Happy (belated) Birthday

Happy 42nd Birthday Mr. W. Sorry the post is belated - atleast the party was on time. I surprised you with a night out that included a sushi dinner (remember the Big Lebowski roll...yummy!) and tickets to the Toby Keith concert. The weather was perfect and we had fun watching all the drunk people at the concert.

Then, we had a party at the house with cake and ice cream - your favorite from Whole Foods. Dena, you've scarred us for life with this cake. To help celebrate your 42nd birthday were: Umple Joe and Michael, Veronica and the kids, Grandma and Grandpa, Cesar and Sofia. It was fabulous!

A Vacation of Sorts

Me and Emma (after she played in the rain) - I love you girl!

My dad and sister were in town this weekend. It was a really mellow and relaxed visit and I had a great time hanging out them and hanging out with my brother and his family. We ate great food, drank good wine, watched the kids play, went to the Flea Market, had friends over, played at Water World - surprisingly with no kid melt downs, and really just enjoyed each others company.

The kids played in the rain one afternoon. They were drenched.

Thanks for some much needed time off.

We missed you Grandma Carol.

Hugs and Kisses to All!

Camping with Cole

Cole and I took the dogs up to Poudre Canyon near Ft. Collins to enjoy some good old outdoor fun. Here's what it looked like.

Pick Cole up from school

Drive to Ft. Collins - only an hour - thank goodness

Set up camp - easy enough - thank you REI for easy tents

Drive to the river, play in the river, LOVED this part. Should have brought our camping chairs with us, but they were at camp. Humph!

Stop by corner store, eat 8 hour old hot dogs - they were pretty good - that's gross right?

Go back to camp

Make a fire - I can make a mean fire - right Rach?

Roast marshmellows

Watch fire until it gets very small

Hop in tent and send time whispering sweet nothings with Cole until he finally fell asleep at 10pm

I watched the stars from the tent window - It was awesome!

Then 5:30 a.m. wake call with the sun and we were out of camp by 7

It went by really fast but we had a great time.

Latest 10

I feel like I've missed many important and interesting things over the past month, but do you think I remember what they are? I just know that important and interesting things have been happening around here.

Let's see what I can remember that happened longer than a minute ago:

1. Cole learned to tie his shoes. Candy is a wonderful incentive.

2. I had a fantastic trip to NYC and are planning on meeting up with some of my new girlfriends in Chicago in October. Chicago in October - doesn't it just sound perfect?

3. Speaking of NYC - the conference I went to re-energized me and gave me new ideas about leading my team. I realized I've been stuck in my office too much. I need to give some love to my peeps.

So, I just spent two hours baking a bunch of cakes and tomorrow, during a meeting, I'm going to announce a CHALLENGE in which I break the team into groups and they get to make something with all these fun cakes. They will have to work as a team in a short amount of time with a very limited supplies of tools. All while 20 eyes are watching them to see who comes up with the most CREATIVE, the most ORIGINAL, and the BEST THEME! We're going to have some fun tomorrow. Other fun CHALLENGES coming up in the spirit of teambuilding are making a NITA commercial and a NITA jingle. It's amazing how creative people can get.

4. I still haven't sent out Thank You's from Cole's birthday party that was a month ago. Although I am stealing Rachel's card idea. It was just too cute.

5. Cole starts First grade on Tuesday. Seriously? My sweet baby monkey.

6. We had a blast with Grandpa Jack and Aunt Emma. See seperate post.

7. Cole and I went camping. See seperate post.

8. My swim is in 4 days!

9. I'm getting excited for fall. I want to bowl again.

10. I want to start running again. I miss it.

The effects

I'll be swimming 6.2 miles - from one end to the other in 65 degree water with no wetsuit - absolutely stupid

I've smelled like chlorine for going on seven months now. The time is nearing when I may be odor free. Actually, the smell of chlorine was much stronger in the beginning, especially when I would sweat. It would just seep out of my pores. Now, Ithink it's so far deep that even sweat won't release it...that, or my nose has grown accustom to my new fragrance. Besides, my odor, there is the hair. Brittle and dry and again, the stench of chlorine. Hair, I am sorry. I know it's not good to wash you everyday let alone twice a day. Please forgive me. Then there is my alligator dry skin, cracked toes from flip turns, constant google marks around my eyes, stuffy nose, pruned skin (which sadly I don't even notice anymore). In 13 days, I promise to give it a break.

I have the best neighbors and friends in the world. Thanks Cesar and Dena for sitting at the house time and again while I go swim when CV is out of town. And to Megan for being willing to babysit at 5:30 in the morning. And to Peter for finding me a pool while I was in NYC.


Tonight, during my practice, I got goosebumps while I was swimming because I was thinking about the race. I wasn't thinking about how cold it was going to be, I was imagining myself finishing. I'm going to take cold baths for the next two weeks. My body is ready. My brain is getting there. And, to be honest, I'm starting to get kindof (big emphasis on kindof) excited to do this thing. I swam 8600 meters on Saturday. Another 3700 tonight. And last week, I did about 16,700. I think I'm peaked....and tired.


Good night world.

Birthday Boy!

We celebrated Cole's 6th birthday yesterday. Grandma made him the best Super Mario cake with lots of little Super Mario figurines.

You finally got that Nintendo DS that you've been asking for, plus lots of other cool presents from your friends.
You had to have a Spongebob pinata.

You led the group and everyone had a chance to give ol' Spongebob a whack before he finally cracked open.
Happy Birthday Cole! We love you soooo much. I can't believe you're already six.

Thanks to all our friends and family who helped us celebrate.

Too much love

Dear Cole,


Tonight when you hugged me goodnight, you said, "I love you too much." I've been thinking about that. Sometimes I think I love you too much. That you are my whole world. That if anything were to ever happen to you, how my world would end. That's how I know. And I will keep on loving you too much for as long as I'm alive. I don't know if you'll ever stop being my world - maybe one day when you're all grown up and don't need me as much. But, I hope that you will always need me, the same way I always need my mom.


I can't believe how fast six years has gone by. How big you are getting. How smart and loving. Thank you for being my son. For being my world right now and for loving me too much.

Big hugs birthday boy.


Love,

Mama

More than skin deep

Dear Rachel,

You know we've been friends for like 12 years now. Can you believe that? You are my longest adult BFF. 12 years of amazing adventures and stories and experiences. Secrets about our darkest places, our character flaws, our weaknesses - all shared usually without judgement. You keep me sane sometimes. I value your perspective, your opinion, your guidance. I love watching you be a mom, how tender you are, graceful and patient. I hope you know how much I love you. How much I value our friendship. And oh how I still cherish our adventures. Here's to us...and South Dakota!

On the road

In the end!

The Reading List

I'm addicted to my Kindle. You already knew that, but I love to say it. Recent books I've read include:

• Angle of Repose by Wallace Stegner-loved it but it took me a while to read it
• A Child Called It by Dave Pelzer-sad
• The Help by Kathryn Stockett - just finished it last night...couldn't put it down.
• Best Friends Forever by Jennifer Weiner-good
• The Luxe by Anna Godbersen-great
• Men and Dogs by Katie Crouch-GREAT
• Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides - URGH! I'll admit it, I only made 2/3 before I gave up
• Never Let Me Go-WEIRD
• The Road by Cormac Mccarthy-ABSOLUTELY LOVED IT
• The Surgeon by Tess Gerritsen-May have been my first detective book, engrossed in it but it gave me creapy dreams
• The Swimming Pool by Holly Lecraw- LOVED IT
• Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen- LOVED IT

Next up: The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson and I Curse the River of Time by Per Petterson.

What are you reading?

Super Funny Post

My brother is one funny son of a gun. Check out his latest post, May Mustache Madness. I've been laughing for about 10 straight minutes. I even had to call V so I had someone to laugh with. OMG, I think I may just laugh about it all night.

And on another note, Mrs. Rachel blogged about our road trip/camping adventure in South Dakota. Check it out here! I'm now two weeks behind in my blogging manuscript. Must motivate.

Happy reading.

Announcements

Dear World,
I have a few very important announcements.

1. Gramie Barb is doing much better. She is getting stronger and stronger by the day. What a scare it's been now for four weeks.
2. Cole graduated from Kindergarten last week. We threw a party for him last weekend. Little Monkey, we love you so much and are very very proud of you. You are such a great little reader. I love to hear you voice read to me...and sing to me at night.

3. It was time for Cole to lose the mop on his head; you know when the crew cut comes that it's definitely summertime.

4. A big thanks to Aunt V for watching Cole on Tuesday. We love you so much. Can't wait to see Ellie in her recital this weekend. Besides a naughty dog that does things in the house that he's not suppose to, life is great!

Signing off,
Wendy

A Perfect Day

Today was a perfect day. Well, maybe a game of tennis would have made it exceptionally perfect. But, I won't complain. Sleeping in, cleaning my car, mowing the lawn, reading my books, eating chips and guacamole and drinking Mr. W.'s margs! Seriously, a perfect day!

The Start of Summer

Cole officially made it through Kindergarten. On to bigger and better things. Like celebrating the start of summer in his undies in the sprinkler. I love this little monkey soooo much!

Field Day

Cole had his first field day. Check it out!

Visit from the Pope

The original Pope's were in town this weekend - Dad, Carol and Emma. They helped move the other Pope's - Derrick, Veronica, Eliana, Parker - to their new house. We had dinner at Pappadeux's on Thursday night. Cole and I helped unpack the Pod for couple hours after work on Friday. Then, we helped Saturday morning until it was time to go to Michael's 6th birthday party. After that, it was time for Cole to have a sleepover at Sofia's house. This meant that date night for Chris and I. We went to PF Chang's and enjoyed dinner off their gluten free menu. It was delicious. The best part, we got to sleep in...

It was a laid back Sunday - coffee and conversation on Veronica's new patio with Carol, 2 hour nap with Cole, and sushi dinner with the whole gang before the original Pope's left for the airport.


It was a really nice weekend and a treat to spend time with the family.

Early morning

It's early. About 5:30 a.m. I love that the sun starts to light the sky around 4:45 a.m. It's always easier to get up when it's light out. I'm sitting in the kitchen. I can hear Cole's breath as he sleeps, deep and peaceful.

Cole and I helped Umple Derrick and Veronica move yesterday. It will be another long day for them today, even with our help. There were some good laughs to be had though. I love them so much. I love Veronica's ease and grace. Her patience and beauty. I love my brothers intensity and his humor and laugh.

Some inside memories from yesterday to bring a smile to their faces: Derrick falling down the stairs with a gianantic plastic rubbermaid, twisting his ankle and then immediately spearing himself in the back with the stair rail, having Cole say, "Do you want me to carry you like a baby?" Emma talking to Derrick about his man hole (what she meant was man cave, but we got a good chuckle at man hole), who ordered these stairs?, and well, I think we agree that you guys have way to many books. It's time to donate, sell, and buy a Kindle.

Moving sucks but atleast we had fun and were in good spirits.

Note

I came home from class tonight, went to the bathroom to get ready for bed and I found this note from Cole stuck to my toothbrush (with toothpaste already applied - thanks Monkey) -

This note just completely made me so happy. He wrote it all by himself. He loves to get my toothbrush ready at night....and he bought me Milk Duds....God, I love this little boy!

Some firsts

The Emeral carnival was last Friday. Cole had a blast. Snow cones, cookies, games, hot dogs, prizes. I must say though, I'm pretty sure my face painting abilities, although never used, would be better than the clown face Cole got from a very nice volunteer.

First trip to the Principal Leatherman's office. My sweet boy. Really. Are you sure? My son is Cole Velez. I think you've made a mistake. I think you have the wrong parent/kid combo. Really. No. Ok. Not too upset that he got in trouble, more disappointed because he lied to me about it.

First Bike to School day to celebrate Earth Day! Remember when he learned to ride a bike....

Wrinkles at 35

It's official. I'm 35. I think the night I made the transition, a new wrinkle appeared on my lip. No, seriously. It hasn't been there and then, all of the sudden, presto - new wrinkle on my lip. That's probably the most noticable thing to me as I age...wrinkles, about 6 consistent gray hairs, and saggy boobs (breast feeding may be good for babies, but I'm not so sure about mamas.).

So, on April 13, 1975 I was born on a Sunday morning around 6 am. A little six pounder. Thanks for having me Mom and Dad. You gave me life and I will forever be in your debt, wrinkles and all. I love to hear my mom tell the story of my delivery. Every so often, I recount to Cole the story of his birth. It's amazing how fast it goes by. Thanks to everyone for celebrating with me.

Cesar and Fia

Michael! Umple Joe - thanks for taking the pictures
Cole and Ellie
Sweetness!
This card was super funny. Mom, remember Jem?

Aunt Veronica and Pa-cho! Ha.

Crab for lunchFamily celebrating life - how did miss Umple Brian?

Just how much

I realized I haven't written lately about how much I love my sweet Cole.

How I love to kiss his neck

How I love to touch his skin

How I love to watch him sleep

How I love to hear him breath

How I love to watch him play

How I love to hear him read

How I love to listen to him tell me a story or sing me a song

How today, as he slept in the car, it made me think of him as a baby

How fast time goes

How truly precious every single moment is

How I love to watch him grow

How I love to see him try news things

How I love to take care of him when he is sick

How I love to be his mom

How I love to know he grew in my belly, that we are forever tied

How I love his little voice

How I love his beautiful eyes

Oh, how much I love him

I can't even describe

Fishin' and such

We played with Umple Joe and Michael today. We went fishing, but the fish weren't biting and the wind, coupled with the clouds, made us feel like we were ice fishing so after about an hour and half we headed back to the warmth of the car. Then, we went to the mall and watched the kids play indoors for about an hour and half. Burger King was our final stop. I'm pretty sure they both love their Spongebob watches. Cole asked me if he could wear his to school.

A day of playing wiped this little guy out. We love you guys soooo much!

Still sleeping. He has no idea his crown as fallen. What a sweet prince!

Birthdays and such

It's been birthday central around here. Exhausting, but I absolutely love birthdays. I mean, you are celebrating LIFE~ and what better way to do it then with family and close friends.

First, Skate City for Brody.

Second, sweet Parker and Ellie. Love you guys so much.

Third, Caitlin from Emerald.

Fourth, Aunt Veronica turned the BIG 3-0 yesterday! She just may be the most unselfish person I know. Look, the kids are helping her blow out her candles. As for the second picture, she looks gorgeous and get a load of Cole's face. Think he wants the cake?

And, let's not forget, Rachel taking me out for my upcoming birthday. The Rio, margs, and great conversation...truly a friendship that will last our lifetime. I love you girl.