Going for a spin

This weekend has given us some fabulous fall weather, and we took full advantage of it.  On Sunday, we took the boys out to Minor Park to see if they would enjoy mountain biking.  I wasn't 100% certain how it would go; when I had asked Noah a couple days earlier if he'd like to try riding his bike on some trails and he told me no.

We haven't been here in nearly two years, but it's a fun place that I used to enjoy coming to quite frequently.  This was the very first place I tried my hand at true mountain biking, and at one time, I lived nearby and used the trails extensively as a great after-work release.  The Blue River trails have something for everyone, with difficulty levels from beginner to expert depending on your tastes.  But even the "beginner" level for a 3- and 6-year old can pose some challenging obstacles.

Initially, I hadn't even planned on taking Elliot's bike along, figuring there would be: a) no way he could keep up on his bike, and b) no way he could keep going the entire way.  Turns out, happily, that I was wrong on both counts.  We took his pedal-less Strider with us, but not Mandy's bike.  Hers is not a trail bike, and we figured Elliot would poop out quickly and they could just walk in the woods.

Noah had no problems at all, and loved the experience.  Elliot kept up on nearly all sections, until the end, but he kept going under his own power until we got back to the car after more than two hours and three miles of biking.  We stopped to throw rocks into the Blue River a couple of times, but Noah always wanted to keep going.  We had lunch about halfway through, then crossed to the other side of the river to head back along some other trails.

Afterwards, we took the boys out for some ice cream and drove by where I used to live and where Mandy's first house was.  She and I both were more tired than the two Energizer bunnies we had with us, but we all had a great time.

First big downhill.

First big uphill

Elliot getting on it.

Keeping up with big brother

Rock break.  This is the same place we stopped and threw rocks two years ago.

They liked exploring the "lakes" they kept seeing from the trail.

Noah found a board that would be perfect for a fort, and was convinced he could take this board back with him on his bike 

Lunch!

Climbing down a steep hill.  One that daddy would have ridden down in his younger years. They couldn't even convince Mom to climb down it.

Exploring

Climbing back up

The last part of the trail on this side peters out into a railroad line.

Noah's 6th birthday party

Noah had his birthday party at the gymnastics place he and Elliot used to take classes. It is a really fun/big gymnasium.  The kids had a great time!  Each party has their own party coaches (somehow they managed to have 5 or 6 bday parties going on all at once).  The party coach takes the kids out and parents aren't allowed on the floor.  The coach led them through several stations and things to do.  Paul and I were given bracelets and allowed to come on the floor to take pictures.  Then we had a half an hour in a party room to eat cake.

We didn't have time to open presents, so we did that at home.  Noah was excited to play with all his new toys this week and has been writing one or two thank you notes a night to all his friends.

Finn and Hudson carpooled with us.  These kids were ready to party!

Weekend with Claire

When Paul and I went on our weekend getaway recently, the kids stayed home with their favorite sitter of all time, Claire.  There was no time for missing mom and dad.  She kept them busy and having fun.  She emailed me some pictures from their weekend.  How lucky our family is to have Claire.  Sadly she went back to Seattle the next morning after we got back to head back to college.  We'll see her again over Christmas break.

They made ice boats and sailed them at the Nelson Art Gallery

Love the ice boats

I think shaving cream was involved here

frozen paint

Noah's first soccer game of the season

Air hockey in Claire's basement.  They were obsessed with this and still talk about it.

Glow in the dark bath

St. E's night at Culver's the night we left

hehehe

Noah's 6th Birthday

Noah turned six this week!  We started out with singing Happy Birthday and opening his present from us first.

 

Noah's birthday was on a Tuesday, and he wasn't very enthused about having to go to school on his birthday.  I promised him it would be fun to get to celebrate at school.  He got to bring Twinkies for a birthday treat.  The school has adopted a new policy that we have to buy store made treats and snacks due to kids that have peanut and other food allergies.  Noah had never had Twinkies and kind of turned up his nose at them in the car.  Needless to say, once he had it, he loved them - as did his whole class.  Twinkies were a huge hit!  

When we first got to school, Mrs. Pease put this birthday crown on him.  Noah said he wore it all day, even to lunch and specials.  He said school was awesome, because it was his birthday :)

After school I made spaghetti, twice baked cauliflower and pumpkin pie.  Grandma Anita and Grandpa Rick came over and got Noah a nerf gun and Pogo Stick.  The Pogo Stick was a HUGE hit.  He got the hang of it pretty fast.  When Grandparents left he was up to 12 in a row.  By bedtime he was up to 33 in a row.  He called Grandpa Rick every time he broke his record.

nice dismount

Yesterday after school, Noah got right on his pogo stick and hopped to the neighbors house to show it off.  He broke his record and got to 39 jumps in a row and called to tell Grandpa.  He told him when he gets to 50 he'd buy him some candy.  Noah got SO SERIOUS after that.  Within a couple minutes he got 89 in a row.  This kid is on fire with the pogo stick :)

It was a happy 6th birthday for Noah.  At home and at school.

Here are some pictures from the past 6 years.  It's amazing how much he's grown and changed in what seems like such a short time.  Mom and Dad love you, Noah!

Newborn baby boy

6 months

One year

Raiding the pantry

Two years

Two and a half - big bro!

Soccer debut at age 3

Classic - almost 3

4 years - sledding on suicide hill

Five and a half

The skinny on Noah:
48" and 57 lbs.
Fave sport: soccer & swimming
Fave vacation: Climbing mountains in Colorado, beach is a very close 2nd
Fave toys: Legos (and he is really good at them!)
Fave book: Calvin & Hobbes & his National Geographic Almanac
Into: Space, U.S. Geography (knows all his states and lots of facts about them)
Fave food: sub sandwiches, mac & cheese, pizza
What makes us so proud:  Besides being so smart and handsome and strong, Noah is very kind to everyone.  He is also super responsible at school and his teacher reports he is always doing what he is supposed to be doing.  He's a conscientious and an excellent student.