Labor Day Weekend

For Labor Day Weekend we wanted a nice mix of work and fun.  Sunday morning we decided to head up to Estes Park for some FUN!  We arrived just in time for an early lunch/late breakfast before heading into RMNP for some hiking.  Here are Rob and Jameson hanging out in a nearby park that was hosting an arts and craft fair while we waited for our table.

Ava eyeing the "good stuff" - seems there's no food she won't readily devour.

Near the start of our hike in Rocky Mountain National Park.  We hiked the Fern Lake trail to "The Pool" (3.4mi round trip).

Jameson still admiring the "huge" rock.

Ava at the river crossing.  She started to get a little antsy as we neared the pool, and on the way back we had to keep moving the carrier from front to back and ultimately had to carry her.  We agreed that she would have done far better if we had remembered her pacifier - terrible but true!

The Pool. You can see why we thought we had made it to "the Falls" (which would have been a slightly further destination), but apparently this is what a pool looks like.

Rob getting acquainted with the ferns along the river and explaining to Jameson why this is likely called the "Fern Trail".

Hopped out of the car to get a better look at the Elk in the meadow.  There were a number of them that we ended up seeing on our way out of the park.

Jameson's first park & rec class

This summer I signed Jameson up for a 6-week park & recreation class called "Amazing Athletes".  It's a class for 2.5-3 year old toddlers that introduces them to seven different ball sports (not pictured are baseball and basketball). The 30 minute class moved very quickly - exactly the pace the toddlers (and parents!) needed. The class was at a really nice park (new to us) that was nestled closer to the foothills and ran 9-9:30am.

Each child had a "blue dot" that they needed to stay on while the "coaches" gave instructions.  This was a new concept for Jameson.  He didn't understand it the first class - kept wandering off to grab balls, etc.  In between classes though, he watched a video I took of him during which he can hear myself and the instructor constantly directing him to get back on and stay on his blue dot.  The second class he was very focused on wanting to stay on his blue dot.  The video was a pretty cool learning tool!  Below is a snippet from the video of his first class.  

Jameson was a great team member.  He was one of the loudest kids cheering on his fellow "teammates".  It was really sweet to watch and listen to.  I wonder if it stems from how much we cheer Ava on at home :)

Tennis.

Golf.

Volleyball.  Jameson had a hard time with both bumping and spiking ("give the ball a high five") the ball.  Seems like his instincts are to always catch and throw :)

He struggled with his throwing stance because of not wanting to step off the blue dot...you can't win 'em all!

Hammonds Candy Factory! (8/19)

Look familiar?  These handmade goodies have been found at Nordstrom's, Dean & Deluca, Crate & Barrel, Cracker Barrel, Williams-Sonoma and Whole Foods.  We were excited to find out that the candy factory offers free tours and immediately planned a visit with the kids.

Fun hats we all got to wear along with the tour.

Ava being doted on by all the "big" kids while we wait for the tour to begin.

Video introduction to Hammond's.

They didn't stay seated this nicely throughout the entire video - but they made a good initial effort :)

Floor time for Ava.

Watching the candy being made.

Good thing it was a rather short tour!

The famous Christmas candy canes.

Marshmallows being packaged.

Of course the tour spills you into the candy shop!

Free candy canes given out at the end of the tour.  Don't you worry, the one Ava is playing with is still wrapped.

All the kids added their stickers to the "sticker" sign before we headed off for the park.

After the candy factory, we stopped off at Westminster Center Park just north of Denver for a picnic lunch and some play time...much needed apparently!  :)

Jameson just loves playing in the water...

...and laying in the water.

Sadly, I had no idea he'd be getting this wet so I didn't pack a swim diaper, swim suit or change of clothes.  What was I thinking?!?!

Running through "Peter Pan Park" (the nickname given by locals to Westminster Center Park).

Ava 11 Months

At 11 months, Ava has met some really fun developmental milestones.  She can freely stand from a seated position without any support and can now walk!!!!  It started as a couple of steps just around turning 11 months old, then grew to 4 steps (at a time) when 11mo 3wks old and the day before she turns one year old (as I write this post on the eve of her birthday) she started walking up to 10 steps!!!  At 11mo 3wks old, she also started saying "Hi" and "Bye" while waving.  It is so much fun watching her blossom socially and grow more interactive with all of us (as well as with the random strangers we pass by - lol!).

With some increased independence, she's wanted to self-feed more.  She'll try to grab the spoon from you and can do a pretty good job with her aim.  She doesn't really like being told "no" and her screaming is ear splitting!!!  Her screams have brought ringing to my ears in ways that I never remember Jameson doing.  I'm not sure if it's a girl thing, or an Ava thing!

She loves the sunshine and outdoors.

Our brave little girl carries a resident bruise on her forehead.  Because of the way that she crawls (i.e., her bear crawl), she often tips forward and smacks the ground right in front of her....ouch baby!

Finally, I've started decorating her room!  It's taken months, but we've painted her room/ceiling, bought new blackout shades (which are also to help with stabilizing room temperature - sorry to all those who have stayed in this room before because the temperature swings are crazy!!), and picked a theme of trees/birds/butterflies.  The trees are wall decals which came in pieces and were so much more complicated than I ever could have envisioned (painting may have been easier!).  The butterflies are fun fabric stick on's.  While the trees and birds can't be reused once applied to the walls, the butterflies can be moved around so I'm playing with them in different spots :)  Hopefully, the only other items to add to finish her room will be white wood valances for her window treatments and a bookshelf unit.

Love this sign that I found at Hobby Lobby.

Ava still hasn't taken to books (she just gets too antsy), so we don't do much besides nurse in the rocker.  Some days she shows progress with weening to just two feedings - wake up and bedtime, but every few days she still begs for mid-day feedings as well.  It's a work in progress.

Still have some more birds to add, but this is as it stands for now.

The rug I found at Ace Hardware that inspired it all :)