Thanksgiving and Other Stuff

We spent Thanksgiving at Snowmass Mountain in Aspen. Aunt Kel come into town to celebrate and to upgrade us to an amazing suite right on the mountain. Mark and Amy also joined us for the weekend. We hit the hot tubs in the mornings and the slopes in the afternoon and yummy turkey Thanksgiving night. Saturday, on the way back to Dillon, we stopped at the Glenwood Hot Springs. The kids had a blast in the huge hot pools. Casey is swimming underwater and is much more confident swimming around on her own.

Sunday, Casey sang with the children's choir at church. They performed at both services. She was really nervous on the way there, but when we got to church, she walked right into practice. She performed the first 2 songs great...big smile on her face, singing while looking around...
Then came song #3...looks closely... The boy behind her threw up all over her back. She tried to hold in her tears, but then she saw her back. We went to the bathroom, cleaned it off, got her a cookie and she pulled it together and went back for the second service and sang all the songs no problem.

This past Monday, Casey got her Daisy Scout vest! All the girls were SO excited! So far, she has really enjoyed Daisy Scouts. She started out quiet and shy and now she plays along with all the girls.

We've been skiing a few times since we got good snow in November. Garrett enjoys his plastic skis, or at least puts up with them for a few minutes. Casey is great on her skis. She is very fast and can turn really well. We just need to work on her confidence some more. Garrett has been continuing his tumbling career every Thursday. He loves it and is really good at log roll and swinging on the bar. His favorite part of the obstacle course is the tunnel slide and of course, ball time. Casey takes tennis on Sundays. They have been working on front hand, back hand and volleying. Today they worked on moving toward the ball while hitting front hand.

at tumbling...he likes when i roll him around in this. or he acts like he's in a hammock sleeping.

is she 5 or 15?

taking a breather

carrying her own skis and ready to shred

shrowing the pow

 
Thursday night the kids got to visit with Santa Claus. Casey ran right up and jumped on his lap. Garrett was a bit more apprehensive, but he sat there wide eyed, looking around, but no tears.

who is this guy?

why is she hugging him?

Garrett turns 2!

Garrett turned 2 on Sunday, November 17th. He weighs 26.5 lbs (46th percentile) and stands 34 inches high (32nd percentile). We had ice cream cake and opened some real cool presents, including his big gift, a basketball hoop.

The weeks leading up to him turning 2...he started putting a few words together and he answers questions, "yeth" "K." He is also answering "No" quite a lot. He constantly says "Mommy, Mommy, Mommy, Mommy." He knows how to bug his sister...sometimes he just leans against her, sometimes he just touches her. The other day, he climbed on the couch, while Casey was watching a show, laid on his belly, feet towards Casey and started kicking.

Turning 2 made today his first day in the 2 year old, Bumblebee room at school. He LOVED it.

birthday cake...mmmm

next day bday ice cream cake...mmm

Frankenstein and Spider Girl take October

We had Frankenstein and Spider Girl living with us for most of October. We visited a few pumpkin patches, trick or treated in Frisco and partied with school friends at the Summit Cove Fall Carnival.

Casey and I also fit in a trip to DC to cheer on Aunt Marcy while she ran 26.2 miles in the Marine Corp Marathon. She finished strong!!! While in town we got to stay at Aunt Kel's new house, had a nice lunch in DC, made a quick trip to the zoo and hit up the Burke Pumpkin Patch/Playground/Spooky Hayride with Grandma Gail. Before leaving for home, we celebrated Uncle Stuart's birthday with bbq and pumpkin carving with Grandma Gail, Grampa Tom, Aunt Kel, Aunt Marcy, Lily and Jack. Good times!

Arapahoe Basin Ski resort opened in October and we went opening day and we (including Casey) took 1 run.

Casey is settling into Kindergarten. She is sounding out words and learning her sight words quickly. She loves books. We have been reading The Magic Treehouse series at night and she is great at keeping up and recapping the story to us, since we trade nights putting her to bed. She can speak a little Spanish, "Mi llamo Casey. Por Que?" Her favorite class, PE, is even more favorite, now that they are doing Gymnastics. Yes, she is comfortable at school and still loves it. She did tell us she fell asleep during computer class a couple Fridays ago..."I was just really tired."

As for Garrett, the big news is...he no longer uses a pacifier. We stopped cold turkey 2 weeks before his birthday. The first day I put him down for a nap, he cried for about 5 minutes and the rest was history! He now jokes about it, asking, "Pathy, Pathy." I say we don't have anymore and he just laughs. Garrett is talking more and more each day. "Pancake peeze. More sausage...peeze." "Ah treat."  He is also more active in the crib. He has escaped from his crib a couple times. We had to remove the pillow pet, which gave him just enough height to escape. Also, every once in a while, I'll go up to get him from nap or in the morning and he is standing there pant-less, holding his diaper. He hands it to me and say, "Poopy." Luckily they have not been poopy...yet. However, everything is "ah poopy" to him. He constantly says he is poopy, when he is not; all the dolls are poopy; his cars are poopy.

So there is October...

Early morning in the DC metro on our way to Aunt Marcy run the Marine Corp Marathon

Marcy's marathon fan club

The last .2 miles and she is still smiling...

Cousins at Aunt Kel's new house

at the Burke Pumpkin Patch with Grandma

playing

picking a pumpkin

how do you like our pumpkins

who's the horse head?

being sweet at the pumpkin patch

do si doh

Connor/Batman, Casey/Spider Girl, Dillon/Iron Man, Garrett/Frankenstein trick or treat

Trick or Treat or Rock Stars

Camping, Daisy's and The Bug

We are all recovering from the dreaded stomach bug. Garrett got it first, then Casey, then Stan. The kids had it for over a week and they all still have a cough. No fun!!

Since our last post...

The weekend of Sept 19th, Stan went to Iowa with Steve, to golf and play in the annual "Olympic" games (including foosball, darts, cornhole, battleship, etc). While he was gone, I decided to take the kids camping with some friends. We went to Fruita for some 80 degree weather and camped at Highline Lake State Park. There were 2 other families with boys that were Casey's age and girls that were a year older than Garrett. The kids played in the lake, on the beach, rode on the paddleboards with us adults, biked and found all kinds of forts throughout the campground.

Casey started Daisy Scouts. She had her 2nd meeting this past Monday. It's held every other Monday right after school in the school art room. There are 12 girls. I got talked into becoming co-leader with 2 other moms. So far, so fun!

We are getting into more of a routine with school (besides last week, where Casey stayed home most of the week sick). She is very good at getting up, making her bed (still working on it), getting dressed, grabbing her backpack, etc. without any arguments. We still meet Ryan and Hogan at the front and they all still walk back together. Sometimes we drive Dillon to school too. She definitely comes home telling us about her day and telling us things she has learned. She knows all the pieces of a computer; She is learning to discuss stories and think about what might happen next; She knows her days of the week, and that Saturday is no school.

Though she does come home tired and a little grumpy, she has been really sweet to Garrett, most of the time. She helps him with a lot: she will take him upstairs with her to play, tries to read him books, brings toys into the play house, walks him down the stairs. Very sweet to him, until he starts getting feisty and takes a toy she wants or when he hits her because he didn't get his way.

Garrett loves playing upstairs where the toy room is. Sometimes he'll be playing in the living room while I'm in the kitchen and then I'll hear him make his way upstairs. He is trying to say more words and sometimes he'll "say" a full sentence and look at us like we should understand him completely. He is also interested in the potty. Yesterday after I told Casey to use it before we leave, he raced her into the bathroom and was pulling at his pants. So I put him on the potty and he just grinned, so excited...he did not go potty, but we'll get there.

It's been getting cold here. It's in the mid 30's in the morning and 50's/60's in the afternoon. We got snow last Friday/Saturday. The resorts have started to make snow. We are ready to shrow the poow!

Onto pix...

Garrett's new "cheese" face...

Walking down to the lake from the campground...Garrett, the ladies man.

another "cheese" face

Garrett not feeling so well...chilling on the couch, watching some football

princess Casey

at the playground with Dillon and Connor

Kindergarten and more...

Casey loves school. I drive Casey to school, because Summit Cove Elementary is not our neighborhood school, so there is no bus. The first 2 weeks I walked her to her line and left after the 1st bell rang at 8:40 (this is when eveyone lines up and the teachers come outside...2nd bell rings at 8:45 and the classes walk into school). The 3rd week of school, we started meeting her Kindergarten friends, Ryan and Hogan, at the front of the school at 8:35 a.m. and the 3 of them walk in together. She gets so excited to meet them, there is no hesitation and barely a "good bye" anymore. This past Thursday was school pictures and Back to School Night. Casey had a blast showing us around her school. She has "specials" throughout the week, including PE, Media (Library or Computer), Spanish, Art and Music. So far specials are her favorite part of school, especially PE.

Ever since Casey started school, Garrett has been getting some quality time with Mom. I think he misses Casey during the day because he gets really excited when we go to pick her up and sometimes when she comes downstairs in the morning. The other morning, Garrett was playing in the living room when Casey woke up. He heard her door open, looked up and saw her. He squealed, ran to the bottom of the stairs and waited for her to get down with his arms open. He gave her a big hug when she finally got down.

He has started saying more words, though most people probably wouldn't recognize them like we do. He is also communicating better with hand movements, pointing to where he wants you to sit or to something he wants. He is very into books right now, looking through them himself and having us read them to him. He likes to "jam" on his guitar. I will try and get video this week. He usually wants me to jam with him though.

Garrett started tumbling on Thursday. He is one of the youngest in the class, but did a great job listening to instruction. He still can't jump though...hopefully this class will help.

Labor Day weekend we took the good ol' jeep on an adventure to Peru Creek Trail. We got to check out an old mining town. That Monday we rode our bikes from our house to Breckenridge, about 16 mile one way. Casey rode the tag-a-long attached to Stan's bike and lasted the whole day. Garrett rode in the Chariot, reading his books and napping.

This past weekend, we went to Vail for Oktoberfest with Steve and Stacia. Good times watching the VT game, playing washers and cornhole, touring Oktoberfest and swimming at the condo pool.

We have not been great at taking pix, but here are a few...

Helping Daddy make BBQ sauce

Mining House off Peru Creek Trail

very short hike to a waterfall

Casey found some cool mushrooms

Go Hokies!

No school Friday, so we went to the Breckenridge Children's Museum...Casey built this cool bridge

"who's ready for cornhole?"

Awesome August

We got back to Dillon on July 21st.

First...video of Casey "getting up" on water skis...forgot to post in last post.



After we got home, Casey spent the week cooking up cinnamon crisps, dirt pudding and meatballs at Kids in the Kitchen camp. We ended the week at Lakeside Amusement Park with Dillon and Connor. Garrett was able to keep up with the big kids and ride most of the rides.

driving

Big sister taking care of Lil Brother on the crazy ride

are there sharks in that water...

We went camping the first weekend of August.  The first 2 nights we stayed in Buena Vista at Chalk Creek Campground right on Chalk Creek. The kids had a blast playing in the creek, playing on the playground (which literally consisted of swings, an old really tall slide and tether ball, but they LOVED it), and meeting all the kids in the campground. Garrett is Mr. Social, waving to anyone and everyone he can. Casey was pretty social too, very unlike her. She made all kinds of friends at the playground. Casey also rode her bike all over the campground. Garrett tried too...his strider. He would basically stand there and get frustrated because he couldn't go with Casey. However, since then, he has figured out how to take a few steps not only on the strider, but the scooter and the skateboard too.

our campsite right on the creek

older kids were tubing down the creek...looking forward to going back

We then moved our camp down the road to meet up with friends near Cottonwood Lake. The campsite was right on a very calm river. Casey had a blast exploring, fishing, hiking, canoeing and eating smores. Garrett was great too...he has adapted really well to camping. He is finally down to 1 nap in the afternoon, and took some great naps while camping. Stan got some fishing in on this trip and finally caught 3 fish...Casey, Garrett and I as his witnesses!!

Casey taking over the paddling

dinosaur attack

enjoying the canoe ride...

on the hike, Casey enjoyed a wild strawberry

1/2 the camping crew hiking

The 2nd week of August Casey went to Keystone Science School camp. It was an all day camp and included games, hikes, fishing, and lots of outdoor fun. Though a little nervous at drop off every morning, she seemed to enjoy herself the whole week.  That Wed, Garrett and I flew to VA to attend my grandmother's memorial service. We got to see lots of family and enjoyed remembering an amazing lady, Katie Wright!

YG's family

Lily, Garrett and Jack walking the streets of DC

While we were in VA, Stan and Casey went to Steamboat Lake for a night of camping with our friends, Chris and Christy, Ryan & Kaitlin. Ryan was in Casey's preschool class and is in her Kindergarten class too.

Casey started Kindergarten on Wednesday, August 21st. Her teacher is Ms. Michaels. Casey was excited, but nervous. Every morning we walked through the school, to the back playground to line up. She is definitely shy, but after a few minor tears on the first day, she is becoming a pro at lining up, waiting for the bell to ring, teacher to come out and walk the class in. She even smiled and waved to me on Friday. On her first day of school, the entire school took a walking field trip to see the Pro Cycle tour ride through Dillon on their way to Steamboat.  Thursday, they had art and music classes and Friday they went to the computer lab. At pick up, you can tell she enjoys her days...she comes running out the door with a huge grin on her face and talks the whole way home about what she did at school. She knows a bunch of kids in her class from preschool, but has already made a new friend, Taylor.

Garrett is in school at Lake Dillon Preschool every Wed. He cries when I drop him off, but only until I leave, just like his big sis used to do. He loves his class though and is learning all kinds of things, including how to wash his hand and throw away the paper towel & all his body parts, eyes, ears, hair, fingers, toes, etc.

Garrett is finally old enough to start Rec center classes and participated in his first tumbling day. He did great following the rules and can already hang on the bar and lift his legs up a little and walk across the beam while holding my hand.

Lots of change this month. The kids are growing, playing together a lot more, Garrett is down to 1 nap while Casey is over naps for the most part. Garrett still hits, but not as harsh, more of testing and when he doesn't get his way. However, he will give you a hug after he hits you. 

have fun at school Casey...we will miss you

July in the East

We left Colorado at the end of June and headed East for our annual lake and beach trip. First stop was Lake Gaston to spend a week and a half with Grandma Gail and Grandpa Tom and Rimsky at the lake house. Aunt Marcy, Uncle Stuart, Lily and Jack, Aunt Kel and Bodie and Cousins Alli and Davis all took part in the annual July 4th reunion.

Casey started the week off a little skeptical, but by the end she had gotten up on skis; was jumping in the water by herself, no goggles; and was sliding down the slide like it was no big thing. The weather was also a little frustrating at the beginning of the week, but by the end, it was warm and sunny and not too humid. We cooked smores, waved sparklers, burned snakes and set of Roanoke Rapid Wal-Mart special fireworks on the 4th, then got to see the big Lake Gaston firework display the following Saturday. There were trips to the marina for ice cream and several trips to Goat Island...to feed the goats.

Garrett had a blast at the lake. He would wake up and be ready to go out on a boat, which he can now say over and over. He loved swimming. He just needed his swimmies and he would be off. The slide was a hit, until he realized that hitting his head over and over at the bottom really starts to hurt after a while. He is very good at saying "mine!" for everything and anything. He runs all over the place, his belly leading the way.

Everyone left by Sunday, so we had our friends Chrissy and Andrew and their 10 month old, Duncan come up from Greensboro for a visit. Monday, Grandpa Tom took Casey flying for the first time. She had fun and talked the entire time.

We left the lake, picked Gramma Lois up in Roanoke, then headed down to Birmingham, Alabama to see Aunt Lisa, Uncle Dave, Ashlynne, Morganne and Max's new house. Dave started his residency in radiology at UAB. We spent a couple days getting to know their new neighborhood before packing up again and heading to the beach with everyone but the Doctor.

We stayed in Indian Pass, down the street from Cape San Blas, a bit south of Panama City. The house was perfect, right on the beach. A river formed on the shore and stuck around, which helped the kids create a "fort" that they played in all week. Garrett played right along with the big kids. When he wasn't digging or stealing toys or wrecking newly built walls, he was running circles in the sand...around and around and around and around...

By the end of the week, the weather had calmed so we were able to take all the kids out past the first break. They all, including Garrett in his swimmies, loved it out there...didn't want to come in.  Needless to say, they were exhausted by weeks end.

We had a great time visiting with everyone. Hopefully we didn't cause too much of a mess!!  It's good to be back in CO.  Hope everyone is enjoying the Summer. 

proud to be Americans

seadooing with Daddy

again...proud to be Americans

is she 5 or 15?

huh?

driving...

and he's out

snacking with Grandma

Casey, ready for her first flight

at the Mecklenburg airport

scooter gang

Casey loved playing in the sand

5 cousins

somewhere under the rainbow

come on, let's boogie

just chillin' in the ocean with my floaties

so happy to be swimmin' in the ocean

cheese