legwarmers

Kristin told me about her friend, Tina, who makes these adorable legwarmers. They have been a life saver for us as most of Cookie's pants won't fit over her cast. here they are modeled by the big girl.


http://www.lizardlegsbaby.spaces.live.com/

and the little girl.

thanks Tina!

just because

RED tulips are my favorite flowers. D is my favorite guy. I think these were on clearance at the grocery-- but it so counts as romance.

Denver Day

We spent Friday at the Colorado History Museum.

M and C trying out some pioneer cooking. (yes that is how cookie walks with that darn cast).

trying out a hole in the cliff dwelling exhibit

cave paintings

Next we visited the Mollie Brown House and learned about life in the Victorian Era. Those hats were our favorite part!

list

1. finish my book
2. learn some painting technique
3. have a kentucky Derby party
4. Read 6 books
5. knit a hat with my new pattern
6. renew my teaching license
7. ride a horse
8. ice skate with M
9. sing in public
10. volunteer my time
11. plan 4 romantic dates with D
12. Read a book everyday to C
13. organize my paperwork- get new system
14. Post that box of stuff on Craigs list
15. Write a letter on Sundays
16. make a big picture plan with D
17. capture some memories of his mom for D to keep
18. learn to take a good picture
19. get a new camera
20. ride my mountain bike on a trail
21. dance with D
22. Dance in the rain with the girls
23. pick people over tasks
24. read my Bible
25. camp in the backyard ( maybe not the whole night)
26. decorate guest room
27. finishe project lists
28. take some violin lessons
29. go bird watching
30. climb another fourteener
31. celebrate my sister's birthday with her- it's a big one.
32. decide that I don't have to always be right
33. start my masters
34. plant a tree
35. stick to our budget

the big girl

Here are the new glasses. She loves wearing them and they really look good. It has helped a ton with school. I have loved doing the homeschool thing with the big girl. I have learned a ton of stuff with her and about her. It has been a precious time for us. Right now we are learning about the middle ages. She made a fantastic game called "midieval quest" that is a lot like chutes and ladders with trivia about the middle ages. Pretty good. She is working with decimals and fractions in Math. I am thinking that she needs to do a research project this fall. We are getting ready to start Colorado History. her favorite subject is writing and she has really improved. We just adopted a brand new daily schedule which has helped a ton with organization etc.

Here is our soccer star in 2003. I love this photo.

we miss you daddy

D- when you work, we miss you. We have fun doing girl stuff, but we miss you. While you were slaving away at work on New Year's Eve, we were having a slumber party in the living room. We did each other's nails and drank sparkling cider while we watched the Disney New Year's shows. fun, but better with you.

We also took advantage of a warmish evening to go to the electric safari at the zoo. Cookie had never been to a zoo and loved seeing the animals. We missed you. I know how much you would like to have giraffes eat out of your hand. we will have to go back with you, D.

One morning we met our dear friends, Cole, Sara and Mya at McDonalds for pancakes. I am blessed to have Sara in my life and Maya adores having Cole for a friend. They get along so well, spilled oj and all. We were so excited to meet Mya.. we have waited and prayed for her ages. It was great to see her smile...well, not in the first picture.
Here is the smile. (She is SO worth the wait)

Daddy, cookie is not a baby anymore. She runs and slides all by herself. We are ready for you to get off work again so we can play with you. We love you.

the foot

This is where we started two years ago. Little cookie had a club foot. When this picture was taken, I was in denial thinking that her legs had just been twisted in utero. Right after this picture was taken we met Liz our physical therapist. We began a treatment plan to correct what I learned was a club foot birth defect.

The road with Club foot has been rocky. I was admiring those precious toes just this morning with cookie on my lap. Clearly, the right foot still curves a little to toward the center. After all that work to straighten it out, it is so much better, but has lost some ground from where we were last year. Today we re-started Physical Therapy. they are hoping to straighten the foot out some more through a series of casts. this first one, is a brutal blow to a very active girl. She calls it her

"ow-wee". Incidently, she is the one who asked for "pup-le" as it is the only color she can say.

We plan to tell nosey people that she is a stunt skier who takes too many risks. My precious little cookie is having a very hard night with her cast.

Heavenly Father.. Please heel this precious foot. I know you are able. I am amazed at how far you have brought us. This club foot doesn't compare to what other parents may be dealing with for their precious ones--We see sad situations at therapy when we go. Even though it may not be a worst case situation- it is a hardship for her. Lord I ask you for healing for this foot. give me wisdom to be a good mom for her and meet her needs. Thank you for all your blessings. amen

shoes and shows

I like this outfit. panties and boots. these pink boots have sequins, glitter, rhinestones, princesses, fur and they light up. She begged for these at Sears and they were on clearance ( probably no other mothers wanted their daughters wearing them).

love the shoes from steph for the birthday... they are a big hit. I have to hide them when it is time to leave the house as they are not snow-appropriate. It is a hoot to see her walk in them on the wood floor.

Just had to include this face-- does she ever NOT have cookies on her face? I think the key to her being so thin ( she is the 5th percentile) is that all the food just goes on her face and is not actually ingested... maybe I should try that.

Ah friends! We miss you guys. I think they must have played in the make- up. Frankly I don't like how old they look in this photo ( but they do look pretty- with or without the makeup).

A show. It seems that my daughter likes to ham it up in front of an audience. I have no idea where she gets that. this was the last of the "neighbor shows" before they moved-- a karaoke extravaganza. good times.

cookie and the stool

" Cookie, let's get a picture of you sitting on your little stool. " "Wait, that one was a little blurry.. let's try another... smile!"

"ok, nice smile, but you have cookies on your face.. let me get that.. ok one more time."

" good, clean face, but can you lean back a little... you look wierdo"

"oops, not that far back.. are you ok?"

Note: no babies were injured in the filming of this comic strip. she is a tough little cookie.