Little Girl and Grandad

Thanksgiving in Wray this year was relaxing and fun. We ate to much and enjoyed the company of some amazing family and friends.. This was my favorite image from the trip. Grandad was flying the little girl around so there is a little action blur but that face just cracks me up.



highlights of the week past

Julianne and I practicing with the baby budda carrier

We had a full week. The weird thing is it is hard to remember what all we did. We started feeding Julianne a little bit of solid food. She likes the milky oatmeal and she liked the sweet potatoes. The pears were not a hit.

Julianne also rolled over all by herself on Monday. I put her down on a blanket on the floor and went to the bathroom.  I could tell by the sound of her mad little cry that she had rolled to her stomach. Sure enough, she was face down and not liking it. She repeated the roll a couple more times on that same day but I haven't seen her do it again since.

We booked a trip to Florida for December. I'm mentally preparing myself for the trip with two kids. I decided we should practice with the Baby Budda carrier because it is light weight and might be good for the airport. It is a little tricky to get the stretchy bands just right. As I wrestled Julianne into the carrier in front of the mirror, she got tickled and started giggling. That is the first time I have made her laugh. Joel is good at getting her to laugh. I admit we looked funny in the Budda.


Jace helping Julianne to sit up

Julianne is getting stronger and holds her head up we'll enough for Jace to be able to hold her and move her some. I hold my breath as he helps her to sit up. He is careful and she enjoys the attention but I can't help being nervous.

The weather last week was beautiful. It was warm and mild. We went for walks, and raked leaves and Joel cleaned leaves from the gutters. One morning Joel and Jace, still in PJs, went outside with the remote control car. I imagine our neighbors got a kick out of Jace running up and down the sidewalk being chased by a little yellow sports car. 

Joel chasing Jace with the remote control race car

I worked one afternoon in a young threes classroom. The 5 kids in the class are all 3 years old but have varied degrees of developmental delays. It was interesting for me to observe the differences between this classroom and the other preschool classes I have worked in. It also made me appreciate more than ever my normally developing 4 year old. I'm looking forward to helping out in this classroom several more times in the coming weeks.

cute kids

so innocent

stocking hat hair

Kissable

Julianne and Aunt Jessica

Those little round baby cheeks are so adorable it's hard to resist.

Grandma entertains a crowd

This was the scene Friday evening at Grandma's house. The game of peek-a-boo had both grand kids entertained and the puppy (still wearing her Halloween costume) had found a comfortable spot to watch.

Happy Halloween

Julianne in her little pumpkin outfit

Another super fun Halloween at our house. This year Jace was sooooooooooooooo excited. He was buzzing before we even got any candy. He helped me carve a pumpkin this morning with features he had drawn.
This year he really enjoyed Trick-or-Treating. He marched right up and rang every doorbell on our street. Then he came home and spent the rest of the evening at the front door, sorting candy and greeting the kids that came to the door.


Jace sits waiting at the door with treats

As Joel tucked him in tonight, Jace was sad about Halloween ending. "We will do it again on Monday." he insisted. Joel's attempt to explain that we will do it again next year ended with some frustration from both sides.


Vikings with our little Dragons in training

Jumping in the leaves

What a beautiful fall day it was. After spending the last three days subbing in the preschools I was happy for a day home with the kids. Thanks to Joel, I was able to sleep late.  We had a happy surprise visit from Aunt Lea Ann. She was able to get Julianne to laugh. After she left to pick up Lily, we spent the rest of the afternoon outside. I raked the leaves while Julianne napped in her chair and Jace busied himself with all sorts of things. He helped me a little. He got the mail from the mailman and sorted it. He called Grandma Elaine and compared the number of bags of leaves we had raked. He visited with passing neighbors. He drew pictures with chalk on the sidewalk and on the shovel he was using to scoop leaves. Finally, he made some spectacular leaps into the last pile of leaves.

This evening we took a long walk. Joel carried Julianne in the front pack and Jace rode his bike. Then dinner, baths and bedtime. I better go, It's past my bedtime. Goodnight.

We love all the toothless grins.

Great Grandma Courtney

My Mom and my Grandma came for a visit a couple weeks ago. They had adventures on the way here and on the way home and were fabulous company for the days in between. I wish I had taken more pictures but here is the one that I did take.

Julianne with Great Grandma Courtney in their pink sweaters

Preschool field trip

Today I accompanied Jace's class on their first field trip. Jace was so excited to have one of his classmates ride in the car with us. The two boys giggled and shouted at each other in back seat on the way to the farm museum.

The kids were all wearing bright yellow t-shirts that they had decorated. Our group wandered around the grounds of the museum where there were houses and farm buildings set up like a farm from the 1860's. Jace spent part of the tour holding hands with one of his classmate's younger sister. The class enjoyed all the animals and the pumpkin patch. All the kids were tired and hungry by the time we finished our tour and stopped in the grass for a snack. The weather was great and the trip was a success.

These 3 + Me = Family

what is that look for?

A busy day at our house included:a morning dance party in the playroom, a trip to Babies R Us for diapers, lunch watching PBS kids, putting together a crock pot dinner, a long walk around the neighborhood park, swimming lesson, dinner, and bedtime. After the kids' bedtime routines are done Joel and I still have to clean up dinner and the playthings in the living room, run a load of laundry, shower and get ourselves ready for bed. No wonder I'm tired.
The best picture today would have been one from our walk but I was carrying a sleeping Julianne in the front pack and decided not to carry the camera. I'm sad about it now because it was so beautiful watching Jace march through the fall colored trees carrying a huge bundle of limbs that he decided we needed to put in a vase at home. He lead me up and down trails along the creek gathering all the different color leaves. It was great fun.
I also tried to get some photos of his swim lesson. The lighting in the pool is tricky and he spent most of his time with his head underwater so I missed every shot. Julianne, who has slept through every swim lesson until today, was very alert and looking all around.
Here's the best photo I got at the pool.

The crock pot dinner was so yummy. It was a new recipe I found for Pizole (a Mexican, pork stew with green chili sauce, tomatoes and hominy). It triggered fond memories of Mary Lou who used to make something very similar.

pajama girl

The first thing Jace noticed when he got home this evening was that Julianne was still in her pajamas. "Little girl's still in her jammies!"
Yep, she was. I figure it is a pretty successful day when one outfit lasts the whole day without a diaper blow out.  Also, we had been out of the house to the grocery store. So the fact that one of us was still in pajamas did not mean we did not have a fun, productive day.

Also, If you jammies look this good, why not wear them all day?

Jace decided this morning that she needed to wear the headband. He put it on her.

makin' muffins

We spent a fun Monday night at Grandma and Papa's house watching the premier of Dancing with the Stars.

Today, between getting home late from Grandma's and going to Jace's swim lesson, we made the pumpkin muffins for Jace to take to preschool tomorrow for snack. Jace is becoming a good helper in the kitchen. He follows directions, he checks the numbers on the recipe and he loves to crack the eggs. Unfortunately, one of the eggs cracked all over his shirt. "Don't worry Mom. I can cook without a shirt."
Julianne watched the process from her favorite bouncy chair. She decided she could cook without a sock.

The house smells so good tonight.

Lego Mat Man

Today was the second day of the Gov. Cup Regatta at Cherry Creek. Joel's team, the Santana 20 with Vern as skipper, took first place in their division. There was not a lot of wind on the lake today so the guys were hot and tired by the time the kids and I got to the lake this afternoon. We were there in time for the raffle and awards presentation. Jace enjoyed sitting in the group of sailors and waiting for his raffle ticket number to be called (it never was). Julianne slept through the entire thing in the front pack on my chest. Jace even sat up with the guys and ate a slice of real cheese pizza! We have the food challenge at the Dr.'s office scheduled for next month but we are pretty confident that they will confirm that his dairy allergy is gone.
Jace and I spent a lot of the day playing around the house. I most enjoyed the time we spent this morning building with Legos. Jace built the Lego man based on the Mat Man curriculum that they are obviously learning at his preschool. http://www.hwtears.com/hwt/learning-lounge/mat-man-world/meet-mat-man  My only help was singing the song along with him as he built the little man. I've had a lot of experience with Mat Man.

Julianne enjoying Jace's singing

Daddy wins

Jace with race medal, Joel with foil medal

Another year, another Rock n Roll Marathon in Denver. Joel completed his third Denver Marathon today. That brings his total marathons completed to 6!!! He finished with a time of 3:50:20. Pretty darn good for a Dad who hasn't had a full night sleep in 3 months and didn't get much training done.
Joel was up at 5:30 this morning to head downtown. Unfortunately, Jace was also up and bright eyed. While I fed Julianne, Grandma tried to get Jace to go back to sleep by laying down with him in his room. About 40 minutes later Jace found me in the bathroom getting ready for work. "Hi, Mommy. If you want to find me, I'm playing blocks in there." he said, pointing to the living room. As he left me he added, "Grandma's asleep in my bed."
Jace and Julianne had a good morning with Grandma and Papa. We didn't get downtown to cheer for Joel this year, mostly because I had to work. We did make him a homemade medal and a sidewalk chalk sign to show our support. Jace told me to write, "Daddy Wins" on the tin foil medal we made. When Joel got home, Jace asked him, "Daddy, did you win?". "Yep, I won, buddy." he replied.
Way to go Joel. You are amazing!

When I'm 5, I will drive

Today I'm stealing a moment while the baby sleeps and Jace is at school.  Later today we head downtown to pick up Joel's marathon packet and have dinner at the Spaghetti factory.

Jace glances up from Ipad

The weekend is a super busy one for Joel with the marathon tomorrow morning and the Gov. Cup Regatta at Cherry Creek all weekend. We will spend tonight at Grandmom and Papa's house so that Joel and I can both be up and out of the house early tomorrow. Hopefully, we will get a good night sleep. Julianne has still been waking up two times a night for feedings and last night Jace was also up in the night complaining of bad dreams. He told me this morning that he dreamed he was hugging a bee's house. He is still very afraid of bees and wasps after he was stung on the playground during preschool orientation.

Julianne rocking her new fancy pants. Thanks for the clothes Grandma Courtney!



Julianne fell asleep on my arm as I was talking on the phone to Mom a.k.a. Grammy

Yesterday, Jace helped me scrape the seeds out of a pumpkin he picked at the store. He loves the pumpkin muffins that we make using Grandma Courtney's pumpkin bar recipe. We usually just buy a can of pumpkin but Jace was excited to see the pumpkins in the produce department. We cooked the pumpkin and roasted the seeds. We will have to find some time this weekend to make the muffins or maybe try the pumpkin pancake recipe I found. We are all excited for the changing season.
Driving home from the store Jace told me that he wanted to drive the car. I told him he had to be older to get a driver's licence. "When I am 5 I will drive." I explained that he had to be 16 years old and grow big like his cousin Dustin but that we could go visit Grandad and help drive the tractor. "By myself. I can drive the tractor." He is so independent, he just might try!



Jace's drawing of himself driving a car on the road.

courtside

Jace and the neighbor girl exchanged notes as the dads shot hoops this evening before dinner. This was after they raced their bikes up and down the side walk and chased each other through the yards.


Julianne in her bouncy chair.

quiet moments

Most of the day does not look like this. I am thankful for each and every quiet moment. Jace loves his little sister but that does not mean he likes having her around all the time. He does like when he can hold her. It's just difficult to get him to sit still enough to hold her.

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