Christmas Denver Trip!

Sorry about the hiatus from blogging.  Lately I've been ON or OFF w/ keeping it updated.  I just haven't had the time to download pics & upload stories... 'TIS THE SEASON, right?!!

The Sunday we've been anticipating since Thanksgiving... Christmas DENVER trip!  Always the planner, I had our outings arranged around lunch, nap time & dinner:) 

First stop... Red Lobster for lunch, Shawn's request!  For all you southern folk that live near the water & get fresh seafood whenever you please, you just won't understand!  I always 'knocked' Red Lobster when I lived in Florida, but once I tried it w/ Shawn's family in Ohio, I've become a fan!  Don't worry, its not anything like the old run-down building in Tally, it's a big, beautiful, new building w/ a great ambience.  Thankfully, after a little nudging, my cousin (& fellow Floridian) LA & Mike, who live in downtown Denver, met us there!  It was the first time we've seen them since the summer, and OHHH, how a little family time during the holidays feels SOOO GOOD!!

Second stop... Bass Pro Shop!  We've been looking forward to this Santa ever since last year, when we stumbled upon the incredibly decorated 'Workshop' & 'North Pole' they created in the boat area!!  We looked around the HUGE store w/ LA & Mike first, then ventured over to Santa...

...we decided it would probably be best if Elsie Anne play w/ Daddy & I wait in the line?!  Well, after 30min of standing in one place, then the elf telling me I should move to another line that wouldn't block the cash registers... I decided that EA would probably not be seeing Mr. Bass Pro Shop Santa!!  As I walked over to my family rolling my eyes, Shawn knew he needed to lift my spirits & swooped us off to the Aquarium area:)  EA driving the boat like BigDaddy!

EA looking at all the tropical fish, while Momma fantasizes about being @ the beach and swimming WITH these little fishies!!

Third stop... Zoo Lights!  Elsie Anne took a well needed, but short nap, in perfect time to make it before the crowds!!  We didn't mind getting to see a few of the animals before it got dark!!

EA clapping w/ her mittens on!  She loved watching the elephants toss their big barrels around & eat their snacks that came out!  I didn't get many pics of the amazing lights b/c our camera just doesn't capture the magnificence!  There were light tunnels we walked through, light animals, lights everywhere you looked, it was a sight to see:)

And we shared our first experience of the Zoo Train!!!  EA was beside herself w/ excitement, even though this family shot doesn't capture it!!  We sat right behind the engine & after the train conductor said "ALL ABOARD!" Elsie Anne couldn't stop saying it:)  She was waving @ all the people we rode by & bouncing on the seat to the Christmas Music playing!

Then off to the Carousel, "merrygoround" as EA liked to say!  She knew just what to expect, since she got to ride one @ the Cincinnati Zoo w/ her cousins!  And we knew from that experience she couldn't just ride once, so we each took a turn w/ her!  She chose to ride the Giraffe & Cheetah, and loved every minute!  Each time she passed by one of us watching, she'd wave or make 'funny faces'!

After all the family fun, we knew we had an hour & a half drive back to Breck, so we left @ 6:30pm... but not before stopping @ the Zoo Store!  This trip's special animal to come home w/ us was Francis the Flamingo!!!

Thanks to my amazingly good natured husband for keeping me cool when things didn't work as planned!  All in all, we had a wonderful time as a family & shared new adventures with Elsie Anne!  If the bank Santa is all EA gets to see this year, I'm fine w/ that, since she really won't remember this stuff anyway... it's more for the pretty picture, right, hee,hee!:) 

Keep checking past this post... I'll be catching up back to Nov.30th!!!

THREE!!

"Happy Birthday HENREE DUDICK, Happy Birthday to Youuuu!!"  Elsie Anne practiced singing Henry's birthday song for days before his party!  She was so excited for him and loved being a part of his Toy Story 3 party:)  btw...we've been practicing last names, hence the use in the bday song!!

l-r: Grady(3), Henry(3), EA(1&3/4), Claire(5)

While Henry was sidetracked w/ his best buddy, Grady, Elsie Anne was able to snag his prized possession - Buzz Light Year Wings - something she's rarely gotten to touch:)  To Infinity and Beyoooond!!!!

EA sure does get jealous of Henry's friendship with Grady!  She HAD to stand by Henry when she saw Grady was, she probably wanted her shirt off too, haha!  If only EA knew Henry spends WAY more time w/ Grady than her, I think she'd heart broken:)  And I'm not talking silly "boyfriend" stuff... Henry is HER best BUDDY, and she wants to be just like him!!

It was a little crazy, my feelings about Henry's 3rd bday!  I started nannying H when he was 16mo old & EA was 2mo old!  Their bond & friendship is the closest thing she has to a brother or cousin (since they are all out of town).  They love each other dearly & show it continuously as they get older!  He melts my heart w/ his caring, kind, and gentle ways!  I couldn't have picked a more perfect friend for my daughter to grow up with, and can't believe they are both so BIG now!  Thank you "Henry Dudick" for sharing your hilarious personality & w/ us!!  WE LOVE YOU BUDDY:)

Grinch!

Elsie Anne got the Grinch for St. Nich's Day!  A tradition the Fraser Family has passed along to us...you put your shoes by the door on the eve of Dec.4th, and the next day they are filled w/ goodies!!  Not sure 'who' fills them (I'll need more info as EA gets older), but its a fun beginning to December:)

As you can see, she immediately LOVED him...

...and wants him w/ her wherever she is:)

She now cuddles & spoons him in her crib, and the other morning I caught her covering him up w/ her blanket (on monitor cam)!!  So cute!

Lighting of Breckenridge!

We got to nanny the Stais girls for an overnight, which thrilled us all!  Elsie Anne b/c she gets such a kick out of the big girls, and Shawn & I b/c we haven't gotten to spend much quality time w/ them since I used to nanny them before EA was around!!

It was a good time... We went into town for the Lighting of Breckenridge, only we missed the actual 'tree lighting'!  Didn't matter to the girls at all... they were impressed just @ the sight as we walked up!  The tree is huge & at the town center, they put thousands of lights on it... very Rockafeller Center'esque'!!

Shelby(5), Lexi(3), EA(1&3/4), me(30) hahaha!!

This was also very impressive, and warm!!  They had a hot air balloon basket in the back of a truck & blew the fire out every once in a while!  The girls were in awe, but it startled them every time:)

They climbed on this mound of snow w/ a ton of other children, then decided to rest & do snow angels! 

Elsie Anne & Lexi cutting a rug to the live band in Town Square!  Got to love their fearlessness... Shelby being the older & more mature one, wouldn't get close to the inner circle of dancing!!

The next morning, after church, we had lunch in town, and walked around throwing snow balls @ rocks, the river, light posts, you name it... you think Shawn had anything to do w/ that?! :) The girls had a ball playing on the Goat Sculpture!

At one point, as all the girls played together in the living room, Shawn & I both thought... Wow, this could be our family in 5yrs!!  Not really age-wise, but a big family of GIRLS!  He just knows that's all we'll have, and he's actually pretty pumped about it, he really wants another one:)

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.