Halloween

Heaven!!!

Getting ready for Halloween!

We took Jack and Griffin to a local pumpkin farm, they had all different types of pumpkins and gourds in the fields, it was huge. Jack especially loved riding on the trunk of the car with daddy as we drove through the fields. Griffin was happy as usual just to be hangin with the family.

Our new digs..

Garry found this rental unit that is furnished out by the Lake. It's great, it's nice to be together and getting settled into Ogallala.

Griffin's first tooth plus more..

I took the boys to Fossil Creek Park on Tuesday, as we were walking around I happened to feel something sharp in Griffin's mouth - his first tooth!! How exciting... We had noticed him drooling a lot and constantly putting his fist in his mouth, well now we know why.

Griffin has also started sleeping through the night! I finally feel like I am getting some sleep and am feeling better throughout the day. He is more regular throughout the day as well, as far as naps and eating. I recently started him on rice cereal as well, which I might add was not the reason he started sleeping through the night! That is an old wise tale. Anyways, he rejected the cereal for a while but yesterday and today he has been devouring it, I did mash a bit of banana in it and he loves it! Yeah - finally a child that seems to get the idea that eating can be enjoyable.

We are off to Ogallala tomorrow. Garry rented a house on the lake for the month. We were tired of being alone in Fort Collins and he was tired of being alone in a hotel in Ogallala, so he found a furnished house to rent. Garry drove out tonight with the Passat packed full and tomorrow evening the boys and I will make the journey. I downloaded the movie "Cars" to my iTouch for Jack to watch on the ride and hopefully Griffin will sleep the entire way since we will leave at his bedtime, 7 pm. My girlfriend, Melissa is coming over in the afternoon to help with packing and kids, but mostly my sanity. Thanks Melissa.

I am feeling sad and excited about what lies ahead. The actual thought of leaving our beautiful home in Fort Collins, the home I brought my boys home to and the many memories Garry and I have shared here makes me nostalgic. But, on the other hand I welcome the change.

5239 Cornerstone Drive

long lost friends...

So, I am slow at updating the blog lately. My days go by so quickly and I find it hard to find time to sit at the computer. Anyways, we had a great trip home to New York. During our visit I was able to reconnect with some close High School friends, Jessica Fonte and Jamie Clinton... Of course now they are married with kids. One of the highlights of the night was when Jamie's son Conner took this picture... How sweet!

Curious George at Strong Museum

Griffin had a fun day at the curious George exhibit... and Jack too.. We went with Aunt Sarah and Kate. Jack did go up to get his photo taken but by the time I was ready he was gone! Aunt Sarah was a good sport and climbed into this tiny rocket with Griffin to get this photo. Thanks Aunt Sarah. The museum has wonderful activities and adventures. I think Jack's favorite was the grocery store he just seemed to love to bake the bread and weigh the vegetables. It was fun.

Homeward bound...

Well, we made it to NY pretty smoothly ~ that is mommy, Jack and Griffin. Garry is working hard in Ogallala, so I decided to pack up the boys and spend some time with my family in NY. Jack was so excited that he packed his backpack the day before we left with some essential toys and walked around the house with it on and telling me that he was ready to go to grandma chickie's. I kept telling him it was for tomorrow and Jack would say "no, today not tomorrow." Anyways, the two flights were good. Jack was outstanding. He gave me a bit of a time going through security ~ refusing to take his shoes off. You have to know Jack but something about taking his shoes off probably made him nervous. Other than that he was great, he slept on the first flight to the point that I had to nudge him awake. On the second flight he had a window seat and was in heaven. He has been on quite a few flights but now he gets it. It was one of those moments that you lock in your memory to remember the innocence of being three. Griffin is a true ham ~ smiling at anyone that will look his way. Walking with the flight attendant and just enjoying being on mommy's lap. He did get fussy on the decents but I think his ears were bothering him. Of course, I was exhausted but pleasantly surprised at how well everything went. Now that we are here we are all enjoying having grandma chickie's love and attention. Mom is even fixing meals! Anyone that knows my mom knows that that is a stretch. Aunt Sarah and the kids came over today which was great as well. The kids (Alex, Hudson and Ethan) are getting sooo big! It makes me crazy. Jack looks up to his big cousins and had a great time playing with them and all the toys that Ethan brought over to share with Jack. Thanks cousin Ethan. Tomorrow we will pack up and spend the day with Aunt Sarah. Uncle Justin will be home Thursday and we are excited to see him as well. I will post some photos later.

1st trip golfing with daddy..

Nebraska... Here we come!

So for those of you who haven't heard we are moving... to Ogallala, Nebraska, or as my dear friend Melissa says Oga-wawa. Garry has been promoted as Manager or sort of, he still has a few hoops to jump through, a test and an interview which happen in mid-September. He will go out tomorrow for a week and act as interim Manager until then. Then Safeway will come in and put our house on the market, move us, help with buying the new home and if need be buy our current home if it doesn't sell right away... We are excited and nervous all in one. It is a good step forward for our family and the positives outway the negatives - so off we go.

Jack and Maya

Jack and Maya had a fun day at inspirational park...

Happy Griffin...

Griffin is growing and with that he has begun to sleep better. He is snoozing longer stretches which makes me happy. Last night he went down around 6:45 and slept til 3:30am, of course I couldn't sleep, my body is so use to being up at all hours but that is okay. Griffin has started rolling both ways. He was only rolling from his tummy to his back but in the last few days he has started rolling from his back to his tummy. He's continues to be pretty easy going except when he is hungry or ready to go to sleep - he lets us know. Otherwise, he smiles a lot, loves being with anyone that will look him in the eyes or hold him. He loves his hands and his tongue! He thinks it's pretty funny when you stick your tongue out at him. We are enjoying him everyday and still can't believe he is already 3 months old.

Jack's 3rd Birthday!

Jack's birthday was fun, we invited a bunch of friends and grandpa and grandma, of course. We filled the kids up with sugar, let them run wild and then sent them home with their parents... Oh, the joy of being 3! Jack loved it and can't wait for his next birthday. Here are some photos of the big day.

Griffin

Harvest with the Moore's

Thanks Ken and Mary for sharing your little piece of heaven with our tractor lover...

Jackisms...

"Mommy, the bolt is gone." "Where did the bolt go, Jack?" Jack points to his mouth and then down to his tummy...

Can you tell the difference?

Jack or Griffin???

Grandma Chickie's visit...

We had a wonderful visit with grandma chickie.. Jack truly enjoyed her and has asked more than once for grandma to come back to our house. Mom helped with so many things that I have wanted to get done, just haven't been able to with a newborn. Thanks mom.

Grandma Mary Tigges...

Grandma passed away this morning after finding out approximately one month ago that she had cancer. Grandma was an amazing woman, grandma's heritage is from Germany, which she was very proud of, German was her first language and she only spoke German when entering Kindergarten. She married Robert Tigges, and had 3 children, Kathy (Garry's mom), Gale, and Kenny. Grandma and Grandpa lived and worked on the farm that she still owns today. Grandma often spoke of Grandpa in a loving way and told us many times how Garry reminded her of Grandpa. Grandma was an avid seamstress, spoke her mind, saved everything and had a solid foundation in God. She will be missed by many and was loved by all. We love you Grandma.

Griffin and family...

Happy Fourth of July!!! We are spending the evening at Grandma and Grandpa's for food, fun, family and fireworks..

TIRED....

Tired is the theme in our house these days... Of course, a newborn brings a lack of sleep but to add to our lack of sleep we have a preschooler that is no longer wearing diapers which means that at 5:30 in the morning we will be awoken by Jack requesting potty breaks. Of course, one may think that Jack would go right back to sleep but he does not. Then there is Garry who is a night owl by nature and has been working hard either on the basement (refinishing) at night or one of his many projects for work. I keep reminding myself that one day we will return to a home where mommy gets a full nights rest...

Rainy Day

Daddy and Jack...

Jack and Hailey...

Jackisms

Early the other morning, the entire family was laying in bed. Griffin began to cry, Jack was very concerned about Griffin and said "is the baby okay?" and then went on to say "mom, don't break the baby." I replied "I won't, honey" Jack said "cause if you break the baby we would have to get another one from the doctor..." "Oh, really" Jack replied "I want a black one." I replied "well honey then mommy will have to get a new daddy." Jack did not like that idea.