Garden of the Gods

We love living in Colorado Springs for many reasons.  Garden of the Gods is one of them.  It is a beautiful, red rock, free, city-owned park.  We just went there this weekend with Luke's sister and her boyfriend, Chris.

Here are the three kids, each in the same little nook

Nathan, July 2005, 5 years old

Julia, July 2005, 3.5 years

Julia, February 2011, 9 years

Lauren, February 2011, 5 years

Zoo Shirt

Something that Nathan and Lauren have in common.  They both felt the need to have a designated "Zoo Shirt".  This is not something I ever pushed, they both just decided at some point that when they went to the zoo, they ought to wear an appropriate shirt and went through their drawers and come out with the shirt on.  Lauren is about to outgrow her current one so I need to be on the lookout for something that will work for her.

Brandy Bear

This time last year I was struggling about where I should send Lauren to preschool, the same place she was currently going with her best friend, or to the same place Nathan and Julia both went.  In the end I chose for her to go where her brother and sister had gone and it was a really good decision for both her and me.

One of the traditions her teacher has is sending home "Brandy Bear" for a weekend with a child and then we write up her adventures with us.  I now know that Brandy Bear seems to be a different bear from her collection each year.  Here are the kids with Brandy Bear.

On a side note, I can't believe there are only 3 months left of preschool.  This school year has gone so fast.  Lauren is signed up for full-day Kindergarten (if she gets in, which she most likely will).  Next year will be a lot different.

January 2011 Pictures

Yes!  I am very late posting these.  Being sick for a week and then going away for a weekend really set me back.  Mike N at Loyola, Anna tells me it is time to post them! (she is here this weekend)

We didn't do a whole lot in January, as you will see, Julia turned 9 and Lauren went to the zoo.  I will post about the bear she is toting in my next entry (if I ever get around to it!)