Two more Saturdays...signs of spring?

Has spring come to the Vail Valley?

The daffodils are peaking through the soil on the left side of the walkway leading to the house while Logan's pile of snow is on the right side of the walkway. Today was beautifully sunny and warm! We stayed outside until the sun dipped behind the mountain at 6:30.

A few Sundays ago, we went to Glennwood Springs in search of some furniture. We visited a large furniture store. Probably overwhelmed, we left there having accomplished nothing. Last Saturday Nathan met us at another furniture store in Eagle. After nearly 3 hours we had chosen a sofa and a loveseat. We also chose the fabrics. We then took the dimensions of the furniture and fabrics to the house to be sure it worked. Using Hot Wheel tracks, we realized that though the furniture fit, the traffic pattern was tighter than we wanted. We then completely altered our plan to include a sofa and swivel chair then two additional chairs. Nathan and I did a nice job finding coordinating fabric for each piece. The sofa is a red chenile with a plaid chenile for the pillows. The swivel chair is a graphic pattern of leaves. The club chairs are in a striped chenile. We too managed to coordinate all the fabrics with the curtains that came with the house-quite a feat when we chose more transitional furniture and fabrics while the curtains are VERY traditional with butterflies and flowers. Hopefully the curtains will fade into the background a bit. Maybe a year from now, we'll replace the 10-109" panels of curtains. The nicest part of this experience was that Nathan and I had an easy time agreeing! The challenge was making decisions as Logan was climbing on everything, interrupting our conversations and breaking our concentration. Grandparents, have no fear, after only a few minutes we told Logan to take his shoes off so that he didn't destroy the merchandise! The furniture will arrive in about 6 weeks.

In the meantime, Logan and I continue to move boxes on Saturdays. Nathan has also begun to pack up his two rooms. I may begin moving boxes on Sundays too. The Pat Circle house is a complete disaster now. Things laying on floors in every room. All in good time, right?

On Thursday, Nathan, Logan and I visited Brush Creek Elementary for kindergarten round up. We toured two kindergarten rooms and visited the school's commercial sized greenhouse. Logan was very interested in the greenhouse and the composting barrels. The greenhouse is part of the school's efforts to be "green". The food grown by the children is served during lunch. The children also grow plants that are then sold in the spring as a fundraiser. The school has their own recycling program as well. Recently Logan has expressed interest in his new school. Mom is feeling a bit more at ease too.

On Monday, Logan will spend 1 1/2 hours with a small group of his peers being assessed. I hope that the teacher asks Logan how to solve mathematic problems because he can add and subtract given manipulatives-we use Legos and markers. He too uses the calculator to verify his answer:) I've also introduced the number line as a way compare numbers (less and more). He can also identify every letter of the alphabet and at least half their sounds. He routinely reads environmental print and I find myself often asking, "How do you know that?" Logan's handwriting has improved in recent months despite his distaste for coloring, drawing and painting. Nathan and I believe that Logan's strengths include his imagination and his memory.

The time was Right!

A sense of peace....every bone in my body has told me that moving was the right thing to do. The timing wasn't ideal for Nathan, but we've managed.

Back in the fall the residents of Maloit Park met with a school board member, the superintendent and CFO of the school district regarding the sale of 100 acres of Maloit Park to the town of Minturn. The sale of the land would give the town access rights to water, while the school district land would become more valuable. Further development came a few weeks ago when a land development proposal sign was posted at the entrance of Maloit Park. The sign stated "mixed use" including several amenities. Of course this came as a surprise to the residents.

Further confirmation that moving was coming at the right time came from an article in today's Vail Daily. The title of the article reads "Minturn set to vote on annexation Wednesday". The article states that 100 acres will be annexed into the town boundaries. Furthermore, "45 acres could be developed ."

The question remains who would develop the land. Some speculate that Vail Ski and Snowboard Academy would occupy the former Minturn Middle School and that the school would become a dorm.

Meanwhile, 90% of the Maloit Park home has been moved to Eagle. We've reserved a moving truck for Saturday, April 16th. Nathan and I will move the remaining contents. A moving company is scheduled for Monday, April 18th to move the big furniture. Moving will take place during my spring break. The challenge we'll face after moving will be driving Logan to and from school for the next 5 weeks. Nathan will drive east 45 minutes to drop Logan off at school, then drive 20-25 minutes west to work. I will drive east for 25 minutes to work. In the afternoon, I will continue east another 20-25 minutes to Minturn. Then drive west 45 minutes home. It's a lot of driving and time on the road, but it will allow Logan to finish his 3rd and final year at Pooh Corner. Other than some short summer camps, Logan will spend his summer home.

Last weekend, Logan was excited to ride his bike and scooter in the driveway and along the recreational paths in Eagle Ranch. We've also visited 2 parks in the area. It feels like spring in Eagle with all the snow melted while Minturn still has piles and piles for Logan to romp in. Since daylight savings, Logan has played outside in the snow after school. He's been able to participate in both winter and spring activities! He's a lucky kid!

Future Mountain Climber

I believe that Logan has logged more than 100 hours outside during the month of February. Logan plays outside every day at school. Often before or after dinner, the boys goes outside for a bit. Sometimes to shovel, other times to take the trash out. Then on Fridays, Logan and Nathan ski together for half a day. Finally, on Sundays we ski together again. Here you'll see just how much Logan loves the snow. The pile of snow Logan is playing on is about 1/2 a story high. Enjoy the video!

Logan, my little reader

I began reading to Logan before he was walking. Reading took place on the floor where he had access to his board books. Reading and talking about the pictures might have only lasted 2 minutes. Often times I wondered if there was any point in this. But I persevered hoping that I'd create a life long reader. His earliest interests were for books that contained actual photos of children. Upon recognizing his interest, I purchased more books with similar features. We then graduated to reading on the couch. By then Logan was walking and climbing. He would sit on my lap for a much longer period of time. His obsession with Good Night Moon began in the toddler room at school. By this time Logan's collection of board books grew to include other classics such as Brown Bear, Brown Bear, Put Me in the Zoo and countless others. Reading continues to be a part of our daily routine-at nap and bed times. Logan's attention span can last an hour now. He continues to enjoy picture books, but also includes chapter books such as Nate the Great and Cowgirl Kate and Coco. We've even begun lengthier chapter books including The Mouse and the Motorcycle. Logan's interest in reading has recently expanded to reading environmental signs, mail and continues to have an interest in the make and model of vehicles. He's been seen using toys and maps around the house to enter the spelling of words into a Google search. He will typically Google John Deere, Colorado or CAT (Caterpillar construction trucks). More recently, Logan has taken interest in sounding out words to indentify letter sounds. Today at school he was helping his teacher catch the print outs from the printer when he read the word "March". Rosa was amazed that Logan had read the word. Truthfully, I think he memorized the word from his interest in calendars. Nonetheless, I am pleased as punch. Logan is fortunate to have parents who are readers. At times, I see Logan imitating Nathan. Sometimes during breakfast on weekends, Nathan will read while eating. Logan then proceeds to do the same. Furthermore Logan has developed a palate for multisyllabic words. Nathan and I foster this by incorporating advanced vocabularies into our conversations with him. Logan is notorious for using the words in the wrong context sometimes baffling those that don't know him well.

Logan's knowledge is not limited to reading. He has developed an interest in "mathematics" as we call it. This developed from a "teachable moment" when he became interested in a calculator I had been using to grade papers. I then pulled out the Legos for manipulatives and we began adding and subtracting. I have expanded upon this by using flashcards so that he may become familiar with the symbols. I believe he truly understands both the concept and process of addition and subtraction. This is disguised as play.

Handwriting/drawing, however are NOT of interest for Logan. His teacher continues to encourage him as we work to develop his fine motor coordination and hand strength at home. Though he seems to be right hand dominate, he continues to switch hands. Will Logan be like so many boys I have? Will his handwriting be the chicken scratch Auntie Julie and I must decode? If I had any control, I'd take the mathematics and reading over handwriting.

February in Colorado

February has been a month for skiing. Nathan has been taking Logan skiing on Fridays. Then, we typically ski as a family on Sundays. Logan has had a "break through" on skis. He is able to ski independently of mom and dad. He has a "edgy wedgey" on the tips of his skis. This rubber band like device allows him to put his skis in a pie shape while keeping his tips together. Logan is able to turn using exaggerated, airplane arms to shift his weight. Today he skied at Beaver Creek. From nearly top to bottom, Logan skied his last run using cat walks and short, easy blue runs.

Its fun watching Logan trying to imitate his dad skiing parallel turns. Logan is quite wobbly and has taken a few falls doing so. Most importantly, Logan is confident and has fun. He's been known to have a few tantrums because it was time to leave. A sure sign that its in fact time to go. He always falls asleep in the truck on the way home.

The first video is from early this year. The following video is recent. You will see Logan's "break through" on skis.

We're proud parents!

January 13, 2011

It's official today! We're the happy owners of 15 Pats Circle in Eagle, Colorado (also known as Mayberry as Nathan affectionately calls it). It seems as though the journey has been a long, arduous one at times, but it's actually been less than 5 weeks.

We decided to bring Logan along for the closing since he's been a part of this journey including looking at homes, seeing Sarah our mortgage broker and now the closing. I told him that he'd be the recipient of the key. He was very pleased to accept the keys from Karen of Land and Title Company.

Here are some video of Logan opening the front door to the house. You may hear the voice of our new neighbor introducing himself. We learned that nearly every house on Pat Circle has kids. I would really like for Logan to have a few friends from the immediate area.

The closing on the Maloit Park house will hopefully take place on February 1st. The agreement is that we'll rent from the new owner for 3 months. This will satisfy our need to remain in Minturn until Logan has finished his 3rd and final year at Pooh Corner. It too will solidify the selling of the house. Meanwhile, the person purchasing the house wants to be certain that the house won't be sold to another party before he's able to move in until June.

Scenes from the final days of Christmas break

Logan and I are sad that our extra time together is coming to an end. We've played many, many rounds of "Go Fish" and "Old Maid". We've practiced mathematics using a calculator, Legos and flash cards. We've taken naps together. We've gone bowling and swimming at the Rec Center because it's been much too cold to ski. Logan is once again my shadow. Our next vacation together will be the last week of February (a departure from any school calendar we've had in the past:)

We continue to move forward with the purchase of "15 Pat Circle house". I've packed 27 boxes already. A washer and dryer has been ordered. Once we have the keys, I'll begin unpacking the boxes only to repack them with more stuff for the following weekend.

In this scene we're making sugar cookies.