We left Colorado on Saturday, December 15 for Virginia. It was snowing when we left and it sounds like it continued for a good amount of time while we were gone. We stopped in St. Louis to visit Stan's friend Andy, Laura and their kids, Drew, Luke and Chloe. Casey and Garrett enjoyed getting out of the car for a few hours to play with all their cool toys.
We made it to Marcy, Stuart, Lily and Jack's house in Maryland on Monday late afternoon. Grandma Gail, Grampa Tom, and Aunt Kelly came over to welcome us to town. We stayed a couple nights at Marcy's, then the rest of the week at Grandma Gail and Grampa Tom's house.
Garrett spent his time walking all around the house. He is not very interested in sitting and playing, he stops to pick something up or bug his sister or tries to touch something he's not supposed to and then moves on. Casey on the other hand, plays non-stop with the Cabbage Patch kids, Barbies, the dollhouses and just about everything else she could find.
Wedensday we went out to Charles Town, WV to visit with Jessica, Craig and their kids, Hunter, Jacob and Maddie. Casey warmed up to them real quick this time and had a blast playing with them. By the end of the night, she was chasing the boys around with the play vacuum cleaner.
Thursday, Grampa, Stan, Casey and I took Garrett to the Barber to get his first haircut. He got his first lollipop to enjoy during the cut. He was VERY good, check out the video below.
Friday night, we went into DC to visit my friend Dyani, Frank and their kids, Harper and new baby, Lila. My friend Ketsia made a surprise visit too. The kids had fun playing with all of Harper and Lila's cool toys and cars.
Mike, Jeanne, Alli and Davis arrived Saturday morning. We all headed to downtown DC to the American Indian Museum and the Air and Space Museum.
Sunday, we celebrated Christmas with everyone. Garrett got his own chair so he is VERY excited, he snuggled right in...I think Casey is excited that she doesn't have to share hers anymore. After opening presents, we made Christmas cookies, then made our way to Roanoke, to Gramma Lois' house.
Lisa, Ashlynne, Morganne and Max came up from Miami. We spent Christmas Eve at Aunt Linda and Uncle Marvin's with Blair, Chad, Grayson and Everett, in town from Ithaca. The kids had a blast running around the house! The ages are 10 months, 1, 3, 4, 5, 8 and 12 and they all played really well together. Even Everett and Garrett sat near each other, looked at each other a little and played.
Christmas morning was all it was cracked up to be. Casey peeked out into the sun room and yelled, "My Barbie Dreamhouse, My Barbie Dreamhouse...Look, I got a Barbie Dreamhouse!" Garrett played with as many toys as he was allowed to get his hands on, while walking around the house non-stop. Christmas and the day after Christmas was spent playing with all the new toys, including a new cash register and Littlest Pet Shop playhouse. She also got a dress up Minnie Mouse, a potty, training pants and accessories for her American Girl doll, Julie, beads to make necklaces, a Flatsy doll, Madison, a doll that walks by herself and lots more! She is going to be busy this year.
We got the kids out of the house today and went out to lunch at Macados and then bowling.
We couldn't figure out why Garrett hasn't been eating very good the past couple of weeks, until I looked into his mouth and found a lower left molar that came in, and upper right that is peeking through and the other 2 are lumps under the gum. He is not whining, just not eating a whole lot.
Casey and Garrett had SO much fun with all their cousins and Grandparents. I think they are going to miss all the attention, so come visit soon. Thank you for all of our presents and for everyone's hospitality...we had a great trip!
Casey and Garrett wish everyone a Happy and Healthy New Year!!
Casey walking like a crab at tumbling
starting early
Halloween for Christmas...Dillon (Iron Man), Casey (Rapunzel), Connor (Capt America)
a little snuggle after a long day at the mall
babysitter?
princess t-baller
showing off their new haircuts
i am so warm in my new sweater from Peru...thanks aunt kel
cheese
new christmas pjs
showing off the new "barbie" dreamhouse
babysitter?
it's snowed in Ronaoke...these Miami kids were so excited
Grandma Gail and Grandpa Tom came into town for a visit. They drove all the way from VA, arriving on Nov. 29th.
Even with the lack of snow, Casey showed Grandma and Grandpa how she can shred the mountain. Friday, Casey was so excited to ski with Grandma and Grandpa, she didn't whine at all. She even treated us to a cup of hot chocolate on Friday (after a ski patrol came to chat with her and gave her free coupons to Starbucks).
Unfortunately, Stan is injured again. He tore his calf muscle playing basketball on Tuesday, so he and Garrett have been spending a lot of quality time together. They did meet us at Keystone on Saturday night to see Santa and to grab a bite to eat.
Sunday, we took a ride on the Georgetown Santa Train. Casey and Garrett got to tell Santa and Mrs. Claus how good they have been this year.
Monday we skied again at Keystone then decorated Christmas cookies.
Tuesday, we headed to Breckenridge for dinner at Fatty's.
Grandma and
Grandpa left on Wednesday.
Thursday was
the annual Dillon Christmas Party, where Garrett and Casey got to see
Santa for a 3rd time in 1 week.
Friday, our friend Jay
flew into town from VA for the weekend. That evening, I took Casey to Denver to see Disney on Ice: Dare to Dream.
We met Sarah and Kaelin at the Aquarium for dinner and got to see the
mermaids swim in the big aquarium. Casey favorite part of the ice show
was Rapunzel and at the end when all the princesses came out. At one
point Casey asked, "Are those real people out there?" She seemed to have
fun, enjoyed a snow cone in her new Rapunzel cup, was completely
exhausted and fell asleep immediately when we left the show.
Saturday,
I went snowboarding in the morning with Kristi while the kids and
Stan took Jay on a tour of Summit County. Jay and Stan went to Copper
later in the afternoon to watch VT basketball and see Super Diamond. The kids and I decided to stay at home, out of the
single digit temps.
Sunday, Jay and I went skiing at Keystone. He hadn't
been in 20 years, but it was like riding a bike! Jay left on Monday.
The kids and I went to the library in the morning and then made Chex mix
and cookies in the afternoon.
It snowed all weekend! Our yard is covered and the temps
have stayed in the 20's this week, so I think it's going to stick
around.
Casey and Garrett want to wish their Uncle Dave (Dec 2), Cousin Jack (Dec 7) and Cousin Ashlynne (Dec 9) Happy Birthdays!!!
Happy Birthday to Garrett. He turned 1 on November 17th. We had cupcakes and he, well Casey opened presents. He got some great loot from everyone! They both love playing with all his new toys.
Sunday morning (18th), Casey sang in the church choir in front of the congregation. She was great and a bit funny with all her zoning out and yawning. But for the most part, she knew the words and the moves. Check out the videos.
Garrett went for his 1 year old appointment on Monday. He is in the 95th percentile in height at 31.5" and 50th percentile in weight weighing in at 21 lbs 4 oz. He got 3 shots and did great!
Kelly & Bodie drove into town on Tuesday. We all headed to Vail Cascade Resort for the night. A nice swim in the outdoor heated pool, then dinner over at The Ritz where our friends Mark and Amy were staying.
Wednesday, Stan and I went snowboarding in the morning on the 2% that is currently open at Vail. Before leaving the resort, Stan, Kelly and I went and got massages while the kids played in the spa's daycare.
Thanksgiving Day, we all went to Keystone in the morning. Kelly & I took Casey down the bunny hill a few times, which was way too easy for this skiing expert;) She actually seemed a little bored and got a little cranky, so after a nice break inside the lodge with me and Garrett and a lot of snacks, she skied down Schoolmarm, to the bottom. She was awesome. She talked or sang most of the way down. No whining at all!
Sean, Kathy, Dillon and Connor come over for a Thanksgiving Day feast. So yummy!
Friday, Kelly, Kathy and I went to see Breaking Dawn...yes, definitely blog worthy.
Kel left us on Saturday and the rest of the weekend was pretty lax.
Garrett started in the 1 year old Munchkin room today. He did great. Had a great 2 hour and 10 minute afternoon nap, ate all his food and drank none of his milk.
Garrett is walking. He is walking way more than crawling. He started at the end of October with a few steps here and there. Then last week he just got it. He is also climbing the stairs, though he seems to know he's not supposed to. He'll climb a couple steps then look back. If we are behind him, he'll try and go real fast up the stairs. He is also starting to use sign language. He claps for "more" and does a 1 handed wave in the air for "all done," and it's usually after we ask a billion times. He also randomly waves when we say "Hello" or "Goodbye."
Casey is a great big sister. She gets very excited when he starts walking, cheering him on, "Come on Garrett," and yelling for us to come look. Friend and Foe...She is also getting a little tired of him getting into all of her stuff. The past couple of days, Casey will be upstairs playing, and I will head up with Garrett and she will get very upset, "I want to be by myself mom." And she'll make her toys say little comments here and there, "We're going to have a party, but little baby boys aren't allowed." When I tell her "that's not nice," she comes back with, "it wasn't me mom, it was my toy..."
Since our last post, we had Halloween. It landed on a Wednesday this year, so both kids wore their costumes to school. Casey's class went trick or treating around the Town of Dillon, then had a Halloween party in the afternoon. We then went trick or treating that night on Frisco Main Street then to dinner at the Boatyard with Sean & Kathy and Sarah & Brian and the kids. Casey was very into it this year, running up to the doors and yelling "Trick or Treat, Thank you!" She got a ton of candy.
The first weekend of November, I hosted book club so we had a bunch of visitors. The ladies went skiing at Abasin in the afternoon then dinner/book club in the evening. Stan took Casey to Connors bday party, where she got to wear her Halloween costume one last time.
Wednesday, the Town of Dillon hosted "Hibernation Hoedown" to celebrate the DC Capitol Christmas tree driving through the Town on the way to DC from Meeker, CO. Casey's class went and got to go on a hayride, visit with Santa, Mrs. Claus and Smoky the Bear and sign the Christmas Tree truck.
Thursday, we headed down to Denver to hang with Amy and Mark for the VT game. Amy's sister babysat while we went out to the Denver Hokie Alumni Tailgate at Jacksons. Casey and Garrett had fun playing with all of Ella and Hanna's toys!
Friday, Casey got one last bike ride in before the snow arrived. She still needs help starting, but she can ride and stop by herself. She doesn't whine much anymore, but she does talk or sing the entire time.
This weekend we got snow both Saturday and Sunday. Much needed and we are hoping for much more! Saturday night, the kids school hosted a Spaghetti dinner fundraiser with a face painter, moonbounce and balloon artist. The kids also performed songs! Casey mostly messed around in the back with her teacher, Miss Shannon, but did sing a little bit!
Tuesday, Casey got the flu mist and 2 shots, leftover from her 4 year old annual visit this past May. I had Garrett with me too, so it was quite an event. I sat in a chair with both kids on my lap and my arms wrapped tightly around both. Casey did great with the flu mist. But once it was shot time, She started screaming. When she started crying it set Garrett off crying. This went on until after the 2nd shot and I was able to get Casey a lollipop and she calmed down. I walked out to the lobby and everyone was staring...another nurse let it be known, "oh yea, we all heard that." Awesome!
Enjoy pix and video...
Casey's preschool room getting ready to go trick or treating...she's the pink bat girl
It's been a couple weeks. We "carved" the pumpkins we got from the Silverthorne Pumpkin Fest. They have been on our front step for 2 weeks and are really soft and rotted, but still standing good enough to keep until Halloween.
Stan and I made it to Arapahoe Basin's opening day on Wednesday, October 17th. We arrived at 3:00 p.m., parked up front, no lines, 1 run was open from mid mountain. We got 4 runs in before the mountain closed. After snowboarding, we picked the kids up from school and headed to the Lake Dillon Fire Station for an open house/free hot dogs/safety night. All was good until the smoke trailer added a bit too much smoke for Casey. The fireman wanted Casey to crawl under the smoke, through the trailer and out the window...Casey said "No Way!" Her momma didn't raise no dummy!!
Friday, I took Casey, Garrett and Rowan to the Denver Zoo. We met up with Amy and Ella and Sarah, Kaelin and Graham. It was a little overcast, so the animals were out and about. The Lion was walking around, the bears were playing with their toys, the monkeys were swinging around and the elephants were wandering. The kids got to ride on the merry-go-around and got chocolate ice cream on the way out.
Last Saturday, we went to Vail for a Fun Fest with Sean, Dillon and Connor and Sarah and Rowan and Ava. There was a bounce house, bounce slide, large bounce slide, blow up obstacle course, face painter, balloon animal guy...and Casey ran around for a good 2 hours and did them all while Garrett watched. On Sunday, it was another beautiful day, so we played bocce ball while the kids ran around playing basketball, soccer, hide and seek and on the playground.
This weekend, we drove 2 1/2 hours NE to go to Pope Farms Corn Maze and Pumpkin Patch in Wiggins, CO. It was in the middle of nowhere, however, it ended up being a blast!! The corn pit was a huge hit, with the kids burying each other and jumping in, like a ball pit. There was a giant bubble you could jump on, a train, a tractor ride, duck races, a spider web, potato guns, and a huge corn maze, that we were for at least 30 minutes.
Sunday, the kids dressed up and went trick or treating at the Silverthorne Outlets. We made it to all 4 villages this year!!!
Garrett is taking steps. It has been very difficult to get on video. Whenever the camera comes out he decides not to show off. The most consecutive steps so far has been 6.
Happy Belated Birthday to Uncle Stuart!!!
Enjoy the pix.
Casey's Princess Pumpkin and Garrett's Goblin Pumpkin Potato Heads
showing off their new winter hats
opening day at ABasin. pray for snow!!
Ice Cream...a perfect way to end a day at the Zoo!
running through the obstacle course at Vail Fun Fest...
"I am a beautiful Butterfly!"
"Don't bug me...I am performing"
a quick "cheese"
Pope Farms Pumpkin Patch
Family Portrait
The corn pit...
Pumpkin Train...a wild ride
Lost in the Corn Maze
Skeleton and Bat Girl...Trick or Treat at the Silverthorne Outlets
Garrett loves school. He cries the minute I drop him off at Kids Korner at the Rec Center until I leave the room and then plays the rest of the time. However, when I drop him off at school, no tears, he just starts playing. I had to drop something off at lunchtime at the school this past week, so I peeked in at him and he and another little girl were sitting right across from each other (almost on top of each other) throwing a block back and forth. So he will get a check next to, "makes friends easily."
He doesn't eat or sleep much there, but he's happy all day. He takes 2 half hour naps, has been refusing his lunchtime bottle and food, and then will drink about 2 oz at 4 and eat his food. This past Wed we went out to dinner after we picked them up from school and he ended up eating 1 1/2 bottles during dinner!
He had turkey and mango this week and seems to like them. We think he is starting to do the sign language for "all done" and he is sort of starting to wave a little too. He is very into throwing balls and playing with cars. He even knows to make the "vroom" noise when playing with a car.
Casey is doing great. I think we finally have her completely potty trained during the day. I still remind her to go (even though she NEVER has to go when I tell her to go), but she is now going on her own and not peeing her pants at all. I know I'm going to jinx it, but she has not had an accident in a while.
Casey is a very dramatic 4 year old. The other day she was sitting on the floor looking at her toe and where it attaches to the foot she a little cut...she tells me, "mommy, my toe is coming apart!"
She is getting along very well with her brother and keeps him
entertained when he gets fussy in the car by playing peek a boo. He
LOVES his sister. Casey can now recite my phone number without any help. And now we are working on perfecting the writing of her name. She is also learning to use the computer and can now work the mouse pretty well. Playing on the computer has been a good way to work on her impatience. She has to calm down in order to get the cursor right on something to click.
Since our last post, Casey, Garrett and I hiked Old Dillon Reservoir. Then last Sunday, the whole fam hiked Tenderfoot Mountain, which we can see from our living room, to spread Frisco's ashes. Casey hiked the 3 miles without much complaint. This was twice as long as any hike we have done before. We bring lots of treats!
Yesterday we went to the Butterfly Pavilion in Denver. Casey almost held a tarantula...she got up close and personal, but pulled her hand away just before it was dropped into her hand.
This morning we went to the Silverthorne Pumpkin Fest. Casey was dressed as a witch and Garrett was a skeleton. Casey picked out a free pumpkin for both herself and her brother. After the fest, Casey and I drove to Denver for her friends Lainey's and MaKenna's birthday party at their Gymnastic Center. Casey had a blast on the trampolines, beams, bars and sliding into the foam pit.
Enjoy pix!
concentrating
his new favorite toy
Old Dillon Reservoir hike
Tenderfoot Mountain hike, Lake Dillon, Buffalo Mountain in the background, this is the spot we spread Frisco's ashes
Tenderfoot Mountain hike, Keystone in the background
Butterfly Pavilion with Connor and Dillon and some bees in the trunk of a tree...bzzzzz
