pikes peak!

What a fun weekend for Tony and me!  After talking about the Pikes Peak Marathon for over a year... the day finally came!  Tony first heard about the race after reading some book by a runner who said the Pikes Peak Marathon was the hardest marathon he has ever done.  So, this makes Tony want to do it.  And of course, it helped that our good friends, Katie and Josh, live next door to this mountain... perfect opportunity for a visit too! 

start

So after months of hill workouts at the State Hospital trails and on the hill in our basement (setting the treadmill at a 11% grade), Tony got his chance to run up and down Pikes Peak.  And he did it super fast!  He was hoping for under 6 hours, and had a dream time of 5 hours.  Well, he finished in 4:46... taking 15th place out of 800!  And was only beat by one other "flatlander" (someone from a flat state). 

Also, while in the Colorado we went white water rafting on the Arkansas River (no pictures, the camera would not have survived).  That was a blast!  Paddling, hanging on, and enjoying the views!  And we didn't fall out.  And we did a little 6 mile hike...  

The rest of the time, we just hung out and relaxed, went out to eat, and played cards or a new dice game we learned called Farkle. 

 

Swirl Wine Bar

Adams Mountain Cafe

stuck!

Oh no! 

Evan decided this morning that he wanted to play with his stuffed friends in his crib.  So, I helped him back into the crib to play (something I don't typically do).  I sneaked across the hall to change my clothes, when I heard him yell, "Mommy!  My leg hurts!".  I go in... and his right leg and knee have gotten into the space between two bars.  Ugh!  Ok!  So, since it got through there, I should be able to pull it back out, right?  Not quite.  I gave it a few pulls and wiggles, and it didn't do anything except make Evan cry louder and make the knee more swollen.   Tony was at work.  So I called the neighbors for advice (even though, I figured a saw was going to be needed).  They came right over, and sawed through a bar while I comforted Evan.  Afterwards, he was a bit stunned, but was over it pretty quick. 

fancy ride

We're busy... so not taking the time to write much lately.  Evan said something cute yesterday, so thought I'd write it down while I had a minute (probably only 1 minute, because he should be awake from his nap soon).  We were at Oleson's grocery store, after he had asked to go there.  He likes riding in the car carts!  He's going along driving, and twice when the cart was stopped he got out, came over by me, and wanted me to inside of the car while saying "its fancy in there". 

Another cute thing... today at lunch Tony and Evan got on this back and forth game where one says " something juice" and the other repeats but with a different something.  I need to get this on video.  But it goes something like this...

Tony - Car juice
Evan - Truck juice
Tony - Tractor juice
Evan - Trailer juice
Tony - Grass juice
Evan - Outside juice

It went on for awhile, to the point where Evan could barely get this words out cause he was laughing so hard!  We were too!  How fun!

on the path to independence

"I want to do it." 

I've been hearing this a lot lately.  Evan is wanting to do things by himself.  This evening, he wanted to use the bathroom by himself.   After a month of being potty trained, he did not want my help this time.  I watched him go into the bathroom, tell me to "stay out there", close the door, move his stool closer to the toliet, lots of heavy breathing and grunting as he was getting his pants down and climbing on the stool, and then... toliet flush, and more grunting as he tried to get his little self down from the toliet. 

I was on the other side of the door, enjoying thinking that he is becoming more independent each day.  Not that I want him to stop needing me.  I like how he needs to play with him, hold him, and kiss his owies.  A small part of me even felt special when he cried when I brought him to school today.  Normally, he is fine going to school and most days isn't ready to leave when I pick him up.  But, today he didn't want me to leave.  

I just think its an amazing process to watch your baby changing from the screaming infant to a toddler who askes for things with "please" 50% of the time, and wants to do things for himself.  Sometimes I will help with something, like opening a door... but he wanted to do it.  So I have to close the door, and let him do it.  I'm learning to let him do things and hope to remain in the moment when watching him with his independence milestones.  Because once he can 'do something' that is one step closer to him being an adult.  Something I know will come sooner than I wish.