The First Snowfall of the Winter!

As I sit here typing away on my blog and trying to figure out how to attach these pictures, it's 70 degrees outside. It's sunny. There's not a cloud in the sky. Three days ago, we had five inches of snow on the ground. Now there's not a snowflake left... anywhere. It came and disappeared. That's Colorado for you! And it's one of the things we love about living here. The snow is fun and gorgeous, but it never stays cold for too long.

Check out my new snow boots!

A few days before the snowfall I bought Daniel some new snow boots because I wanted to make sure he could go out in the first snowfall. That boys has outgrown FOUR shoe sizes this year! But that's another story. So when he woke up the morning of the snowfall, the first words out of the mouth were, "Put my snow boots on?"

It's becoming a tradition that Daniel slide into the pile of snow at the bottom of his playground with each new snowfall.

Nothing's better than Hot Chocolate after playing outside on a snowy day.

He had a lot of fun wiggling in the snow, eating the snow, throwing the snow at Mommy. And now he is confused as to where all the snow has gone... And I'm not very good at explaining temperature, evaporation and cold fronts to a three year old.

Caleb Turns ONE!

It is hard to believe, but Caleb really had his first birthday on Monday, October 22nd.

There is nothing innocent about this guy!

A few words to describe Caleb after getting to know him for a year:

Happy

Content

Stubborn

Persistent

Funny

Outgoing

Sweet

Mama's Boy

He has a BIG personality and loves people and being the center of attention.

"You have the right to remain silent."

Yeah right, there is no such thing as silence with Caleb around. Here he is with his little friend, Whitney, as they wait for their frisk and handcuffs.

We celebrated the Big Day in full-fashion the evening before, having all Mommy and Daddy's friends over and eating Mac 'n Cheese, Sloppy Joes and Chips and Salsa -- not a very healthy menu, but it was yummy! The Mac 'n Cheese was a hit with all the kids that came. (Mommy forgot that all the adults she invited also had a ton of kids of their own!)

All our little friends... Daniel is sitting in the back on the left.

Caleb (who is proving not to be too shy) loved all the attention. As everyone sang "Happy Birthday" he looked around with a big smile and clapped! A strong contrast to Daniel who buried his head in Mommy's leg, even though no one was singing to him.

All the other kiddos not understanding why they didn't get to open presents.

The highlight of the party was the squishing of the Red Velvet Cupcake. Mommy stripped Caleb down to his diaper and let him go to town! He loved squishing it in his fingers, rubbing it in his hair and on the sides of his highchair. Then he took a bite. And started to cry. The party was over. Mommy was highly offended.

"I spent the first year of my life being told not to play with my food, so... I'm confused..."

It ended up being a fun time for all of us and a great way for Mommy and Daddy to catch up with so many friends they had not seen since spending a month away in Idaho. Mommy and Daddy and Daniel are so thankful Caleb is a part of their lives.

Still Here!

Everyone keeps asking where I've been and when I'm going to update the blog. I'll get to it, I promise!! We have had a crazy, crazy last couple of months! But I think we are finally home for a little while. Looking forward to being settled again.

A Thankful Heart

Tonight Daniel thanked Jesus for "the fingernails on the dinosaurs" and "Diplotocus bones" -- I think as a result of the dinosaur museum we visited in Canon City this weekend.

They're Finally On!!

I realize that no one but my sister really wants to see pictures of my teeth, but it's exciting stuff for me so I'm going to write about it! I have HATED my teeth for as long as I can remember... so after several years of looking at and considering orthodontics, I finally got braces!

The BEFORE Picture

~ I never had a permanent right lateral (the tooth between your front and canine) so my mid-line is off, plus the fact that it just looks silly with that tooth missing.

~ The lateral on the left side will be removed because it is deformed and my canines will be pulled around in place of the laterals. When they are in place, I will see a cosmetic dentist who will reshape them to look like laterals.

~ It turns out I have slight TMJ, which may explain my occassional migranes. Correcting my bite will hopefully get rid of those. So, it's not just vanity for which I am doing this!

At the mercy of Dr. Karlin... who is wonderful, by the way!

If you live in the south Denver area and need braces:

Karlin Orthodontics

Highlands Ranch Town Center

303.470.9488

(I said I'd give free advertising for letting me take pictures!)

His assistant, Erin is equally as wonderful. Every appointment has been on time and I always feel like they have been waiting all day for me and are excited to see me. It's good going to a place I like since I will be seeing them every four weeks for the next two years.

After getting my wisdom teeth removed and a crown replaced, the first thing Dr. Karlin did was put "spacers" in my molars. These are thick, rubber chunks that go between the teeth in order to create space for metal bands to go around them. I had to wear them for a week and they were terrible!! Everyone says that is the worst part. So far, that's true because my braces went on last Wednesday and it hasn't been too bad. The only thing is that because they are changing my bite, I can't bring my back molars together making it impossible to grind stuff. I'm eating a lot of yogurt and drinking smoothies! But they said that should go away in a week and I'll learn how to chew again.

All I can say about it so far is that braces are PAINFUL, ANNOYING and EXPENSIVE, but I'm happy to have it started. I better look like Christie Brinkley when this is all over with!

Hiking on a Summer Day

We have been able to do a lot of hiking this Summer. Caleb is finally able to sit up in a backpack, which lets us go for longer hikes. A couple weekends ago we went hiking at Reynolds Park near Conifer, CO. The hike was only four miles round trip. Not that long until you put a kid on your back, start at 8,000 ft. elevation and gain another 800 ft. before reaching the top! It was a great work out!! In fact, Patrick and I had a sitter coming that night to watch the kids so we could go out, but we were SO tired, we cancelled and just stayed home.

Patrick and Daniel enjoying a little rest at the top of the mountain.

The view from where we stopped to picnic was incredible and worth the climb. We could see all the way to Pike's Peak! I packed a wonderful, tasty meal if I do say so myself, but I've decided that for the next big hike I am getting all the light-weight, pre-packed food from REI. It was heavy!!

While we were hiking we came across some areas where the bark had been scraped off the pine trees. Patrick explained to Daniel that those were stops where the elk or deer had been rubbing their antlers, called an "Elk (or deer) Rub." Later on while we were eating lunch, Daniel picked up two sticks on his own and started rubbing the pine tree. He turned to me and said, "Look, Mommy, I making a elk rub!"

Caleb can't sit up well on his own yet, and I didn't want him rolling down the mountain so he just had to watch us eat from the comfort of his packpack! He was his happy, usual self!

Caleb finally got free and had some fun time with Daddy!

Every little boy needs a good stick!

Caleb has figured out the best way to get up the mountain. Now... it they only made adult-sized backpacks -- that's the way I'd go!

Meet Our Friends...

Here are some of our friends in Colorado:

Hollie & Jeremy with their two girls. Daniel has a thing for older women, so he loves their oldest daughter to pieces!

Daniel's friend Jonah eating an icecream cone on our deck. I watch Jonah and his little brother once a week. Daniel enjoys this playtime with another boy.

Jennifer and Neil are new to Colorado. They introduced us to our church, Adullam. Their son, Cole, likes to pose about as much as Daniel does!

Heather and Jeremy, our first Colorado friends!!

We are so blessed with the people in our lives here!! We have many more friends, we just don't have pictures of them...