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Bean dip, it's the lazy mommy's version of dinner. Somebody liked it.

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Kate has developed an interest in the camera so I let her be the photographer today. She's still working on aim (clearly) but this one captures what Leia revolves around: milk. All day long her little fist is making the sign for milk. It's a bad day when we run out of milk!

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Kate has found yet another great climbing boulder. She barely needed any assist at the bottom and was fully confident from the halfway point and up. She tried two routes up and did well at both.

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While not a spectacular photo this may be the last one of Corky (the beloved yellow bear in Kate's clutches). He was left at Fred Meyer the next day and Kate is now learning a lesson in keeping tabs on her stuff. She was warned going into the store not to lose him. We didn't notice he was gone until we got home. Life will go on and a new buddy has been commissioned though I am not sure when it will arrive. Until then she will have to settle for one of the other hundred stuffed animals in our home.

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Taking on the teeter totter at Rhodedendron Park.

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Let's go Sounders! We took the girls to their first Sounders soccer game last night. Kate sat and paid attention to at least the first third of the game. It was a late night but the girls handled it well. Plus they came home with lots of loot.

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Kate's first keg pump. With my injured shoulder I was taking all the help I could get =)

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"Cheese" face comparisons. Both girls at 15 months.

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Due to my mountain biking disaster I am lacking pictures for 2 days. Lucky for all of you I have some fillers. =)


Leia really enjoyed her two weeks of swim lessons. That duck didn't stand of chance of making it to freedom!

Park City 2010

We spent a week in Park City, UT with the FL Bradleys and made the most of our time. We took lots of walks, went to the Sunday Market, went to a couple outdoor conerts, hiked at The Canyons resort, mountain biked at Deer Vally Resort, and of course played on the rides at Park City Resort. The girls got to experience Pop Its and Sparklers for the first time, and they went in the hot tub a lot. There was a slight mis-step (or pedal) while mountain biking but otherwise it was a great trip.

Once I get ahold of Papa Scott's photos I will make an additional slideshow.
Created with Admarket's flickrSLiDR.

Wipe Out

Today was "date day" where Laurie and I got to go out on an adventure while the kids stayed with Papa Scott and Gigi. Our plan was to downhill mountain bike at Deer Valley Resort for 3 or 4 hours. Neither of us really had any real downhill mountain biking experience, and this place's easiest trail "starts right out at intermediate" according to the chair lift operators.

We rented our bikes and helmets, got our lift tickets and headed up the mountain. It took about 10 or 15 minutes to get to the top.

Before - On the chair lift

View from the chair lift

The first run down had us a little freaked out at the first few steep drops. Steep, fast, loose rock, tree roots, and sharp turns. But we made it. Laurie had a few detours off the path into the bushes, but nothing major. We had a blast and decided to go again on the same trail. A little too cocky this time...Laurie cruised right into the second steep, sharp turn and wiped out hard. I didn't see the fall since I was in front of her, but I heard it and saw the aftermath.

She bailed pretty hard on her right side destroying her helmet, bashing her head, scraping her arm, and messing up her shoulder. We walked back up the hill to the top of the chair lift and got some first aid attention.

After - Happy she made it.

Forearm Scrape and Hydrogen Peroxide Fun

The first aid guy said she might have a mild concussion. Then he looked at her helmet and saw how destroyed it was and said "you definitely have a mild concussion". They wouldn't let us ride the chair lift back down, so we called Papa Scott and Gigi to come pick us up (luckily at the top of this lift was a resort that had a windy road leading up to it). The worst of it seemed to be her shoulder. It took some pretty good slamming and she couldn't raise her arm. The first aid tent got her all setup with a sling and sent us directly to the emergency clinic in town.

Emergency clinic waiting room

The clinic got her fitted with ice and a real sling. Took some x-rays, cleaned and treated all her wounds, and gave her some mental acuity tests. Laurie's got some scrapes and a good lump on her head, but the x-ray was clean and the worst of it was diagnosed as major bruising in the shoulder and some possible rotator cuff strain. OTC pain killers seemed to be pretty effective and after a short rest she was ready for me to take her shopping and out to dinner. Laurie's not gonna let a little wipe out get in the way of shopping and a dinner date!

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"This is my beach and I am guarding it. Don't underestimate me, I am small but scrappy."

Oh Leia =)

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It's Pioneer Days here in Utah so we are celebrating right along with the Mormons. We deafened ants with Pop It's and taught our young uns about playing with fire.
PS Sparklers are my FAVORITE thing about July, we didnt' do any on the 4th but we are going to make up for that this week with 6 boxes of fireworks-on-a-stick!

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A little monkey business to complete the day. We spent the afternoon at Park City Resort having a great time being kids with the kids. Kate was in it for the rush. The faster the better and the louder the giggle.
We rode the Alpine Coaster (which carts you up the mountain and then lets your body weight determine how fast you zoom back down) and Kate decided we were like Buzz Lightyear and Woody on the rocket at the end of Toy Story 1. She said "it's like when the rocket explodes!" Then as we are twisting and zooming down the mountain she gives me a lecture on Toy Story and ends it with a pretty good "To infinity and beyond!" as we hurtle around the last corner.

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Park City Fashionistas.

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Enjoying an outdoor rock concert at one of the ski resorts around Park City. The band was Big Light and the crowd was full of bikers (of the Harley variety, not bicycle).

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Out for an evening stroll in Park City, UT with Gigi, Papa Scott, and Aunt Skyann. This is such a beautiful area and there is a great walking path across the street from our condo. Plus it is nice to be in the company of extended family. And Leia holding Papa Scott's hand after only a few hours with him melts my heart.

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Banana Time!

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4 kids and endless climbing possibilities. There were 2 more kids present who did not possess the necessary climbing ability for this park.

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It's a bit blurry but 4 days last week were focused on rock balancing. I did not participate but was eager to. This one is the first of the rock stacks measuring 5 rocks tall. By the end of 4 days the boy who built this had it up to 11 rocks. My favorite part was doing this at a beach one day and watching how Eric inspired others to make rock statues as well.

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Kate mastering the air pump ball gun.
Leia concentrating on proper loading of the crossbow.

We are spending the week hanging out with two older boys. The girls were fascinated by them and enthralled with their toys. The Nerf products were clearly a hit.

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Just another afternoon activity with dad.

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"Look mom, it's Mickey Mouse." For a kid who is not exposed to Mickey Mouse very often I was surprised she even knew his name, let alone a way recreate him. Not a great pic but captured a surprising moment in my day.

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On Sunday I did a 5K run with a bunch of friends. We had 9 moms and 1 dad running while the other dads watched 19 kids. Scott and Mike braved the morning with 5 kids so both Cook parents could run.

This was my first summer 5K and I can honestly say I don't want to do another. Fall and winter races are fine but I'm a wimp in the sun. In 2 weeks I am running my first 10K and am crossing my fingers for rain!

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What do you do on a 95 degree day? Ballet class (in an air conditioned building), evening swim lessons at the outdoor pool, and frozen yogurt for dinner. What makes it a great day? Doing it with one of your best buddies. Hooray for a day with Hadley! (and her mom and bro Parker too!).

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I had the camera on the wrong setting but I think this pic sums up what was happening. There was a lot of twirling, skipping, dancing, and merryment. For the record there are in the top of a silo which echos nicely.

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Yup, that's my kid looking about as uncomfortable in the pool as possible. It was the first day of swim lessons and every activity the teacher asked her to do she replied "no." Awesome. Money well spent.

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Kate did some excellent bouldering to get to the top of this rock. I followed her up in rain boots. Don't ever climb in rain boots. I love this pic because you can't really tell how high up she is (look at the tables in the background). Luckily I have a pic from almost exactly a year ago on the same rock.

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Happy 4th of July! We ventured out to the Kirkland Parade and the girls had far more fun than I had anticipated. I had forgotten how much candy gets tossed out during a parade. We adpoted the "eat what you can, nothing goes home" policy. Those two girls ate candy faster than I have ever seen them eat it before.
Curbside (with the first of the candy loot).

Favored float. I thought Leia was going to run and climb on it.

Perfecting her wave.

Candy glee.

There was an added bonus of my good friend Stacy joining us for the parade. The Turner crew put in an appearance as well. We rounded out the afternoon with a good long nap. Now we just have to kill 4 more hours until fireworks! Kate and Scott are heading back to Kirkland for the show tonight. It will be Kate's first big fireworks event. She is stoked to say the least.

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Electric fans to the rescue...oh wait...it's not hot here. At least they now know how to use them for the eventual toasty day.

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I love the way this itty bitty girl clutches her toys. She has a particular way of stuffing them under her arm that suits her purpose. Then...off she goes!

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Why sit on the couch to watch a movie when you can sit on the table behind it?