November Thanks

November was a big month with all of the moving and unpacking and the company we had.

I just need to tell the world that my sister, Karen, is a saint.  She took vacation days to fly out and be with us for that first hellish week of the move.  She cleaned.  She moved boxes.  She unpacked boxes.  She decided where things should go.  She helped decorate and move furniture.  She babysat.  She helped cook and feed us all.  She changed diapers.  I honestly can’t remember everything she did for us…but she never stopped moving until late at night…and all while being sick!  Heck, we were so busy that I even forgot to get her a birthday cake…a card…or even to wish her a happy birthday!  I’m such an idiot.  I knew it before she came out and just forgot as soon as her plane landed.

All I can say is “Thank you, thank you, thank you.”  We kept resisting all of her offers to come, finally caved in from her persistence, and then couldn’t figure out how in the world we would’ve done it without her.  Thank you Karen.

Elizabeth wrapped up her second session with Rina Coury at Signing Smart.  This class was for toddlers, and helped us to learn age-appropriate things like emotions.  Perfect timing to help us deal with some tantrums and Elizabeth’s newly developed fear of the dark.

Elizabeth is in the back of the photo walking along the wall.  She participated quite a bit in class…when the toys were out.  Otherwise she was the one trying to unlock the front door or pull down the blinds.  Ha!  She is my little explorer.  I’m learning that she listens and absorbs things even when she is on the move like that.  Just like she likes to have her own book when we read together.

The Strider bike sat alot since we bought it.  She got on it a couple of times in the condo’s garage or out on the sidewalk, but then seemed to lose interest.  That made me a little sad, let’s just say.  But at the new house, she ASKED for it!  And she has been riding it around non-stop inside the house.  Well, the first floor is one big loop and she is enjoying the space.  That is for sure.

Here’s our backyard…Fall and Winter…just days apart.

Not uncommon in the months of October and November here.  To see snow on the landscape while the Fall leaves are still on the trees is one of the most striking scenes I see.  It was a gorgeous several days to enjoy the contrast before either the snow fell off or the leaves…or both.

Eliz’s friend Allison celebrated her 2-year birthday this month.  Here are her “girls”.  I’d say her three of her best friends (but missing Liam).  They are Finley, Noalea, Eliz, and Allison.

Then Thanksgiving was here before we knew it…and our home filled up with family and friends.  And for the first time in years, we actually had enough space for everyone!

Mom and Steph and Andy were the cooks…and they had a little helper.

Matt, our skateboarding nephew, had Elizabeth try out his skateboard. 

Not only did she ride it inside the house, but he took her the Apex Skatepark – a radical park with bowls and ramps and 10’ dropoffs (or something like that).

The place is usually quite crowded whenever I drive by, but it seems the kids and young adults who take their skateboards, scooters, trick bikes, and the such, to the park are courteous and take turns.  Matt said he got some stares from parents as he boarded around the easy sections with Eliz in his arms!  Matt loved the park and listed it as one of the top ones he’s been to.  Eliz loved it and for weeks whenever we drove past she would say “Matt! Go fast!” and things like that.  I’m seeing a little adrenalin-junkie in my future…

But Thanksgiving was wonderful.  We had everyone tucked in at the table in a wide assortment of chairs.  Family, and our friends David, Beth, and Bryce.  We loved it.

We did have one scary thing happen.  Since we weren’t totally moved-in yet, the house was not toddler-proof.  Bryce was playing around a large wall mirror that was temporarily propped against the wall.  We heard the crash and the crying, and I swear my heart stopped.  Thankfully he wasn’t hurt, just scared.  It could’ve been very ugly.  Side Note:  We still haven’t gotten around to hanging the mirror (it’s Feb now), but it was stored in the garage after that incident.  We just recently brought it back in the house to hang, but it is again leaning against the wall.  Once Eliz saw the mirror, she immediately thought of Bryce and started telling the story of that Thanksgiving day.  She remembers everything!

Steph, Matt, and Elizabeth spent a lot of time drawing and coloring.  Here’s a special project Steph and Matt did for Eliz.  Radically different in their style, huh?

Matt, Steph, Eliz and I went for a hike at South Mesa (Boulder Open Space).  Thankfully, Matt was willing to carry Eliz for me. 

Here are the new best friends together at a snack break.

Eliz even wanted out of her pack for awhile.  She hiked a good distance over some pretty rocky terrain (Maybe one mile?).  Here is a short video of her hiking down some trail steps.  Notice the smile on her face?  She just loves being outside and hiking!  Yea for me!

At one point she tried to “gallop” down a steep slope with gravel.  That didn’t end well.  It’s amazing how, even with a padded diaper, she said it hurt…I tend to think it was the “surprise-factor” that scared her.  But for days she would say, “no gallop”. 

We got Eliz dressed up in her new jacket and went to see the Christmas lights at the City/County Building downtown.

This was my first time seeing them in person.  There never seems to be enough time for us to enjoy the local light extravaganza.  Since work is generally busy before the holidays, and then we go to Philly for the holidays, and we’re exhausted when we get home!  I was glad to at least see this…maybe next year I’ll get to the Butterfly Pavilion and the Zoo Lights?

Steph and Mom gave us a night away.  We made reservations at Vail Cascade Resort…and pretty much did nothing.  We got up there in the early evening, enjoyed the outdoor fireplaces by the pool and jacuzzi, had some beers in the bar, had dinner on-site, and then used the jacuzzi in the morning…

…We did squeeze in one tiny hike on the north side of I-70 in Vail that second day before heading home.  It was the perfect night out…no pressures, appointments, obligations, or anything.  Just a night away to do nothing!

As we were driving home we saw warning signs about upcoming fog.  The area west of the fog bank was covered in ice crystals.  The temperatures in that area dropped considerably, so the moisture in the air was freezing and leaving a blanket of ice crystals on all the trees and bushes.  It was quite beautiful.

The fog itself wasn’t fun.  It was thick and made driving poor.  We were just happy we weren’t too far from home.

November WebAlbums has more pictures from the month.