Fairy Tales...

One of our favorite outings of the week is Silverthorne Story Time!  And this week was especially wonderful b/c the theme was 'Fractured Fairy Tales'!  The books were crazy, jumbled-up versions of the most famous Tales!  The librarians did a skit/puppet show of Rapunzel, then Princess/Prince crowns for the art project - super fun!!!  I was shocked the girls actually kept their crowns on for a while after:)

Look @ my little Princess Cupcake... I really want to eat her up, a few times, daily!!!

It got me thinking, my life is like a Fractured Fairy Tale!  The characters include my Knight in Shining Armor, my Perfect Angel, supportive + healthy Family, and amazing Friends!  So no matter what twists + turns life's road brings us, I know we'll have a happy ending...

the Fractured Fraser FAIRY TALE!!!

Thanksgiving!

We have so much to be THANKFUL for!  And so happy our friends were around to celebrate w/ us!  Elsie Anne's best girlfriend, Nadia and her parents, Taneil + Tony came over for a CHILL dinner.  We watched the Bengals play (and lose), drank wine/beer/milk, and loved each other's company! 

All the Ladies eating our delicious meal!!!  Sorry Dads, I never got a shot of you:(

We missed being w/ our Families, but were glad to have each other!

COOKIES:)

In the midst of my Holiday Spirit, I've really been loosening up on the 'special treats' that Elsie Anne gets.  Most of you know that I am a 'Nazi' when it comes to her diet, so this is a BIG step for me!!  Tonight, I really felt like some Chocolate Chip Cookies.  I made sure EA ate her good, healthy dinner early, so I wouldn't be feeding her cookies too close to bedtime:)  She LOVED being my helper + 'making' the cookies, which included breaking them off + placing them on the cookie sheet, hahaha (I've never claimed to be a cook/baker)!  While waiting the 12 LONG minutes for the buzzer, I told her a little story... 

How my Daddy, BigDaddy, taught me to eat Chocolate Chip Cookies in a 'special way'!  He'd pour us both a little glass of Milk and we dipped our cookies in, until they were nice + soggy, then scooped them up into our mouths real quick!  *I'm not even a chocolate lover, but this has been my favorite desert ever since!*

She got her little cup + helped pour her own Milk... then, BEEP-BEEP-BEEP, our Cookies were ready!!!  She watched me first, then imitated me PERFECTLY!  What form she had!  Such concentration!  She will make her BigDaddy proud when he sees it!!

She LOVED her 'special new treat' as I knew she would, but thankfully after 3 bites, she was all done w/ the sweets + drank her Milk out of her 'big girl cup'!!

Man, Oh Man, how I love this big girl!

Working Late!

When Daddy has to work late we usually stop in for a visit + bring a snack!  Elsie Anne loved THIS visit because she got to draw all over the floor:)  We explained quite a few times that this was a bare floor w/ nothing on it, so @ home she could not do this on our carpet!  Thank goodness she hasn't tried!!

EA danced all around to some good Nirvana songs on Sirrius Radio + gave Daddy tons of 'sugar'!!  Shawn was happy to get a snack + a performance from his princess.

Keystone!

We went w/ Daddy over to Keystone (20min away) for his ski day!  Its a hard give-and-take on the weekends... Shawn wants to spend time w/ us, yet he doesn't want to miss skiing.  So, this time we loaded up + went together!  Elsie Anne + I found the "snow park" while he did a few runs!

I know I've said it before, but I really don't think there's anything cuter than a toddler in their snow gear!!  The way their little bootys shake + their whole body waddles around, its just precious:)  EA really enjoyed how FAST she went down the slide w/ her pants on...

It shot her right off on her booty every time, and she'd crack up every time!!

Then we went over to the swing, where she accidentally fell off (thankfully w/ all the snow, its not very far off the ground), and decided falling was so much fun, she did it over + over!  She'd roll around in the snow laughing, smashing her face in the snow to get a mouth full, then look over @ me to show off her 'snow mustache'!!  I really wish someone else witnessed it w/ me, it was too funny:)

Then we found this... Ripperoo is the mascot for Ski School! 

That is 'Ripperoo' the dog, having some hot chocolate w/ Elsie Anne, heehee!!  There was a fireplace, pictures, a table w/ lamp, all painted on the walls!  She loved the cozy little house:)

Then Daddy met us + I forgot to take anymore pictures.  Here's a mental picture though... He scooped his princess up, she gave him kisses, I carried his ski poles while he carried his skis + EA!  She was so proud to be in his arms as we walked back to the car!  I LOVE MY FAMILY and fun days like these!!!

Lunch Date!

Why don't we do this more often??  Elsie Anne + I met our friends Meghan + Carter for a delicious Giampiatro's Pizza lunch!  The kids were awesome + we had a lovely chat.  We need to treat ourselves again soon!

I had to get a shot of us... I never turn the camera around or take pics of my friends, only their children:)  This is Meghan, she'll be having her second child on Jan.10th + we can't wait to find out what it is!!!  She 'nannies' too, so its nice to have a friend to meet up with + bounce ideas off of!

Special Days!

Oh, FRIDAY!  Always our special day!!  I think even Elsie Anne looks forward to our fun day together:)

We start it w/ our 'Tumbling Tots' class (that I teach).  EA is the biggest helper... we get to the gym @ 8:30am to set up for our 9am class.  She 'helps' me move the mats around, set up the balance beam, bar, spring board + block, tunnels, cheese mat, carpet squares, etc!  Then all her new "fends!" (friends) arrive and she's even more excited!!  As of now, she's the only girl w/ 3 little boys, Charlie, Adam + Kylan (plus his older brother), but she runs the show!  They are all so cute learning the different 'positions' - tuck, pike, straddle, arch, point/flex toes, etc - I'm absolutely loving my little class, and it brings back so many memories of teaching gymnastics in highschool!

After leaving the gym, we choose a special outing - the last two weeks its been "GONDOLA wide" (ride)!  I can't blame her for loving it, its like an amusement park ride, & its where all the action is in town!  She is a pro at it now too!  Wish you could see her... waiting in line, watching it go "round + round", then walking right up to it, reaches for my hand + takes the "BIG tep" (step) into the car!  She climbs up onto the bench, waits for the doors to close, then "Weeee,Bump,Bump,Bump!" we say everytime we fly off into the air!!

Looking back down to the Gondola Station & all the cars in the parking lots!!

We watch for animals as we 'fly' over Cucumber Gulch, we wave to the attendants we pass @ each Gondola Station (there are 2 on the way up), we sometimes brake out our snacks, we see buses, cars, trucks, tactors, & houses underneath us - all of which spark some sort of funny conversation!  We just enjoy each other's company as we relax & watch the beautiful scenery pass by!

I have to say, by 1pm I am usually looking forward to EA's nap!  Once she goes down, I usually clean up, browse the internet, take a power nap, blog or read, and freshen up for the afternoon/evening. 

Shawn got home early (love it when that happens), and we had our friend Donnie over for Taco Night!  I gave EA an early bath and started prepping her on the 'Big Girl Haircut' she was going to get.  Instead of trailing after her w/ the scissors all night, I thought she's probably old enough to sit still for a few minutes, if we make a production of it!! 

So, we set up a Beauty Parlor... stool, sheet on the floor, pillow case around her neck, & a special candy cane treat while she sat still, and this is what we got... one cheese-ball little girl excited to experience something new!!!

Then we stripped her out of her hairy clothes & she got to run around "nakeee" (naked) for a bit!  Look @ this little priss-pot:)

I took 3/4inch off the bottom & did a little stacking in the back!  Can't go wrong w/ this cut on her hair, it just looks too cute:)  Not a great pic, but once she got off that stool, she didn't sit still for over an hour!!

"Snow Park"

We haven't been to a park in about a month, & Elsie Anne has not liked it one bit!!  In my defense, I've been waiting for the snow pack to be sufficient.  Playing in a slushy, muddy mess, is just not what I'm all about!!  So, thankfully, after our last big Snow Storm, the ground is completely covered & it won't be melting! 

We waited until Daddy got home from work, packed up the sleds & headed to Carter Park.  Shawn & I thought we were taking EA sledding, but once she caught a glimpse of the slides, she had something else in mind!!  They are bouncing on the bridge, one of EA's favorites...

The camera made it look a lot darker than it really was... it was dusk, not dark!!  EA having a ball "cunching snow" (crunching) w/ her snow boots!!

This one shows the sky better!  It was a memorable evening... our first "snow park" as EA called it!!  And I'm sure not the last!

Story Time!

I feel like my LIFE revolves around STORY TIME!!  We do Silverthorne on Tuesdays (which is 20min away), and Breckenridge on Wednesdays (5min away).  Its actually my LIFE-SAVER when it's dumping snow for days on end! 

Finally we get some SUNSHINE!!  Elsie Anne & Adeline thought this book was hilarious!  I had to take them to the corner reading area b/c the book Mr. Patrick was reading, was just to 'boreing' for them:)  Ha, no really, they just can't sit still for 10min @ a time!

And I have finally learned my lesson... do ONE art project between the two of them!  I don't mean to jip them, I just can't handle ALL the pieces when there are TWO!!!

They LOVED their shiny dragon!

KITCHEN...

Santa came EARLY to our house!!!  Shawn + I stayed up late Saturday night putting this together!!

We are so proud of this perfect-sized KITCHEN!!  It took about an hour to put it togther, but we are impressed w/ the finished product!!

Since we've been reading tons of Xmas books, Elsie Anne knew exactly what we meant when we told her, "Santa brought you a present last night!"  Her eyes lit up, and she hurried down a few steps to peer out into the living room!  She said... "KITTTTEN" (kitchen)!!!  It was PRICELESS:)

Do you think she could be any happier???

She talks about her "kitten" & "santa's pessent" (present) all the time now!!

Opening Day!!

Yeaaaah!  Its that time of year again...we get to ride the Gondola!!  After our 'Tumbling Tots' class @ the gym, we met our friends for our first ride of 2010-2011 Season!!  And yes, I say that in terms of riding the gondola, a little different than most were referring to on Opening Day @ Breckenridge... riding their skiis or snowboards!!

We met up w/ Adeline, her brother Jake, and Ms. Terry... these two KNOW what to do without us even asking:)  They must have heard me say "hold hands" a time or two!!  They've all got their ski passes around their necks...

This is the insane lift line... thank goodness I'm not out there on my skiis!  I'm too impatient for that, I'll wait until we have more snow + more lifts open:)

SKI!

This is our 400th Post!!  WOW, that's a lot! 

Shawn came home w/ these strap-on skiis, that fit any kid's snow boot!!  Its perfect... so much better than a real, clunky snow boot, that wouldn't fit her little feet!  We can't wait to try them out!!

Daddy couldn't be more proud...

Ski Pass!  Another BIG moment for Daddy;)

Around the House!

This week my car has been in the shop.  Thankfully, there were no major issues, just a testy sensor that had us thinking it was going to blow up any second!!  phhheeew...we avoided a huge bill!!

So, we had to get CREATIVE around the house!!  I was nervous @ the thought of having 2 toddlers (Elsie Anne + Adeline) cooped up in a 1,000sq.ft. condo for 7hrs, 3days in a row!  But, they put me to the test, and I was happy to see that we all managed to have fun + keep our sanity:)

Some of my favorite moments...

• having the... Dump Trunk w/ Driver, Car w/ Momma + Baby, Airplane w/ Pilot, 2 passengers, Handy Manny, Kelly +Abolito squished inside... all out in the living room.  the girls helping each figure in/out of the vehicles, flying the plane, vvrooming the car + dumping the truck!  love their imaginations!
• stacking blocks, making tall towers + knocking them over!
• playing w/ EAs new dollhouse.  each having a wooden figure in hand... bouncing them around, climbing the stairs, sitting them on the potty + @ the table, + sliding them down the arm of the couch!
• pushing the stroller + grocery buggy around + around + AROUND our tiny living room!  using the grocery basket w/ fruits + veges!
• climbing through the tunnel that Shawn made for them one of the mornings!
• stretching, yoga, singing songs, acting like animals, using our musical instruments + pots/pans!
• having almost every book out... and asking me to "wead peease!" and obliging w/ a smile!
• Bus Ride to town + back!!
• SNOW TIME!  its one of my favorite things, seeing these girls in their little snow suits, waddling along making tiny foot prints in the sparkling snow.  each day we get outside, some days i'm a little more motivated than others:)

Buggy Time...

Stacking...

Across the street from our house is a 'wood furniture store', which also make these cute Mtn.Bears...

Having a laugh together!

Took the bus into Town.  Walked around the Bus Station, danced to the music @ the Gondola, sat on a bench for snack...

...and splashed in the only puddle around :)  I love not worrying that they'll get wet!

Almost fell asleep on the Bus Ride home!!

After being worried about the week + what we would do w/out my car, I'm feeling pretty SUCCESSFUL @ the moment!  These little 'highs' are what LIFE IS ALL ABOUT!!

Monday Night Football!

Its always nice when the Bengals play on Network TV + we can watch them in the comfort of our own home!!!  Shawn loves dressing his sports fan up in her Bengals gear.

Our little BenGALS cheerleader!!

Elsie Anne watching T.O. (Terrell Owens) score his second touchdown... and Uncle Donnie was stealing some 'sugar'!

Bengals Family!

Even though our Bengals lost, it was a close game + we loved the time together!!

Movement Monday!!

Our Mondays are packed of FUN!  We have Elsie Anne's dance class in the morning.  EA + Ms. Kristin laughing @ the Tickle Duck book.

Climbing through the tunnel w/ Cameron!

Balance Beam practice w/ Ms. Kristin!

And after nap, we go straight to the gym for the Toddlers In Motion class I teach!  Its our second week + we're having fun meeting other children + families!  We play w/ balls, blocks, tunnels, tents, cheese mats, we have a Circle Time w/ songs + stories, and we begin + end w/ stretching!! 

EA is helping Mommy clean up the mats, but Daddy wrapped her up in the paper towels!

Watching the big boy practice rock climbing...

Our busy schedule has been great so far + EA is loving all her new activities!!