A day, like most other days.

Her favorite word is a proud and defiant

"NO"

There's not a ring of anger with it.

She's joyfully

denying involvement;

stating her opinion to a food group;

telling me how much she respects the rules

and my ideas.

Ahhhh, a sixteen month old.

I just can't help but smile.

Also, I let her stay up until 10:15 tonight.

I really don't know how late she'll

stay awake at night. I usually put her down before 9:00.

But I think she'd stay up until midnight if I let her.

She currently loves:

her legos

her potty chair

her dada

her dog

her wagon

her books

her books
and more books.

Thank you for a wonderful day.

Madeline

Sweet baby
tiny breath
the world is waiting
for your next step.

What new magic
will you choose?
Will you clap
your hands?
Stare at the Moon?
Crawl to a toy
across this small room?

Did you know there
are freckles
set in your eyes?
A gift from your mommy
sent from the skies.

Did you know there's
a twinkle,
a giggle,
a laugh?
She gave them to you
to share with your Dad.

And in the silence
while you sleep
Daddy stares
his sadness lingers.

It does not end
with tears little one
You are his hope
his rising sun.

watch out, me!

I was a little angry yesterday.
I should clarify myself.

I don't think it's a good idea to smoke around children.
I don't care if it's nicotine, weed, or whatever else you
pull out of your garden.
It's bad for the lungs.
Causes cancer.
Duh.
Enough said.

Bad Parenting 101

I was so shocked at the park today.

I watched this man, not knowing what to say.

He pushed one of his two kids on the swing.

Then turned away to light a bowl.

Still standing next to the swingset.

Kids playing all around.

He's decided that a park, for children,

is an appropriate place to smoke pot.

Who the hell are you?

A few minutes later he snuck behind a

small boulder to light one up again.

I tried to grab my camera from the

diaper bag in time.

Just as I was going to get the shot...

his kids rounded the corner and he folded

it up in his palm.

(TMZ would never hire me!)

You can see that he has it in his hand though.

What an all american loser.

Do whatever you want to yourself at home.

I'm not here to judge what you do.

I don't care;

But when you do it around children,

it's everyone's business.

Saturday...in the park

Yesterday it happened.

The clouds finally parted and

there it was.

Snow on Sopris.

Ugh. It's pretty, but...

Anyway,

I spent the day outside today.

The weather was beautiful.

It was perfect for a mom and her

one-year-old to explore the small town

they've lived in for a long time.

We began our adventure by going out for coffee.

Bug in the stroller, ready to roll.

I made sure to clean the make-up off

of the skin under my eyes. I didn't want to

look like the morning slob that I was today.

My teeth and hair brushed, but it was obvious

I need a shower.

Walking in to town, I heard a lot of
cheering!

What the F?

What's going on that I somehow missed?

And more importantly, will the line at

the coffee shop be really long because of it?

I see runners rounding a corner.

Oh, just another moment when I realize

I'm not as active as the majority of

people that live in this state. oh well.

I'm happy and not in bad shape!

I investigate...

The Colorado Relay ends its race here.

Those guys/girls are machines!

We walked the park. I'm notably the only one

pushing a stroller. Lots of booths set up.

Looks like a lot of schwag too. People say hello.

I don't need any schwag. Already too much

junk in my house.

Off to coffee house after a detour at the swings.

Line is not too long for a moment...YEAH ME!!

The girls working the counter look a little haggard.

They have been slammed all morning.

Coffee in hand I head to do a little local shop,

chat it up with friends.

The rest of the day involved dog walking, a visit

and more park time with friends.

And another stop at

the coffee shop, on ice this time, thank you.

My complaint today?

Dad is gone, AGAIN.

In the woods.

Helping our guests find the elk.

He's just never around these days.

Crappy.

So happy to see you...

100 miles north of the Arctic Circle.

He was the last one to be picked up.

I'm so glad he's home. I had taken the Bug and the dog for a walk this morning and when we got back he was unloading the vehicle in our driveway. Bug says "Dada, Dada" "Up, Up" (she wants out of the back pack.) The dog is shaking her tail with uncontrollable joy and I dived in for a kiss.

We got presents too. I got a maroon sweatshirt with "Alaska" across the front. Bug got a onesie and a stuffed bear. Good job Dad!

His plane left Anchorage at 11:00 pm and landed in Denver at 6:00 am. He called at 7:45 to let me know they had arrived.

Catch up....

Friday afternoon we celebrated the finalizing of the adoption of a very awesome lil guy! You're stuck with all of us now JT!!

Saturday night my friend K.G. came over to drink wine and watch a movie with me.

Sunday evening I took Bug to a restaurant down the street. We had dinner, just the two of us. Crayons for her, glass of wine for me. We walked downtown afterwards and heard the live music. Main Street was closed off for a "Community Appreciation Party" and dance. Dang. Could have had a free meal instead. Bug danced in the stroller, she had a blast while I talked to friends I ran into on the street. It's our last night without Dad. That's good.

Satellite Phone

The bug, she stayed up late tonight.
I lost track of time, didn't even look.
So, sometime after ten p.m.
The phone started ringing
and guess who was there?
her awesome daddy
out of nowhere!
He got to tell her
he loves her.
She said "Hi Dada!"
grabbing onto the phone.
It was then that
I heard him start to cry
connected to us
by the satellite in the sky.

Restless weather

The dog ran through

the fields this morning.

Bug was in the back pack.

We walked with friends.

How does Mother Nature know

that yesterday was Labor Day?

I could feel Fall in the air.

I could smell it. Almost taste it.

It's the season I hate to love.

Winter follows.

So hard for me to live in the

"weather" moment.

I'm always dreading, wondering,

anticipating what tomorrow, next week,

next month will bring.

How do I settle in?

Enjoy this day?

She cried for Dada today.

So nice to know she thinks

of him. I'm thinking of him too.

day, day, day

Quiet day, it was today.

Bath day

Dog day

Hurricane Gustav day

VP Nom. daughter pregnant day

Buy "Applesauce Cake" paint in GWS day

Hang with O, N and JT day

Play day

Thankful for my family day

........oh yeah, and it's Labor Day.