Rocky Mountain High

We had a special visit from grandma and grandpa last week, made extra special by the need for alternative healing. Grandma has halted chemotherapy, so we called upon food made with love and turmeric, grandbaby snuggles, birthday parties, time with friends, and cool, clear mountain air to provide some relief from the myeloma.







We had belated birthday parties for Julian, Audrey, and Grandma. Blowing out candles became a daily activity and Julian became very interested in the lighter.







Barber Chris did some work on Julian's and Grandpa's hair.

Audrey's birthday

Oh how life has changed in four quick years!




Not everything's changed though, Audrey still has great big lips.

We had a really fun party with Audrey's guests, she requested that we invite her best girl friends and their families.




We played a somewhat organized chaos party game, with just a few tears.











Audrey loved her cake and I loved making it.





For a little extra Audrey there are videos here and here.

Visitors

We love it when folks come visit us, so if you were thinking about it you should probably go ahead and make some plans. We had some fun filled visits from family and friends this summer and fall, see below.

Julian is Two

Birthday party pictures:













Enjoying some presents:



















It's official, Julian is two years old, and now that he is over a month into being a two year old I thought it high time to post marking the occasion. Julian can say "two"and a handful of other words. He has not been using many words so he gets to have speech therapy which for him is special one on one play date where a grown up pays sole attention to him for half an hour or so, which he loves!

Julian still loves to play with balls in addition to horses and cars. He enjoys playing with big sister Audrey and mostly follows along well with her directions. He is getting bigger but still on the smaller end of the percentiles, which seems surprising looking at him. And even though he is getting big, he still has adorable baby finger dimples on his hands. He is very observant, likes to point to things and now with a nudge and some modeling he names what he sees. He is clever and cooperative and sweet and active and a bundle of joy, same as he ever was.

River rats

We had an awesome time on our first overnight family river trip. The water was fastfastfast because the river was very full (30,000cfs), so it made for quick time on the water and lots of time on the riverbanks. The weather was very hot (forecasted high of 101*), so that made for lots of shade time and beer drinking. It was so fun it convinced us that we need to get a boat of our own...better start saving up!

Julian's first haircut

Clipped by Dada

May: Month of the grandparent

The kiddies got to spend time with all their biological grandparents this month. We had Grandma and Grandpa visit from Michigan for two weeks and the went to Denver where we spent time with Grandad, in town from Texas, and saw a bit of Gammy too.



















Grandma noticed the kiddies like to ride the broom and mop so when she happened to spot some horses at the thrift store she put two and two together.






































We have a lot more pictures of our long weekend in Denver than of the two weeks of visiting grandparents at our house, probably we were inspired to take more photos being around Aunt Lisa with her camera, her lovely pictures of our time together can be seen here on her website, and check out her blog to see some fun short movies she made.