Infectious

I'm slow on posting this, it got lost in the shuffle of computer transfer/holidays/etc so if FFM looks a little shorter then 1)you have sharp eyes and 2)you're right. Back before Christmas FFM went to his super pal Emma's birthday party at her Tae Kwon Do class. He had a total blast, I mean they cut the cake with a SABER, who wouldn't love that? The party included lots of activities, like kicking and hitting foamy stuff. FFM's was pretty cautious about this activity, witness:
 It took pretty much his whole turn for him to get into it. However, while waiting in line listening to the groovy music he has no problem getting busy. So busy he's a blur!
 
 And then, it spreads to the other kids to...infectious groovy energy! Yes, he's like this all the time. Yes, it wears us out. I'm wondering if I can task Travis in his role as Sustainable Water and Energy Solutions Regional Business Lead to somehow harness this energy to power our furnace this winter.

Look out Mozart

FFM started music classes three weeks ago.  I'd call them piano lessons but he learns so much more than piano in them that it's hard for me to call them just that.  His small group class sings, they dance, they beat tambourines and sticks, their wonderful teacher even has them writing notes on the staff already and expanding their musical vocabulary.  On the second week they were already going to the 'big' piano and playing in front of the class to pass songs in their book.  I'm floored by how fast these little kids are progressing and absorbing absolutely enormous amounts of information.  I'm not sure I can keep up!

The first two weeks FFM was so excited during class that he literally vibrated so much he couldn't sit still and the other kids complained that he was yelling too much when Miss Kelly asked questions.  By week three he could sit and had apparently been doing listening during weeks one and two because he managed to get answers out, this time without shouting.

FFM has requested that I make a video of him playing so that 'everyone' could see.  I cannot express how much he loves his music, and I'm a very proud parent and happy to indulge him by posting his performance of "Sugar Cookies."

Snow and Skis and Horses and Speed

Skijoring!  We've been chasing down this sport since last winter and finally caught up with it in Minturn, CO this weekend.  If you are uninitiated in the finer points of skijoring here's a quick tutorial.  Skiers or snowboarders are pulled along a course by a rider on a horse.  The goal is to make all the jumps, go through all the gates, and spear four rings with a short lance as fast as you can.  The jumps, gates, and rings all switch sides several times so the skier slaloms back and forth along the course swapping rings and lance lickety split.

Do they crash?  Heck yes.  Are the horses wound up and excited?  Oh yeah.  Is it a totally insane sport?  Well, I believe so but it sure is fun to watch.

It was beyond freezing on Sunday when we made it to the races, the windchill was unbelievable so we only stayed for an hour.  The racers and horses were still going strong when we left, and fans were still pouring in.

The fans standing next to us asked FFM if he was going to race in the kids race next year.  Our cautious kiddo said "Probably not!"

Things You Only Say When You Are A Parent

"Yeah, time to go home.  I have a poopy sock in my pocket."

Hoovering

Chores are a big deal around here.  We are firm believers in the chore chart, it's a proven system for FFM and it leaves him feeling empowered and me happy about not having to do everything myself.

He was working on his chores this weekend and decided to pick up a few extra by helping out Dad.  I was busy painting downstairs when Dad came down to chat, and meanwhile I still heard the vacuum running upstairs.  Really?!  Yes, Travis explained that after a brief tutorial FFM was vacuuming the upstairs all on his own.  Time to add more chores to that chart!

QOTD

At breakfast, having a discussion about growing up:

F, "So when you are a grownup all the fun goes away?"

Don't fret, he didn't say it with a worried tone :) He's not going to be one of those unfun grownup.

Super Duper Snazzy Birthday Dinner

Moores Go guest blogger today-Travis! Here to give you the skinny on his spectacular birthday bash.  Take it away Travis.

Ever since about first grade, a grand birthday celebration has usually included skiing, or something snowy, and some good food.  This year, Maggie and F treated me to an apres ski dinner at Beano's Cabin, a venerable small slopeside restaurant at Beaver Creek.  Access to the cabin is by snowcat-drawn sleigh, and dinner was a five-course affair.  Here is one of the snowcats, pulling the Beano's sleigh, turning around and getting ready to carry hungry people uphill.

Beaver Creek has to be one of the most customer-oriented, accommodating places in the world.  After we checked in for ride/dinner with the check-in guy, we asked if we could have a look at the snowcat before we headed up the hill.  "Sure!", said the guy.  "If you ask the driver, he might let you sit in the seat for a few minutes before you all head up the hill".  So we went out to have a look at the mighty machine.  F was particularly interested in the the plow on the front, the hitch, and the wheels inside the tracks, noting that the back one is a gear like in a bulldozer .

When the driver came back, he told us about various features of the snowcat, and offered to let us all ride up front on the way to the restaurant, instead of riding on the sleigh in the back.  Woohoo!  Who wouldn't want to ride in a snowcat to their birthday dinner??  F climbed in first and sat on the console.  Then Maggie and I shared the passenger seat, and we were off!

On the drive up, our 12-year veteran driver explained every lever, every button, every switch, and every dial in the cab for F (and for the rest of us).  He demonstrated all 12 plow functions, and the gauge that tells him exactly how fast to go so he doesn't fill the sleigh behind with snowballs.  He told us about dinner and explained to F that he would get to assemble his own dessert at the end.

If you were wondering, riding in a snowcat is slowish, a bit bumpy, and quite warm - about what you would expect for a small cab on top of a giant engine on huge tracks.  (Nonetheless, it takes only one finger to steer it...)

Beano's had slippers on hand for anyone who didn't want to wear their clompy boots to dinner, and the whole atmosphere was appropriately Colorado-casual.  Our waiter explained dinner, and noted that F would get to assemble his own ice-cream sandwich (at our table) for his dessert.

We all leisurely worked our way through our dinners, and at the end F confidently asked the waiter "May I please have my dessert?  May I come to the kitchen and make it now, please?"  Our waiter didn't blink and said "Sure, let's go", and moments later F was trailing our waiter to the kitchen and being introduced to Sarah the pastry chef.  Sarah showed F exactly how his dessert is prepared and explained every step, and then delivered both the dessert and F back to our table.

After dinner, we rode down in the sleigh under a cloudless sky and high-country stars.  All in all, it was a magnificent evening:  unexpected snowcat ride, F meeting the kitchen staff, and a terrific dinner with my family.  This one ranks way up there in memorable birthdays.  Thanks, Maggie and F!