Isaac is 6!

I seriously can't believe we have been parents for so long! On the one hand, the time has flown by, but on the other hand, I feel like it was just yesterday when we left our quiet row house on Capitol Hill to head to GW for Isaac's birth.  Our little man has grown up so much in the last year, he really has turned into a great kid.  Of course he does his share of mischief and trouble-making, but he is conscientious, sweet, funny, and responsible.  He loves riding his bike, playing with legos and wii, and is enamored with superheroes, Ninjago, and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.  He's still an adventurous eater - loves sushi, a good salad and hates eggs and ketchup (even on fries!).  It's been a joy to watch him grow into this little man that I love spending time with, and I can't wait to see what else is in store!  Here are some cute pics of Isaac that show his personality and his growth card from his 6 year old dr visit (a bit on the small side, but overall great - other than the asthma thing!!), and waking up on the actual day to the family traditional candle in his toast:

For Isaac's birthday this year, he wanted to have a small party at the house for his best buddies.  I was a little hesitant to have a drop-off party with 7 6-year olds, but Bill assured me they couldn't cause too much damage in 2.5 hours.  We got them each lego sets to build, let them make their own pizza, play outside and then they settled down to watch the Lego Movie.  There were a few small injuries from pillow fights and just general rough boy-play, but overall the party was a big success and they all had a blast.

Saturday night, we had a family celebration at our place.  Can't have a birthday without some cousin love!!  Isaac was beaming and feeling very special to have Grandma Gerri and EVERY one of his aunts and uncles and cousins celebrating and singing Happy Birthday to him.  We all had fun, and were once again reminded of why we made the move.  

Grandma and Grandpa's Summer Visit

For the second year, the Andersons came to Colorado for the Summer.  They rented a place in Boulder for the first month, but came over to visit a lot.  They took the kids for lots of mid-day adventures during the week, which helped make their summer fun.  Grandma also put her teaching expertise to good use, tutoring Isaac in reading and making sure he improved his skills over the summer.  Grandpa did lots of projects around the house, making Bill's "honey-do" list a lot shorter, and our house a lot better!  We were all glad to have them, and were sorry to see them leave in August.  Here are some cute pics from the summer:

After they finished their Boulder-stint, Grandma and Grandpa moved into our house for the last two weeks of their visit.  For part of that time, they took the kids on a road trip to Colorado Springs, for an adventure that included hiking, a train ride up a 14-er, a petting zoo, a cool water slide, and lots of laughs.  From all accounts it was a great trip, and they all had a blast.  Here are some pics:

While the kids were with G&G, Bill and I took a trip to Cabo for a late 35th bday (Bill) and anniversary celebration.  We pretty much laid by the (gorgeous) pool / beach for 8 days, doing nothing but reading, drinking margaritas, and eating fresh fish.  Not too bad...