You are Talking to Yourself

Yesterday I asked Marielle to do something for me several times. When she didn't respond I asked her if she was listening to me, to which she said:

"No, I think you're talking to yourself."

I put Marielle in timeout for talking back to her mom, but I have to admit that I thought her comment, which she thought was honest, was funny.

Morning Dancing and Singing

This morning Harper started singing what I believe is a variation on a Demi Lovata song. Dancing (aka Harper spinning on the floor laying down) also accompanied this lovely song.

Don't walk away from me like you always do
Come back
Come back to me
Come back
Come back like you always do

repeat 10 times

The Girl Misses Her Dad

Marc has only been gone four days, but Marielle has definitely started missing her daddy. Yesterday afternoon she told me that she “didn’t understand how long daddy was going to be gone.” Before bed she told me that she missed her dad and was sad that he wasn’t helping to tuck her in. This morning Marielle begged me not to go to work. When I told her that I had to go she pleaded for me to take her with me. When I told her I couldn’t take her she just started crying and yelling “mommy please.” I was only able to leave by letting her Auntie Sarah hold her back while I left and locked the door behind me.

I feel bad that Marc’s short trip has been so hard for her. I am sure that she is at this moment having fun playing in the sun and will soon adjust to Marc’s temporary absence. However, I can’t help but feel sad that my little girl, who has no real concept of time, doesn’t realize that Marc will be back in no time. I am also a bit anxious about the fact that when he comes back he is going to leave a couple of weeks later for another several week trip.

For the time being, I made a calendar that we can use to track how many days it will be until Marc comes home. I’ll have Marielle and Harper put stickers on each day that passes and I’m sure that with a little more cuddles and time Marielle will be just fine.

Harper at Two

1. Is a very happy little girl who loves to smile
2. Loves dinosaurs and does a very impressive dinosaur roar
3. Is very adventurous and will climb everything and anything
4. Makes the best pretend mad face
5. Loves fruit gummy snacks and will ask for them all day
6. Loves the color purple
7. Is such a cuddle bug. She is always willing to give hugs and kisses and usually asks for them
8. Wants to be like her cool big sister whom she loves dearly
9. Is not afraid to let her big sister know that she will not be pushed around
10. Loves Sandra Boynton books, especially the one about dinosaurs
11. Knows all of her colors, but is still working on her numbers
12. Loves Tinkerbell and all the Disney princesses
13. Loves to dance and has the cutest butt wiggle and sashay dance moves
14. Knows most of the words to the Leaving on a Jet Plane song
15. If allowed into bed with Mom and Dad will sleep like a cat (i.e. will try to sleep with her stomach outstretched across Mommy’s face)
16. Can party like a rock-star. Seriously, the girl would stay up all hours of the night if you let her.
17. Has the cutest little mullet hairdo
18. Always has a little stream of drool on her chin
19. Thinks seaweed is fabulous
20. Is, much like her sister, hilarious and constantly makes Mommy, Daddy, and sister laugh with all of the funny things she says and does


We love you Harper, Happy Birthday!!!

Happy Belated Birthday America

Earlier this month we enjoyed our second neighborhood 4th of July Parade. My cousin Thorsten was in town, and, despite his German citizenship, he joined in the festivities and marched through the neighborhood with us. He had come out for my brother's wedding and was still in town. He had just finished a solo road trip of Las Vegas, Northern California, and the Southwest, so we were excited that he still had the energy to march in our parade. Ha Ha.




Later in the day we gorged ourselves at a barbecue potluck hosted by the Brenneman's. Sooooo much good food. Mmmmmmm.

We finished of the night by watching fireworks from the street corner outside of the house. It's so nice to be able to see them without the hassle of crowds. I know Marielle and Harper also appreciate that the firworks our more quiet at this range.

Sorry Ladies... Another Barrios Gets Taken Off the Market

Congratulations to my brother, Ryan, and his beautiful newlywed wife, Jossie! The two tied the knot last month and are currently enjoying their honeymoon.

Sorry, I don't have any bride or ceremony pics since I was in the wedding. I managed to snap this one of Ryan in between frisbee tosses before the big event.

UPDATE. Geoff sent me this advance copy of the official wedding pictures. Thanks Geoff. We are all excited to see all of the photos.

Friday Night Lights

This past Friday we had a decent pair of thunderstorms roll through the Denver area. After they moved off a safe (I think) distance, I managed to get some of these photos from out in our street.

Pre-School Graduate

Back in May, Marielle graduated from her first year in pre-school. She had a great time in the program and she often talks about going back to school soon. We got her into this fall's class during their early registration - although not early enough.

It's a little sad to think that in another year we'll be gearing up for Kindergarten. Oh how these early years fly by.

Rainy Summer Days

Maybe it's a harbinger of Global Climate Change or perhaps we're going through the wet part of some bigger climate cycle. Either way, it's been rainy and stormy here for most of June. Personally, I've really enjoyed it. I really like a good thunderstorm.

Here's a quick photo of Harper wondering when it's going to stop.

DISCLAIMER: This post is old and will, in no way, fit in chronologically with any other posts that we put up. I found it languishing in our list of posts and wanted to post it mainly for the video.




This winter marked the first season in at least three that Viv and I have gotten a chance to go skiing/snowboarding. Despite the fact that most would count our trips into the mountains this year as few, we count them as two. Yes, a whopping two. In my case, it's been three, but three doesn't rhyme with few. I went back in December to Keystone over my winter break, and since then, Viv and I have been up to Aspen and Copper Mountain.

We spent the weekend in Aspen with our neighbors and friends, the Brenneman's. We took all of our collective kids with us and had a great time. Chris and K looked after our little ones on our first full day up there while Viv and I road Buttermilk Mountain; the next day we switched while Chris and K went skiing on Aspen Mountain. Yes, for Viv and I, we didn't ski Buttermilk, we road it as Vivian tried snowboarding for the first time. I think she did awesome on her first time. As her teacher, I was determined to make sure she learned how to actually carve turns as opposed to just plowing from one side of the run to the other on her heel-side edge. Viv accepted the challenge and was managing to carve on both her toe- and heel-side edges by the end of the day! Here's an example of her awesomeness, and believe me when I say that her stop at the end was NOT representative of her whole day.



We also got in a great day of spring skiing at Copper Mountain with the Pierz's. We went up a few days after one of Colorado's infamous spring snow storms. I think we timed it well since most of the system had moved out of the state and it was relatively warm in the mountains, but it was soon enough after that we still recognized that we were indeed skiing on a bit of powder. Geoff and Colette grew up skiing at Copper, and although I've been there quite a few times and know it well, Colette and Geoff know it like the back of their hands. Viv and I sat back and let them take the lead. We got in a good number of runs and had a good time pointing out the crazy fashions of the modern snowboarder. I know we're getting old, but how do they keep their pants up when they are half off of their butts? And are they wearing waterproof underwear? I don't get it.

Sunday Morning Toilet Humor

Here's a little conversation we had this morning just as we finished up breakfast.

Vivian: "Harper let me get you out of your seat."

Harper: "OTAY!"

Vivian: "Oh, pee-yew! Harper, did you poo-poo?"

Marielle: "No, I farted!"

Vivian (checking diaper): "Uh, maybe, but your sister pooped too."

Marielle: "Oh."

Vivian: "Harper stay down here while I go up[stairs] and get a diaper."

Harper: "OTAY!"

Harper (singing): "Stinky."

Harper (singing higher): "Stiiinkyyy."

Harper (singing higher): "Stiiiiinkyyyyyyy!"

Harper (singing higher): "Stiiiiinkyyyyyyy Poo Pooooooo!"

Laughing and diaper changing ensue.

Growing Up Too Fast

The other night Marielle and I were sitting on the couch watching a movie. At one point she turned to me with the saddest little expression on her face and said in the saddest little tone,

"Mommy, I don't have a boy to marry."

I was taken a back a little since she is only four and I imagined I would have several years before such things weighed on her mind. I giggled, smiled, and then told her that she had "plenty of time" and needn't worry about that just yet, to which she responded,

"but I want roses and flowers and pretty things..."

The State of Education

No, I'm not in line for this summer's hottest concert tickets. Apparently, this is what part-day preschool registration has come to.

I arrived 40 minutes early even though my inside source said 15 minutes early would be plenty. I'll let you know how it goes.

Pizza Party a Month-a-go-go-go

Have you ever been to a pizza party where you had to make your own food? Marielle and her friends have. For Ellie's fourth birthday, she and her friends donned little chef's hats and got to work making lunch for everyone. From measuring out flour, activating yeast, and kneading dough, to rolling out pizzas, applying pepperoni, and watching them bake, the kids seemed to have a blast at the Young Chef's Academy. Everyone of them ended up with a delicious little pizza, and we followed the whole thing up with more "pizza." And by "pizza" I mean cake.

Sidebar Changes

So Lisa's relatively recent switch from her old to new blog has me wanting to make a few changes on ours. Nothing major, as I'm still a fan of this blogger template even though a lot of people use it.

This week's change is splitting up the links to other blogs and the links to other websites. So folks, the blogs are now listed in order of the most recently updated. I don't want to here about anyone being offended that they're at the bottom of the list. If you want to be tops, you'll have to start posting it up, or accept mediocrity like we have and just continue posting on one month centers ;)

Happy Birthday Marielle

Marielle at four:
1. Loves princesses, fairies, butterflies, and wearing hair bands in her hair at all times of day with any and every outfit
2. Favorite movie is Tinkerbell
3. Favorite food is pizza, with chicken nuggets running a close second
4. Favorite possession is still Nona
5. Complains that her tummy is hot when she doesn't feel like eating
6. Talks and plays with her sister in her crib in the morning before Mom and Dad come in the room
7. Loves flashlights and sleeping bags
8. Will spot every Dodge Caravan on the road because her Oma has one
9. Loves the He Mele No Lilo song from Lilo and Stitch, Mom does too
10. Loves soccer even though she has never played and continues to ask when she is going to get signed up on a team
11. Loves putting on slippers and pretending they are ice skates
12. Will eat kimchee soup, but acts like strawberries are poisonous
13. Jumps off of everything that is taller than four inches
14. Can pick out Coldplay, Snow Patrol, John Mayer, and "piano songs" on the radio
15. Can spell and write her name
16. Does an awesome karate kick with a simultaneous "hi-ya"
17. Does push ups and sit ups and talks about how working out keeps her healthy
18. Loves to sing and has an amazing number of songs memorized including the chorus of Paramore's "That's What You Get"
19. Still wants to be carried up the stairs and occasionally allows Mom and Dad to cuddle with her
20. Constantly makes her Mommy, Daddy, and sister laugh

"Just workin' on my doll..."

Ellie Shopping at Whole Foods Market

Holding Hands in the Car

While taking pictures of the kids while driving isn't probably the safest practice, I just couldn't pass up this image. For the most part, the girls love riding in the car and they often hold hands. Also, often only one of them is really interested in holding hands and pandemonium ensues as one of them tries to wrest their arm out of the other's grip. I'm sure that the pandemonium would make a good picture as well...

The Other Thirty-Something

Yes, yes, I too am now thirty. Viv has been easing me into this new decade of life for the better part of a year by pointing out my gray hairs from the passenger seat while we drive together. Overall I was set to have a low-key 30th as I am not big on my own birthday in general. I even joked with Viv that 30 is only a big deal because humans count using the decimal system. Al later joked that only an engineer would think of something like that.

Nevertheless, others found this birthday to be special and wanted to mark it with a celebration that I didn't even know about until the last minute. I had suspected a surprise party was in the works, but as the date approached, Viv threw me off the scent. She kept saying that she would have to work on my birthday which I only half believed. However, on the morning of my birthday, she left for work. Throughout the day, I got calls from her at work. I called her at work. Actually, her secretary would answer and "transfer" me to her desk. So all signs pointed to no surprise. Later I went out to the movies with Geoff. Viv had really pushed for me to do this because she had felt bad about her working all day. Little did I know that Geoff, Viv's secretary, neighbors, and family were all in on the deception. As it turned out, Viv was actually across the street at our neighbor's house all day prepping food for the party. Her secretary spent the day forwarding and routing her calls through work (it had me fooled). Geoff kept me busy at the movies while the house got decorated.

We got home from the theater and I was greeted with an emphatic, "SURPRISE!" as I came through the door. It was a lot of fun.

BTW, if you haven't gathered this already from the photos, the party was 70's themed.