Easter 2013

 Getting the thank the Easter Bunny in person is always a bonus!!  We spent the day at Arapahoe Basin "chilling" in the sun (but it was far from cold), skiing, and enjoying our friends' company. 

 Elodie has become quite the skier in her long 4 years of life!  Skiing double-black diamond ski runs is her latest adventure...

 Here we are overlooking some of the best skiing terrain in CO.  The sign behind Elodie reads: Pali Face and The Spine. 

 This is "the Bus stop" where you wait for your friends before continuing on skiing.

Elodie started riding the chairlift all by herself, also! (ugh... what a feeling when your kid doesn't need you to get on the lift) Granted, it was the "bunny lift"...

First Daddy-Daughter Valentine's Day Date

Elodie and Todd went on their first Daddy-daughter date this Valentine's day.  They both got dressed up, danced, snacked, sniffed roses, and yes... got into a "fight" about running in the parking lot... Maybe next year we won't have to have that discussion??

 How do they grow up so fast and surprise us with their new-found maturity when you see them every day? Where is my little girl? I dried her 1st rose for her to keep forever... Every man in their life should measure up to her Daddy... I now know what my mom was talking about.

Elodie's dedication to our God

Elodie's new room

Todd and I finally painted Elodie's room so that it is bright, sunny, and actually looks like a little girl's room!  What a difference a little paint makes...

 Elodie and I made a trip to MN to visit the Reger's, meet baby Liam, and see Gramma Mamma and Grampa Phil.  Elodie was in heaven hanging out with her cousins, helping with the baby, and hugging on Grampa and Gramma!  I just loved being there, sledding, skating, vacuuming, etc...
 The weather was at its most typical best (for a MN winter and we made the best of it: Owen, Elodie and I went for a walk in the rain one evening! Another day, Rachel and I took the kids sledding in 0 degree weather down icy snow... sleds were not needed, as our snowpant-covered butts slid just as well! :)

 Yes... they all still fit on a quad together... not for long, bucko, though!

 We all have our favorite uncle, don't we?

 Rach- You are in trouble with this little girl... (the blonde one, that is...)

These girls seem to be getting closer-finally! (Here our little posers are with the new baby Liam.)

Who is having a more difficult time saying goodbye?
Dad- you are a very special Grampa... and Daddy!

HAPPY 4TH BIRTHDAY TO MY LITTLE "SQUID"

(squirt/kid)

Todd and I finally threw in the towel on the adult parties for Elodie's birthday and had a big "kid bash" for the 4th anniversary of the best thing that has ever happened to us...

The party was held in conjunction with Elodie's buddy, Jamison, whose birthday is just 3 days before her special day.  We had 20 kids, pizza, cake, and a monster-sized bouncy house in the "gladiator" style.  How much fun can a kid have? How much easier could a birthday party of that size be? Close the doors and let the kids loose.  I could do that for EVERY party.

 Elodie's birthday crown

 Elodie and Jamison blowing out their candles. The little boy on the left is Bodie-Elodie's best friend.

 The bouncy house...

 I am trying to regulate how many kids pile into the bouncy at the same time! Herding cats...

 On the actual day of Elodie's birthday, we made cupcakes-Elodie's choice, decorated by the birthday girl herself!

The favorite presents: a baby dragon named Spike (in the swing) and a convertible baby swing-highchair, carseat...

Mommy-Elodie mountain biking trip

We have special days together called Daddy-Elodie day: Wednesdays, and Mommy-Elodie day(s): Saturdays and Sundays.  We always try to do something special on these days, although it is not always possible.  My girlfriend Angie and I were able to plan a camping/mountain biking trip out west in the Fruita/Grand Junction area. Elodie and I packed up everything we could fit in the Suby (thank God for car-camping...) and it the road.  We were able to get to Grand Junction just in time to see a bit of the airshow.  A fighter jet was in flight when we arrived. How amazing to see the jet fly so fast and up-side down! The pilot also put the jet into "dive" mode and pulled up at the last second.  One of the "tricks" that he also pulled was a "wheelie" type that looked a lot like a bike being wheelied down the street. Then, just before he finished, he buzzed the town just above where we were sitting and it was so loud car alarms started going off! We sure had an hysterical laugh at that while sitting on the hood of our car.  

Then, it was off to the mountain bike trails for us!

For me as a woman truly in love with mountain biking, it is my dream that Elodie will love to ride as much as I, and of course, Todd.  Riding with Elodie on these trails was one of the most fun, most ground-breaking things I have done in my entire life!

We camped at Highline Lake State Park with one of my girlfriends and her 10 year old daughter and her daughter's friend.  Elodie had the time of her life hanging and playing with the "big girls."  I bought her her very own head lamp to fit in, too!