Awesome visit from Grandma Pat!

To be completely honest, the weeks leading up to Ahma/Ahpa and Grandma Pat's visit were pretty rough.  Nevi had an ear infection and sinus thing.  COda developed a respiratory infection that progressed so much that we ended up at the doc office one night with him on a Nebulizer . It was rough going for a few weeks.  Nev and Coda were just getting better when our visitors arrived. Coda was still fussy though Ahma and Ahpa's visit but finally seemed to return to 'normal' when Grandma Pat was here.  Even though I know Coda so well, it is still very hard for me to tell what's wrong sometimes when he's fussy.  Teething is usually the culprit but he also seems to catch most respiratory colds and bugs that go around so discomfort in the health department seems common.  I think he's growing super fast, too, and wonder sometimes if he isn't just uncomfortbale in the midst of growth spurts.  Anyhoo, our sweet Coda returned during Pat's visit and they seemed to really make a connection.  COda loves to dance and drum and he even started singing for the first time when Grandma Pat was here.  We all had a fabulous time during her visit.  We went to the Butterfly Pavillion, church,  Pearl Street, went out to breakfast at our local Walnut Cafe, did a lot of yummy cooking and baking and crafts and games AND celebrated Nev's actual 4th birthday together.  Grandma Pat got her a very cool new bike, as she was outgrowing her old one.  It has purple handlebars and purple steamers and we LOVE riding, almost daily now, or until our next snow storm, that is.  Grandma also got her some new summer attire, including a new swim suit!  We'd been on such a 'high' with all the wonderful company, I gotta say, I was pretty blue to see everyone go....

Nevi's 4th 'kiddo' birthday party!!!!

We celebrated Nevi's 4th birthday a couple times this year.  The first celebration was with her friends, both neighborhood friends and classmates, taking place the Sunday before her actual special day.  I was so pleased with how smoothly it went how fun it was and how completely well mannered all of her friends were!  She seems to attract very good people and already shares such joy and love with her friends. Her very best friend is the little blondy in the pictures,  named Karington.  She adores Nev and it's quite mutual.  We had a craft in which they decorated all of their own gift bags with spickers and markers and crafty stuff.  We had a yummy lunch for all, including Silvermine sub sandwiches (Nev's fav sandwich there is the Caribou with turkey and the works), sausages that Robb grilled out, veggies and veggie sticks and Nev requested cupcakes for her birthday, which cupcakes with pink frosting.  We enjoyed lunch and presents and cupcakes, then had a horse pinata for the kids to beat.... ended up needing Robb's assistance to get all the goodies out but it was fun while it lasted.  The kids had a dance party, we watched Robb's Nev's video and then all played outside down the street on the playground.  The kdis got nice and muddy and then we sent them home.  It was SO much fun!  Thanks again Ahma and Ahpa for helping things to run so smoothly and being here to enjoy the awesome event!  And Happy Birthday to Nevi, a pretty awesome little 4 year old girl, my pride and joy, my heart and soul.  

Ahma and Ahpa Visit

Ahma and Ahpa came out to CO only days after they returned from an extended, lovely trip to Mexico.  They came out here for 2 big events:  1) Romp to Stomp Shoeshoe Walk and 2) Nev's 4th birthday.  Although they were not here for actual birthday, they were here to be a part of (and help with) Nev's birthday party, in which we invited her closest friends from school and from our neighborhood.  I will blog that next.   We had an awesome time with Ahma and Ahpa and feel very strongly that the their presence not only made Nev's party more fun, it also make it run VERY smoothly.  It felt like a quick visit but it was certainly a fun-fulled one. Oh yeah, and Nev and Coda both got to go to Lil Monkey Business, something Nev has wanted to do for a while now.  
Thanks Ahma and Ahpa!

Romp to Stomp, Snowshoe for Breast Cancer!

Romp to Stomp Out Breast Cancer is an annual snowshoeing event that takes place in several places throughout the country. Luckily, one of the locations of this event is right  here in Colorado in the beautiful Rocky Mountains, within the city of Frisco.  Jan trained hard (wish I could say I did, just not enough snow down in the valley to train hard in)  and although we were the last to start the race due to traffic we hit on I70 we did great and accomplished our goal of finishing and having a blast in the process.  It was a gorgeous drive and gorgeous scenery throughout the romp.  And it was wonderful to do something 'just for mom', a special treat!  Thank you Jan for doing this with me and for inspiring me, doing this at altitude AND with asthma.  You are a tough lady and I LOVE it!  A time to remember...

  

Shhhhhhhh!

February pix and Coda birthday

February started our pretty great.  We had a small gathering of friends over for Coda's first birthday and had an absolute blast, but unforunately did not get many pictures of the event (shame shame mom and dad).  I made an applesauce cake and we had appetizers, which ended up being a full dinner b/c everyone stayed so late. Robb grilled wings, hotdogs, sausage, etc. It seemed no one wanted the party to end. Coda and Nev were a pretty great time playing with their friends, too.  

Nana and Pop Pop bought Nevi a sticker book for Coda's birthday (along with presents for Coda, too) but I had to include this pictures of Coda covered with round stickers.... definitely something big sister worked on quite diligently while I was cooking dinner.  It was pretty freaking cute.