Pop Rocks Baby!

My coworker, Kristina, is the very best at spoiling my kids with sugary goodness.  Every kid needs "that person" in their lives right?  She gifts Dude with green gummy bears (his favorite color) every time he pops into the office.  And just recently she introduced him to Pop Rocks.  Come on....when's the last time you opened a package of Pop Rocks?  I giggled along with my son as we let these slightly disturbing little morsels "explode our brains."  The fam went to a work-related event a couple weeks ago and Miss Kristina had 3 additional packages waiting for him. 

See below for footage that had me smiling this morning as I happened upon it.  This magical candy deemed my son speechless.  And we all know how often THAT happens.  Even Squirt was eating them out of my palm like a little horse. 

Oh Lovely Days

This past looooong weekend was bliss here in the Mile High City.  Perfect hiking, biking, picnicking, swing set building, walk taking, grill out conditions.  So we took full advantage.  Saturday Tim busted his bootie on making our partially built swing set and fort less of a safety hazard, the kids frolicked around the yard, Riley came over to keep our children entertained and we ended the day picnicking with some of our lovely neighbor palios at Hudson Gardens. 

Sunday we ventured South (instead of West like we normally do) to a huge canyon near Castle Rock.  It was a relatively easy hike (meaning Dude only whined for the last 50 feet) and was a reminder of the beauty that surrounds us so close to home.  Squirt isn't exactly at a hiking age, but she stayed happyish in the backpack.  Sunday night we had friends over for pizza, totaling 7 little girls and Dude.  Some day he might object to the raging estrogen surrounding him, but he was cool with the company that night. 

 

He proceeded to hold this friendly caterpillar, which was a big feat for the Dude.  He doesn't trust insects generally speaking, so we've been working on incorporating the cute, fuzzy ones in first. 

The large boulders and water did NOT make for the best conditions for Squirt.  She has no fear, so these objects of nature posed threats everywhere she turned.  And she was NOT happy with being constrained. 

 This is actually a scream of frustration you're seeing on her face.  But looks like a cute smile huh?

 5 of the 7 lady friends, chowing on chocolaty goodness. 

Monday was cabin day. It was cool enough for a non sweat inducing hike but warm enough to be comfortable in a t-shirt. My perfect medium. And I'm a weather snob, so that's saying a whole lot. The kids LOVED every minute of the great mountainy outdoors. Squirt played with rocks and dirt, ran around chasing Sammy the dog, took a good nap, ate everything she could get her chubby hands on, charmed everyone around her and opened and closed the cabin door all day. Dude practiced T-ball, jumped around in Sue's pick up truck, played squirt guns, knocked down a dead tree with Dad, hung out on the swing set and meowed at Payton's new kitten.  I loved watching them so content with very few toys to keep them occupied. Just God's natural playground.
  

 My Dude.  Sure does love him a swing set.

 The water bin provided ammunition for the squirt guns and watery bliss for Squirt.

Sweet, sweet punky girl.

 The aforementioned tree that Dude and Dad knocked down.  See video above  for proof.

 The most darling

 duo

 ever.

 We celebrated Cohen's 2nd birthday that day.  Payton had just had a bday too.

 After this hour long pick up truck play time, Dude changed his tune from wanting a bus to wanting a pick up truck.  Because "We can still pick up my friends in it.  They can sit in the back."

Uncle Bradley.  Quite the charmed.  She hauls out her most coy smile when he's around.

This Dudette

I heart her....a lot and a lot and a lot.

This Dude

I heart him.....a lot and a lot and a lot.

Announcing our Official Kindergartner Dude

Our little man is no longer a pre-schooler.  He's entered the realm of being a real schooler now.  This Mom was a little weepy Friday as I dropped him off for the last time and said goodbye to his school home for the past two years.  He learned a whole lot, sang a whole lot, giggled a whole lot, played a whole lot, discovered a whole lot, praised God a whole lot...  Its been a perfect fit for him and we hope and pray that his next school will be the same.  

Dude and I constructed some balloon cards for his classmates and wrote good bye messages on the balloons.  Thanks to Pinterest for the inspiration (and the rockin' templates I downloaded).

Our teacher gifts.  Again, thank you Pinterest.

We were serenaded with some songs...Dude gets nervous performing, so naturally, he was the goofy one.  See the beginning of the video below. 

Miss Allison stepped in mid-year after our wonderful Mrs. Williams went on sick leave (I won't get into the nasty politics involved in that one).  She loved our Dude and earned his and our approval immediately.

Miss Kristin was the teacher's aid and was fantastic.  We were blessed to have them both in charge of our little man on Mon, Wed and Fri. 

They also charmed us with their "Toody Ta Ta" song, which we've been singing ever since. This was Dude's happy place, as you see below.

 

Following the graduation festivities in the classroom, we headed to the park to celebrate with Mrs. Williams.  The kids were SOOOOOO excited to see her.  She has a way with kids like you've never seen before.  We're sad that we weren't able to finish the year under her natural talent for teaching God's word to little dudes and dudettes.  She definitely has a gift.

Happy Pre-K graduation to our smart, witty, handsome, charming, sweet little dude.  We're so very proud of you.