temple

A new temple was built in Fort Collins and before it is dedicated it is open to the public for tours. I have always wanted to visit and it did not disappoint. It was so beautiful on the inside! 
I have some dear friends who went on the tour with me and answered my many, many questions. We had lunch afterwards and enjoyed a beautiful day together. Feeling quite lucky for this opportunity and these friendships. 

labor day

After closing on Color Me Mine we knew we wouldn’t be able to travel for the holiday weekend. I worked at the store for a lot of the weekend and we were pretty busy on Monday for the holiday. We did sneak away for a little staycation near home. Our family sure does enjoy a hotel stay and swim in a hotel pool. We were only able to get away for one night, but it’s enough to reconnect and refocus. 
Unfortunately Miss Annabelle was not feeling great. She was fighting a terrible chest cold and was really dragging. She took a good nap in the afternoon and still managed a little swim in the pool. She was the first one asleep that night, which NEVER happens. She woke up the next morning back to her self again. I’m glad she was able to relax and get better. I hate when the kiddos are not feeling well. 
After a good night sleep, B went to the Kitchen and I asked the girls if they wanted to go for a swim. They declined and requested breakfast in bed and a movie marathon. Not a bad idea at all! 

color me mine

Gwyneth finally received her birthday gift. She had gift cards just burning a hole in her pocket and couldn’t decide what to do with them. She finally decided she wanted a sewing machine and she got a good one. She’s been sewing every evening and just loves it. I do love seeing this crafty girl in action. 
I finally closed on Color Me Mine at the Orchards. The previous owner wanted to retire and I was ready to start a new adventure. It was a looooong and rather painful process, but now that its finally done and we’re running the store I couldn’t be happier. There is a big ol’ learning curve and I’m figuring it out slowly. The girls are pretty darn happy about it too. 
August 31st we joined the staff for the final inventory count and then took over ownership on September 1st. 
I am blessed to have such a loving, caring and very patient family. I got very lucky in the husband and kiddo department. These peeps sure are good to me. 
We inherited the store in a bit of a mess and spent the first few weeks just trying to get cleaned up. 
There is still a lot of work to be done, but we’re getting there! 
Just a few of the papers that had to be reviewed with my attorneys. This is just my lease. The stacks of papers were endless. I think I had a headache for 3 months straight. 
But the work was worth it and here we are. What more can a gal ask for?

camping

We were on the fence about this camping trip. The forecast called for rain and we didn’t want to spend our weekend in the tent playing Uno (a weekend playing Uno is pretty awesome, but muddy shoes and wet socks are the real bummer). 
We decided to go for it and I’m so glad we did! We packed up the car, picked up the girls,and headed up to Jellystone Park, outside of Estes. We got a great little camp site with a lot of privacy, quite close to restrooms, and the weather held out for us. It sprinkled a bit, but the rest of the weekend was nice and cool and relaxing. 
Who would have thought I would love camping? I’ve never considered myself an outdoors kind of girl, but I’m hooked on camping. I love being in the mountains, the relaxing, the quiet, the lack of cell service, no ipads, no laundry to be done or house to be cleaned, and no emails to be checked. It just makes my heart happy to be with my family and doing absolutely nothing with absolutely no expectations or distractions. We reconnect, laugh, hike, play games, and make some meals and snacks together. It’s really, really good. 
While B set up camp the girls escaped to the arcade for a bit. 
B did all the heavy lifting setting up our camp. He’s good to us. 
B and Gwyneth took dinner duty Friday night. 
Annabelle entertained them with her dancing while they roasted hot dogs. 
After dinner, G and I went for a long walk and explored the camp site. We played mini golf and came up a plan for the next day. That one on one time with the girls is pretty great. 
The next morning we had breakfast and then Annabelle and I went for a little hike. She wanted to check out the horses across the road. 
We wandered a bit and she told me the amazing stories of fourth grade. She can tell a story and she can tell a lot of them. I’m glad she’s a talker and still shares her tales with me. 
Our home away from home for the weekend. 
We decided to sneak away from the campsite for lunch. We went to Villa Tatra a little polish restaurant in the hills that didn’t seem to mind that we were a bit grimy from camping. The polish dishes were authentic and delicious and a nice little break from camping food. 
(I get that we are on a campsite with an arcade, bathrooms, and can sneak away for lunch and that isn’t really “camping” to some. It works for us. We love sleeping in our big ol’ tent outside all together and it’s a good stepping stone for us. So hush!)
We enjoyed some polish brews and the girls had shirley temples. 
And then back to our campsite we went. We set up ladderball and went for more hikes and cruised around in our golf cart. 
How chic is this girl?
Ready to roll
The pavilions hosted a carnival theme and there were games set up for the kiddos. We played for a bit. 
Played a little mini golf
and then went back to our site to roast marshmallows. 
The next morning we were up bright and early for breakfast and to do a little more exploring.
The girls and I hiked around while B packed up our campsite (because he’s an amazing dad and husband and he does that kind of stuff for us and we love him so much!)
The girls picked their favorite spots and asked for pictures. 
And posed themselves and were too stinkin’ cute. 
I love having this quiet time with my family. I feel recharged and reconnected with them and ready for the week ahead.
I also feel very dirty and can’t wait to get home and shower, but it was absolutely beautiful while it lasted! 

trumpet

Nothing like waiting ’til the last minute….
(did you know I am a procrastinator? I have tons of to do lists.  I let them get super long and load them with “due dates”.  Then I wait until the absolute last minute to complete every task. It’s quite deliberate, highly organized, prioritized procrastination….and it drives my husband absolutely mad. I’ve tried to change my ways, but I just can’t. I am who I am and it always gets done…)
So…. the night before band was to begin for Annabelle, I picked the girls up from swimming lessons after school and we headed off to the music store. (yep, we got the band information the last week of school before summer break. now that is some serious procrastination!) Annabelle had tried out many instruments at school and had her heart set on the trumpet. 
We found a great rent to own program where if she decides she doesn’t want to play after a year we can turn the trumpet in for another instrument. Those suckers are expensive. I had no idea what we were getting ourselves into. 
I love that she picked the trumpet. B and I both played as kids; although neither of us remembers much and were both horrible about practicing. 
This was my entertainment as I prepared dinner…

I think she really likes it. 

We found the furthest points in the house – my closet and the basement. With all the doors closed in between you can not hear the practicing. This requires sitting in the closet with the door closed, but something tells me I should get a nice little lounge chair and grab my books. Don’t get me wrong, I love that sweet, sweet sound of practice but converting my closet to a silent little reading nook may just happen….I will put it on my to do list.

first week of school

We survived the first week of school. 
Dance hasn’t started back yet, but the girls were right back in the pool. They stay after school for additional swimming one night a week and this week they were the only ones in the pool. I know that will change – a handful of their friends have already signed up which they are so very excited about, but how lucky to have a big ol’ pool all to themselves today.

This is absolutely not allowed during regular swim sessions, but the teacher let them mess around since it was just the two of them.

The girls both got right back in their groove of homework and reading every night. This was my favorite project from Gwyneth:

Yep, she had to write what her favorite food is and she chose Spaghetti O’s. The girl who orders her NY strip medium rare and her lobster by the pound, chose Spaghetti O’s.

Saturday we went to visit Reagan at the hospital (more about our visit here) and then hosted a kids night out at the Kitchen that evening. The kids enjoyed pizza and we made lots of Minion treats.

We ended the weekend at the pool with their friends from Girl Scouts. Annabelle’s troop had a pretty good turn out, but it was just Gwyneth and her friend Riley. I couldn’t even snap a picture of them because they were too busy going down the slides. 

reagan

As the girls were off to their 2nd day of school and B and I got lost in our work for the day, we received horrifying news from B’s sister. Our niece, Reagan was admitted to Children’s hospital and was diagnosed with B cell Acute Lymphatic Leukemia. There were tests to be run and treatments to discuss, but the day just stood still and everything else seemed to stop around us. 

I wish my response to the news was articulate and eloquent, but it went something like this…”What the F***?!?!” (yeah, my mom reads this, but you know what I said). That’s about all you can say when an eight year old is diagnosed with cancer. A sweet, sassy, strong eight year old that is right between your own girls in age. An eight year old that just started 3rd grade a week ago. An eight year old that lost her grandmother to cancer less than two years ago. 
I picked the girls up from school with tears in my eyes but held it together until we could get home and we could talk. Annabelle got very angry. Gwyenth got very scared and cried. They have heard the words “____ has cancer” far too many times in their short little lives. 
They dove right in to preparing a care package for Reagan with stuffed animals and Madlibs and our whole family went to the hospital to see Reagan and to give her and Jen (B’s sister) big hugs. The very next day she had surgery, a spinal, and started chemo. Life can truly change forever in the blink of an eye.
B went back down on Thursday while the girls were at school and I took the girls again on Saturday. The treatments are taking their toll and Reagan was not feeling great, but oh boy were these gals happy to see each other. The frowns quickly turned to smiles and giggles and then hysterical laughter. As the girls and I were leaving a nurse stopped me and said that their laughter filled the entire floor and there was no greater sound than the giggles of little girls. I very much agreed!

Reagan and her entire family have a tough road ahead; several years of treatments. We are grateful to live close so we can see her often, hug her often, and help where we can. She is home now and the girls have a High School Musical marathon in the works.

I have a heavy-heart for Reagan, for her brother and her parents. I’m sad for our entire family. The past few years have not been the most kind to the Meyers. It has been a tough journey through illnesses and I feel we’re all a little broken. Thank goodness for sweet smiles, big laughs, and even bigger hearts proving you can never have too many monkeys in one bed…

first day of school: 4th and 3rd grade

We had a very full, wonderful summer but no matter how much fun it just seems to go by too quickly. It wasn’t easy and there was definitely bickering and tears (from all three of us!), but I will miss having these girls around and our adventures. 
The alarm went off this morning and Annabelle hopped right out of bed and Gwyneth asked for 5 more minutes. New school year, but some things stay the same (grumpy morning, G!). 
There wasn’t the usual drama, nervousness, anticipation of a new school year. I felt very at ease. The girls were calm too. We are really happy with their school and we have met their teacher and dropped of their supplies. We are prepared.  The girls picked out new backpacks and tennis shoes, but the uniforms take away those new school clothes jitters and planning. They both have their own styles. Annabelle is quite sporty and has some new kangaroos (which were my favorite sneakers when I was her age!). Gwyneth is sparkly from backpack to tennis shoes. 
I’m so proud of my little 3rd and 4th graders and know this is going to be a great year for them! 
4th grade. Wowsers!
3rd grader! The baby is growing up!
getting out the last of those summer wiggles…
Annabelle is obsessed with Emojis right now. She even got some brainy emoji earrings for today! 
Annabelle’s class has swimming today so it is right back in the routine and right back in the pool for them. She had to pack her swim gear and was feeling a bit weighed down. She will be back in her groove in no time. 
I worked frantically while the girls were at school…because, well, that’s what I’ve done all summer. I did my best to take advantage of every minute. To stay productive. To keep on task. To work when necessary. To make the most of my time with my girls. The only pace I seem to know is frantic and honestly, I like the hustle. 
I straightened up the house, worked through lunch and finished my daily “to do list”. Without distractions I was rather amazed at what I could get accomplished. At 1:00 I came upstairs from my office dungeon and saw this…

 No more little swim bags hanging by the door anxiously waiting to go to the pool. No backpacks eager to start school. Just Gwyneth’s little sparkly crocks. Her favorite shows of summer. She has to wear tennis shoes to school so these favorites had to be checked at the door.

And then I got sad. I missed my gals and I felt lonely. I missed the noise in the house. I missed the giggles and the crafts and the endless questions. I’m so proud of the independent, happy people that I’m helping to create, but today I missed them.

 I was nervous about pick up, because I was just so darn excited to see them and hear about their days. In the past, when I pick up they are exhausted and cranky and are typically complaining about something (the joys of being the mom, their comfortable place). Not today, they were all smiles and happiness. I heard things like:

“3rd grade is awesome!”
“This is going to be the best year ever!” 
“I love my teacher!”
“I can’t wait to do my homework!” (What????)
“Want to read a fairy tale with me?”

It made my heart happy and we stopped on the way home for some custard and a little 1st day celebration. I’m so hopeful for this year and what these girls are going to accomplish.

summer break conclusion

I couldn’t be more excited about this weekend! We’ve been ticking off items on our summer bucket list and we saved our favorites for last. We hopped out of bed early to be the first visitors to the Botanic Gardens. It’s one of my absolute favorite places in the city. I adore it! The girls explore and I just take it all in. It’s the most beautiful, peaceful place. 
The Japanese Gardens are my happy place. I could stay there for hours. I feel so good when we are there and the fresh air and beauty of the gardens change my attitude for the rest of the day. I really need to indulge in a membership. 
I love that my girls dressed up for the day. Annabelle doesn’t love dresses much anymore, but she thought our adventures were “dress-worthy”. That’s my girl. 
Off to explore the Children’s garden.
If it’s possible, I think the girls love the gardens as much as I do. 
One of my favorites from our day
The Japanese Gardens: my happy place! 
Honestly, how gorgeous is this place?
We had a birthday party booked at the Kitchen, so B went back to the burbs and the girls and I stayed downtown for some swim time on the roof of our hotel. I didn’t join them in the pool this time, but they had a grand time. 
B made it back just in time for dinner. We had saved up gift cards and had a wonderfully indulgent meal at Morton’s. It’s a family favorite and it’s always funny to watch the girls order french onion soup, steak (medium-rate) and lobster cocktails. The servers faces always seem a bit shocked at their palettes, but we couldn’t be more proud. We’re raising some little foodies around here. 
After dinner we walked across the street to listen to the music playing at Union Station. 
It’s rocking over there these days — since they updated the area.
The fountains were going and the girls wanted to dip their toes in…
that quickly progessed to getting soaked. They were laughing wildly and Annabelle told me “this is a night I will never forget!”. Gwyneth promptly put her hand to my forehead and asked me if I had a fever because she couldn’t believe I let them get soaked in their fancy dresses. Always the jokester. 
Our last day of summer break and we filled it with fun! 
The girls up ready to conquer the day and asked for a morning swim. 
We headed to the rooftop while B got them breakfast. We had the pool all to ourselves and I even joined them for a swim. The view was amazing and the water was nice and warm. Excellent start to the day. 
After our swim, we grabbed lunch at Mellow Mushroom. 
Looking fancy. 
And life as we know it…
Our final stop was at the Art Museum. Another of our favs. 
The interactive studios are the best. The girls got to paint with their hands…
And made a movie together…
And we explored and danced and sat on the moon…

It was great ending to the summer. Now time to pack up those backpacks and set the alarms. 3rd and 4th grade start bright and early tomorrow morning!

tea and bridging ceremony

Our last Friday of summer break. School starts on Monday. 
I’m not gonna lie. I’m not in a rush for school to start. I love my time with these girls. I won’t lie – it wasn’t always rainbows and unicorns, but we had our fun and I’ve enjoyed making our rules and schedules and doing things our way. We ditched bedtimes and the girls slept in. I am not a care-free momma who goes with the flow, but I was definitely more relaxed and everyone was happier for it. 
I’m so grateful for yet another fun summer.

We went for a mother daughter tea at Wildflowers Cafe. I love how the girls are learning to try new teas and foods. They don’t love it all, but they are always willing to give it a shot.

Tonight was a big night for Miss Ananbelle. She bridged from Brownies to Juniors. It was a really special night for her and she was so very proud. We had a wonderful ceremony and celebration for the girls and I love forward to many more adventures with this group in the coming year.