacks at Bouchon every day.
Back in Denver, we had dinner with our friends Jay and Christy at Fruition (one of the top restaurants in Denver). It was our first time and a great meal!
Back in Denver, we had dinner with our friends Jay and Christy at Fruition (one of the top restaurants in Denver). It was our first time and a great meal!
Wednesday, August 1, 2012
Elitch Gardens
We took Mason and Audrey to Elitch Gardens (Denver's Six Flags park) with both thrill rides and water park. We get a great discount through AAA and Audrey is still free. We went last year when the cousins were in town, but didn't take Audrey. The kids ride area is bigger than we remembered with new rides. We all had a great time and look at the size of the lollies the kids got at the end (Audrey fell asleep holding it about a minute later and Mason didn't finished his either).
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