Little Bike Rider

We have progressed from the grassy park to the college campus to the BMX dirt track and river trail in just 3 short weeks. 

These kids are awesome! And would follow Coach Tina anywhere (but she does carry a backpack of snacks and stickers so she's pretty much the coolest in their eyes)!  

Eva told me this week, "I got this Daddy" And she does. This one is fearless! From gymnastics to bike riding, Eva has confidence. Love that about her. Who knew Eva would be my little athlete! 

Hasta...

Easter 2014!

Hasta...

We Have a Two-Wheeler!

Completely on her own, Maia decided to take off her training wheels today. We were getting ready for a bike ride - helmets and such - and when I turned around she had a wrench and was going at them. I gave her the benefit of the doubt but fully expected to bolt the training wheels back on within a matter of minutes. 

In true Maia fashion, she had made up her mind and there was no looking back. She literally got on her bike and took off! WHAT? 
Yep, we went to the grassy park to practice and she just rode away on 2 wheels! We practiced some and then came home to get Magan to document this accomplishment. It crossed my mind that she was just having beginners luck but she replicated the success and just got better with every pass! 

I'm always one proud Daddy when it comes to my girls successes, but this one REALLY surprised me. Of course she fell several times (she even made a sharp right turn and ran straight to to a house in the alley before I could catch her - oops) but she NEVER gave up! She got some scratches and bumps but she got right back on her bike every time and asked for more until I had to force her to give it up for the night (mostly because I'm pretty sure I ran a couple of miles worth of sprints today and am way more tired then she is!). 

Seriously Proud Dad here! I can't believe determined she was to make this happen! (Maybe because Eva is getting really good on her bike too with her lessons and Maia is afraid her little sister's skills are about to pass her up... But I'll take it!). 

Check out the videos. Sorry, you probably need to watch them on an actual computer but pictures of bike riding are not nearly as good as action shots!  

Hasta...

It's Official...

Eva is part of a "mountain biking team".

Hasta...

.

Losing My Mind A Little More Each Day

Today marks the 1 year anniversary since I became a stay-at-home Dad. Some thoughts on the past year:

This past year was not only about a "career change" for me, but a whole life style change for my family. We sold our house and made the big move from Denver to Durango. We didn't know a person here in the Southwest. Didn't know where or if we would find a place to live. Fingers crossed, we made a proposal to Magan's employer to allow her to keep her position and work remotely, (which they accepted). We sold cars. Liquidated possessions. Loaded up the family like The Beverly Hillbillies and headed for the mountains!

Magan has been incredibly supportive through all of this. But she is always ready for a change (I think this secretly made her happy as she has a fear of staying one place too long). She is always telling me to trust that we are exactly where we are supposed to be, exactly when we are supposed to be there. She is also always telling me that 6 months from now all of this will make sense (That applies to everything. Good or bad. Time will work things out, she always says).

Turns out, in this circumstance, she was right. But don't tell her I said so! Looking back now we are exactly where we are supposed to be. Last May it all happened in the same week: we got an offer on our house, Magan's remote position was approved, and we found the perfect house in Durango. It all came together. We lucked into the right house, lucked into the right preschool for Maia, lucked into making some amazing friends, lucked into everything settling into place.

For me, this last year has been a huge lesson in letting go of the control. Although we always joked about me being a stay-at-home parent, I never thought I would actually be one. I had set certain wheels in motion for my career and life-style and was sticking to those ideas. But as things have changed so have my ideas on the direction I'm going and want to continue to go in.

First, a whole new respect for stay-at-home parents. As cliche as it sounds, it really is a full time job. We have made it a point to stay involved in activities around town but even slow days seem to be busy with 2 toddler girls.

My previous salary was not worth what I was missing at home. We are lucky to be a position to have one of us stay home - I know that. I also know that I will not stay home forever but I consider myself lucky to be able to do it for now and spend time with my girls while they are still young. They will be teenagers soon enough and won't want to hang out with me, so I'm soaking up as much as I can now!

This last year has forced me to step outside my comfort zone in several ways. It has been interesting, especially as an adult, to make new friends. It has been an eye opening experience to be included in the stay-at-home mom groups. I have had to learn to really parent girls - Magan is not always around to address their "girl stuff". I had to become comfortable in my new role and fielding questions like, "When are you going back to work?" and "Don't you want to go back to work?" (which I get more then you would expect). The answers are, "I'm not" and "Not right now".

I have found a new passion in bike riding. I consider myself a pretty fit guy but just never had the time to commit to a regular work out or pursue a hobby on a regular basis before. I also have not been on a bike since I was a teenager. But we quickly discovered once we moved to Durango that they kick you out of you don't own a bike and ride it regularly. Seriously, it's a way of life around here. So I got on board. We now park 1 of our cars outside so our 2 car garage can house all of bikes and biking paraphernalia. Magan rides. Both girls have bikes, bike trailers, tag-a-long bikes and are taking mountain biking lessons. It's quickly becoming a problem! And I feel better then I have I years.

I couldn't have predicted or planned for this past year, but as it turns out, it's has been the happiest, most productive year I can remember in a long time. A LOT changed in 1 year and I don't know what this next year has in store for my family, but that is exactly what I am learning. That sometimes not having a plan means there are no expectations. And you end up in a place you could not have planned for but right where you should be. Check in with me this time next year!

Hasta...

Sleepover Shenanigans

Maia hosted her very first sleepover last night. She has slept over at her Denver best friend's, Caroline and Sophia, house many times but she has never had anybody stay at her house. Until she and her Durango bestie, Vivian, planned a surprise ambush on us last night...

We had an awesome dinner with our friends, The Frazier's, and when it was time to go the girls strapped themselves into the car and informed us that Vivian was coming home with us. Why not? It's spring break. We had nothing to do this morning. We were suckers for their sweet demeanor. 
And all was right in the world through a bubble bath, a bedtime treat, a Frozen sing-along and dance party, reading books, getting tucked into bed…

We expected some giggling and some craziness but not party like a frat house until midnight shenanigans. Suckers! 

They girls were exhausted from a day at the ranch: driving the gator, herding dogs, watching the new baby cows play, climbing through the barn, etc. so we assumed they would pass out right away. It all started to go down hill about 11:30. That's when the giggling turned into arguing. At one point we heard Maia tell Vivian, "Get out of my bed. You ruined the opportunity."  Not exactly sure what that was all about but then Vivian fell out of the bed...or was pushed depending on who's version of the story you believe (still some controversy over that one!). 
Magan finally had to go lay with them until they went to sleep. And they slept a solid 6 hours until 6am...
It was everything a sleepover should be: staying up too late, being too tired the next morning, getting annoyed with your best friend because you have spent too much time together! Fun times, right girls??? 
Everybody was back to best friends again this morning. It was necessary to eat breakfast in ALL of the dress up clothes. 
Maia cried when Vivian had to go home. There were some serious sleepover hangovers which made for some serious napping!

 
Vivian is always welcome at our house! BUT we will not be such pushovers for a sweet face next time (next time meaning when they are teenagers!). Thank you for trusting us with your girl Mandie and Jonathan! 



Hasta...

More Dance...

More dance pictures just because she has SO much fun! Look at that beautiful smile!

 

P.S. These two need to work on their selfie poses.

Hasta...