Picking Wild Raspberries at Meyer Ranch

This morning, we took the kids on a short drive up to Meyer Ranch Park near Conifer. From Denver, all you need to do is take 285 south to S Turkey Creek Road. When you exit the highway, there is a parking lot just on the south side of the highway. We parked there and hiked with the kids for about a mile (mostly uphill). We stopped when we finally spotted some of the wild raspberries.

I read the first week of August is usually the best time for wild raspberries, but Andrew and I are busy all next weekend, so we decided to check it out today. I'm glad we did! There were enough ripe raspberries right off the trail to keep us busy for 15-20 minutes. We saw even more raspberries that weren't ripe yet, so next weekend should be a great time for others to pick.

The hike up was difficult because we had to carry the kids much of the way. If we go again, we might try out a stroller next time because the (unpaved) path was pretty smooth most of the way up!

There were a few forks in the path. We mostly stayed south and west at the forks. When we turned onto the Lodgepole Loop trail, we finally spotted raspberries! Andrew said there are many more off the trail, but we didn't want to venture too far from the trail with the kiddos. So, we picked the ones right on the edge of the path.

Jo wasn't so sure about trying the raspberries at first.

Oliver, who had been grumpy about the hike, immediately perked up when we found berries to pick!

You can see the Foxloop Trail behind Andrew. So, we didn't need to go off the beaten path really at all to get raspberries!

After finally trying the raspberries, Joanna couldn't get enough! She wasn't too keen on picking them for herself, but she eagerly ate the ones we gave her. "More!" she said with mouthfuls of raspberries.

At first, Oliver just ate them all. I finally convinced him to save some, and he kept talking about how he wanted to show "Baby Sawyer" the raspberries he picked.

This part of the trail was nice and forested and shady.

Me and my berry picker!

Check out his loot!

 

Oliver was so happy from berry picking that he ran the entire way back to the car! Going back down the trail and not carrying kids was a lot easier than going up!

My berry-pickin' family.

This was my first time ever picking wild fruit. It was fun! Sure, hiking uphill for a mile while holding 25 pounds wasn't easy, but it was worth it once we started picking.

Joanna's Candy Corn Dress

Now that most of our hard work on the house is behind us (oh, thank goodness!), I am trying to get organized in my in-law's basement and trying to get back into a good routine with the kiddos.

I have a new project I'm working on for a giveaway after Labor Day (more hats, yay!). They are fantastic, and I think everyone is going to love them. In addition for making two for my blog, I am making a bunch for my kids, my cousins' kids, and my niece & nephew.

As I was going through my yarn and things, I realized I hadn't posted about the candy corn dress I made for Jo last fall. Of course, I want to post pattern information for my crafty readers, but I also want her to be able to look back and know how much I enjoy making things for her. My mom always sewed for my sister and me. While I'm a novice with the sewing machine, I'm getting better and better at knitting and crochet. I look forward to making many more things for my kiddos.

I know; it's weird that I'm already thinking of the fall and Halloween. I can't help it! I'm eager for these hot days of summer to be over, and so I'm dreaming of autumn.

I'd based the candy corn dress off of Lion Brand's free pattern called the "perfect sundress." I made some big changes. First, I made the top part of the dress striped instead of solid by alternating two rows of my main color (yellow) with two rows of white. I also made that striped part ribbed by doing a basic rib stitch (knit, purl, knit, purl, etc). I decided to make the pockets that same pattern as the top (striped & ribbed), and I also made the pockets smaller. I made the bottom part of the dress (the contrast orange) in a rib stitch, too, to keep it from rolling up. Finally, I decided to sew on buttons and add button holes to the shoulder in order to 1) have more orange, and 2) ease of putting it on Jo.

The only thing I think I would change on the dress is the neck hole. I think it was too large, and it wouldn't lay flat. It was big enough on top that I might see if Jo can wear it again this year. The skirt might be short, but I can pair it with leggings!

Preschool Science Projects

We have performed a number of science projects that are just perfect for curious little kids! Try these out for yourself, or give them a read to get your creative juices flowing. Please let me know how they work for you, and share any kid-friendly experiments that your little ones love!

Super Simple Experiments:

• Melt ice cubes to learn about states of matter. Oliver learned that ice is just water that turned solid in the cold freezer!

Vinegar and Baking Soda Experiments:

• Let your child pour vinegar into baking soda. Oliver got to observe what happens when you mix an acid and a base! I let him use an egg beater so the fun lasted longer.
• Volcano Easter Eggs. My mother-in-law found this idea online. We got to do an acid-base reaction while dyeing our eggs!
• Vinegar-Baking Soda Color Explosion. A pan full of baking soda. A squeeze bottle full of colorful vinegar. Need I say more?

Messy Play (and Learn!):

• Non-Newtonian Fluid. A simple mixture of cornstarch and water doesn't act like a typical liquid. You have to try this for yourself!

Preschool Science: Melt Ice Cubes

The other day, Oliver and I decided to do a last minute science project. He loves the ice dispenser in his grandma & grandpa's fridge, and I tried to tell him that ice is just frozen water. So, we decided to experiment!

Please be aware that microwaves can create hot pockets in liquid. So, if you do this project with your preschooler, you will want to make sure you check the temperature and stir the ice water to prevent those really hot pockets from forming!

Step 1: Oliver got ice from the ice dispenser. So fun! We used crushed ice because it would melt faster (more surface area). 

Step 2: Oliver put the cup of ice in the microwave. He heated his ice for 30 seconds, and then he stirred it. There was already some water in the cup after 30 seconds!

We microwaved the ice three times at 30 seconds. After the third round, all of the ice melted.

Step 3: Drink!

Oliver was really excited that he "made" water. I considered refreezing it to show him how water can go back from liquid to solid. Ultimately, I decided he wouldn't have enough patience to wait for water to freeze, so we didn't perform that experiment.

For dinner, we boiled water for rice. Oliver likes to watch, and I pointed out the steam to him. I explained how the steam is water, too. It can be solid, liquid, or gas, depending on the temperature! I think he mostly just thought it was neat to use the ice dispenser and microwave, but he also seemed to grasp the concept that water gets solid and turns to ice when it's really cold.

I love preschool science!

Spider versus Mom versus 3 year old. The 3 year old wins.

A big, ugly spider started crawling up my leg while I sat holding Jo. I started freaking out and shrieking. I used my hand and flung the spider down onto the carpet and THEN plopped Jo on the ground instead of the other way around. I put Jo right on the spider! So I picked her back up, only the spider wasn't on the ground any more. !!! So I plopped her back on the ground, only on her belly to find the spider. Found it! I grabbed her fox and used it to frantically brush the spider off Jo, and then I grabbed a box to smash it!

Jo was hysterical by the time the ordeal was over. I held her and rocked her. Oliver walked up to me and said, "Mom, I want you to listen. I don't want you to yell at bugs. And don't hurt Jo when there is a big bug."

...my 3 year old is more mature than me.

Hiking the Braille Trail in Genesee

We celebrated my mom's birthday a few weeks late this year. She was in New Mexico over her actual birthday, and we were off in Utah the following week. So, this past weekend, we decided to take her out for a hike to celebrate!

I wanted to find a nice, family-friendly hike for the kids, and I stumbled upon a great list by Mile High Mamas! You can find their list of hikes on their blog here. They recommend different hikes based on the age of your kids, and for little walkers, they recommend Lair o' the Bear (which we've already been to a couple of times), Lookout Mountain Nature Center (which we just went to on Mother's Day), Alderfer Three Sisters, and Genesee Park: Braille Trail.

I thought the Braille Trail sounded interesting. The Mile High Mamas say it was originally meant as a trial for the blind. It's supposed to be a flat, one mile loop. Perfect! So, we decided to take my parents there. As a warning, most of the signs posted for the trail actually call it the Beaver Brook Trail.

The hike was beautiful, but it wasn't what we expected. The ground was flat, but I learned they didn't intend for that to mean without an incline. The ground was mostly flat in the sense that you don't have to step over large rocks in the way, but there absolutely were inclines! I think we did the circle the wrong way. We found ourselves going down steps, and, at the end, we went up a fairly substantial incline that was difficult to do with little kids. We huffed and puffed a bit, but holding a 30 pound child on top of that made it strenuous! All four of us adults were switching off with the kiddos.

I thought the area was stunning, though. I think I can honestly say that it's the best forested area of Colorado that I've ever been. The trees were really dense, and I was surprised to see almost no pine beetle damage. It had rained the night before, so the smells of the pines were good and intense for us, too. 

It seemed perfect for hikers who are visually impaired. There was a rope on the side of the trail that went around the entire trail, so you can follow that with your hands. Also, all of the plaques contained a braille translation, too. The plaques mentioned where the benches are in relation to the plaque, so you can stop and sit. They also described what you might hear or smell instead of only focusing on what to see. Seriously, it was cool! On a side note, Oliver also thought it was cool that we let him pee in the forest. So, all around, it was very cool.

Summer Bucket List 2013:

* Watch a fireworks display on the Fourth of July.
* Bake a berry stars & stripes cake with Oliver.
* Run through the sprinklers.
* Go to a splash park.
* Play in the "creek" at the Children's Mordecai Gardens at the Denver Botanic Gardens.
* Watch our first parade.
* Ride the outdoor train at Belleview Park.
* Visit a petting zoo.
* Take the kids for a swim.
* Have a real outdoor picnic on the grass with a picnic basket.
* Watch a sunrise.
* Go for a hike in the mountains.
* Go on a road trip.
* Go out for an ice cream cone, and eat it outside!
* Make our own ice cream, and let Oliver choose the flavor.
* Pick and eat vegetables out of the garden we're growing at Grandma Judy's house.
* Eat cherry tomatoes right off the vine at Aunt Bonnie & Uncle George's house.
* Throw water balloons.
* Go tent camping overnight.
* Look at stars in the sky.
* Visit Andrew at work for lunch.
* Take the train downtown to visit Grandpa Larry for lunch.
* Go to the Fireman's Museum.
* Use sidewalk chalk.
* Blow bubbles.
* Take Father's Day photos with the letters that spell out "DAD" again.

100 (Attempted) Ways to Entertain a Young Toddler, Day 93: Cardboard Boxes

Today's activity is a classic! Colleen, my mother-in-law whom we're staying with for a few months, took a couple of cardboard boxes and taped them together to create a tunnel for the kids. At first, they were a little skeptical, but it didn't take long for them to get really into it. I loved that they were playing together!

I took a video of all the fun they had playing with this box tunnel. Warning: it's about two minutes of the kids squealing! They really enjoyed themselves.
                                           

We were fortunate enough to have these boxes around (thanks to Colleen!), but you can usually buy large boxes from a place like U-Haul or a storage center for about $2 a piece. I think this is a great activity to keep in mind for a rainy day or for when winter rolls around. It was a hit with both of my kids, which means it's not just a toddler activity! I give this activity an A.

Conversations with a 2 Year Old

Have you seen these videos on YouTube yet? If not, you have to check them out. A guy reenacts conversations he has with his 2 year old daughter, but he has another man play the part of his daughter. It's hilarious! Seriously, my stomach hurts from laughter when I watch the episodes. A new one seems to come out almost every Wednesday.

Here is the main user page on YouTube to find all of the "Convos With My 2 Year Old" shows:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=36nHCFQDbAI&feature=youtu.be

My favorites (so far...) are Episode 1 and Episode 5, but they are all so funny. They are the funniest things I've seen since Baby Trashes Bar. Enjoy!

RIP Box the Fox

Joanna has a very beloved stuffed animal. It's a fox sent to her by Uncle Andy & Aunt Erin for her first birthday. Since about April, they've been inseparable. Here are some pictures from the last month or so of Jo with her favorite friend:

We originally named the fox "Tod" after the Disney movie, "The Fox and the Hound." Joanna calls the fox "Box," so the name stuck. He is Box the Fox.

She has a habit of leaving Box in weird places. When she asks for Box, or when it is bed time, I often end up in a mad dash to find the fox. I've found it in the hamper, in the swing, in the high chair... just anywhere!

Well, today is officially the first time Box the Fox cannot be found. I have looked everywhere I can think of... even outside under bushes. I've dug through garbage, searched in cabinets, stuck my hand down vents... Box is gone. To me, it is extra heart-breaking because Box is the one consistent thing for Jo during all of the moves we've been doing. From our house to Grandpa Larry & Grandma Judy's house to Grandpa Paul & Grandma Colleen's house to our vacation in Utah and back to Grandpa Paul & Grandma Colleen's house, Box the Fox has always been there.

We ordered a new fox. The same kind is on sale at Jacob's Room for $5.43. So, I ordered the $5 fox, and then I paid $18 in shipping to get it here in two days! That is $18 shipping on a $5 animal... and part of me feels guilty about not spending the $50 to get it here tomorrow!

So, RIP Box the Fox. In two days, we will welcome Box 2.0.

Road Trip to Utah + Updated Summer Bucket List

We just got back from a last minute road trip to Utah! Andrew's brother lives there, and we'd hoped to go visit them in June. Things got delayed and then cancelled due to conflicting schedules. Last week, Andrew's work sent out a memo that said they would be closed on Friday, July 5, in addition to July 4. With four days off, we decided to make the trip to Utah happen. We went on lots of adventures including our first family tent camping trip in Wyoming! I wrote about our adventures here: http://www.travelblog.org/Bloggers/WhirledPeas/Trips/23214

Here are a few photo highlights of the trip:

With the trip came lots to mark off for our family's summer bucket list! We got to watch a fireworks display on the Fourth of July in Hyrum, Utah. The fireworks came with a view, as they were right in front of a backdrop of mountains. Oliver and I also made a stars and stripes cake. Uncle Zach didn't have a mixer, but he gave us an immersion blender to use. Oliver thought that was really cool. Of course, we got to mark off going on a road trip as well as tent camping. I'll be honest: the kids didn't sleep very much when we were camping. They really had a great time, though, and Oliver has already asked to go back to the sleeping bag and fire.

Other items that I don't have pictured (yet...) that I've marked off are blowing bubbles and running through sprinklers. We totally did those things this summer, too. We're making progress on our list!

* Watch a fireworks display on the Fourth of July.
* Bake a berry stars & stripes cake with Oliver.
* Run through the sprinklers.
* Go to a splash park.
* Play in the "creek" at the Children's Mordecai Gardens at the Denver Botanic Gardens.
* Watch our first parade.
* Ride the outdoor train at Belleview Park.
* Visit a petting zoo.
* Take the kids for a swim.
* Have a real outdoor picnic on the grass with a picnic basket.
* Watch a sunrise.
* Go for a hike in the mountains.
* Go on a road trip.
* Go out for an ice cream cone, and eat it outside!
* Make our own ice cream, and let Oliver choose the flavor.
* Pick and eat vegetables out of the garden we're growing at Grandma Judy's house.
* Eat cherry tomatoes right off the vine at Aunt Bonnie & Uncle George's house.
* Throw water balloons.
* Go tent camping overnight.
* Look at stars in the sky.
* Visit Andrew at work for lunch.
* Take the train downtown to visit Grandpa Larry for lunch.
* Go to the Fireman's Museum.
* Use sidewalk chalk.
* Blow bubbles.
* Take Father's Day photos with the letters that spell out "DAD" again.

We didn't go stargazing as a family, but I am happy to say that I get to mark something off of my own bucket list. I got to see the Milky Way! We were camping in the Medicine Bow National Forest, and at 1am, things were dark enough and clear enough for me to see the Milky Way and a sprinkling of star dust.
* Watch a movie in the park with the kids.
* Take the kids to Disney World.
* Take the kids to Sesame Street Place.
* Take the kids tent camping.
* Take the kids to the tulip festival in Holland, Michigan
* Build a snowman with the kids.
* Have a tea party with the kids.
* Have a real picnic with the kids (blanket + picnic basket).
* Pick wild berries with the kids.
* Stay in a log cabin for a winter night in the mountains with the kids.
* Take the kids to a parade.
* Take the kids on a drive to see Christmas lights.
* Help the kids with a science fair project.
* Take Andrew on a cheese tasting. 
* Live in an old, brick home.
* Pay off our house entirely. Own it out right!
* Make our very own garden.
* Dress up for Halloween as a family.
* Plant a fruit tree.
* Train and run in another half marathon.
* Sit in a hot tub in the snow.
* Throw a nice dinner party for no reason.
* Go on an Alaskan cruise.
* Go on another tropical vacation, just Andrew and me.
* Go to the National Cherry Festival in Michigan.
* Go to the Mackinac Island Fudge Festival in Michigan.
* Go to the National Cherry Blossom Festival in Washington, DC.
* See the Northern Lights.
* See the Milky Way. (Medicine Bow National Forest, 2013)
* Go to Hong Kong with Phuong.
* Go to India with Aminta.
* Go to the Dominican Republic with Stasa.
* Get to every continent (So far: North America--including Central--and Europe)
* See Machu Picchu.
* Go to Paris.
* See Mount Rushmore.
* See the Crazy Horse Monument.
* See the Little Bighorn National Monument.
* See the Vietnam Memorial.
* Go to the Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, DC.
* See the Abraham Lincoln National Memorial in Washington, DC.
* See the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial.
* See a whale (in the wild)
* Take a train across country.
* Camp on my uncle's land in Vashon Island.
* Go to the strawberry festival on Vashon Island.
* Go to the original Starbucks in Seattle.
* Go to a coffee plantation.
* Drink espresso in Italy with Andrew.
* Learn how to use a wet saw and lay tile all by myself.
* "Yarn Bomb" something!
* Build a window seat for reading.
* Backpack Europe (Phuong and I backpacked through Germany, the Czech Republic, Italy, and Austria in 2006)
* Sky Dive (2002)
* Get a tattoo (2002)
* Dye my hair a funky color (Purple - 2001)
* Cut my hair super short (2000)
* See Yellowstone (2003)
* Ride a mule down the Grand Canyon (1995)
* Get my degree (2005)
* Train and run in a half marathon (Disney World 2009)
* Have a garden wedding (2007)
* Have children (2009 & 2011)
* Stay in the dorms (2001)
* Live in an apartment (2007-2008)
* Buy our first home (town home, 2009)
* Take the kids apple picking (2012)
* Build a sandcastle at the beach with the kids (2013)
* See the aspens in the Colorado mountains in the fall (2012)
* See the Maroon Bells (2012)
* Explore Mayan Pyramids (Belize 2008)
* Drive along Highway 1 through Big Sur (2008)
* See the redwoods (2008)
* Go for a wine tasting in Napa Valley (2008)
* See the Scottish countryside (2012)
* Learn how to use a jigsaw and use it (1997 and 2013)
* Learn how to use a miter saw and use it (2009, 2010, and 2013)
* Redecorate an entire room (first: 2009)
* Volunteer for a political campaign (Barack Obama, 2012)
* See a President speak (Barack Obama, 2012)
* Hike with the kids in a hiking backpack (2010 and 2013)
* Go treasure hunting! (New Mexico, 2013)
* Throw boxes of tea into the Boston Harbor (simulation, 1996)
* See the Gateway Arch in St Louis (1997)
* See a panda bear (San Diego Zoo, 2003 & 2005)
* See a bonobo chimpanzee (San Diego Zoo, 2005)
* Go to a Renaissance Festival (Larkspur, 2003-2007)
* Ride a steam engine (1997 and 2012)
* Vacation at Cape Cod (2010)
* Host Thanksgiving (2011)