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
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.
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.
The first week of June Casey was in tennis camp every morning and then a free golf clinic at Keystone's River Course 3 mornings. She has TBall practice Tuesday and Thursday and her first TBall game Saturday morning. Coach Stan did great at preparing the team. Most knew to throw the ball to first base and to drop the bat and run to first after hitting the ball. Fortunately we have a lot of parental help in the field reminding the kids what to do so the game doesn't come to a stand still. We then had 3 more games in a row (Tues, Thurs, Tues), then the league decided to give the coaches a break and the rest of June was game Tuesday, practice Thursday. Casey really likes playing and loves having her Dad coach. Garrett keeps busy playing on the playgrounds or emptying the ball bucket or trying to get in the middle of everything. He is ready to play. Here are some videos showing what she has learned...
Week 2 of June, Casey attending Vacation Bible School up at our Church. There are over 250 kids who attend. She loves the fact that there are middle school girls who are her group leaders.
Both kids and Stan got some much needed haircuts this week too. Garrett would not sit still this time. He kept swatting at Betsy's hand while she tried to cut...he did allow the clippers and his haircut turned out really cute.
We finished off the week at the Frisco BBQ Festival. Friday night the kids got to bounce around in all the bouncy castles, listen to music and run into all their school friends. We had a good time too! Saturday we took a bike ride over to Keystone for a BMX bike trick show and lunch at Kickapoo. Saturday night we headed to Denver to hang with Mark, Amy, Ella & Hanna in their new house. Ella (2 1/2) loves following Casey around! Garrett was excited about their basketball hoop which was taller then the baby one we have, but small enough for him to make a basket...in which he now says, "Boom" when it goes in. Father's Day Sunday, Stan went golfing with the guys then met us over at Sarah and Geoff's for a BBQ.
Week 3, Casey went to Art Camp, where she got to create her own Fairy Mosaic Garden. Each day they made a piece of the garden, starting with the fairy on day 1. She tried to be very independent on day 3, "mom, you don't have to come down with me." With much hesitation on getting out of the car I suggested I would walk her to the stairs...a little more hesitation she decided I should walk her all the way down, but don't come down to get her at pick up...she will come up by herself...and she did.
We ended this week with our first camping trip of the Summer. We met Mark, Amy, Ella and Hanna at the Angel of Shavano campground about 2 hours South of us. It's right on a river and the Colorado Trail. Casey was a trooper on Saturday hiking 1 mile uphill on the Colorado trail and then the mile back down. We also went on a bumpy ride up to North Fork Reservoir where Casey, Ella, Mark and Stan tried to fish, to no avail. The camper is great. Stan put "peel and stick" hardwood floors in, to replace the indoor/outdoor carpet. Much easier to keep clean now that we can sweep. He also bought solar so we could charge our new monster battery, so we can run the heat all night when we aren't plugged in. It worked great!
Garrett is in a funny and frustrating phase right now. He might be getting his 2 month molars, because he has been extra sensitive/fussy and had a low grade fever for a few days. I just need him to slow down so I can look in his mouth. He does not like being told "no." He immediately throws a tantrum. Casey knows how to get under his skin. He drops a toy or gets up from a seat, she's on it, even if she could care less...G fights back though...literally...he like to swat, though you can tell he knows he's not supposed to. He tests way more than Casey did. You tell him not to touch something, he keeps doing, sometimes nonchalantly, sometimes right out while staring at you. He is not a great eater. He would rather throw his food. He likes fruit, pizza, pancakes, yogurt, cookies, lasagna and everything else it's hit or miss.
Casey is a constant noise maker. She is talking like me and doing my mannerisms more and more, I really need to watch myself... She loves helping me around the house, always asking, "What can I help clean." She is starting to figure out chores and how if she does a chore, she could get money and if she does it enough, she can get enough money to buy another Littlest Pet Shop animal. She makes her bed, sets the table and helps clean up...sometimes. She is still very shy and timid, but I have noticed her coming out of her shell more since she turned 5.
June has been beautiful here in the mountains, we have spent tons of time outside at the Farmer's Market (Fridays), the pool (Flying Dutchman's outdoor heated pool), biking, running, playing golf and just chilling in the backyard. In other news, Stan and I have been married 12 years today.
Belated Happy Birthdays go out to Aunt Kel (June 5) and Gramma Lois (June 13).
And we pray for our Yellow Grandma Katie who passed away this month at 92 1/2 years old. She will be missed! But as Casey said, "I'll see her again though mom in heaven...but you'll see her first."
Hope you aren't too overwhelmed by all the videos and pictures...enjoy!
Casey is 5 (May 1). She is 42 1/4" tall (47%) and weighs 37 lbs (34%). No shots at her 5 year old appt, though she was ready to be brave for them this time. She had her annual bday party at Abasin with her friend Rowan who shares her May 1st bday. There was plenty of snow this year and the girls learned how to get on and ride the bunny hill lift up all by themselves. A little scary for us parents watching, but they had a blast.
Casey graduated from Ms. Lauren's preschool class, though her last day is actually tomorrow. What did she learn in preschool? She can write her name legibly. She knows all her letters and numbers up to 100 (though sometimes needs help). She is writing 3 letter words on her own and constantly asking how to spell other words. She is adding small numbers.
Casey started TBall this month. Dad is the head coach. They have had 2 practices so far and the teams seems to work well together. Basically working on how to throw, catch and hit...the basics. First game is this Saturday. Casey is also riding her 2 wheel bike. She is starting to get the hang of starting on her own. Getting ready for the Frisco bike park!
Garrett is a bundle of energy. He is now 18 months and wants to be one of the big kids. He loves watching Casey and her friends and tries so hard to do what they are doing. Though he is also completely fine playing by himself. It's like DisneyWorld when he plays upstairs with all the toys while Casey is gone at school. He has started making noises for animals...ERRRR...and he gets them to walk and tackle other animals. He is still very snugly. He leans his head in for hugs, he blows kisses and he loves to crawl all over us.
Garrett is 33" tall (75%) and weighs 23lb 8oz (45%). He had a shot and was not happy about it, though he recovered quickly. He is still mostly on 2 naps, still trying to get him down to 1. Some days he can fight through the morning if we are busy and take one 2 1/2 - 3 hour nap. But most of the time, he is ready for nap at 10:00. He wakes in the morning around 7:30, goes to bed around 7:30, so he is a good sleeper like his sister. He goes to school every Wednesday and seems to enjoy it, even though he cries when I drop him off. He immediately stops when I leave the room. His words are "ball, cookie, mommy, mommy, mommy, daddy, bubble, gurt (yogurt), mowha (more), hi, bye." He is trying to say Casey (Cay-he) and Marcy (Mar-ee) and other words or names that we repeat over and over to him.
He is very different than Casey. He is a climber. He likes to hit and throw things. We have been working on the hitting and he has definitely gotten better, but when he doesn't get his way, his arms start swinging. Casey learned "No" quickly. We believe Garrett understands "No" but really enjoys testing us. He will keep going for something over and over, even if we are right there telling him "No" or when we try and remove him from the situation. He thinks it's a game.
So what has been going on since our last blog...Aunt Kel was Casey's roommate for a month and a half and is now back in DC buying a house; I had a bday; Casey's bday party at Abasin; Casey had her last ski days at Abasin with her preschool class; went back East to MD for Marcy's 40th bday bash, then celebrated Casey's bday at Chuck E Cheese, then celebrated Grandma Gail's bday, then headed down to Roanoke to visit Gramma Lois before heading back home.
Enjoy pix and hopefully we will get back on schedule with this blog!
skiing at Casey's bday party
the birthday girls
taking time out of building snow castles to "cheese" with Connor and Dillon
hurry up...gotta play
cute
riding the Roanoke Zoo train with Gramma Lois
"where did she go?"
hehe
playing with Grandma Gail and Grampa Tom's new puppy, Rimsky
this has been our morning ritual...playing on the deck with sand and water table and bubbles
