Northern Lights!

 This week was my first neighborhood book club night (we read Go As a River). It was fun to talk more with ladies I mostly just see in passing.

Tuesday was Young Womens but on my way I got a picture from my neighbor showing the Northern Lights RIGHT above my house! When I pulled up to the church I ran to the field next to the building and stared at the sky with everyone who was there already. It was so, so happy to finally see them! I've wanted to see them for so long. After the activity I drove Westin, Bennett, and Clark to Horsetooth to see if we could watch them a little more. It had peaked earlier but I love that we saw them that night.

Wednesday we went to the Boltz open house to continue our journey figuring out what middle school our family should go to. And Thursday we went to STEM night at our elementary, which the boys always love. Michael was able to come this year and that made it waaaaay more enjoyable. I had book club that night with my church friends (Anxious Generation) and it was thought provoking. 

Friday we went to get sushi with the Behunins. They are such great friends. We just love talking with them and laughing with them. Saturday was High Fitness with Lindsey (the best!) and then Westin's basketball game (undefeated still!) then that night we grabbed Ethiopian food with the Gregorys. We love them so much. When I think of how lucky we are to have landed in Fort Collins it's mostly because of our friends and our boys' village. We watched the BYU game that night, and then we had the missionaries over on Sunday. We try to have them over once a month and it cracks me up to see the boys laugh and joke with them.

I loved this week. It felt routine in the best way. My boys play with Legos together so much, or card games, and I just love when they're all home. This is such a fun stage and we're lucky to have each other around here.

Four-year-old check up for this guy, he rocked it :)

I love seeing what stickers they pick.

Asher got this 100-piece puzzle for his birthday from Grandma Daetwyler,
and he really loves it. We did it together a couple times and it was the best part of my day :)

Latest game library find: Life. I forgot I loved this game when I was little,
my kids have been really into it.
Cracked me up to see them playing with the neighborhood crew after school.

Northern Lights above my HOUSE!
This was SO FUN TO SEE!

I pulled up to Young Womens and everyone was outside looking at the sky.
I have tried to see these when they dip down Colorado so many times, and never have.
This felt like the best night!

We finally stopped staring at the sky and went inside for our Bluey marathon night.
I love that the girls chose to do this. Carrie made pavlova. Best activity.

I've never made or tried pavlova, this was fun to see.

Recommitting to FHE around here...

Grandma Miner sent Asher a bug costume kit for his birthday and he loved making these wings and antennae. I love seeing him just beam when he makes things or wears things he loves.

Trader Joe's stickers are always a hit.

First time my whole crew wanted to go to the Behunins house when they invited them over to play.
Usually Camden and always Asher stay around, but this time, all four made the little trek over there.
It was so cute to see this little parade head over to a friend's house.

Bucket list grand pic for my company newsletter.
When we're hired we have to list 50 bucket list items and the owner of Comma loves to make a life-first culture and help people check some of those things off.

Asher has recently rediscovered his Great Wolf Lodge ears and it's so cute.

Happy Birthday, Michael and Asher!

 A couple people are older and wiser around here!

Monday we celebrated Michael. We love him so much! Monday birthdays are not the most thrilling thing, but we had a good weekend with him and a happy Monday morning before work. The boys loved making him notes and putting candles in his blueberry coffee cake breakfast. That night we had his birthday dinner of greek food and creme brulee. He's such a fun and wonderful dad and good person.

The next few days were full of karate, swim, basketball, piano, kindergarten volunteering plus a mystery reader morning (The Gruffalo, with cute Asher as my sidekick), and the regular grind. But Wednesday we took Westin and Bennett down to Denver to see The Lion King and it was such a beautiful production. I was blown away by it and the creativity and beauty made me emotional. Westin and I went to the Lesher open house on Thursday, we're trying to sort out what middle school is right for our family.

Saturday was our Asher boy's birthday! FOUR! We were honestly so sad to say goodbye to age 3 around here. It's magic. We love two- and three-year-olds so, so much, but we also love our boys at all their ages :) There's just something about that toddler magic that is like nothing else. Asher woke up to cinnamon rolls and some fun presents (he was really hoping for a toy motorcycle and a stuffed Luna dog), and then he wanted to bring donuts to all his friends that we watch the BYU games with. Not a great BYU game... BUT still so fun to be with our people and Asher had a good time. From there we went to Westin's basketball game (undefeated still!) and I had to hop on my annual Comma retreat from 1pm to 5pm. But that night we had Asher's birthday dinner and cake and he was just so happy to be the birthday guy. What a sweetheart. We'd let him jump in our bed every night if he wanted to #youngestchild, and he makes everyone so happy. Our boys like to say that Asher hugs are magic, and they are. I wish we could simultaneously bottle him up and enjoy him growing because both are just so wonderful.

Happy birthday, sweet Asher!!

Birthday morning for Michael!
Blueberry coffee cake and cute boys.

A cool new knife ready for all things fishing

Did you know if you wash your AirPods in the laundry they will still work?
Did you know if you do that twice they'll still work but not quiiite like they should?

Moved our "gym" to downstairs so that all our shoes are now in our mudroom area instead of exercise equipment. I know I just keep talking about the domino effects around here from our projects, but no room is safe.

A new orange belt around here!
Bennett and Camden really enjoy karate.

Creme brulee for the birthday dessert.
Michael always chooses fun things for his birthday menu.

They loved singing happy birthday to their dad. He's got big fans around here.

Asher made birthday bags to give his friends at preschool for his birthday.
By the time his birthday comes around after mom's and Bennett's and dad's, he fully understands the birthday role.

Fire night with the young women.

Playgroup days are kind of ending,
but these guys had fun playing games at our monthly friends lunch.

I've been really looking forward to seeing The Lion King with these guys!
It was a little stressful getting there in time but we made it, and loved it.

The costumes in this show were just incredible.
I really loved seeing beautiful creativity and collaboration and seeing my boys in awe of it, too.

We've seen a muskrat at this pond a few times,
so now it's a daily stop to see if we can spot him.

Three years at Comma means a Bucket List Grant!
I really love the agency I work for. I think they have such a great culture and I just wish I found them earlier in life.

Birthday cake prep for Asher boy.

Ready for a four-year-old tomorrow!

Cinnamon rolls requested again.

How can our littlest guy be four already.
Three to four feels like a jump. Michael and I were both just a little heartbroken going to bed last night knowing we'll never have a two- or three-year old little guy again.

Donuts with friends and the BYU football game, just what Asher wanted!
He loves this and it's so cute.

I guess I got this wrong -- he wanted the sprinkles IN the cake, not on it, like Funfetti. 
He was pretty nice about it though :)