Cache La Poudre

Growing up, my family would spend many a summer days picnicking along the Cache la Poudre River. Its name is French for "hide the powder". When French trappers were caught in a snowstorm, they were forced to bury their gunpowder along the banks of the river. (just brushing up on my 4th grade Colorado history ;)

Just a short drive from town and you're suddenly high in the mountains amongst the whispering pine trees. As we drove through the canyon you could see the burn scars from last year's fires and damage from the floods we had last fall...the Poudre can be a terribly strong and powerful force. It's amazing though, how fast mother nature takes over regrowing what was lost. 

We decided spontaneously to drive up last week on one of Martin's days off from work. We only hiked a short time before our little tot needed time to just explore. We headed down to the river and Everdeen made herself comfortable in the dirt, while my very strong husband found fallen trees to dead lift and squat --there's never a dull moment around those two :) 

Always wanting to be just like her daddy!  She found a tiny stick and started doing squats with it :)

{30/52}

"a portrait of my daughter, once a week, every week, in 2014."

Everdeen Kate: A mini mountain climber  

 Linking up with Jodi :)

Everdeen Turns Two {A Little Video}

Happy Birthday little one!

Last year's video :)

to my sweet girl on her second birthday

To my sweet Everdeen on her second birthday,

Before I had you, I didn't know that such a tiny person could teach me to be a better person everyday. Sometimes as adults we act as, well, adults.  We lose our sense of wonder and our free spirit. I look around me at other parents of young children...the life drained from them.  But you put life into us...seeing the world through your curious and loving heart makes me excited to wake up every morning. You are the most tender of souls, so full of life and happiness.  Your unsolicited hugs and kisses, the way you bring the cats their bowl of food so they can have a snack while you eat yours, the way you move to music, the way you make everyone around you feel special makes our hearts ache from so much sweetness. You have no inhibitions, no callouses...all you know is to love.  

I watch you in amazement everyday and still can't comprehend that you are a part of me. It is the most incredible feeling to watch someone grow in front of you...watch them become the person you pray for them to be.  You are a part of me and I am a part of you. What an incredible bond we share.  

You are our everything and your daddy and I love you more than anything in this world. How lucky and blessed we are to experience this life with you. 

Happy Birthday my sweet sweet girl! Love you love you love you

Love,

Mama

a celebration of two years!

Oh! My little Everdeen is turning two tomorrow!  I don't think I will ever look at birthdays quite the same after having my own baby.  I told Martin that maybe birthdays should coincide with Mother's Day...after all we played a very large role during that special day...no? ;)

Last weekend we held a little party for our sweet girl. We started the celebration at the swimming pool...it was ten o'clock and already way too hot outside.  Everdeen just finished another round of swimming lessons and boy does that girl LOVE to be in the water! That afternoon we had our closest family over for a small get together at my parents' home.  Hotdogs, hamburgers, gold balloons, and an amazing polk-a-dot cake (thank you Nana!)...everything a two year old could want :) 

That would be my husband's cup...although he doesn't need to tell me how awesome he is 

A new table and chair set for her new big girl room!

Parents of a two year old...eek! We could hardly snatch a picture of Everdeen.  Apparently when you are two, you are much too busy to be bothered to have your picture taken...