Momma Monday!

We love the start to our week!  'Monke See, Monkey Do' class that 'we' help teach @ the gym - it is a Momma & Me class, is Yoga based, and very hands-on for the caregivers.  We do a lot of stretching (which involves working together with your child), breathing, Yoga poses for strength & concentration, and cool-down with books & songs!! 

We've got the whole rest of the day to ourselves:)  Today, Elsie Anne decided she wanted Snow Park time!!  And that's just where we headed after her nice long nap!!

Climbing up the Toddler Rock Wall!  Impressive she can hold on to anything with her gloves on?!

Bouncing in the LadyBug!  See that 2-story curly slide back there - she did that BY HERSELF!!  Don't worry, I went right behind her, but I couldn't believe she even wanted to do it?!

"Not yet, one more slide Momma!" is what she said when I told her it was time to go!

A quick snack before we said "See you next time Rainbow Park!"

I'm so happy to have some warm, sunny days ahead of us!  "MELT, SNOW, MELT" is what I've been chanting while we play outside.  EA likes to join in too:)

Ballerina Banchee:)

Since the day she turned 2, Elsie Anne has decided she needs her "Ballewina Tutu on me wight NOW!"  And we have to make sure she says it politely, so she corrects herself and says, "Ballewina Tutu wight now PLEASE!"  Thank goodness this little monkey KNOWS good manners, because she can be pretty demanding these days! 

This is her 'wind-up' for a big PIROUETTE!!  She can spin 360*, sometimes further around, on one leg - and she loves the applause from the 'audience'!!

She is doing her arms just like her Ballerina Jammies!

No, the pants & top do not match, but that's what she chose with Daddy - so he went with it:)  Missy Moo has a definite MIND OF HER OWN!

RASCALS!

'Little Rascals' is my new term for these two!!!  Elsie Anne and Adeline have finally gotten past the 'MINE/HITTING/PUSHING' phase and are playing so well together! 

HMMM?  I wonder how many times I said, "We use gentle hands with our friends!  Let's try again with our kind, friendly hands!"  I'd guess over 100,000times - NOT EVEN JOKING! 

Super-Cool Chicks with their matching shades on!!  They got such a kick out of being smooshed together & rocking - huge giggles from both!!

blah,blah!

That's how I feel right now - BLAH!  I need to do some BLAH-BING too:) 

Its finally starting to get warmer - 40*s during the day, 20*s at night.  Yes, I am grateful for that, but its quickly showing me how LONG mud season is going to be this year!  We've gotten way more snow than any year I can remember (4ft outside my door, instead of the usual 2ft), which means it will take much longer for it all to melt. 

In case you've never experienced a 'mud season', let me give you some insight...Instead of the beautiful mounds of white snow all around, it turns into a brown, slushy mess - leaving mud puddles everywhere during the day, then it all freezes again at night! 

On top of that, all the piled up dog poo that owners didn't clean up during the winter, starts thawing out, leaving a lovely aroma that I'll leave to your imagination! 

Also, this year is quite a different story than last - with Elsie Anne!  Now that she is obsessed with the outdoors, its going to be VERY hard keeping her out of this nastyness!  Just this week we went to River Walk Park and she spent more time splashing in the puddles, than she did playing in the snow.  She came home with soaken wet snow pants & jacket - she's lucky we invested in a good pair of snow boots, that kept her feet dry & warm!! 

I guess all my venting leads me to realize that I'll have to get creative w/ our outdoor play, so that I'm not constantly cleaning mud off my Little Love:) 

Oh, how I long for Florida right now.  It is on my mind constantly!  We've got to find a J-O-B for Shawn so we can MOVE!!

On a lighter note:

• I'm really looking forward to this weekend...we have absolutely NO PLANS AT ALL!!  Just fun family time on our own whim:)
• Elsie Anne is COMPLETELY POTTY TRAINED!!  She wears a 'pull-up' at night since she sleeps 12hrs & can't hold it for that long yet.  But, she had no 'mishaps' during the day this week:)  We are so proud of her & her amazing success!
• My Momma comes in a week - for a week!

Thanks for listening to my BLAHB - sometimes I've just got to spill it!!  AAAAH, I feel better now:)

T-Bar

Our last day with GeeGee we made big plans for a Gondola ride - one of Elsie Anne's favorite things to do!!  Daddy went skiing, and after nap we met him @ the base of Peak8!  This adventure includes: potty time @ home, 5min drive to town, park, walk to Gondola, potty time @ Gondola Station, 15min ride on the Gondola, find Daddy @ the crowded 'T-Bar' Restaurant, another potty time, hang out/dance/eat, more potty time!!  I feel like my LIFE revolves around the POTTY these days - but that's what makes a successful BIG GIRL, right?! :)

What a precious 'Daddy Reunion'!!

Our fun 'Apre'-Beers! 

EA had a nice dance area, & boy did she have an audience!!  This picture doesn't do her hip-shaking, booty-wagging justice - I mean she gets her tail MOVING! :)

This one captures EA trailing along behind us!  Nothing will get her moving any faster - she just lollygags along, looking @ all the action going on around us, & takes it all in!  She can tell you @ any given moment what is happening too!

Once @ home, EA put on a little 'Ballerina Fairy' performance for us!  Papa picked out her Fairy Wings for part of her Birthday present:)

We had such a nice time while GeeGee was here!  It was so special to have family in town for her Birthday:)  EA pulled out all the stops & showed off all her big girl tricks - we think GeeGee was impressed!!

Hello Kitty Birthday Party!

Elsie Anne's friend, Carter, was the first to arrive!  This is not that great of a picture, but I wanted to show the Birthday Girl's rockin' outfit!!  She is in love with her new "cowgirl booooots!" from Target Clearance rack - you can't beat $7 boots!

We had my super talented friend, Fara, make the 'Hello Kitty' cake & GeeGee made the cupcakes:)  This is about half of EA's friends that came - the rest were sledding!  Oh, EA blew her candles out at the perfect timing & with no hassle!!

Our friend, Emily, who does all our professional pictures (including our wedding) was at the party snapping away!  I hired her last year for EA's birthday & felt so relaxed knowing I didn't have to document the party, so I had to have that security again:)  I snapped a few so I could BLOG!!

An exhausted EA showing her three TWO fingers!!

Godzilla Bubble Blower was a hit outside w/ the Dads!! 

I wasn't really planning on opening gifts, but EA's big-kid friends insisted!!  Elsie Anne did a fabulous job, and hugged & thanked her friends after every gift!!  Not sure where she ran off to in this pic?

Friends said good-bye & EA was spent!!  She fell asleep right as Daddy put her in the carseat! 

Once Carter Park Pavillion was cleaned up, we went straight to 'Northside Pizza' for some beers, college basket ball games, & early dinner:)  Shawn & his Momma - perfect lighting!!

I was getting some Birthday Girl cuddles!  Not quite sure what this silly face is all about - probably Daddy said smile & she did the opposite - EA's a real jokester like that!!  As I got my 'love' from the perfect Angel that she is, I was thinking of the birthday party, all our wonderful friends, the great kiddy moments I witnessed, & thought how truly blessed we are!  I loved every minute of our day - stressful times & all!!

We are having a hard time believing this day has come & gone, and now we have a 2 YEAR OLD?!  It's the one thing that everyone tells you & is SO TRUE... "Soak it all in, because it goes by so fast!"

TWO!

We have been so lucky to have GeeGee (Shawn's Mom) in town for Elsie Anne's 2ND BIRTHDAY!  We had a super chill birthday morning & opened a few of EA's presents. Princess EA with her loving Daddy:)

When our tummies started growling, we had Birthday Brunch @ Columbine Cafe (which I forgot to bring my camera, such a bad momma). Elsie Anne decided she LOVED GeeGee's cheesey scrambled eggs - one of the only things she's never liked - and devoured them! After our bellies were stuffed, we walked around town a bit, and went home for some well-needed rest!

We all woke up perky & excited for our Horse & Carriage Ride in Downtown Breckenridge!  We opened a few more presents, then hit the road!  This is Zane (the driver), telling EA about 'Bess' & 'Spike' the horses!

Loading up!!  Good thing the Carriage is covered because it started snowing on our ride!

I LOVE this shot of all of us! 

"Bye-Bye Bess. Thank you for RIIIDE!"  EA loved about 15min of the ride, so the last 5min we had to keep her entertained!  Once we were done, Zane tried to get EA to sit on 'Bess' but she was not having it!  This was as close as she wanted to get.  She did feed both horses an apple slice & giggled, saying "it tickle me Momma!" 

From there, we walked across the street to the Breckenridge History Museum - closest potty - and then on to "Snow Park Time!!!", which is what kept EA happy those last 5min of the Carriage Ride:)Can't pass up a good slushy puddle!  Oh how I dread 'Mud Season' and ALL its MESSYNESS!!

Even though the Downtown Riverwalk Park is a good 4 feet under snow, EA still enjoys climbing the snow hills & making her own slide down:)  You've got to love the working mind of a toddler!!

We had a delicious early dinner @ The Dredge - an old stomping ground of Shawn & mine, and also where we hosted our Rehearsal Dinner!  It was nice to have the place to ourselves!!  EA danced around the table to some good Classic Rock tunes, played all the games, and climbed up & down the steps for "POTTY TIME!" 

It was such a memorable day for all of us - ELSIE ANNE'S second birthday was perfect in every way:)

Spring?!

COLORADO SPRING TIME...

Not what this Florida-Girl is craving @ the moment!