31 Cent Scoop Night

The City of Longmont includes a newsletter with your monthly bill and I love it.  They always have snippets of information about community events that otherwise I might have no idea about!

Last night was the 5th Annual 31 Cent Scoop Night at Baskin Robbins.  Yum!  They had 2 fire trucks on display - one vintage that you could only look at and one new that you could get in and climb around in.  I think it is very cool that our local firemen/women do events like this.  What little kid doesn't love a fire truck?!  They also had ID kits for kids, but the biggest attraction was a scoop of ice cream for 31 cents!

 Captain Ian

 Milo is hanging onto the fireman's every word!

 Ian chose bubblegum ice cream - a favorite of mine from childhood too!  Although he definitely wanted to get in on the pistachio and almond I chose.  I didn't mind sharing:)

Milo really wanted ice cream too, but had to settle for a couple of bites from my waffle cone.  He is not interested in baby food anymore.  All he wants is table food.  Which is cool, but not what I am used to.  Ian ate baby food until he was 15 months old! 

Easter Weekend 2011

Mom and Bob arrived the Friday before Easter - Casey and Ian picked them up at the train station early that morning.  Milo went to Lily's and I went to work.  It was hard to concentrate at work because I was wishing I was at home hanging out with them.  They were able to rest up before going on a tour of homes for sale with Dave Lorraine. 

When I picked up the boys at Lily's I asked Ian what his crown was for and he replied, "I am King of Earth Day!"  He cracks me up... 

My Mom and I hit up the Mollie McGree craft show on Saturday - Maggie tagged along with us.  I wanted to get some ideas about how booths are set up.  Granted, this craft show is indoors but it still helped me vision what I need to prepare for.  I had a slight panic attack realizing we may be underprepared for our first show!  One of my favorite booths was the nut buffet - there were so many different flavor combinations and it was fun to try some new things.  There were a lot of great vendors there and I hope to be one of them someday:) 

Ian and Milo shared some brotherly love on Easter Sunday.  They are so cute together.  Milo watches Ian's every move and takes it all in.  We had a busy day prepping for the Easter meal and Easter egg hunt. 

Ian helped me make these delicious cake balls.  An new favorite in our house.  Yummy!  I chose a white cake with strawberry frosting and dark chocolate cover.  I want to try out some other combinations and see what I can come up with.  I wanted to eat the whole platter!   

 Heather made some delicious (and adorable!) cupcakes for everyone to enjoy.  Everyone loved them!

 Peyton and Auntie M

 Milo loves Uncle Jon's beard!

 My handsome little boy!

Peyton loved trying out the new swing.  The bigger kids all wanted to swing once she got in, but fortunately we were able to distract them with candy.  Ha!

 Miss Avyn

 Ian and Ella patiently waiting to start the Easter egg hunt.  It is hard to believe that next year we will have 5 kids running around looking for eggs.  I am thankful for the big yard.  It was a lot of fun this year because Ian and Ella were truly into it.  They knew the drill!

 Ian had plenty of Easter surprises, but by far his squirt gun was #1!

 Ella found 10 out of the 20 eggs the Easter bunny hid in the backyard!

 Ian would have found 10 as well, but one of the eggs he found got pooped on by a bird.  What are the odds?  He was not without enough treats to last him the day and then some.  He is still asking if he can have an Easter treat each night we get home.  I might have to help that candy disappear a little faster:)

 Mom made me these awesome pedicure socks!  I have never seen anything like them, but they are great.  Clearly I am in need of a pedicure - I am hoping for a chilly day so I get to wear them:)

Ian loved his tool apron from Grandma and Grandpa!  He wore it all day.  I was surprised we were able to get him to take it off for bedtime.  He put it on first thing Monday morning to wear to Lily's! 

Love your Mother!

Longmont has an Arbor/Earth Day festival every year, but for various reasons we have never been able to attend.  Last Saturday was the 2011 festival and we made it!  Maggie and the Courtney crew joined us for the fun.  They have a ton of activities, both educational and fun, for the kids.  Unfortunately Ian was still recovering from his stomach bug so he was very mellow.  He stood in line for several minutes to operate the tree stump remover, but as it was his turn he spotted Smoky the Bear and was no longer interested in the equipment. Surprising in a way.  I felt bad for Ian because he could barely muster the energy to be excited about anything.  I was so thankful to have Maggie there to help me tag team my minions!



 Milo is able to sit in the stroller and see the world.  Finally!  He loves it and so do I.  The double stroller doesn't seem nearly as monstrous when you aren't adding on the additional weight of the car seat.  I swear I needed my CDL when I was operating it that way!

 There was a giant Earth balloon floating in the middle of the community drum circle.  Ian and I listened to the music for a bit.  I tried to get him to join in with a maraca, but he just wanted to observe.  I hate seeing my babies sick, but I have to admit - I LOVE the cuddle time I get.  Ian is a Daddy's boy so I will take any chance I get!

 Ian and Ella wrangled Maggie into pushing them on the swings.  They seem so big in this picture.  I can't believe it - to think it wasn't that long ago that they looked like this.

Miss Avyn just chillin' with her mama.  She is such a sweetie and I love those big, blue eyes!

While we were at the festival, Casey and Tom were at the house installing our new screen door.  Who knew this little white door could make me SO happy.  Thanks to Tom for helping install it - it would have taken Casey and I several days and trips to Home Depot and I am pretty sure he did this blindfolded.  Thank God for friends that are handier than you!

After Ian woke up from his nap he was feeling a bit better and wanted Maggie to swing him in the backyard.  Again, a welcomed break for me:)  We hung out while Milo continued to sleep.  I told Ian that we would need to camp in the backyard someday and boy did I open a can of worms with that one!  He couldn't stop talking about it.  He had to know more about this camping thing.  I told him we would have to do a trial run in the house first and then move up to the backyard before truly camping in the wilderness.  There was no waiting - he had to camp THAT night!  So...Casey set up the tent in the living room.  We were schocked when Ian fell asleep in the tent on his own and stayed there.  Amazing!  Casey told him he would join him once it was time for him to go to bed.  I snapped this picture before heading to bed myself on Saturday night.  One word:  adorable.

Moving full steam ahead on the business venture.  Last week we received our City of LMT license and yesterday we received the one from the DOR.  yay!  We are official...scary.  Our Open House is going to be held on May 12th so we are cranking out all the last minute details.  I can't believe this is happening.  We are nervous, but very excited for our first show.  We will be debuting at the Erie Town Fair on May 21st.  May this be the first of many shows for Monica and I.



A chance meeting

Last Saturday Ian and I took a road trip to DIA.  I read on Facebook that an old boss of mine was in CO so we messaged back and forth, deciding a quick meeting at DIA would work best.  I was so excited!  We have kept in touch ever since I left Wabash Valley Hospital to move to WI - she came to my bridal shower, our wedding and even the baby shower for Ian.  I found it only fitting to bring him along so they could meet.  She is doing well and looks exactly the same.  It was cool to be able to connect this way, so I must admit...Facebook isn't that evil.

We had a playdate scheduled for Saturday with the Courtney crew.  Ian is always excited to see Ella.  Kate and I decided to check out the new BRU by our house.  Whoa - I was not prepared for the insanity that ensued!  People everywhere and kids straight flippin' out (including my own)!  I prefer the BRU in Ft. Collins because they divide the baby side from the toy side, but not this one - everything in your face as soon as you walk in the door!  There was a guy making balloon animals, a lady face painting and various characters in costume.  It was fun, just a bit overwhelming. 

 Arrrr Matey!

 Meow.

 Whenever we see someone in costume, Ian will ask if he can give them a hug and/or kiss.  Geoffrey was spotted from across the way and Ian took off running. I thought for sure he would be more excited about the Stormtroopers than Geoffrey, but I guess the Stormtroopers are more intimidating in person than in book form;)

 I promised Ian we would go to the park after he woke up from his nap on Saturday.  I was praying the whole time that the weather would hold off long enough for me to keep my promise and thankfully it did!  It was pretty windy, but the sun was out so it was nice enough for a few minutes.  I kept Milo in the stroller and just wheeled him around the playground.  He didn't seem to mind! 

Sunday night was bath night and we finally introduced the rubber duck bath tub to Milo.  He loved it!  Whew.  This is the same boy who did not get a bath longer than 30 seconds for the first 6 months of his life.  I was worried we might be in for a long haul if he did not like the upgrade.  Being able to bathe both of them at the same time truly makes life easier...

 and Ian is psyched to have a bathtubmate - not sure the feeling is reciprocated though.  Milo has suspicion in his eyes.  ha!

We finally took the first step toward landscaping - only took 3 years to get the hald dead shrub removed from the corner!  Everyone has nice corner lots and then there is us.  Alas, we have a blank slate...well, kind of.  I have struggled since moving to CO to figure out the climate in regard to planting.  I seem to kill everything, but we don't have the money to plunk down on anything fancy.  Not to mention my lack of time or energy.  At least if we don't get to planting this summer we won't have an atrocious half-dead juniper bush suffocating our corner lot:)



Yay for PJ Friday!

Happy Birthday to the Frasier Boys!

You can tell it is spring because the calendars start to fill up and the weekends fly by in the blink of an eye!  Last Saturday we were blessed with AMAZING weather - it was 79 degrees.  Perfect weather for a birthday party.  Ian's buddies, Ronan and Keller, had their 3rd birthday party.  Ian was psyched to them since they no longer go to daycare with him.  Do you like the outfit he chose?

 Since the weather was so great the kids were able to play in the backyard - and this meant water balloons!  Milo and I chose to have a picnic on the living room floor instead.  I knew if I tried to feed him outside he would be too distracted by all the activity.  I love that he is able to sit up on his own and I remember how much easier life started to get at this point.  Yay!

Who could resist this spinach, apple and rutabaga face?

 After our picnic, we joined in the birthday party fun outside.  The kids had so much fun playing together and it was awesome how well everyone got along.  Ian and I talked prior to the party about the importance of letting Ronan and Keller play with their presents and that he had to ask if he wanted to play with one of their gifts.  I was impressed that he remembered to do just that! 

 Milo enjoyed sitting on a blanket in the backyard. 

Just hangin' with Mommy and Daddy and his butterfly teether. 

 Mia also celebrated her birthday (she is their older sister) - pretty nice that they can get away with one birthday party a year for all 3 kids!

 Keller, clutching tightly to his new favorite pinwheel:)

 Ronan - going straight for the cupcake.  That's my kinda kid!

One of the things I anticipated when Casey and I decided to move to Colorado was being able to have family dinners.  When I was a kid we would go to my great-grandparent's house every Sunday for a family dinner.  You would walk into my great-grandma's house and be hit with the smell of fresh bread, pies and homemade egg noodles boiling on the stovetop.  Actually, I went to pick up the kids at Lily's on Monday and was hit with a smell that took me right back to that exact moment.  I love when that happens.  Life is busy and schedules are hectic, but I like that my brother and his family are able to join us for Sunday dinners.  We can't do it every Sunday, but I am thankful for the times when we can do it.  

 Peyton and Milo had a blast playing together before dinner.  They recognize each other a little more each day.  I can't believe they are already big enough to join us at the dinner table.  So much fun!

 What a cutie!  I am afraid this little girl already has her Aunt Melissa wrapped around her finger. 

 Ian's favorite part about a visit from Uncle Jon - getting to play in the back of his truck!

Monica and I are hard at work getting ready for the Erie Town Fair - only 44 days until our debut.  We are hard at work building inventory, submitting applications, purchasing packaging materials, starting a business plan - so much to do, but I think we are right on track!  We are hosting an open house on May 12th for friends and family to see our work and give us feedback.  That means we have even less than 44 days, but I am confident we will come out swingin'.  Stay tuned...