Christmas All Year Round

The gift-giving never seems to end for The Kid. Upon our return, we had another set of presents to open, courtesy of Grandpa Fred and Grandpa Laurent. The Pit & Pendulum subsequently led to a day-long project of creating an indoor sandbox. Yep, those are the gifts that keep on giving the whole year round...

The Long Road Home

Vacations and holidays are wonderful, but it's also great to get back home. It's just the trip in between that can be a little long, especially when you're sick AND tired.

Goodbye, Maine

We headed to Massachusetts with Auntie Amanda today, on the first leg of our return trip to Denver. Fittingly, we had an encounter with the LLBean boot truck!

A Little Sick, but Still Loved!

The Critter has been feeling under the weather, but is so happy to be surrounded by people who love him, especially Grandma and Grandpa. Nothing speeds a recovery like love!

One Last Play Date

Our good, old-fashioned family Christmas drew to a close today as the Dyers and Paynes (and Dorans and Avebes) got together for a holiday meal. The cousins had a great afternoon playing with new toys and enjoying each other's company.

We look forward to more family time together in 2014!

It's All a Blur

Christmas!

We started the day at the Dyer household, where Ace and his cousins swam in presents, and finished it off at the Pinelands holiday rental home with Grandma & Grandpa. The final gift of the day, from Auntie Amanda and Uncle Johnny, was clearly a hit!

Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night!

'Twas the Night Before Christmas

The cousins are ready with goodies for Santa, in hopes that he soon will be here. We have faith that he will be...

Listen to This

Of course, everything The Critter has to say is of utmost interest to Grandma!

The Christmas celebrations continue as G-Ma and G-Pa arrived in Maine. Can Santa be far behind?

Holiday Preparations

Nanna leads Ace and Estelle (James also helped) in Christmas cookie baking and decoration.

Eastbound and Down

Our cross-country trip took most of the day, but having Nanna, Estelle, and James waiting to play the moment we arrived made the journey easier. Looks like our week in Maine is off to a great start!

Hudson

Our neighbors Anne & Adam stopped by this evening with their month-old bundle of joy, Hudson. Ace quickly swooped in to provide babysitting support.

Nobody Puts Baby in a Corner

...actually, he puts himself there.

As temps start to drop back down to proper seasonal levels, Ace bundled up and played in the yard for quite a while this afternoon.

Karate Kid

Mommy took Ace to a trial martial arts class today. He got a real kick out of it.

Blossoms of Light

The Denver Botanic Gardens presents a fantastic light display each Christmas, and we picked the perfect evening (warm temps and limited crowds) to enjoy it.

Here, Ace shows off his special glasses, which make tiny gingerbread men appear around every bulb, as the full moon adds to the spectacle.

It's the Little Things

Playing with a piece of wood during a down moment today.

It's Comfortable, Really!

Ace attempts to demonstrate that it really would be a fine idea to sleep on the headboard of his car-bed.

"Now, Dasher! Now, Dancer! Now, Prancer and Newfie!"

Too many cute pictures today, as we went to Golden to take in all the holiday festivities. In addition to another visit with Santa, riding on an authentic steam engine, and dropping a letter to Santa in the mail train, Ace also rode behind Ira, one of many Newfoundlands providing mini buggy rides to children.

Blue Sky Day

Looking out over the horizon, Chase ponders the twisty slide.

Fuzzy Hat

Ace enjoys trying on different hats at REI today.

Barricades and Home Made Play Doh

Another home bound day because of car repairs led to a few new batches of Play Doh and moving the furniture around to block Mommy in certain areas.

Zoo Lights '13

The family enjoyed an evening out gazing at the twinkling lights at the Denver Zoo. Chase learned a new word -"unique" - which he proceeded to use to describe every light we saw.

Bump on a Log

Chase and Mommy enjoy an afternoon at the Science Museum.

Artsy

Mommy discovered that the Denver Art Museum (side note: whenever SOAR students visit the museum, our teachers delight in saying we're taking a DAM field trip!) had a number of fun offerings for kids today, which was just what we needed considering that temps continue to prohibit outdoor activities.

Here, Ace shows off the Maori mask he colored at the children's play area, after we watched an entertaining play involving a fox and a parrot competing to get into a painting.

Asked for his highlight, of course, he later reported it was playing with the trucks. So much for culture!

Path of Destruction

On yet another frigid day, we headed out on a slew of errands, which took us to Starbucks, the comic book store, Home Depot, Office Depot, and Pet Smart.

By the time we hit the neighborhood library, The Critter was taking no prisoners, as the animal patrons in the background can attest.

Power Rangers

In yet another day home bound, Mommy broke out all the hand me down Halloween costumes we have acquired to play dress up. Although excited about this green Power Ranger costume, Ace has no idea what a Power Ranger is; we count our blessings everyday.

More Tubby Time

The Kid loves his baths.

Personal Pizza

Finally, Chase enjoys a pizza -- no sauce, just cheese and crust, because as he says, "He just likes the crust of it".

Festival of Lights

After pick up today at school, Chase insisted on showing Mommy the elaborate room the teachers at Temple Emanuel set up in celebration of Hanukkah. Focused on using light in different ways, there were many stations for the children to manipulate light using colors, overhead projectors, flashlights and, of course, candles.

The Puppet Master

Chase and Mommy took turns putting on puppet shows at the Children's Museum today.

Napping Nook

After a full week of Thanksgiving celebrations and revelry, we were all somewhat exhausted by the time Sunday rolled around. Ace decided to make a comfortable nest in the nearest convenient spot.

I Scream, You Scream...

A busy day -- a classmates birthday party and a babysitter so Mommy and Daddy could go on a day date to see Catching Fire. Needless to say, the Critter went to bed early.

Holiday Wrap

Ace starts his gift wrapping early.

Thanksgivukkah

We all celebrated Thanksgiving at Marc & Gianna's place, as has become our Denver tradition.

Ace also found delight in the fact that Hanukkah began on Turkey Day this year - and our hosts had a gift wrapped and ready for him.

Food and toys -- sounds like the best way to begin the holiday season.

The View from up Here

As Mommy purchases all the necessary items for our vegan Thanksgiving (yes, that's her way down there), Ace surveys the scene from the 18th floor of Whole Foods.

In the Swing of Things

Ace is enjoying Thanksgiving vacation, with some increased time with Daddy, who is home all week. We were able to go play at the Big Dipper park today, which is rare these days with the early sunsets.

Spell it Out

We made some Duplo art at Barnes and Noble today.

Craft Shop

What a fun time we had at Snow Mountain Ranch! This morning we hit up the Craft Shop and painted some Christmas ornaments.

Snow Mountain Ranch

We kicked off Thanksgiving week by heading into the mountains, to an amazing YMCA of the Rockies facility near Winter Park. In addition to speeding around the roller rink on this trike, we swam in a fantastic indoor pool, visited the library (and checked out books and Legos), had dinner in a big cafeteria, and read books by the lodge fireplace.

What will tomorrow bring?

Lil Hopper

Ace masters the fine art of dribbling the soccer ball.

Grandpa and Maisy

Ace and Grandpa enjoy an evening matching Maisy game.

Face to Face

Perhaps there was a connection? They sure did spend a lot of time looking at one another.

Here We Go 'Round the Obstacle Course

Ace and Mommy enjoyed some free play time at Great Play. The construction of an obstacle course was high on the agenda.

Shabbat Shalom, Santa!

You might think it’s a bit early to get into the Christmas spirit, but Ace - Jewish outlook though he may have - was fully ready to start unloading his wish list on the Big Guy at the mall today.

Park & Slide

On another adventure to find great playgrounds, we finally reached Westland Park in Greenwood Village. Here Chase slips down the giant slide that takes you from the parking lot to the playground

Does this make it all better?

We had a bit of a rough day, with Chase's behavior through the morning, towards both Mommy and Daddy, best summed up as: unacceptable.

A mid-afternoon outing to Barns & Noble set us back on the right path, and The Critter insisted on stopping off on the way home to buy some "I'm Sorry" flowers for Mommy.

Tomorrow is another day, thank goodness!

Snowman Cookie

Today's adventures were met with one fail after another. Finally, in near break down mode, Mommy and Ace surrendered to the sweet tooth, bought a cookie and pulled over to the nearest playground.

Autumn Bliss

The sheer bliss of childhood is wonderful to see.

Rough Night

In this picture your eyes may be drawn to the contraband pacifier or the homemade tough-guy painter's tape bracelet, but you'd be missing the point. You should note the developing shiner over his right eye, where a book fell off the headboard a few minutes after lights out and clocked him. Mommy and a cold washcloth came to the rescue.

Urban Camping

Chase readies our campsite in the Children's Garden at the Botanic Gardens this afternoon.

Risk Management

This injury was sustained in the line of duty, as The Critter went a bit too fast with the knife, while cutting up zucchini for dinner. After the wound was dressed, he went right back to the chopping block to ready the avocado.