Cooking Pancakes with Grandpa

We have been enjoying our holiday travels in Utah and California. We spent Christmas week in Salt Lake City. Alex attended his first NBA game, where the Jazz beat the 76'ers. Dana and I saw Avatar in 3D IMAX (WOW!!!). I went snowboarding for the first timein a couple of years, with Eric up at Solitude. We had an exceptional Christmas dinner with Mike and Mary Lou, and Kirsten and Per. We ate at the world famous Flying Pig in Winnemucca, and had dinner in Soda Springs with Sam and Maryo.

Now we are in the Bay Area for New Years.

Sleeping in the Crib

As of last night Genevieve is sleeping in the crib.



She has taken to it quite gracefully. We also started swaddling her again after several weeks, which has helped tremendously.

It is a little sad for us to see her go. We really enjoy the snuggly infant stage. Although she's not done with it entirely just yet, this is most assuredly a step toward toddlerhood.

She was kind of a bed hog. She sleeps with her arms outstretched to either side of her, and occasionally flaps them around.

Today we had quite a big snowstorm. Up in Fort Collins they recorded 8 inches. We didn't get quite that much, but pretty close. The Christmas in Berthoud charity program held a $6 all-you-can-eat breakfast at the Community Center so we dug out the car and drove the 8 blocks there.

Afterwards we FINALLY connected with our neighbors 2 doors down who have a daughter Maybe and son Rip who are almost exactly Alex's and Genevieve's ages, respectively. We caravanned up to Bounce! and let Alex and Maybe burn off a few thousand calories before nap time while the adults got to know each other better. It was only when we were leaving that I remembered I was going to invite Stormy and her son the next time we went - sorry guys, hope you didn't have cabin fever!



Alex and Maybe

New seats for Genevieve

Last night we retrieved the baby walker from the attic. Genevieve took to it in an instant! She clearly appreciates mobility.




We have also started setting her in Alex's high chair. Alex has begun insisting on sitting in a big chair with no high chair attached.




Unfortunately this old high chair has not withstood well the last 2 years of use by Alex. So in short order we will need to replace it for the NEXT 2 years.

Meanwhile we have entered a cold spell in Colorado! This week it has been in the 20s by day, and single digits by night. Anyone who has stayed the night at our house in winter knows what that means: lots of blankets and shoes and sweaters on indoors at all times. BRRRRRR!!!

Roll on you Bears

Tonight Genevieve rolled over from her tummy to her back for the first time!




In other news Alex earned a new toy truck in the bathroom. He also got his second H1N1 vaccine shot tonight.

How big is Genevieve?

Sooo big...



15 lbs 6 oz, 26" long.

Don't tell her but she also has to get a shot today.

First Dentist Appointment

Today Alex had his very first dentist appointment. He got there early and played with the toys in the waiting room. Then he met the hygienist.

He wore the sunglasses because of the bright light overhead.

He got to check out all of the nifty tools the dentists use...

They showed him how the water squirter works.


And of course he got to meet Dr. Barnes


He has no cavities, and he is a very good tooth brusher. His next appointment is in March.

At nearly the same time, Genevieve and I went to see her pediatric ophthalmologist. Her cataracts have not gotten any bigger or worse! So for now we just wait and see. She'll be back for another check up in January.

Later tonight we had loads of fun playing guitar.


More details and pictures soon from our weekend with Grandma Moira and Grandpa Michael. (Here's a hint: they had a ball!)

Look What I Can Do

Insert foot into mouth.


Giggle.

Fun at Grandma Jane's

We have been having lots of fun at Grandma Jane's. She is really Alex's GREAT Grandma, but "Grandma Jane" is just easier.



Here is Grandpa Gene working with Jane's new HP TouchSmart computer.

We have spent the day learning how it works and writing down a bunch of simple instructions for Grandma after we have left.




We got in so late on Thursday night, we stayed at the hotel down the street to avoid waking Grandma. But yesterday we moved in to Grandma's living room, with the aid of a new air mattress. Alex has had hours of fun jumping up and down on it.

On our way

We are on our way to Seattle tonight.

Halloween

Last weekend was Halloween. Alison and Eric came for the weekend. It was especially fun because Auntoh Ali made all of our costumes this year -- SPIDERS!!!

On Saturday we trekked down to Anderson Farms in Erie to visit the pumpkin patch and see all the farm activity. Unfortunately due to our heavy snow earlier that week, most of the pumpkins still on the ground were ruined and it was VERY muddy. But we had a great time!

On the hay ride with Alex, Ali, and Eric

Alex and Eric are inspected by a brown hen

Alex and Uncle Eric manage to squeeze into the bucket train!

It's difficult to see, but this is a group of very big cows and one dominant buffalo
who gathered around the hayride when we stopped next to their field.

Here are the three black widows who graced us with their presence

And here we can see the juvenile male of the species...

Speaking of Alex, here is a brief video of him using his tools to build a new helicopter pad!



Here is a video of the sheep at the farm talking to Genevieve



And finally here is a video of the tractor that pulled the hayride. This is here mostly so I can show ti to Alex later when I need to distract him!

Alex and Genevieve

Alex and Genevieve get along very well. This may be due, in part, to Genevieve not talking and not being able to sit up on her own. Whatever Alex says pretty much goes, but don't expect that to last.



Here is a cute video of the kids together

Lately Genevieve has been getting lots of "tummy time" practice. Alex likes to join in too.

Genevieve only puts up with about 30 seconds of tummy time, and then she demands that she be turned over onto her back. Once she's on her back, she delights in flailing her arms and legs around and making adorable cooing noises. Me and Alex thought it looked like fun and we should try it too


Fall Leaves

Last week, Alex helped Dana with raking up the fall leaves in the back yard.


But that was taking forever. There had to be a better way...

Then it came to him... A TRUCK!

Trucks make every job better!

San Diego

Recently we realized that we're running out of time to travel. Once both kids are over 2, it will be cost prohibitive to do much air travel, and long car trips will be a challenge. So we took advantage of Dana's 15th high school reunion to go visit San Diego. Susan and Herb have completely fallen for Genevieve and Alex. They really seemed to hit it off! It was a delight to watch them. We have some old fashioned film photos which we have not developed yet. I will post those here shortly.

Dana catches up with Jenny after many years apart

Leslie and Shimshon get some valuable "practice" time with Genevieve, in preparation for Ruthie's baby coming early next year!

Despite Jeff and Veronica being sick and being forced to miss our planned trip to the Wild Animal Park, we still managed to catch up with Martha for brunch and a relaxing afternoon outing.

Cooking with Mommy

Alex loves to cook with Dana. She has been teaching him how to bake cookies and cupcakes. I think he has also been getting lessons from Ryanne.


Here is a cute video of the two chefs at work:

Not to be outdone by her older brother, Genevieve wanted to show that she too can cook

Last week we received a beautiful hand-made blanket from my Aunt Joan. Genevieve really likes the soft fabric.


In other news, Auntoh Ali and Uncle Eric will be here next weekend to help us celebrate Halloween. We will become a family of spiders. Even Genevieve! Here is a sneak preview:

The weekend after that Alex and I will be flying to Olympia to visit my Grandma, his Great Grandma.

And the weekend after that, Michael, Moira, and Michael will be visiting. This is shaping up to be a busy Fall!

Genevieve's first snow

This Friday night we got our first snow. It was only about 3 inches, but it has stuck around all weekend, and knocked most of the leaves from the trees. It is a very helpful reminder that winter is almost here. It was also Genevieve's first snow.


We often sit Genevieve in her swing in the kitchen while cooking or cleaning. She likes it OK, but she much prefers being held. I've also set her in her car seat on the counter, which she seems to like better because she has a bird's eye view of activity in the kitchen.

Speaking of cooking, Dana has been trying to help me find better things to cook for Alex than macaroni and cheese on nights she has class. Last week I came home to find this do-it-yourself, cook-by-numbers arrangement:
It worked perfectly!

Alex has been enjoying the change in weather, even if it limits his outdoor time a little bit.

Waiting for dinner...

Genevieve has been working on talking. Here is a video of her chatting with me and Dana

Trusty

Trusty little Honda Civic. You had no idea back when the starry-eyed newlyweds bought you just what rigors, what challenges you would face in your short life, from the sticky-fingered, spit-upping, seat-kicking, goldfish-throwing kids who weren't even a gleam in your new owners' eyes then.

And here you are now, sporting 100,000 miles. Way to go.

I've got a name

Like the pine trees lining the winding road, I've got a name...
At long last we received Genevieve's revised birth certificate. Her name is now officially Genevieve.

Movin' us down the highway...

Last weekend Grandma and Grandpa Stangel came to visit. To celebrate the occasion, and the end of a long, beautiful Colorado summer, we decided to venture up to Georgetown to ride the historic Georgetown Loop Railroad, and tour the 1870s era Lebanon silver mine.

The train crossing the high bridge just above Devil's Gate (Georgetown, Colo)

The train ride was a huge success. It was a gorgeous fall afternoon in the Rockies, as the train chugged along the 3-mile loop from Silver Plume to Georgetown and back. Alex loved the train (no surprise there!) and we all enjoyed the trip.

Afterward as the sun began to set behind the mountains we stopped at the Plume Saloon -- possibly the only restaurant in Silver Plume. It had exactly one table, in the corner by the fireplace. But they served some outstanding burgers and deep-fried lamb chops (lamb lollipops), and cheap pitchers of Killian's.

Genevieve and Grandpa watch the Broncos beat the Raiders

In other adventures, Daddy has been tuning up his recumbent tricycle (just in time for winter?). Yesterday Alex and I took it out for a ride to shake off the dust and test out the repairs.


It was only going to be a quick shakedown ride, but we ended up circumnavigating Berthoud. Along the way we stopped at the Berthoud Barley Days festival at the park. It was about to wrap up, but we had time to play at the bouncey castles and hear some live music.

Alex plays with Mia, the daughter of our friends Davin and Alicia