Road Trip!!! Part One

Ovid and I went on a great road trip last week! We drove north, then east, through three states: Nevada, Utah and Wyoming, then took a left into Colorado. We spent three nights and two days with my adorable nephews:

This is baby Gray or Graybug as we affectionately call him. He is eight months old and so incredibly sweet! He cried only once when we were there & it was his auntie's fault. He loves to laugh, loves balls of all sizes, and is crazy about his older brother. This boy has the perfect baby's body. He's solid, has the cutest thighs and is strong! I have never met such a strong baby before!

My mom sent out an easel for Colton so he and I did some wild painting: including painting hands, making paint pies (you've heard of mud pies, right?) and standing with both feet in the paint bucket. Yep, some of the paint got on the paper... and a bath was definitely needed later! But, oh we had a great time of it!

This is Ovid and Colton at the Farmer's Market. I love going to Farmer's Markets and Boulder has a really great one. We tasted lots and bought some treats for later.

Here's Colton trying on his Auntie's reading glasses. This boy makes me LAUGH!

We had such a great time with all of them! It was definitely too short a stay... I miss them already!

Boulder Love

Here are some pictures of my wonderful, cute, smart and silly nephews.

This is baby Gray who is 4 weeks old today. When he is awake he is very alert!

Here is Gray asleep on his daddy's knees wearing the 3-6 month old sweater that I knit for him. It fits him already. He's a big boy!

This is me and Colton washing the dishes. He loves to help... and get his hands wet too!

This Colton with my mom, Grammy Baabaa (Barbara) making blintzes. A dinner request from my brother Ryan.

Here is my very sweet sister-in-law Brooke with Gray. She and my brother are amazing parents! Patient, loving, but lots of fun too!

This isn't the best picture, but its one of my favorite memories from this time. Colton got a hold of Ryan's MP-3 player, so Ryan was helping him listen to the music. When Colton heard the music his face would light up and he would say, "singing!!!".

I am so utterly grateful for my family and these boys that have graced our lives. What joy they bring to us all!

Happiness is....

being in Boulder with my two utterly adorable nephews! It is fun to play with Colton! We've played trucks, tunnel, "I'm going to get you", gone for walks, washed dishes, made salad, and read books. There is NOTHING better than hearing a child laugh... you just have to laugh right along.

Baby Gray is 3 weeks old today and is weighing in at over 10 lbs! He is so sweet, easy and mellow. If he is crying that means you're changing his diaper, or haven't put him in the right position or its time for the "burrito wrap" (my brother is excellent at this) and binky. When he is awake, he is very alert, listening to all that is going on around him and following the motions with his eyes. Life doesn't get much better than this!

I foRGoT OnE!

SHOOT! My sweet nephew says this word frequently and appropriately! It makes me laugh every time he uses it. Ok, here's an example: Colton has a little music box attached to his crib. One morning the strap had come off and he was trying unsuccessfully to re-connect it. When he couldn't do it he said, "shoot"! Oh my goodness, this is one smart boy with lots of personality! Were not sure where he picked up that word, but he sure knows how to use it!

Colton doesn't look very happy in this picture with his Aunt Sissy, but he is a very happy boy!

FaVorITe WorDs

I wanted to remember and share some of my nephew's favorite words and phrases. Here are my top two:

In recent years my brothers started calling me "sissy". When my nephew was born my brother and sister in law decided I would be called Aunt Sissy. Colton has learned to say sissy but it sounds like "she-she". Both my mom and I frequently call him and sing him songs over the phone and ask him questions. Every time the phone rings he would say, "she-she". When we arrived last Wednesday we pointed to me and asked him who I was, and he said "she-she". Then we pointed at my mom and asked him who she was, and he said, "mo' she-she!" (Mo' is more, of course).

Colton has a snuggle bear that he absolutely loves and carries everywhere with him in the house. He calls it his "be-be". And, he frequently says, "oh my be-be, my be-be" in a loving voice. He will also put his hand on your arm and look at you and say, "oh my she-she, my she-she" in a loving tone. It just melts your heart! So cute or toot as Colton would say!

This is a picture of him in the wagon we bought him for Christmas. Its a great wagon for small kiddos with two little seats facing each other, cup holders, seat belts and its really easy to maneuver. We took him out in it everyday which was really fun.

Boulder

I love Boulder this time of year. You wake up every morning to warm, clear, blue, sunny skies. Then in the afternoon BIG clouds come rolling in bringing LOUD thunder, lightening, and pounding rain. The air is still warm enough to wear shorts. There's a cooling breeze and the air smells so sweet of rain and earth. Usually after awhile it stops and you can go back outside and the wet rain has all dried up.

There was a storm last night so I just layed in bed looking and listening and feeling the wind on face. I found it was deeply satisfying.

Remembering....

My sweet time with my 14 month old nephew and what he is doing at this age:

1. The sound of his happy voice always got me out of bed in the morning. I just had to see him!

2. His delightful sense of humor.

3. He learned to put his pointer finger to his mouth and say "shhh!" with a twinkle in his eye. He'd do this when we'd pass by loud dogs barking.

4. We both love the book Jamberry.

5. His nighttime streaking from bedroom to bathtub. Elbows bent, high stepping, fist clutching and squeals of laughter from all of us.

6. His cool head-bob to music or songs that are sung. I still have songs like ABC and Wheels Go Round in my head.

7. He loves Itsy Bitsy Spider and knows all of the hand movements. He claps before were done as if he is telling us what a good job we've done.

8. We loved playing ball together and he would laugh everytime he caught the ball.

9. His signing the word "thirsty". (He's not deaf... his smart parents taught him sign language to reduce that toddler frustration of not being able to express their wants).

10. How he would really listen when I told him there was a bird singing.

11. How he would bend his elbows, palms up, fingers closed and wrist touching when he wanted to be picked up.... so very, very sweet.

12. Sliding down the steps, like a plank, on his stomach.

13. And lastly, at bedtime he would want each of us to hold him and give him his bottle.

DJES!

This morning my newphew started making loud noises indicating that he was finished with breakfast and ready to get down from his highchair. I asked him if he was ready to get down and he responded with a loud DJES! It was adorable! We hadn't heard him say yes before. He answered several other questions with yes too... like are you ready for a nap! He is one remarkable, happy, smart boy. His parents are doing an awesome job raising him.

I took their great, greyhound dog Max out for a walk this morning. We had a lovely time. Its cold, about 20 degrees, and overcast. There is ice on the naked tree branches with the fatest robins I have ever seen! I am going to go back out to try to take some pictures. Its really a winterland right now. Of course, for tomorrow, I am hoping for 70 degree weather for the Easter Egg Hunt!

Oh, and did I mention they have HGTV???!

Boulder!

Wow, how can the whole week have gone by and I didn't blog! Thanks for reminding me Gail .

This week has been a whirlwind of finishing things up at work so I could fly yesterday afternoon. It was an easy, very cramped flight, but I am safely here visiting my brother, his wife and nephew in Boulder. My brother wa a total sweetheart coming to Denver to pick me up last night. My nephew loved his bunny, by the way. I gave it to him this morning and he likes laying his sweet head on it.

Its great to be here. Although I didn't plan on SNOW! I was here in November and didnt have rain or snow... so I just didn't think. And, when I checked weather.com the other day it didn't mention it. Fortunately, my bro and sil have everything I could need... if need be.

Sunday they're having a big Easter brunch with lots of adults and lots of kiddos... I am really looking forward to it. It'll be noisy and fun. I love Easter Egg hunts, dont you?