First Tooth Fairy Visit!

***Also stated in Kai's latest blog*** 

Sincere apologies for my drastic lack of documentation. Honestly, I don't know where the last two years have gone. We've been thriving and surviving the wonderful tornado of keeping two young kids alive, happy and as healthy as possible! Cora when you are older, please forgive the two year void of blogs in your life. I love you dearly!

Cora, who is almost SEVEN (WHAT!!?!?!?) lost her very first baby tooth last week. When she hopped out of Lisa's car (a dear friend who we car pool with) and showed me the gapping dark hole between her tiny white bottom row of chicklets, the sudden range of emotions that washed over me was startling. I never realized this milestone would make me so sad and magnify the notion that she is growing up much, much too quickly. However, her wild excitement was contagious and I also couldn't help being just as excited for her! Although her first tooth was unfortunately knocked out of her hand, lost forever into the void of playground wood chips, we made a fake tooth out of paper and tricked the tooth fairy! She gave Cora $5, which she is still saving! She looks pretty darn adorable with her first missing tooth, although I wish time could slow down an awful lot!

A first grader at Dillon Valley, Cora is reading and writing in English and in Spanish! Her dual language program is incredible, and (most days) it is completely worth the 25 minute, often snowy and very daunting, drive up Loveland Pass and through the Eisenhower Tunnel. The school and program is quite established and also follows an IB International Baccalaureate curriculum which is an internationally renowned and is taught all over the world. Our thought is, if we move abroad ever again we can hopefully find another IB school for her to attend so she won't be too off track.

Cora played soccer for the first time this fall and I was able to be her coach!! She did great, although coaching nine emotional six year-old girls who mostly forgot which way their goal was and fully embraced "Bunch Ball" was draining and often times required more patience then I could muster.  They were exhausting, but I'm so happy I did it, and now I know a lot more of the girls she goes to school with. Also, Cora and the girls improved SO much between their first and last game and I was incredibly proud. Not sure if I'll coach again, but it was awesome that I was able to do it for a season.

We've also been doing swim lessons, lots of bike riding and hiking, museum visiting, reading, playing and helping me cook. Cora has been awesome with Kai and they are just the best little buds.

And now, for the photo dump!