Summer 2013 Recap

Trip to Colorado:
In June we went back to Denver and Boulder for the first time since we moved at end of December 2011, and for the first time since Henry was born!  The last time I was in Colorado, I was 30 weeks pregnant!
Going back with Henry was wonderful because it was great to see so many friends and familiar places, but it was also a challenge to try and fit everything in that we wanted to do, while traveling with a 15 month old.  Also adding to the challenge was the fact that a day after we got to Denver Henry came down with a fever that he had for three days, so he was not himself and had a very hard time sleeping during our trip AND the first four days of the trip (that was a little over a week total) LJ was attending the ASHRAE (engineering) conference so I was on my own with Henry and trapped in our hotel room when he was napping.  Actually I was trapped in the same bed with him while he was napping ON ME because he wasn't feeling well and wouldn't sleep without me holding him.  =/
Other than that, it was wonderful to get back to Colorado and see so many of our wonderful friends, former co-workers and colleagues, and visit our old stomping grounds.  Even though our hotel was luxurious (and paid for by LJ's employer! yay!) we discovered it's much easier to stay in a house or condo when traveling with a baby, because then when they are asleep, at least you can be in another room and hang out!  Once the conference was over we spent a night with friends in Wash Park (Denver) and things went much better.  After the first five days in Denver we went up to Boulder and spent the rest of the time there with our dear friends Eva and Ken who have a son who was 19 months in June, which made life so much easier, and more fun for Henry! We also got to see many of our other Boulder friends including our former house-mates Rob and Dale (and their two little girls) and Arpita and Karl (and their little boy).  The last day of our trip we had a great picnic at a park in north Boulder and many of LJ's grad school friends came to that, so that was a really wonderful way to end a great trip.  I hope we can go back soon!

6.23.13 - Trip to Vine Street Pub... which only lasted about 10 minutes because I realized I had the car keys and LJ was still at his conference and needed to meet us.  So... we walked back towards him to Steuben's! 

6.23.13- At Stueben's with Morgs! 

6.23.13 - At Stueben's with Henry!  The last time he was here he was in my belly! 

Hanging out at our rooftop pool at the hotel.  Thanks Trane! 

Happy hour at Earl's downtown with Joe and Mary! 

Visiting Good Shepherd and seeing my old principle, Mary B! 

Lunch with Monica at True Food in Cherry Creek

Henry loved watching the cars and people walk up 16th st mall from our hotel room

Henry hanging with Joe at happy hour at Earls.

6.26.13 -Some of my old GS students!  They are so grown up now!  

6.26.13- Lovely family picnic at the Denver Botanic Gardens with GS families

6.27.13- Our old apartment in Denver! 

6.28.13- pool time with great girlfriends in Boulder! 

Family pool time in Boulder! 

6.28.13- Happy hour at Next Door in Boulder

With Margaret at happy hour at Next Door! 

Arpita and Karl at Next Door! 

I miss seeing the flatirons everyday 

6.29.13- fun picnic with Rob and Dale and their girls

6.29.13 - a little hike in Chautauqua with my boys 

6.29.13 - hiking in Chautauqua

6.29.13 - happy Henry hiking in Chautauqua 

Chautauqua hike

Hanging at Chautuaqua

Family of three now at Chautauqua! 

6.29.13 - Boulder farmer's market - my favorite! 

At the Boulder farmer's market 

Our old Wednesday evening and Saturday morning tradition - the Boulder farmer's market - now doing it as a family of three! 

6.29.13 - Family hike in Chautauqua.

I'm back

Hello!  After a long hiatus on the blog I am back!  I know I said this before, but I'm going to *try* to do a better job at updating you on what's going on in our lives and what Henry is up too.  SO much has happened for him since I last wrote a real post on how much he's grown and what he's been up to.  A brief run -down:  Henry is 18 months!  He is trying to talk and has a collection of words he likes to use, but he is learning more every day.  He is 23 lbs and 31.18 inches.  I'll have to find his stats from his 18 month check up to see his percentiles, but he is growing!  He loves to play at the park and loves to be outside.  He is becoming more and more physically daring and goes down the twisty slide all by himself!
We spent much of this summer traveling and getting the chance to have some really fun experiences as a family, so I'll try to give you a recap on all of  that too.

So far this fall has been lovely.  We have had beautiful weather, and our schedules have slowed down a little bit as we've been cutting back on taking trips.  Our life is falling back into a predictable pattern, which is nice.  I kind of love back to school time and the rhythms of the fall.  =) 

Here's a little taste of some Henry cuteness, but don't worry, more is sure to come!

9.21.13 - loving the slide in the park

9.21.13 - sliding is his favorite. 

Father's Day

This year we had a lovely and relaxing Father's Day in La Crosse.  Last year we were in Michigan City, IN for my family reunion, so it was nice for LJ to celebrate his second Father's Day at home.  It was a gloriously beautiful day out!  We went to church as a family and then to lunch with my parents.  After lunch we went for a lovely walk in Riverside Park and on a family bike ride with Henry in the Burley.  We ended the day with  dinner at my parents house.  I am so grateful that Henry has such an amazing Dad, and that I married LJ, who is a wonderful father and husband.  We love him!  =) 

6.16.13 - Happy Father's Day LJ! 

Two peas in a pod - Henry and Grandpa! 

Henry LOVES my Dad! 

6.16.13 - Father's Day in Riverside Park.

6.16.13 - Father's Day

Me and my Dad. 

29

On May 14, 2013 I turned 29.  I've started my thirtieth year of life, and am in my last year of my twenties.  And guess what?  I like it.  I didn't really think that much about turning 29 until I was visiting with a friend in Boulder on our recent trip to Colorado.  My friend is also 29, and getting married a few months before she turns 30.  She asked me if I have a "30 before 30 list" or anything major I feel like I need to do before I turn 30.  I was a little surprised, because when you put it like that, it makes it seem like you need to accomplish something BIG before you turn 30, or that once you turn 30 you are no longer capable of doing certain things?  I'm not sure, but I hadn't really thought much about it.  Truth be told, the one thing on my "bucket list" is completing a half marathon.  I'd like to do it before I turn 30 or before we hopefully have another kid, so whichever of those things comes first.  OR I could always do it after I turn 30, and have another kid. =) Being on the cusp of a new decade doesn't seem like that much of a big deal (maybe I'll feel differently next year), but I've always felt that 30 is such a great age.  

Your twenties are filled with so much growing and changing and so many exciting life events.  I feel like once people are in their thirties they start to slow down a little bit, tend to stay in one place for a little longer, and just enjoy where there are in life.  (At least that is my perception.)  I already feel like I've taken steps towards that new decade, and started part of that journey.  Having Henry, moving back to the Mid-west, and buying a house were all major changes, but changes that have made LJ and I more rooted in our community and our life together.  We are no longer traveling all over the West together, and I am ok with that.  I think this time in our lives is about enjoying our little family together.  I hope that once our family is a little older, then we can run all over the West again together.  =) 

So yeah, I'm excited to be 29.  I'm excited to savor this last year in my twenties, but I'm also excited for the new decade ahead and all the love in my life.  

Happy birthday to me! 5.14.13

Henry is an awesome present.  =) 

Mother's Day in Chicago

This year for Mother's Day we were in Evanaston, IL for the wedding of my Uncle Pete and his now wife, Brenda.  It was a busy day as we had to work around Henry's naps and getting ready for the wedding, but I felt very special even amid the chaos of traveling and being away from home. Henry woke up early, but LJ let me stay in bed while he hung out with him.  We all took a lovely morning nap and then opened some presents post -nap.  We got out and enjoyed walking around Evanston and then celebrated the evening at Pete and Brenada's wedding.  On my to- do list for Mother's Day was to get a fancy coffee drink at Starbucks and go to Whole Foods, and both were accomplished.  Sometimes it's the little things that make your day lovely.  =) 

I found it hard to believe that this was my second mother's day and that my little baby is over a year old!  But each day with Henry is such a joy.  We certainly have our challenging moments and days, but even through the ups and downs I am forever grateful that I am his mama.  

Henry's sweet hands.  These are on my shirt and the dish towels for each Grandma.
Nice work LJ! 

At Lupita's in Evanston for the rehearsal dinner.
5.11.12

Henry helping Grandma Horth open her mother's day present.
5.12.13

Henry helping Grandma Horth open her mother's day present.

Henry helping me open my mother's day presents. 

How did he know I LOVE Lululemon? 

Henry with Grandma, and mama.
5.12.13
No he is not a baby vampire, he just has banana on his mouth.  =) 

I'm glad I'm not the only one...

I just sat down to update the blog for the first time in many weeks.  There is so much life that has happened in between now and the last time I really wrote a post (other than posting pictures), I don't even know where to begin.  To look for inspiration I checked my dear friend's and sister-in-law's blogs who I regularly follow: Two Tomatoes and The Sustar Pumpkin Patch and I was glad to see that I am not the only one who has been neglecting their blog.

It's not so much that I've dropped the ball though, it's just that I've been busy with SO many other things, as I'm sure most of you are.  With LIFE.  With my new(ish) part-time job as the program coordinator for children's yoga and as a children's yoga teacher at Root Down Yoga Studio (more on that later).  With Henry, who is now 15 months, almost 16 months, walking all over the place and exploring whatever he possibly can.  With swim lessons, with story-time, with play-dates, with music classes for Henry.  With trips to Colorado.  With trying to spend a few precious moments with my husband.  When I finally do get a free second though, I want to spend it outside in the glorious sunshine that we waited so long for this past winter, or relaxing watching TV or a movie with LJ.  And I only have ONE child, so I really don't know how those of you with multiple children EVER update your blogs!  =)
I've been putting off updating the blog because I don't even know where to begin to update you on all the amazing milestones and developments that Henry's made, and all the activities and adventures that have kept us busy these past few months.  Although I've posted a few pictures and videos here and there, the last time I wrote a post on Henry's development was when he was 10 months old!  That was almost 6 months ago!  I DO still want to write a post on what's been happening with Henry recently, because I love looking back and being able to remember it all, but I know that post might take me a while. 

So here is my goal:  I'm going to try to post some updates to the blog on what we've been up too, and I'd like to write a post about Henry's development from 11 months - to now.  I'm going to try to be compassionate with myself if it doesn't happen in a timely manner, and not beat myself up if I don't remember everything I wanted to write down!  So keep your eyes open for a few new posts in the next couple of weeks!

Happy summer!

Cheers,

Emily

Visit to Chicago & Uncle Pete's Wedding

The weekend of Mothers Day (May 11-13th) we went to Chicago for my Uncle Pete and Brenda's wedding. The whole Horth crew was there including my Aunt, Uncle, and cousins from California, who we hadn't seen since our wedding - 5 years ago! It was so wonderful to see everyone, and it was a beautiful wedding and celebration of LOVE.

Too cool for school with Uncle Matt

Henry and Daddy looking a "shashas" (my word for flowers when  I was a baby).

Strolling the streets of Evanston with Grandma on Mother's Day

Dancing with Grandma and Grandpa at Uncle Pete's wedding. 5.12.13

Tearing up the dance floor.  5.12.13

Busting a move with Grandma. 

Mama and Henry dance.

My sweet family! 

"Look mama!" 

A happy Mother's Day and happy wedding celebration for Pete and Brenda!
5.12.13

With my cousins Holly and Hannah! 

Cousins!  Holly, Em, Hannah.  

Playing in firemen's park with Dad, a park I used to play at when I was Henry's age.  5.13.13

In front of the house I lived in when I was Henry's age.  In Evanston, IL.
5.13.13

Loving the firetruck at Firemen's park in Evanston, IL.