Thursday, September 30, 2010

Turks Trail

I remembered this trail from when I was training for my 1/2marathon, but forgot what a looong loop it was!  Our usual hikes are about a mile + 1/2 total, this one totaled 3mi!!  We were very lucky that Elsie Anne was happy w/ her backpack!  I actually relieved Shawn for a bit, this does not happen often...
It was sunny + gorgeous, but we were in the trees, so the shade made it pretty chilly.
We came across this old abandoned Mining Dredge in the pond.  I wish my camera would've cooperated + given me a brighter pic, hopefully you can make it out.
Back to Daddy's shoulders...we were running through the trail @ this point, trying to beat the sun from going down.  EA loved the bouncing + pretended Shawn was her horsey!!  "Giieee,Uup!"

Sunday, September 19, 2010

Hunting Boys!

My Daddy + Dallas (older brother) came to the family Granby House for their annual Elk Hunt!  We were able to join them for the two weekends they were here...

SUNDAY 9/19
Hanging out on the deck w/ Big Daddy...
Getting some 'mustache sugar'!
Uncle Dallas chatting about Elsie Anne's new sippy cup!
Big Daddy + EA watching the train in the distance + playing @ this cool wooden park!
First time on a tire swing!
EA loved this special time w/ Big Daddy!
WEDNESDAY 9/22
After a quick work week, Shawn, EA + I made it back to Granby for Dad's birthday dinner!  Uncle Dallas had EA in awe as he lit the candles:)
We had been talking about Big Daddy's birthday all week, so she was primed + ready for his birthday song!  I just love this sweet pic of these two admiring eachother!!
THURSDAY 9/23
We had a lazy morning w/ the hunters, a yummy lunch in Grand Lake Village, and as the boys went into the woods, we took EA to the park.
One of her favorite spots on the playground is the "bigde"!
Daddy bounced her up + down!
FRIDAY 9/24
And all weekend long, our big girl sat @ this table using only a pillow to raise her up!  She loved this new status of 'big girl'!
The boys hunted ALL-DAY-LONG, so we were on our own!  Elsie Anne has always enjoyed watching the 'skateboarders', so we took Shawn's skateboard for a spin!  When I was a little girl, I thought I was pretty good @ staying on the thing, but now, its much scarier!  EA loved the ride from the front of the board:)
Daddy does the ramps + impresses us ladies!
Then home to cook up a hearty meal for the hunters!  Shawn, of course, had a fantastic menu planned... BowTie Pasta w/ his own Veggie + Chicken Alfredo Sauce, Roasted Asparagus + Garlic Bread!  It was a HIT and we all 'carb loaded'!!!
This is what family time is all about...hugs from my Daddy, tales of the woods, beers in our hands...
...and this grin from my big brother!!!  It was so nice having one-on-one time w/ Dallas, its not that often this happens!
SATURDAY 9/25
FOOTBALL TIME!!  Everyone saddled up in their Seminole attire... + drove to Grand Lake Village for a football frenzy!  We watched FSU + OSU whip some tail!
Big Daddy spoiled his grand-daughter rotten...ice cream cone, doggie balloon + a lollipop!
This was our perch while Uncle Dallas shopped for his family:) 
EA had more sugar in this one day than she has had in her entire 18mo of life!  She will always be greatful to her BigDaddy for it:)
At the bar, watching our respective teams!  EA cheering, "tuudoown meminole!"
Some Uncle Dallas playtime + love!  It was very obvious the two of them enjoyed their bonding time:)  Dallas is usually a little side-tracked w/ his own three children!
EA made a big girl-friend, Ashley, who toted her around all day!  She seriously reminded me of myself as an eight-year-old!  I was the biggest baby hog:)  Anyway, EA followed + Ashley doted, so it was a perfect friendship for the 4hrs we hung out!!
Later in the afternoon, Elsie Anne experienced her biggest accident to date:(  She fell off the picnic table they'd been playing on all day long, head first, into the gravel.  It scared Shawn + I to DEATH!  We'd never seen such a booboo + she had 3 scrapes w/ blood + bumps across her forehead.  Thank goodness Dad + Dallas were there to calm us down.  Both having raised 2 boys each, they'd seen much, MUCH worse, + were able to show us that she was okay + we'd be okay:)

We finished up the evening w/ delicious Elk Stew @ home + EA went to bed w/out a hitch.  Really, once the trauma of falling was over, she could've cared less about her big scabs.

SUNDAY 9/26
EA + I heard BigDaddy + Dallas packing up the car @ 4:30am and decided to sneak another good-bye kiss from them:)  I think the boys enjoyed it too!  Then we said good-night to the moon + went back to bed until it was really time to wake up!

Daddy fixed us a delicious breakfast...but in the meantime, we played in the ClubHouse EA had found on the 3rd floor earlier in the weekend.  We brought her bowls + spoon so she could "cuuk" like Daddy!
We stuffed our tummies on Veggie Eggs + admired EA's battle wounds!
Shawn couldn't miss his Bengals, so we went right down the road to SolVista Inn to watch their victory!  The Lobby is a 'stuffed animal' Zoo...kinda neat from EA's perspective:)
What a fun Family weekend.  We're glad the boys got to see what EA is really all about these days:)

Wednesday, September 15, 2010

Afternoon Hikes!

MONDAY AFTERNOON
This is the best time of year... Aspen trees turning yellow, cool afternoons, beautiful sunshine + plenty of gorgeous hikes right near our house!
We found this rustic swing over-looking Blue River Valley.
Nothing like a good hiking stick...
Elsie Anne "hike,hike" all the way back to the car!  We were so impressed that her little legs could handle it!
We had fun watching our shadow as we descended!
WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON
I just love these two... EA looking up @ Daddy, talking about...
...climbing up on this big log!  She was so proud to be "way high"!
We made it!!!  This is 'Sapphire Point' over-looking Lake Dillon. 
The "mimunks" were everywhere!  I even got one to eat out of my hand!  EA watched these little creatures "wun, pay, eeeet" (run, play, eat) :)
We are really trying to take advantage of this amazing place we call home!  EA is @ the perfect age + is enjoying all our fun adventures.  My hope is that she'll remember something of living in the mountains, since our plan is to move next summer.

Monday, September 13, 2010

Ballet School!

It was all we hoped for... AND MORE!  Elsie Anne payed attention, participated + even lead some new friends astray, having their own fun time!
EA doing 'log rolls' on the mat...
Watching herself in the mirror.  We were singing along w/ the music, 'Eyes + Ears + Mouth + Nose', and she's mashing her nose down!
This is where she led her new friend Kayleen astray... EA loves hanging on anything, so these bars were tempting the whole class!
Sitting front-and-center for the story about a ballerina!  "Teacher's Pet" wouldn't you know it :)
And dancing w/ Sage for the last song!!  This class is for 18mo-3yrs, so she's hanging in there w/ the Big Girls!
And Momma... on cloud 9, + feeling very girly once the class had ended!  So glad Daddy got to witness this very special first!
Oh, and BTW... we call it 'Ballet School' so EA feels special, like her friend Henry that goes to 'school'!

Sunday, September 12, 2010

18mo! (sept 3rd)

Man, life is passing us by waaay too FAST!  We had Elsie Anne's 18mo check-up last week.  It might be silly, but I get so excited for her appointments, to see where she is on the developmental continuum :)  I love chatting w/ her pediatrician to see what we can work on (colors, numbers, potty training, etc), her nutrition/diet, + anything else that may be on our mind. 

This visit was one of my favorites, since I was able to prep EA about where we were going + what we were doing.  She was excited to see Nurse Theresa "Teesa" to get weighed + measured, and then happy to see "doctah" Winfield when she walked in!  EA showed Dr.W her dance moves, her 2 legged jumps off the ground, her crazy vocabulary, + even a bit of the ABC's!  Dr.W was very impressed, to say the least, + Momma was proud as she could be! :)

Weight: 20lbs. 9.5oz: 5th% (this was exciting b/c she had dropped to 0% at 15mo)
Height: 32 3/4in: 75-90%
Head: 50cm: 97th% (her head has always been huge, I guess its a blessing I had a C-section)

As you can see, these pics were from NFL Sunday, too bad our Bengals lost too:(
I don't even try to keep this child clean anymore!!  She is all in to the "DUUT" (dirt)!  I love my little TOMBOY:)

Saturday, September 11, 2010

Tatro Wedding!

A fun evening was had by ALL!  Katie + Chris tied the knot, and we got to enjoy friends, good food + dancing!!  And of course, the latter, was Elsie Anne's highlight!  She danced w/ Daddy...
with Momma... (and anyone else that would hold her hands!)
Nothing like a good sugar-high to keep our daughter up longer than we ever thought we could:)
And a quick pic of both of us before we headed home:)