Gymnastics!!!

Elsie Anne has been missing her 'Explorers' class that has been on break for 6wks between sessions.  I teased her last week {got her all dressed & pumped up to go} only to find out we were a week early!  What a bummer, but we got to watch the older girls (8yrs) practice on the beam, so it wasn't a total loss in her eyes.

But this was the day, and we had talked about it since Monday, and even found out her bud, Briley, from last session, was going to be in her class again!  AND we lucked out with her same coach from last session!  Coach Kate and EA really connected, so I'm glad for that stability!  Many times I've found EA pretending to be Coach Kate, and 'coaching' her animals:)  

Here are the sweet girls warming up.  It was neat to see how they were the 'older' ones.  They knew the ropes and were great examples!  Coach Kate commented on how they listened, payed attention, and followed directions... Way to go BIG GIRLS!!

Waiting very patiently for their stamps, after a fun-filled first class!!

Looks like they were the only kids in the class, somehow I was able to skirt around the other 6 children, and their Moms:)  Can't wait to see EA's new tricks she learns in the next 16wks!!

Tumbling Tots!

Our last 'Tumbling Tots' class.  It was very bitter-sweet.  We've absolutely LOVED having this activity on our schedule - we've met wonderful families & children, learned new tricks on the gymnastics equipment, and have worked with incredible people at the Gym!  Its been such a blessing to be a part of these activities & also have Elsie Anne right by my side:)

You see some of our obstacle course set-up in this pic... the bar (back rt), cheese mate, tunnel & bus, spring board, block, landing mat (lft), and our carpet squares for circle time & stretching!

Elsie Anne & Lilly being goof balls in the bus!

EA scooting on the balance beam?!  She got really good walking on it all by herself, and now turns any curb or crack on the ground into a "ballance beeeam"!!

Ms.Jill and Lilly doing the 'Vault' exercise!!  This became one of EA's favorite activities - bouncing on the spring board, jumping up to her knees on the block (vault), standing up & jumping to the X on the landing mat, then with a big "TAA-DAA" hands-above-her-head-FINISH!!

For the last 8months, we've 'coached' this class almost every Friday (a few breaks in between sessions)!  We've made new friends through this experience, and will always cherish these fun memories!!  Thanks Breckenridge Rec Center for this wonderful opportunity!

Lilly's Big Day!

A little Ladybug Birthday Party!!  These girls are the cutest!  Daddy is helping Elsie Anne decorate her Flower Pot - love his concentration!

EA loving Lilly's new sand table:)  

Happy Birthday Sweet Friend!  You girls are such big 2 year olds now:)

Chillin' & Grillin'

...with our best buddy, Donnie!!  Seriously, he is MY best friend, SHAWN's best friend, & EA's best uncle (since she knows him more than her real uncles)!  His joke is that he is 'dating a married couple'!!  Love this guy:)

There are really only a few friends we KNOW we will see again, once we move, and DONNIE is for sure!!  He may even move to FLA when the time is right, woohoo:)

Dillon Marina Park

It was kind of hard explaining what a "MAWIINA" is when the Lake is still frozen and the boats are all wrapped up, but I gave it my best shot & told EA she would see plenty of boats in the water in FLA!!

We met up with our buddies Lilly & Ms. Jill for some Sunshine at the Park!!  It was awesome that the sand was dry enough to play in! 

It was a while before the girls even ventured over to the slides!!

This was our first time back to this park, since last Summer, and it was incredible to watch Elsie Anne do things that weren't even possible back then!  What a crazy transformation Winter brought this Big Girl!!

Just Dreaming...

...of Flip-Flops & Outdoor Pools!!
Until then, freezing cold toes, in new pairs of flip-flops...

...sidewalk chalk next to piles of snow...

...and indoor pool parties with friends...

...will have to do!!  I'm not complaining, just dreaming:)  I love my life!!

Buddy Love!

Our calendar stays pretty full with nannying, play-dates, and gym classes - but one thing is for sure, when we don't see our best bud Henry, I'm not the only one missing him!!  For the past few weeks I've been listening to Elsie Anne telling stories about Henry & saying "Henewy come my houuse, Momma???" {I love that she adds an extra syllable to his name: Hen.e.ry}  So I finally broke down and asked begged 'Mrs. Anna' if we could have Henry over for a few hours!

Our little buddy showed up in his new surf board swim suit (he was leaving that afternoon for a Mexico Spring Break w/ his older siblings), snow boots & a sweat shirt - we call this 'Summit County Spring Style'!!  They both loved shovelling the snow onto our pathway & stomping on it! 

After a delicious lunch, we went upstairs to show Henry, Elsie Anne's new 'Big Girl' room!  His excitement was so sweet.  They rummaged through all the bins, dressed up with tiaras, beads & wands, then started jumping onto their bellies on her bean-bag.  From the moment they started, I knew it would end in tears...

...wouldn't you know - after forgetting who's turn it was, they both jumped at the same time & slammed their heads together!  I had to scoop them both up as they wailed big crocodile tears, plop them on my bed, run downstairs to get ice, run back to my room, & sooth both of their poor little ouchies:(  I couldn't resist this precious pic of them!

Once they pepped back up, it was time for a WAGON RIDE!!  Henry loved it just as much as EA:)  He also loved getting to wear Shawn's beanie hat!!

Once back from our Neighborhood Ride, we had snack & relaxed in the beautiful sunshine!  From the looks of this sweet pic, I think Henry's been missing EA too:)

What are we going to do when we have to leave our best buddy?!  I get teary everytime I think about it!

BLISS!

I have seriously been waiting for THIS DAY for months!!  Shawn left for his friend's wedding on Thursday, so Elsie Anne and I had the weekend to ourselves - to do whatever we decided.  Once I heard that Denver was supposed to be in the 80's on Saturday, we immediately made plans for a quick trip of our own!  My excitement for sushine, grass, & warmth on our skin rubbed off on EA, and she was soon talking about "wear tutu (s)kirt in Denver."  We called up our girlfriends, 'Ms.Taneil' and Nadia, who were quick to take us up on the offer!

Saturday morning rolled around and the first thing out of EA's mouth was "Zoo Time!!!"  We ate our breakfast, packed our snacks, got dressed & loaded the car - off to pick up our girlfriends!!  Nadia was anxiously awaiting her buddy, Elsie Anne to arrive.  A 'round' of potty time before driving away on our hour and a half three hour trek to the Denver Zoo! 

The girls couldn't have been in a better demeanor as we drove - laughing, talking, playing peek-a-boo, and singing with each other!  Taneil & I were notably impressed by their excitement.  About 45min into our drive EA belts out "tinkle time!!!"  Thankfully Georgetown was right around the corner, and we made stop #1.  While walking to and from the potty, I noticed EA limping.  When I asked her what was going on, she said, "shoes huut my feet!"  I knew this was going to add time onto our trip, but getting some new shoes was a MUST at this point.  I kinda figured this might happen, since these were her last summer/fall's tennis shoes! 

As we drove down the foothills and into Denver, we made stop #2 at Colorado Mills Mall!  The girls were definitely ready to stretch their legs, and had a ball running down the wide halls, holding hands & laughing!  We found the Crocs store and picked out the perfect style for Elsie Anne's little feet!  $35 dollars later, she walked out of the store with them on - good thing she LOVEs them, because they'll be the only pair we buy her at that price!!  I remember buying a pair for myself a few years back (at a boutique in Breck) for $25, when did the prices sky-rocket??!  Another stop off to the potty, and we made our way back to the car. 

Oh, yes, that's a Crocs accessory that Elsie Anne picked out - purple ladybug!

We had another 20min drive before making it to the Zoo, and long lines of car traffic trying to find a parking spot... so I was very glad for stop #3 at a gas station just before the Zoo, since EA could not have held her poops for that much longer:)  I know, I know...the potty talk is kinda gross, but it is seriously what our life revolves around right now - I'm sure it will wear off!!

After getting super lucky to follow a family right to their front row parking spot, we made it into the Zoo by 12pm!!!  Not bad for leaving at 9:30am - hahaha:)  This was our first animal viewing searching...where are you Lions?!  The girls were just happy to be out of the car & on their feet!

Elephants are always a big hit - and this time they came up nice & close!  We were all captivated as one sucked up water in its trunk, then sprayed it all over his back.

Who wouldn't be captivated by this enormous creature.  They are incredible to watch!

Look at that SKY - so blue, so beautiful, so PERFECT... it was admired by the young and old younger:)  Many times we talked about how there is no snow on the ground, and everything is dry in Denver!  We all agreed the snow needs to melt at home!!  Elsie Anne kept saying "SPRING-TIME!" as she remembered the story of a little chick hatching out of her egg.  Love that memory of hers!

The happy Mommas enjoying our girls, the day, and some adult conversation!  Taneil & I met last year while training for our half-marathon.  She continues to train and do races, I on the other hand, rarely even work out!  I need to get my butt back in gear.

The girls played the Bongo Drums & danced around like little Rock Stars:)

Sweet little Loves!

Wish I could have captured the girls' excitement when we told them it was time for ICE CREAM!  They could barely contain themselves!  Elsie Anne thoroughly enjoyed her vanilla "iii-ceeeam cone"!  We found the perfect shadey spot right by the penguin exhibit - it was great entertainment for our special treat & break!

The 'Concrete Safari'.  It always makes me a little sad seeing the animals in captivity, but I know the Zoo did them a favor by rescueing them?!  Funny seeing all the animals with the 'big city' in the back ground.  If you look behind this precious fellow, you'll see 2 baby giraffes!

Elsie Anne has always liked giraffes - they are such strange, interesting & unique creatures!

I made sure Taneil got a picture of me with my Missy Moo.  I hope we never forget the fun we had together on this special day!

The last animal we saw was the Leopard!  The girls were on their tippy-toes & climbing up the fence to see it.  What a beautiful cat - it didn't move much, but its coat was shiny & thick!

The best part of this FABULOUS day was the stories the girls kept telling us, as if we weren't right beside them the whole time:) 

"Gou-illa tinkle in his house!!"  Going right along with our obsession with the potty - the huge gorilla peed right in front of the girls, as their noses were smashed up against the glass.  EA had a real hard time taking this in.  I had to explain that "animals don't have diapers or potties & it was no problem he peed in his 'house' because the zookeeper will clean it all up."  After my explanation, she would repeat "Zookeepa ceeean it uup?!" to make sure she understood:)

"Dat monkey has pink booteee!"  One of the grossest things I've seen!  We learned that this specific monkey's bum swells up & turns pink when it is mating season?! YUCK!  The girls were very worried about these monkeys, because it really looked like a booboo.  This one was a little harder to explain, so we took the 'high road'!  "Thats a colorful monkey with a pink hiney!"  Thank goodness they took it - we quickly moved on to the next exhibit!!

When anyone asks about EA's time at the Zoo, she tells both of these stories right away!  I guess these experiences were a little traumatic for our TWO YEAR OLDS!!

If you've made it this far in this novel of a post - CONGRATS & THANK YOU!  It was truly an amazing day - PURE BLISS.  So many PERFECT moments!  Elsie Anne is becoming a big kid before our eyes.  I love watching her learn and experience new things - watching her little mind work is incredible:)

Sweet Dreams...

...and Farewell, Tony Aveil.  I can't even believe its happened this fast - so thankful you passed peacefully in your sleep.  We will think of you each time we jump in the refreshing water - as Sandie has posted, your ashes will be spread all over the world, in various bodies of water.  Your vibrant, contagious personality will always be remembered.

Thank you for being such a true friend to Shawn & I.  Thank you for all the crazyness & fun times we shared together - always with a permaGRIN.  Thank you for our favorite nicknames - 'Els' for Elsie Anne & 'MacKer' (pronounced MacKa) for me. We will miss your entertaining Aussie Pride, your flowing blond locks (which Shawn had the honor of buzzing off after his 3rd wk of chemo), & your LOVE for the Buckeyes, once Shawn taught you 'American Rules Football'!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

This has truly been an eye-opener.  Shawn & I have never SEEN the effects of Cancer & how fast it can eat a person up.  Just 4 short months ago Tony was having the time of his life - and had turned a 'healthy' corner - only to find out he had a tumor growing in his neck.  After surgery & a clean bill of health, we celebrated a short-lived HIGH. 

Two weeks later, another tumor, on the other side of his neck, had grown @ super speed.  He had 12wks of intense chemotherapy & radiation, to no avail.  They did a cat scan of his whole body on Christmas Eve, and found dozens of small tumors throughout his lungs, which were considered 'in-operable'.  They gave Tony 12mo to live, which he called his "Expiration Date". 

He quickly made his Bucket List and started checking things off.  Recently he spent 10 days in Scottsdale, AZ & played 2 rounds of golf.  Upon his return, his health declined rapidly.  We were able to say "see you soon"  this past Friday.  Although he was in & out of reality, Shawn, Elsie Anne & myself, each had a special moment where he recognized us!  I feel extremely fortunate to have had this last visit with him & feel better knowing that he's not in anymore pain.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

There will be no 'Resting In Peace' for you 'mate' - have a BLAST on your New Adventure! Cheers!

EA, Shawn, Tony, Donnie, Kip - October 2010 - Good Luck Golf @ Copper Mtn, before his first surgery.

Bubble...

...is what Elsie Anne calls her new plush blankie, she got from our visiting friends, The Prickett's.  She continues to say "Thank You Paaiissh" (Parrish) when she snuggles into her lovie!  It is truly the softest thing I've ever felt - bumpy (bubbles) on one side, smooth on the other & taggies along one of the edges!  Unfortunately I lost my camera for a few days & didn't document any of our visit.

Visit the complete line of Blankies, Burp Clothes & Bibs - The Blue Eyed Monkey - Kristin designed!

FLA:friends!

To start the week off, Jill & Kat planned a Ladies 'Playdate' @ Masa, and ooooh it was so good!  I don't often get to eat sushi, so it was a real treat!!  (l-r: Carrie, Kat, Jill, Erin, Cheney, bottom: Me, Laura, Caroline, Kimberly)

Winthrop Park Playdate on Tuesday turned into a Weiss Playroom Date because of the rain!  Kat, Eva & Carrie, Baylinn met us there to play!

Eva, Carson, Elsie Anne & Alden loved the chalk board:)  Caroline was busy keeping the chalk out of the boys' mouths!

This was the best I did getting a shot of all of them!

Wednesday afternoon we headed over to the Pope house...

...along w/ a few other Mothers!  SIXTEEN kids in all!  We had such a blast:)

Thursday we got to play on the swing set @ the Weiss house!

Then headed to Georgia to play w/ the Strickland cousins... EA & Thatcher jumped for a solid hour before coming inside because it got dark:)

Thanks to all who fit us into their schedules!  We SOOO enjoyed the good times:)

Friends in Granby!!

Sommer (Shelfer) Blackburn had her buddies out to the Granby House (her parents are part owners), and boy was it a crew!!!  Sommer, Jobey, Addyson (almost 3), Warren (11mo).  Meghan, Cameron, Harrison (almost 2).  April, Michael, Maddox (3), Morgan (8mo).

Sommer & Addy loving the snow on the deck!

All the kiddos watching their Daddys have a snowball fight from the deck! 

Elsie Anne & Harrison having a snack & coloring together!  Its so fun seeing these two together, EA is just two weeks older than H!  They'll be best buds when they see each other more:)

Thanks for having us over guys, wish we could have stayed longer:)

TWENTY-ELEVEN!!

We were so fortunate to have Elsie Anne's 'Breck cousins' take her for a few hours so that I could have my first Ski Date w/ Shawn in 2yrs!  Shelby, Lexi & their mommy Kiersten had a ball w/ EA & had so many cute stories to report back to us!  It was our first time leaving her w/ anyone but family, and it was a perfect fit.  EA loves to play w/ the girls & the Stais family is our closest thing to family out here:)  Thank you, Thank you!!

Of course, the day we chose had to be one of the most bitter cold to date, this season!  It was -6*, but w/ wind chill on the mountain, it was more like -15*!!  OUCH is all we had to say!  Thankfully I was not the only one complaining about my fingers & toes, there was no way around it - everyone was FREEZING!!  Shawn & I trying to thaw out...

The whole group thawing out... us, Jeff, Paige.

Shawn was so kind to offer to pick EA up & let me have an apre beer w/ our visiting buddies!  After her nap we all chilled @ home around a cozy fire & got ready for our New Year's celebration!!

Me & Paige loving on each other!!

Handy-Dandy Timer Shot...

And @ the stroke of TEN-O'CLOCK, we rang in the New Year, East Coast time!!  Our whiskey shot was to toast & honor our buddy in Vail that, instead of getting remission news for Xmas, he got an "experation date" as he calls it.  Cheers to you, Tony, for so many crazy-fun times & many more ahead!!

Excited for 2011 and all it has to offer!!