summer reads

With the warm, long days of June finally here, I am ready to dive into some of my favorite warm weather novels. I'm a seasonal reader. In the winter, I prefer cold, snowy stories. In the summer, they need to be hot, humid, and maybe even a little sultry! On Wednesday night as I set up my book case, I was sure to leave out a few that had already come to mind...

* Turner's Crossroads by Penelope J Stokes

* Prodigal Summer by Barbara Kingsolver

* Cane River by Lalita Tademy

* Secret Lives of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd

Do you do the same? Crave the same stories at the same time each year? What are your summer favorites?

I'm so happy to have my little reading nook set up here in New York. Although I'm sure the men in our family would prefer I didn't drag around every single book I own to every location we go, I can't help myself. They are my loves and you never know when I might need one :)

because we like food

I just returned from the grocery store and I'm excited! They have good food here!

Well, let me start off by saying those of us from Minnesota are spoiled with easy access to great food. The supermarkets are filled with a wonderful selection of produce that is not only priced well, but pretty darn fresh. Ryan and I longingly speak of our grocery store in Minneapolis all the time. Even in Big Lake though, I was impressed by the selection of natural foods available at Coborn's. Bonus...the staff was knowledgeable, the meat was never scary, and they carried my favorite brand of peanut butter. Wonderful.

With that said, not all places we travel have the same quality or selection of food. Most recently, we struggled in Colorado. There were basic items I needed that the neighborhood Safeway did not carry. Honestly, who doesn't sell chicken breasts on the bone or curry? Not much in the way organic either...

Don't get me wrong, I am by no means a food snob. One of my biggest complaints about Whole Foods was that I couldn't buy the actual, factual Honey Nut Cheerios there. Also, I typically buy all shelf items at WalMart, thanks to the "unbeatable prices." :) I just like access to a wide range of goods and from this morning's experience, I should have little trouble here. I was able to find all the ingredients for tonight's soup, tomorrow's pasta, and Friday's tacos without a single hitch! Fresh, fast, and easy made for a happy mommy/baby team as we left the store. In all truth, Ted's just happy to hang around food.

a new york state of mind

The Alcott trio + 2 furry felines arrived in New York! Teddy and I flew in on Saturday. Ryan and the cats arrived a few days earlier.

A little about the place we now call home:

We are living in an apartment community nestled on a sixty-acre nature preserve. The grounds are great, secluded and set back from the main road. There are walking trails throughout the property, perfect for the mini-man to practice his new skill. The community itself sits half-way between 2 separate towns. You feel their age and history immediately, as many neighborhoods are filled with old brick row houses. It's fascinating to think most of these towns were founded around the same time as the Revolution. Although it is always difficult to pick out housing via the Internet, I think this will work out well. I can't wait to explore!

For now though, the only thing to worry about is unpacking and trying to get our babe back on his regular sleep schedule. Soon enough weekends will be filled with trips down to the city or adventures in the Adirondacks. Tonight it just feels good to curl up with my husband and know we will be here for awhile.

east coast bound

* Teddy with his Grandpa at our house on the lake. Best Friends.

Teddy and I leave tomorrow for New York. We've had a wonderful time in Minnesota and as usual hate goodbyes. I forgot how beautiful the lake I grew up on is in the summer. To wake up each morning and have my peanut butter toast on the back deck was such a treat. Everything about my hometown just seemed to wrap itself right around my heart and pull me in. It never felt so good to be home.

Now though we are on to new adventures in Albany. Ryan drove out earlier this week. His dad followed with a U-haul full of our things. They've both reported that the landscape is beautiful, rolling hills dotted with quaint New England towns. It sounds like we will settle in nicely.

xoxox's to my favorite Minnesotans. We'll be home soon. I promise.

perfect.

Okay I've met her. The most beautiful, sweet baby girl in the whole wide world. I'm absolutely positive she was sent straight from heaven. Cecelia Lynn Cullen was born on April 11th, but due to our out of town status we weren't able to meet her until just yesterday. She was perfect. A gorgeous head of hair, blue eyes, and as dainty as a daisy.

The new parents are doing great. Shannon is a natural mother. It was so fun to watch her take care of her baby and CeCe just loved her mama to pieces. Whenever Shan picked her up she seemed to peacefully let out a little sigh and then she would snuggle right in. Chris too, is falling right into fatherhood. Baby girl Cullen looks very much like her daddy...and I have a feeling Chris didn't mind a bit.

Like everyone else, Teddy loved the new baby. They were hilarious together! CeCe would let out a high-pitched newborn cry and Teddy would imitate it with a startling little shriek of his own. Then later Ted whined about something and CeCe responded with a whimper. They definitely seemed to empathize and care about the other. I knew an arranged marriage was a good idea!

Welcome to the world baby girl. It was so good to be introduced.

the red wagon companions

Yesterday Teddy had a blast with his cousins at Grandma and Grandpa's house! Finally, following a long Colorado induced absence, the three pint sized Alcott boys reunited! They had a ball! Dex and Dash were so stinkin' sweet to Teddy. They let him tag along all afternoon and even picked activities that the new walker would enjoy! He was in heaven. I absolutely adore the above photo. Dex is linking arms with his little bro, as Dashie holds Teddy's hand. Precious...

Our little guy loved pushing a wagon through the yard. Dexter was so smart and pulled another wagon along side. Teddy could not have been more pleased....a game with his cousin that involved marching back and forth, and each with their very own wagon....he thought it was the best!

....and as you can tell from the photos, it is beautiful right now in Minnesota. It is so nice to be home.

sayonara manitou

Unfortunately, our time in Manitou Springs has come to an end. This afternoon Theodore and I fly home to Minnesota. Ryan will start the drive tonight after work. We are so sad to leave Colorado. From the moment we arrived, it was love at first sight. There are so many Midwest transplants here. I think it is one of those places that once you come, you never want to leave.

We plan to be in MN through Memorial Day. Next week will be devoted to packing the copious amounts of miscellaneous goods currently sitting in storage, spending time with family, hanging out at our land, and most exciting...meeting adorable little Cecelia Cullen! I'm already planning an arranged marriage.

Ryan will start work in Albany, New York the following week. Teddy and I will join him soon after. We'll keep you posted as the timeline begins to play out.

Teddy changed and grew so much during our time here. Someday it will be fun to think back and remember that it was in Colorado that he took his first steps. Each day he continues to improve. Right now one of his favorite games is to march around with Ryan and I, back and forth, back and forth. The video below is a glimpse at how well he is doing :)

P.S. The neighbor has a rooster. Understandably, Teddy is fascinated.

cars of manitou

As a great deal of any given day is spent walking the neighborhood streets of Manitou Springs, we've come to notice a familiar theme...cool, hilarious, and all together note-worthy vehicles. Although a large percentage of locals operate old Volkswagen vans complete with curtained windows and two-tone paint jobs, the other dread locked drivers are pretty unique in their choices as well. In Minnesota, we just don't have such a colorful array of cars to choose from...there must be something to be said for salt-free winters.

I can't help but wish this song was streaming through for you....

catch you on the flip side.

peace.

our mailman

I have a wonderful cousin who is a thrift store maniac! She is constantly nabbing great deals on an array of goods. Before Theodore was born, while i aimlessly wondered the baby aisle at Target, Melissa was out buying all sorts of fabulous second-hand treasures for our June arrival. One of the novelties she picked up was a toy mailbox. In the last month it has turned into Teddy's most favorite thing! He adores placing his little valuables in it and then giggles when he later finds they are still where he left them....who da' thought?!

More recently he's been getting his kicks from objects that spring out when he opens the door. Since this peek-a-boo effect does not happen on its own, we've been helping out a little bit.

Both myself, and Teddy's late Grandma Morrow had an affinity for snail mail. Maybe the apple doesn't fall far from the tree... :)

side note: the 85 degree temps yesterday were just enough to push our lilacs into full bloom. as i type, their fragrance is blowing through the room. heaven.

a weekend with family

Ryan, Teddy, and I were so blessed to have Ryan's parents come out and stay with us over the weekend. We'd been looking forward to their arrival since they booked the tickets and it was every bit as special as imagined. We went out on awesome hikes, ate delicious food, and spent lots of time laughing at Teddy. The little guy was naturally THRILLED with the extra attention and really hammed it up for the company with funny faces, lots of baby blabber, and kisses for Grandma.

Ryan and Darrel got out twice to try their luck at the nearby trout streams. Although Ryan has been fly fishing for a couple years now, he reports that fishing in Colorado (and specifically, fishing for trout) is quite unique and has taken time to learn the ropes. It was Darrel's first time fly fishing and he too confirmed how much there is to learn about the sport. They both had a great time though and Ry even caught his first brown trout!

My river rat at the South Platte.

Darrel fishing the "Dream Stream."

Even the littlest Alcott likes to look for the fish.

My favorite part of the weekend was a Mother's Day hike on nearby Cheyenne Mountain. It is a gorgeous area that really gives you that deep forest feel, unlike the red rock/desert that makes up many of the trails in Southern Colorado. It was a cool, crisp day and we all agreed it was the perfect day for a long hike. As we made our way into the woods we stumbled upon the remains of an old cabin. All that was left was the fireplace and the corners of the foundation....so fun to find!

We tackled some pretty steep inclines.

Thanks to the most precious little boy this side of the mountain, I celebrated my first Mother's Day. It was one to remember.

Judy's husband. Ryan's father. Theodore's grandfather.

It was a straight drop off the ledge. Considering Darrel's aversion toward heights, we were impressed.

A perfect way to close out our weekend.

Special thanks to Judy and Darrel for coming to visit. After 2 months away from home, we were missing you both like crazy! It was wonderful to have you all to ourselves for a few days. You are already creating such a special relationship with Teddy, he is very lucky little boy.

be back soon.

We are so excited to have Judy and Darrel arriving in Colorado Springs this morning! They will be staying with us through the weekend so I probably won't post much in the next couple days. For now....here's a little wide-eyed Teddy love.

dew, drizzle, and a rocky mountain fog

Last weekend we were so excited to have Tim, Amy, and the kiddos down for the afternoon. After consuming an enormous bowl of fruit and an egg bake for energy, we hit a nearby mountain trail. The weather was cool, misty, and foggy. A very Irish day. Despite numb fingers, we loved it. Teddy adores having other children around and after their departure he spent the evening wondering from room to room looking for his friends. :)

Could Noah be any cuter?

Amy and Noah disappearing into the fog.

The cousins with their children :)

After hiking for an hour or so it opens up into this meadow, very mystical on a day such as that...

Nature's perfection.

a good little eater

I had to share these adorable photos of Teddy having dinner this week. Aren't those eyes just to die for ?!? I am experimenting with a new photo program and thought the 60's feel looked pretty nifty on these shots. :)

Teddy has always been and continues to be a great eater. He loves meal time. As soon as i mention broccoli or zucchini he makes a bee line for the kitchen! Steamed veggies are a big hit, as he prefers to pick up the food and feed himself, rather then having us shovel in the pureed variety for him.

Excitingly, he has now learned the sign for "all done" so he can tell us when he is full. Though he doesn't seem to need it often! He seldom has a problem clearing his tray! Life with Ryan and Teddy....I can already see my grocery bill rising!

in continuation....practice makes perfect part II

Teddy is continuing to get better at walking. Today he was quite disciplined, training very hard....and I didn't even take out the snacks for incentive! He now seems to understand the awesomeness of what he is accomplishing. Good job baby boy! We love you to the moon!

practice makes perfect

HUGE development at our house! Teddy took his first unsupported, unassisted steps on Friday night! He did about 3 wobbly strides and then fell over. By Saturday though he doubled that, taking 7 steps.... before collapsing in utter exhaustion :) He's very nonchalant about the triumph and isn't overly excited to keep trying...honestly, I don't think he realized he was walking all by himself. On Sunday when we tried to get him interested in more practice (by interested I mean waving strawberries, sweet potato chunks, or cereal in front of him) he absolutely refused and wanted to crawl to the chow. I'm hoping today if I bring out the big guns, garbanzo beans or gruyere cheese (two favorites), we may see more gains.

and because a ten month old's list of duties is never-ending, we continue to practice his other jobs.

spring blossoms (written by, ryan)

While shopping for groceries, Theodore and I spotted an array of flowers displayed for the Easter season. The colors and size of the blossoms caused him to let out a scream. The only way we could move on without causing a scene was to select a plant. So that is exactly what we did. We carried the largest and brightest yellow tulip through the store while Theodore laughed as it moved with the cart. When you see nature's beauty through your child's eyes, it is like seeing it all over again for the first time.

Thanks to recent rainfall and warm weather, the bush along the walkway leading to our house has presented its bright pink blossoms demanding the attention of all who pass, not unlike the tulips. Once again, Theodore must stop to admire.

closing shop

we've always loved elton john in this household, but since going to the his concert earlier this month i've become obsessed. his music has become a part of daily routine. just prior to breakfast we put on the rocket man and shake a leg. teddy loves dancing. the more spins the better. but i have to think after 15 days of the same tunes he must be ready for me to get over my fixation. in light of closing the chapter on sir elton for awhile, here is a short video of my VERY FAVORITE song from his show here in colorado springs. unfortunately my memory card filled up right before the chorus, but i'm sure you can still get a feel for its greatness. maybe after sharing him with friends and family, i will finally feel i've spread enough of his love and poor teddy can start listening to someone sing about dinosaurs, chickens, wheels...you know, the things he enjoys. :)

have a fabulous friday!

sweet and spicy

lately teddy ryan alcott has been a wonderful mix of sweet and spicy. at times he can be the most precious little angel in the whole wide world and at others...well, he knows how to make himself heard! as his parents, we love all his ingredients and we thought you might appreciate a few of them too.

the sweet side:

everyday he is melting our hearts with his love for kisses. honestly, giving kisses is one of his most favorite things right now. when he first sees ryan and i in the morning he will give us at least 5 kisses each. as we read books he wants to give all the characters kisses too. some of the people that never slip by him without a smooch are the chicks in his farm books, the bee on the cover of "fuzzy bee," and devin from the family album grandma alcott gave him. devin, bet you didn't know your cousin gives you kisses each and every day. how's that for love! :) the thing that really makes me giggle though is before we put on a clean diaper he gives whatever sesame street character pampers printed on it a quick peck!

and his spicy side:

2 things teddy's loves, while mommy and daddy dislike.....

1.) fans. he stands near the fan at the foot of his crib, hollering into it so it echoes back at him. hilarious fun that he would do for hours.
problem: well there are a couple...first, i'm worried his little fingers will slip in between the guard slots and he'll lose a tip. second, he gets so excited by his friend Fan that he tries to hug him, knocking him over or pulling Fan on top of him.
his solution: turn into a arched back maniac, with flying arms and legs causing mom to have a terrible time dragging me away from my swirling, windy, beloved.
2.) wheels. he wants to touch EVERY SINGLE wheel he spots. cars, strollers, toys, grocery carts, you name it.
problem: can you imagine my child on the floor of a grocery store touching the disgusting cart wheels with his drool soaked hands. seriously.
his solution: hold my breath. turn deep purple in the face. and then let out a horrifyingly loud scream causing the other shoppers to wonder if a.) i fell out of the shopping cart or b.) mom just ran over me with the shopping cart.

worth sharing

not long after i discovered the beauty and soul of country music, leann rimes became a household name as the thirteen year old with a voice big enough to tackle patsy cline's "blue." although today i tend to gravitate toward a more bluegrass feel, many of her songs still touch a place inside me, reminding me of why i came to love country music in the first place.

her latest song did just that.
from the today show this week: "what i can not change"
i felt this was worth sharing.
peace, love, and serenity.

bring on the giggles

yesterday theodore and i went to the park for the first time. although we have a neighborhood playground here in manitou springs, it doesn't have baby swings. i felt the other equipment was still a little out of his league so we hopped in the car and set off for more infant-friendly setting. the neighboring town of old colorado city had just what we were looking for...

as suspected, the swings were a HUGE hit! he loved them! today, following his afternoon nap and inspired by another beautiful day, we went back to the park for round two at the swing set. however, he was ready to operate the digger.

every opportunity

following a year and a half break from the education field, i am beginning to revisit the idea of returning to work in the fall. anyone who understands the inner workings of ryan's job knows this is a tricky situation. while we appreciate the experiences frequent travel offers, it does not mesh well with spousal careers or overall day to day family life. a re-entry into the classroom on my part would likely mean an exit from azco on ryan's. we hope the details will work themselves out in the coming months.

in the meantime, i've spent the last month or so throwing my resume in amongst the masses at a few choice locations around the twin cities. although i've already heard rumors from education counterparts that social studies positions continue to draw close to five hundred applicants, it couldn't hurt to add my name to the bunch.

another option is to explore teaching opportunities in some of the locations ryan may work at in the coming months. if he stays with azco, we are still on track for albany by june. although i've done a little research, it's been difficult to gage the need for teachers in the capital area. i do know to become licensed in the state of new york is a moderately hefty process. not to mention it would be difficult to say whether we would be there for a full school year.

for now we will simply keep our eyes open, seek out new opportunities if they should arise, and continue to enjoy the sightseeing along the way.

beat the drum

a few things we celebrated this week:

against all odds, ryan escaped the tight grip of work and family last weekend for a day on the slopes!

after at least a two year break, i finally picked up my knitting needles again.

following months of encouragement and lots of practice, teddy started saying "mama" really well! we've actually heard him say it much clearer than the video portrays, but what we captured is pretty darn cute :)

while out for a hike on wednesday night we found this TRUE sign that spring has arrived.

...and the great part is knowing the best celebration is yet to come

le meilleur ami

tonight after crawling into bed, i had intended to write a post about just how much it meant to have my dearest friend kelly come out and stay with us last weekend. before i began writing though, i checked her blog and found she had written such a sweet memoir of the weekend. for tonight, i think i'll share that instead :) perfect end to the day.

kelly's post

p.s. happiest of birthdays to the very best father in the whole world. i don't like you, i love you.

long overdue

for the sake of ending my blogging hiatus i thought i would post my favorite photo from the past weekend. i finally got to spend extended time with two of my most favorites...TOGETHER! i will post more about our adventures in the week to come!