Dig It!

The biggest highlight, without question, of the last 48 hours has been our newest toy, Chase's very own excavator. For your own safety, I recommend you do not get in the way of a boy and his digger.

(A side note: without exaggeration, Chase now knows the names of more different types of construction vehicles, and can identify them instantly, than I have ever known. It took him just over two years to pass my 40 years of accumulated heavy-duty machinery knowledge.)

Drum Line

Chase and Daddy play for the gorillas at the Denver Zoo. They surely appreciated it.

Swinging into Action

Chase gets into the spirit of a true first responder at the Denver Firefighters' Museum. He drove a fire truck, tried out a fire hose, and even slid down a fire pole. Ace to the rescue!

Up, Up, and Away

Record temperatures in Denver and a glorious morning at the Purple Mountains park. What else can a kid ask for?

Bongos in the Buff

Chase took a call from Matthew McConaughey today. Now we know what they were taking about.

Trucks & Diggers

An unintended, yet highly significant, benefit of living in Stapleton is that construction is, quite literally, going on all around us. Life couldn't be better for the Little Engineer.

Indeed, today not only did we get to watch front-loaders, dump trucks, and forklifts in action (at two different sites), he even got to see some of it while swinging -- another favorite pastime.

Into the Woods

This morning, we ventured out on our first hike of the year, visiting Golden Gate Canyon State Park, just northwest of Golden, Colorado. Most of the trail was snow-free and Ace was surprisingly content traveling in the pack, especially since we were able to stop frequently to throw pine cones into the trail-side creek. A great outing in a stunning setting!

Cheeky

"Cheeks Chase" checks out the competing jowls on a statue in the Mordecai Children's Garden on a beautiful Saturday morning. Daddy appreciated both the amazing weather and the company of his two favorite people on the first day of his spring break.

Round and round

In what is becoming a C-a-D staple, we present yet another Denver Zoo carousel photo. In this installment, Ace forgoes those pesky bobbing animals in favor of a slightly smoother ride on the bench seat, alongside best-buddy, Jamey. Just another example of going in circles...

Pack In, Pack Out

Standing in the pack basket -- Chase's idea of a good time.

Making Do

Mere moments before we completed our final bedtime book, Daddy realized that no C-a-D picture had yet been taken. I slid my iPhone (circa 1986) out of my pocket, held it out, and snapped this little self-portrait.

Sometimes, parenting is just about gettin' it done.

Banana Boat

Delighting in his new favorite song, Day-O, Chase busts a move.

Tuner Fish

In between massive drooling sessions, the Critter used his handy electronic tuner to help Mommy prepare for guitar lessons, which resumed tonight. Fortunately, the liquid gushing out of his mouth and nose did not come in contact with any sensitive electrical devices.

Purple Mountain Majesties

Chase bravely summits a local peak in 30 MPH winds on Sunday morning.
The solo ascent was a new accomplishment, and the trek down -- accomplished with minimal hand-holding and much encouraging advice of "Little steps, little steps!" -- was nearly as impressive.

Green Day

Properly decked out in emerald, Ace, Mommy, & Daddy took a stroll around Bluff Lake Nature Center (where things are just starting to bloom green) this morning. While impressed with the flora, the Kid was even more interested in the heavy machinery, which he points out with his walking stick, that was working across the road.

To cap off the day, he spent some time with his babysitter Mercedes (who arrived with a shamrock painted on her cheek) while Mommy & Daddy headed out to watch the Nuggets play -- who else?!? -- Boston. Watching the Celtics live on St. Patrick's Day?  That's an experience Chase will surely need to have when he is a bit older.

Morning Circle

Chase joined in SOAR's Morning Circle Meeting this morning to witness Daddy shave off his beard in front of the entire school. As an extra bonus, Chase got to sit with Sam, which may have been an even bigger thrill than watching Daddy lose his whiskers.

Nanna "K"

Chase "delights" in checking out the "birthday" notice he received from his "beloved" Nanna "K". It was obvious that she had a "spectacular" 92nd celebration, and we all "wish" we could have been part of the "festivities!"

(Ace also enjoys the writing "style" of Nanna "D," who always makes it very "clear" which words should be "emphasized!")

Lunch Bunch

As Mommy drives around the city attempting to get fingerprinted for her teaching license, Chase enjoys a morning playing and eating lunch with these cuties.

Picnic

An impromptu picnic lunch at our neighborhood playground allowed little Ace to take a bite then slide, take a bite then slide, take a bite then slide... you get the picture.

Dessert

How does an appreciative son thank his Mommy after devouring his home-cooked meal?

By running to the pantry and whining, "Treats! Maple syrup!"

Sweet tooth, anyone?

Down the Rabbit Hole

Despite a persistent cough, Chase enjoys Sunday morning exploring yet another playground in this wonderful city.

Batman

The Critter checks himself out -- while decked out in full bat regalia -- during a visit to the Morrison Nature Center in nearby Aurora, CO.

After impersonating a flying rodent, coloring, walking on the trails, and checking out a live bull snake (in a tank), Ace headed to Daddy's school, where they put together a standing desk. Quite a busy Saturday morning!

Ready, Set, Go!

Chase gets ready to take off running while playing in the yard on a beautiful Friday afternoon.

A Beautiful Mind

We assume the Little Engineer chose this rather unconventional method of filling the turkey baster not because he felt it was most efficient, but because of his never-ending quest to better appreciate the principles of hydrodynamics.

Cats die doing this

Mommy only left the room for a second, and returned to find this little spelunker on his latest adventure. He lights up our life, but he's not always very bright.

Rainbow Swirl

Chase checks out a spinner from - of all places - Rehoboth Beach, DE. No fingers were lost as he repeatedly stuck his hand into the spinning blades.

Hot Kid

A bit too much time in the 70-degree March sun and an oncoming illness combined to give Chase a rosie complexion. Despite hot little cheeks and a temperature to match, at least he keeps on laughing!

Beast of Burden

The Critter was far more interested in pulling his new wagon around the zoo today than he was in actually looking at any of the other wild creatures. Fittingly, they seemed just as disinterested in him. At least everyone was able to enjoy the springlike temperatures and sunny weather, even if cross-species appreciation was not achieved.

Richard Petty wouldn't be caught dead in this thing

One would think that Ace would have loved this souped-up grocery cart for his visit to King Soopers, but no! He quickly realized the gross commercialism and poor performance of the "TV Kart" and desperately wanted out.

Frankly, it's another clear indication that the kid has good judgment.

In need of repair

  

Ignoring the snow and cold, the Little Engineer insisted on playing in the yard with his trucks. Then, he realized that the cab on his heavy duty dumptruck was broken.

"What happened?" was quickly followed by "Truck, crying!"

Yep, he's a foreman with feelings.

Little Ice Bear

Chase cheers on the Bruins in a shirt he has not yet grown into.