Monday, December 30, 2013

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...

Sunday, December 29, 2013

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.

Saturday, December 28, 2013

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!

Friday, December 27, 2013

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!

Thursday, December 26, 2013

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!

Wednesday, December 25, 2013

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!

Tuesday, December 24, 2013

'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...

Monday, December 23, 2013

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?

Sunday, December 22, 2013

Holiday Preparations




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

Saturday, December 21, 2013

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!

Friday, December 20, 2013

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.

Thursday, December 19, 2013

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.

Wednesday, December 18, 2013

Karate Kid




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

Tuesday, December 17, 2013

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.

Monday, December 16, 2013

Sunday, December 15, 2013

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.

Saturday, December 14, 2013

"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.

Friday, December 13, 2013

Blue Sky Day




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

Thursday, December 12, 2013

Wednesday, December 11, 2013

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.

Tuesday, December 10, 2013

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.

Monday, December 9, 2013

Sunday, December 8, 2013

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!

Saturday, December 7, 2013

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.

Friday, December 6, 2013

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.

Wednesday, December 4, 2013

Personal Pizza




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

Tuesday, December 3, 2013

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.

Monday, December 2, 2013

The Puppet Master




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

Sunday, December 1, 2013

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.

Saturday, November 30, 2013

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.

Friday, November 29, 2013

Thursday, November 28, 2013

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.

Wednesday, November 27, 2013

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.

Tuesday, November 26, 2013

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.

Monday, November 25, 2013

Sunday, November 24, 2013

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.

Saturday, November 23, 2013

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?

Friday, November 22, 2013

Thursday, November 21, 2013

Wednesday, November 20, 2013

Face to Face




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

Tuesday, November 19, 2013

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.

Monday, November 18, 2013

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.

Sunday, November 17, 2013

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

Saturday, November 16, 2013

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!

Friday, November 15, 2013

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.

Thursday, November 14, 2013

Wednesday, November 13, 2013

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.

Tuesday, November 12, 2013

Urban Camping




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

Monday, November 11, 2013

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.