Some Firsts

These last couple weeks have brought a few firsts: Kellan's first day of second grade, Zoe's first day of pre-school, and our first Rockies game of the year.

Kellan's second grade is one of the biggest classes ever, there are seven classes (I think). I calculated, he has as many kids in his class as I did in my graduating high school class, close to 200. The teachers switch up the grades they teach each year just so they have enough teachers for Kellan's grade. It's crazy. He got split up from his two best buddies and only knows four kids in his class - which again is crazy as this is his third year at the school. He's still fine with everything, nothing really seems to phase him.

Zoe by far seems like the most mature in her class. I saw the b-day list for her class and she's the oldest by five months. We want to get her into the afternoon class because that's where she wanted to be and it would give Jim a break from all three kids in the afternoon since D naps. Her teacher is going to try and switch her since the kids in the afternoon are more mature and most will be going on to kindergarten next year. We really hope it works out.

Jim and Kellan made a quick, very quick, 24 hr trip to CA for a surprise party for G-Ma Lawna last weekend. On that note - Happy (late) 60th b-day G-ma Lawna. Zoe, Dexter and I survived and had a really good time together. Zoe is great sans Kellan. She just bides for his attention, a lot of times to no avail, or she's witness to him and Dexter playing, which doesn't help either. It was nice Kellan could spend some time with his dad and Zoe could take a break from the competition. She was even Ok not going, as she gets to sleep with me when Jim is out of town.

We went to Coors Field Saturday for a Rockies Rookies "festival." The kids got to go on the field and Zoe got to bat (Kellan's age group filled up so fast he didn't get to go), they played on bounce houses, hit the batting cages, etc. We then made it back that night for the game. I think this Rockies game was the first game we ever went to where the kids were actually content to get food and watch the game. We stayed through 7.5 innings which is huge. I'd say it was up there as one of our best family outings, no fights, lots of thank you's and recognition of a great time, what more can we ask for?

Cheering Kellan on

Dexter loves putting stuff on his head and walking around. Odd. Anyone remember Parenthood?

At my happiest seeing Zoes at her happiest.

Unfortunately you can't tell in this picture, but Dexter has gotten all four of his top teeth in at once. Make it stop!

A point of contention, Dexter has not found his special "thing". Kellan found bumper before he was a year, as did Zoe find her bear early on. The only thing Dexter has found a real interest in and absolutely loves, is Zoe's pink blanket bear. He has similar blanket bears, but he could care less, always goes for Zoe's. It has not gone well.

Loves the black beans.

Endings & Beginnings

Dexter's birthday continued...

Dexter had his 1 yr appointment and is thriving.

Weight: 19.5 lbs - 10%

Height: 30+ in - 70%

Head: 18%

His birthday breakfast consisted of: 1 8 oz bottle, 1 yogurt, 1 piece of french toast & 2 handfuls of Cheerios. Kellan's consisted of 1 piece of french toast. I still have lots of video to get on here, but may be another week before it happens.

More pictures from D's B-Day

It was a crazy week. Besides D's birthday, Kellan had his last baseball game of the season. They finished 6 & 3. He's going to play fall ball. Jim said he wasn't going to coach, but now it's looking like he may. A few of the other boys decided they're going to play too. Soccer is big out here, like everywhere else, but Kellan, like the others isn't into playing.

Zoe accompanied me to buy a new car this weekend. It was the last thing in the world I wanted to do. I love(d) my Passat wagon, but it was time to commit to CO and get the AWD. I didn't deviate too much. I got an Outback. Side by side it looks like the same car, but this one is a bit darker. It doesn't have as many upgrades as the Passat, those days are over, but it's still nice. I was going to take a picture and then thought, it's not a Porsche, it's an Outback, and I'm sure you all will spot one the road sooner or later. If you're in CO you would spot one every other car.

Then the biggest news of the weekend...Kellan learned to ride a bike sans training wheels. My personal goal for him (because it's all about me) was for him to learn by the time he turned seven. I decided today was the day, Aug. 1st, since the count down to his b-day is officially on. Kellan has avoided this day for months; lots of grief. He got on the bike, Jim helped him for maybe ten minutes and the drama ended, he was riding the bike on his own. He hasn't mastered stopping. Zoe made fun of him the whole time. Zoe is a nut on her bike (with training wheels). Jim challenged her to take them off. She was all for it. Jim got her on the bike, she cried and said she didn't want to do it. Typically that would be the end of it, however she rallied, got back on the bike and in about two minutes she was riding on her own. It was fantastic. She had one minor, very minor spill but can even brake. See video, again annoying narration from myself. I started filming right as Zoe got on, she got much better a few minutes later. We're going to try and hold off until next summer to buy her a new bike. Kellan meanwhile has three more in the garage; Jim's old bike and two from our neighbors.

http://www.youtube.com/user/tmunholland#p/u

Last Kids Quote

On our trip to CA, Zoe & I went to the restroom in a Mexican restaurant.

Zoe: "Is Jesus in here?"

Me: Silent, thinking ???

Zoe: "Is Jesus here?"

Me: Looking around, noticing Angels on the ceiling..."No, I don't think Jesus is in here."

Zoe: "Oh, he's probably in the boy's bathroom."

Happy 1st B-Day Dexter Rawlings!

It's late and I am beat, but I know if I don't post something there will be some disappointed folks out there, so here are a few pictures to hold you all over. I have lots of video that I will post soon. Dexter has his one year appointment tomorrow and there will be some "fun" facts to follow. Dexter had a few gifts to unwrap this evening, then Uncle Tom and Aunt Jan came over for the birthday song and cake. Dexter never really dove into the cake as we had hoped. He still got messy enough to warrant a bath.

I can't believe it's been a year, it flew by. We are sad in thinking back at how little we saw people this year and really wish we could have shared more of him with you. Move to CO?

Dexter and his new shoes

"Enjoying" his grocery store cake.

He's walking...

Dexter has been walking, not full on walking for miles or anything, but across the room, for almost a week now. Of course the camera has never been handy, until tonight I got somewhat of a video. Kellan and Zoe were both trying really hard to help. The boy loves music and dancing. He also loves his bottle aka "bobby" as Zoe used to call it, another "bobby" baby, we may have a few more years of that if he's anything like the other two. He also enjoys lounging with his dog Duke.

It Came and Went...

...Dexter's 11 month birthday and our trip to CA came and went. As many pictures as we took we still have so few of some people and none of others (Papa Jim & G-Ma Lawna, Fred and Monica) :(, but as Kellan noted there are a lot of him and Dexter.

We all survived the airplane ride to and from. We got off to a bad start, when five minutes out from the airport Zoe announced she forgot her blanket bear. The blanket bear that goes everywhere with her. I don't know which of us wanted to cry more. We didn't have enough time to go back. Luckily she brought a couple other stuffed animals and we were able to calm her down. She did really well. In moments of tiredness she broke down, but so did we. Jim insisted on holding squirmy, little Dexter on both legs of the flight. He (Dexter) slept for maybe thirty minutes each way. This was Dexter's 4th and last flight of his first year. One more year of flying free.

We hit the Angels' game with a bunch of friends the first night there. It was nice to welcome Big Daddy Vladdy back to Anaheim. It was our first baseball game of the year, haven't made it to a Rockies game yet. Believe it or not, our first trip to CA without a visit to D-Land, but we did run into Mickey at Angel's stadium.

The next two days we spent at the beach. Unfortunately not the best of weather. The kids had a blast, though they tell me now they didn't like it becuase of the sand. Jeez, just can't win. That's ok, I had fun with Devin who seemed to enjoy the sand and waves as much as I did. We got to spend the nights with the family, Cam, Tiff, the girls and G-Ma Sue one night and Papa Jim, G-Ma Lawna and the all the Brady's the next night. Phoebe is as pretty as ever and Lyla is talking much more than the last time we saw (as pretty as ever too :)). She also enjoys her M & M's.

Friday, we hit Knott's Berry Farm's Soak City. It's the first time the kids have been to a water park and I think (at least for Kellan) it made up for not going to D-Land. We got to spend more time with Uncle Cam, Phoebe and G-Ma Sue. I even went down a slide, a lot of drama involved there since I absolutely hate heights. I figured if Zoe did it, I could...yah, not so much. Video of Zoe, Kellan, Cam, followed by Jim going down the slide I went down later. Let's just say the heavier you are, the further you go (see video). A big thank you to G-Ma Sue for lunch and helping us out with all of our hotel accomadations!

Needless to say we (Jim and I) are very tired (a week later). We have never been ones to sleep with the kids, every night I slept with Dexter which was a killer. He loved to kick me every so often to make sure I was still there. He managed to sleep in the car and stroller throughout the trip so he wasn't too worse for wear. We think he's happy to back in his crib, I know I am.

Saturday, Kellan and Zoe spent some alone time with G-Ma Sue (Zoe wouldn't have it any other way), while Jim and I tried to nap and drive Dexter around. We got to spend an hour here and there with the Weavers, in another year I think TK and Dexter will be the best of friends and seeing each other more will be a lot easier.

We spent all day on the 4th in Ladera Ranch. We drove Kellan around to all the places he "knew" as a baby. He could care less but Jim and I enjoyed remeniscing. It was another great day of fun in the sun at a bar-b-q with friends. The Engars out did themselves. Unfortunately, we did not make it late enough for fireworks.

Last Kid Quote

Jim put the 80's TV music channel on for his and the kids' listening pleasure. Kellan noticed the "80's" and asked...

Kellan: "What does that 80's mean?"

Jim: "That's when this music came out, back in the 80's."

Kellan: "Wow, that was a long time ago."