A lot has happened this week with Garrett. He got his first tooth, bottom right and is drooling like crazy. He is sitting up all by himself and he sits very straight backed. He is crawling on his knees and can go from crawling to sitting and back to crawling. He also does a weird downward dog yoga position sometimes while trying to crawl. He is getting up onto his knees and pulling himself up, not to standing, but to a kneeling position. We go into his room to get him up from nap and he's usually right at the corner peeking out. When he sees us, he smiles so big. He is a very happy baby. Crying is very rare. Because he is now on the move, he is now able to get in Casey's way, grabbing things that she is playing with consistently. "No Buddy, No." is Casey's usual response.
Casey is trying to be a patient older sister, but you can definitely tell she gets frustrated by her little brother and the attention he tends to get. However, she can also be very sweet to him too.
This past weekend Sarah, Brian and Rowan watched Casey and Garrett Friday night so we could go out to dinner to celebrate our 11 year anniversary! Saturday, we got a babysitter, Julia, to watch the kids while we went mountain biking at Keystone. We went on the same trail that I took my parents on a few years ago:) Somehow, it was a much smoother experience this time;0
Casey and Garrett want to wish Max and Morganne Happy Birthdays this week!!! We'll see you soon.
at the waterpark last week...i forgot to download these last week.
"come on Lainey and MaKenna...let's go down the slide again!"
"here I am"
"Yep, I'm sitting up."
The picture was mainly taken to show Casey's playing...that's baby Jesus in the middle of the circle.
The first week of June, we met Sarah, Kaelin and Graham at Broomfield Bay, their local water park. The kids had a blast. Casey is much more independent this year and loves to get soaked in the water play. Garrett loved his raft and pushing up off the ground. Thursday, we met Sarah, Kaelin and Graham at the Zoo. We brought Rowan with us to see the new Elephant exhibit. The kids were exhausted by the time we left at 3:30 to head to the airport to pick Aunt Kel up for a quick visit and transport to Denver. She was in town for a wedding. We dropped her off at her friends house, let the kids get their last bit of energy out, grabbed a burger and headed home.
Casey started swim lessons this month. Her preschool class takes the Summit County bus to the Silverthorne Recreation Center every Wednesday morning. It's amazing how much better she is doing this year. She is putting her head in the water now.
Fridays, our ritual for the month has been to pick Casey up from school at 12:30, then head to the Dillon Farmer's Market for lunch and a snow cone or mini donuts.
The first weekend of June, we met our friends Geoff, Sarah, Kaelin and Graham at Eleven Mile Canyon Reservoir for a weekend of camping. The lake was big, though tough to catch fish on:), though Geoff and Stan did venture out on the canoe for a try. We went to Florissant State Park and did a mile long hike checking out the petrified redwood stumps and fossils. Casey walked the entire mile without whining. The rest of the trip we cooked out, cooked s'mores, rode bikes and just chilled, as much as you can chill with a 4 and 6 1/2 month old. Everyone slept well in the camper. Casey even asked to go to bed after stores were done, she was so tired.
The week of June 11th, Casey went to Vacation Bible School on Monday and Thursday and then her regular school Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday. Stan left town on a guys weekend to Iowa on Thursday night leaving us to fend for ourselves. Luckily the Frisco BBQ kept us busy. We met a bunch of people at the BBQ Friday night. They had a bunch of bouncy play things for the kids to play on and Casey had no fear (unlike last year). She zipped through the obstacle course numerous times by herself. Went crazy in the Wacky World bounce house and jumped all over the place in the moon-bounce. She had corn on the cob for dinner and mini donuts for dessert.
Saturday was the 2nd annual Strider Cup at Keystone. If you remember last year, Casey took 2nd place in the 2-3 year old division, behind her friend Wyatt. The 2-3 year old race was very competitive again this year. The 4-5 year old race, on the other hand, (Casey's age group this year), consisted of 6 kids who became best friends during practice and just sort of strolled through the race. Casey basically came in 3rd, after a bit of confusion at the starting line in the final heat. She had a lot of fun.
After the race, Sarah, Rowan, Casey, Garrett and I took the Water Taxi from Dillon over to the Frisco BBQ. It's about a 30 minute pontoon ride. The girls went on the bouncy toys again, ate mac n cheese, snow cones and watched the pig races.
Sunday, we took the day to relax. Stan got home Sunday night before the kids went to bed and just in time to celebrate Father's Day.
Monday, we met Astra and her twins, Lainey and Makenna at Splash Waterpark in Golden. The kids had so much fun. Casey went down the slides, put her head in the water and looked around with her goggles on!! Garrett loved sitting on the edge of the pool splashing himself.
Casey and Garrett would like to wish Gramma Lois a belated Happy Birthday (June 13) and Aunt Kelly (June 5) and Happy Father's Day to all those wonderful Dad's out there!!! And Happy Birthday next week to Morganne (June 25) and Max (June 30).
Garrett & Casey swimming at Broomfield Bay Water Park
Graham, Kaelin, Rowan and Casey at the Zoo
Campsite at Eleven Mile Canyon Reservoir
Garrett passed out while playing in the camper
Petrified Redwood Stump
mmm...smores and I love my headlamp. I like to keep it on and blind people with it.
The 4/5 year old group, Autumn, Rowan, Casey, Ryan, Evan (Tai not pictured)
everyone got trophies!!
taking the water taxi from Dillon Marina to Frisco Marina for the Frisco BBQ
Fishing at Fall River Reservoir, Casey is fishing with a real lure now!!
The kids playing. Garrett LOVES Frisco. Frisco puts up with him for a little bit, then moves along.
Casey is going to school half days on Tuesday and Fridays and a full day on Wednesdays. Her friend Rowan is now in her class and goes the same 3 days. That has helped Casey a lot. Also, Casey enjoys the preschool room much more than the 3 year old room. It's not as crazy!! They are learning so much right now. Casey can now sound out the first letter of most words. She has trouble with C and K and S, but otherwise, she is pretty good. They have been taking trips to the library on Tuesdays. They walk to the bus stop and catch the free Summit Stage bus the 2 or so miles to the Silverthorne Library for storytime and they get to check out their own book. They start swim lessons next Wed for the month of June.
Garrett went to the Rec Center Kids Korner for the first time this month. They were thrilled to have him and he was happy to be there.
The weather has been really nice, sunny in the 60/70's so we have been going on lots of bike rides, scooter rides and trips to the playground. I biked Garrett to Frisco one day. Kathy and I biked over to Keystone one day. Casey has shredded the bike park a couple times already too. Stan has been exploring the Frisco Peninsula trails on his mountain bike.
Garrett had his 6 month check up with Dr. Britton on May 18th. He is a healthy, growing, baby! He weighed in at 16 lbs, 13.5 ounces; is 26.75 inches tall. He is 50 percentile in weight and 75 percentile in height. He is army crawling and loves exploring. He can get up onto his hands and knees and rock a little, then launch himself forward. He is very curious, especially when he is upstairs playing with Casey's toys. Casey has been very good with him lately. Sharing her toys, or at least getting him another toy when she wants what he is playing with.
This past week G started eating more (growth spurt). He now eats 4 8 ounce bottles and baby food level 1 with 3 of the 4 bottles. He is now opening his mouth for each bite, so it's not much of a battle anymore at meal time.
Wednesday, May 23, we flew into Raleigh Durham Airport and drove to Lake Gaston to hang with Grandma Gail and Grampa Tom. Marcy, Stuart, Lily and Jack arrived Thursday night. We hung around and played Friday morning, then left the kids at the lake and headed to Charlotte for a weekend of Nascar, Coca Cola 600. We stopped in Greensboro, NC to visit with our friends, Chrissy and Andrew, who just moved down from NYC and got to see another friend from our VT days, Beth and her son, Sean. We then hit the road to Charlotte to meet up with our Nascar crew, including our friends, Steve and Stacia, who flew in from Denver for their first race.
While we watched cars drive in circles all weekend, Casey and Garrett played at the lake. Aunt Kel showed up with her dog Bodie on Sat and everyone seemed to have had a great time on the sea doos, riding the hot dog, going on pontoon rides, slip and sliding and just playing. The kids were worn out when we got back to the Lake on Monday.
Before we flew back, we got to see Grampa Tom's new Allegro 2 seater plane. It's parked about 25 minutes from the lake house. I got video of him flying over the lake house on Tuesday. Another fun toy!
The kids were great on the planes. Garrett slept only a little bit on the way to VA and then wanted to talk and smile and move around the rest of the time. He slept more on the way back to CO. Casey watched movies the whole way and, as always, is a great little traveler.
Casey and Garrett want to wish their Aunt Kelly a Happy Birthday (June 5).
Enjoy the pix and video!
mmmm...push up popsicle...when do i get one?
oh hi
watching doc mcstuffins
chillin
sharing toys
1st pontoon ride with grandma gail
in charge
gerber baby
grampa tom's new airplane...when can i fly this thing?
It was quite a birthday week for us. My birthday was Sunday, April 29. We went to Dos Locos for a yummy birthday dinner Sunday night and then I got a birthday facial on Monday.
Tuesday, Casey turned 4 years old. She went to school for a half day and brought mini cupcakes. After school, we had to go to the doctor for her 4 year old appointment. She is 32.8 lbs and 3 feet, 3 inches tall. She got 1 shot and was very brave. She answered all of Dr. Britton's questions and danced around the room the rest of the time.
She is very into dancing lately. She is always wearing her ballet shoes and her princess dresses. Turning 4, she has decided she wants to be a big sister. She said she loves her brother and is now starting to play with him a little. Garrett LOVES his big sister. Today she and Garrett were watching her new favorite show, Doc McStuffins, Garrett would watch the show, then stare at Casey for a few minutes. Then when he was playing with a ball, he dropped it and started whining. I heard Casey say, "It's okay Bud, here you go." And she handed him his ball. What a great big sister.
Saturday was Casey's 4th annual birthday party at ABasin. The weather was warm and a bit windy, no snowstorm this year. There wasn't much snow at all, but there was enough for the kids to go sledding. They also got to play in the dirt, throw rocks into the river and blow bubbles. Casey had a blast. She was so appreciative of everyone being there, she was in good spirits all day, and played great with all her friends. The party continued at our house with Mark, Amy and Ella and Colin, Lainey and MaKenna coming over for dinner and playing and foosball.
Garrett is doing great. He is a very chill and happy baby. He squeals and hmmms and gurgles and laughs. He was perfect at Casey's ABasin party. He hung out in his car seat while we set up. Took a 2 1/2 hour nap in his tent during all the activity. Woke up to eat, play a little, then chilled in his car seat while we packed up.
This week Garrett started eating fruits and veges. He started with some bananas mixed with his rice cereal in the morning. Then a few days later we gave him some peas. He still needs to learn to open his mouth. He basically sticks his tongue out and licks the spoon and then we shove the spoon into his mouth. Pretty funny.
When you put Garrett down on his back, he immediately flips to his belly and usually after a few minutes starts whining that he is on his belly and can't move anywhere to grab anything. Well, this week, he learned how to flip back onto his back. He is also trying to crawl. He has been scooting around on and off his activity mat. He will trying and move towards things and has even pushed his knees up under his belly like he wants to get into the crawl position.
Garrett went on his first bike ride on Friday. We bike over to Frisco marina. He slept the whole way there, woke when I stopped at the marina, looked around, then fell right back to sleep when I started back to Dillon.
Happy Birthday to Grandma Gail (May 7) and Aunt Marcy (May 8)!
Enjoy the pix...
Garrett hanging with Dillon, Connor and Casey...do you see him staring at Casey?
We went on our first camping trip of the year. Friday, we drove to Fruita and found a camping spot off 18 Road, a well known mountain biking/camping area. The main campground was full, but there was a bunch of dispersed camping, where we had plenty of room to set up the pop up camper and for our friends, Kathy, Sean, Dillon and Connor to set up their monster 8 person tent. However, no bathrooms, which lead to a few messy accidents and gave Casey lots of practice "copping a squat." The weather was sunny and in the upper 80's, low 90's. We all left looking much healthier and much dirtier than when we arrived.
The mountain bike trails were right off our campsite. Stan, Sean and I got a 45 minute mountain bike ride in Sat morning and then Sean and Stan went for another, longer and tougher ride, Chutes and Ladders, later that afternoon.
The kids had so much fun, playing/digging/rolling in the dirt, riding bikes, playing t-ball and just plain camping. Dillon & Casey learned how to ride a bike without training wheels. Casey can go about 30 yards on her own and then she stops pedaling and looses her steam, but a little more practice she'll get it.
Sunday, Kathy and I got up bright and early to run a 5.6 mile race through a canyon that started at the Mack Trailhead. It was amazing. We ran across the upper rim of the canyon up steep, rocky trails, down single track trails, all the while looking at great views of the Colorado River.
Sean and Kathy headed home Sunday afternoon, and we headed off to Moab, UT. After one night in a ghetto RV park in town, we moved to Archview RV resort that overlooked Arches National Park.
Monday, we drove through Arches National Park. We were able to to a few really short hikes to see some amazing arches. Unfortunately, it was in the 90's and we had to keep the car running with Frisco in the AC, so we couldn't do anything too long. But it was plenty with a 5 month old and 3 year old.
Tuesday, we took a detour down a 4x4 Gemini Bridges Road through Bull Canyon to get to Canyonlands National Park. Amazing views...
Wednesday, we packed up early then headed over to Dead Horse State Park, had lunch in Moab, then took scenic road 128 which followed the Colorado River out of Moab.
Casey had so much fun camping. She loved sleeping in the camper and was a great little camper. She was very independent and found plenty to do on her own. Garrett was a great camper too. He is very chill and happy. He slept great, though he did wake up at least once a night to talk and coo to himself.
This weekend, our friends Geoff and Sarah came into town on Friday for Book Club on Saturday night. This morning, Sarah made a birthday breakfast for me. Later we went to Dos Locos for a birthday dinner. Yes, today is my birthday. Happy Birthday to me:)
Enjoy the pix.
hanging with mom
i can do it all by myself
skater
Garrett slept in his tent in the pop up camper
Connor, Casey and Dillon playing with water guns
playing in the sand
what are you looking at?
smores
Stan, stuffed Frisco and Casey going on a bike ride.
brother and sister
short hike in Canyonlands
view of the Colorado River from Canyonlands National Park
Garrett can now roll from his back to his belly and does it almost immediately every time we put him down on his activity mat. Unfortunately, he has not figured out how to roll back onto his back, so he tends to get frustrated after being on his belly for too long. So he has been spending more and more time in his exersaucer, which he loves, especially in the morning.
Garrett is on a 3 hour schedule, having a bottle at 7:30, 10:30, 1:30, 4:30 and 7:30. This week we are trying to get rid of the 10:30 p.m. for good. We have been trying to feed him rice cereal/oatmeal the past couple of weeks, but he really doesn't seem that interested in it. So we have not moved on to any other foods yet.
The rest of us are recovering from a week and half of visitors. My whole family came out to ski and play. Marcy, Stuart, Lily and Jack flew in March 29th. After a few lessons for Jack, everyone was able to ski by the time the rest of the crew got to town. Grandma Gail and Grampa Tom drove out with dog, Ivan and arrived April Fools Sunday morning. Aunt Kelly and her new puppy, Bodie also drove out and arrived way late Sunday night/Monday morning. We all skied Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. Everyone did very well and there were no injuries!! Casey had a blast skiing with everyone. Wednesday, Casey and Garrett went to school/daycare, Lily and Jack went to ski school, while the adults got a day to ski with no kids. Casey's school ended up going to Abasin for skiing! She's great at going on the lift and skiing down green runs. She can also do some easy blue runs. She is much better at the shorter runs, because she does not have the focus right now, but she is definitely a good little skier.
Thursday after a morning of skiing and shopping at the outlets, we went tubing at Copper Mountain. The kids had no fear, even riding in their own tubes! Friday, Grandma Gail, Grampa Tom and Aunt Kel left and the rest of us headed to Hot Sulphur Springs to relax in the hot springs. The resort was a bit "aged" but the kids seemed to have fun.
Saturday we went on a scenic hike then played in the sandbox and sand and water table. Sunday after an Easter egg hunt at home, breakfast at Arapahoe Cafe and a quick trip to the playground, it was time for Marcy, Stuart, Lily and Jack to head to the airport.
We had a blast with all of our visitors and the past couple of days it has been eerily quite! The weather has been warm and sunny and we have been spending a lot of time out back playing in the sandbox, playing cornhole, drawing with sidewalk chalk and riding bikes. We are still skiing a bit too. Keystone closed this past weekend, Breckenridge will close this weekend, but Abasin will stay open at least for another month!
Happy Spring!
Casey reading to her little brother
Lily and Garrett hanging out
Jack and Casey eating chocolate cake
Mom and Casey on the gondola
Uncle Stan leading Casey and Lily down Schoolmarm at Keystone
Lily, Casey and Jack hanging with Aunt Marcy and Aunt Kel at Keystone
Grandma Gail, Casey, Lily, Jack and Grampa Tom at Keystone
cousins hot tubbing
Grandma Gail and Grampa Tom posing with their Grandkids at Lake Dillon Park
Happy Easter!
sliding
Casey following Lily and Grandma Gail
Casey, Lily and Jack following Aunt Kel down
