"Naomi's Dance Class"

Julia loves her little ballet class. When we heard that her friend Naomi was in a darling dance class a few blocks away, we signed Julia right up. For the longest time she called it "Naomi's dance class." After a month or two of attending, she came to me and said, "Mom, now I can call it my dance class!" She looks forward to Tuesday mornings like mad.

 

I love the class because it reminds me of the one my mom taught in our home when I was Julia's age. I think the teacher even uses some of the same warm-up songs from my beginning ballet days.

my baby no more

Not only is Gabe my baby no longer because, well, he's a humongous 2.5 year old - but also because we will have a little one joining us at the end of May! We really are thrilled and just can't wait to see what another little personality will add to our family. In preparation, we just up-sized to a minivan (a "Swagger Wagon," if you will) to accommodate another small person and the gear that comes along with him/her. I can't get over the power sliding doors - magical!

May seems a long way off here in the dead of winter, but surely Julia and Gabe will keep us busy in the mean time. We thought about not finding out the gender until birth, but are thinking again on that. Julia has informed me that "girl babies are the only best ones in the world." So if this one is a boy, she may need some months of  convincing that boy babies are alright too. That, and the fact that I just don't think I will be able to wait until May to know what is growing inside of me!

This news may explain why I have been somewhat non-existent in the world lately - especially in the afternoons and evenings. These months of nausea are just miserable. At least I am able to keep everything down. And most foods aren't completely grossing me out anymore. I am 15 weeks along now and will probably not be myself again until 20 weeks or so, judging by my last two pregnancies. So, yes, if you call after 8:00 pm, I probably will be asleep!

P.S. Just so you don't assume Gabe's sweet countenance in the top picture is characteristic of our wild man, here are some more photos to assure you that he is just as silly as ever.

Thanksgiving in Colorado

This is what went down in Durango and Salida last week...

Riding the Polar Express with Grandma

Chilling with Grandpa 

 Revisiting childhood playgrounds 

(more specifically: Jonny re-enacting how he would climb to the top of the rocket thing and sing, "Stop in the name of love..." to his latest crush.)

 Gabe playing for hours with the maroushka dolls

 Aunt Emma and Julia drawing classic hand turkeys

Pre-Feast Yoga

 Daddio joining in on the yoga

Jonny digging up some sweet high school basketball warm-ups from before even his time

Welcoming Rudi home from serving a mission in Guatemala

 Driving through beautiful Wolf Creek Pass from Durango to Salida

 Visiting Great Grandpa Gene

 Getting all bundled up to see the small-town Salida Santa Parade and Tree Lighting with Grandpa and Jenny

 And enjoying the fact that Jonny and his Dad prepared every bit of the Thanksgiving meal. Okay, I helped a little with the potatoes and made the cranberry sauce. (Selfishly, really, I may have been the only one that ate it. Wait, Julia loved it too. That's my girl.)

Those who know me know that I always have my water bottle with me - always. This is the way it's been since high school. I have gone through several bottles through the years* and have finally come upon a favorite that miraculously meets every possible need. The Camelbak Insulated Stainless Steel Better Bottle.

Yes, I have used a non-insulated camelbak bottle for years, but it leaked whenever it tipped over and I had to use coasters when setting it down on a wood surface. Plus, the ice never lasted long and I was tired of refilling it to keep it cold. (I prefer ice-cold water whenever possible. And it wasn't possible on outings. Until now...)

So then I came upon the insulated bottle. Not a new idea, I know, it's just a thermos, but it has all the other features I love about the camelbak bottles (like the flip top sipper) and this model doesn't leak when it gets tipped over in my purse. Best of all, the ice remains all day. All day! And because it is double-walled, no need for coasters. I'm in heaven! Okay, that may be a little dramatic, but possibly not.

The only minor drawback is that the bottle holds less than I am used to with the original camelbak - because it is double walled. But I don't mind refilling it with water when I need to and I love that I rarely need to refill it with ice. Also, I had to really know that is would be awesome before I justified spending $25. Obviously I believe it was worth the splurge. (Oh, and it does require hand washing. But I don't mind that at all.)

Anyway, I just thought I'd share a recent favorite find with those few who read this blog. If you are as passionate about finding the perfect bottle as I am, add this one to your Christmas list! You will not be disappointed...

P.S. Gabe just saw this post and said, "Mommy's drink on computer!" And Julia calls it my sippy cup. Yes, it really is a part of me. 

*Jonny remembers when I used one of those tiny half-pint plastic bottles in college - I stalled one day after class so I could talk to him by filling it up at the drinking fountain. Didn't give me much time!

We celebrated Halloween the usual ways...

Pumpkin Carving:

  (Don't mess with Gabe.)

Attempting a photo or two of the kids in their costumes:

(Notice the evolution form misery to happiness.)

 Goldilocks and the Three Bears 

(Jonny and I planned to be Mama and Papa bear, but I just didn't get around to buying/making costumes. A couple of teddies would have to suffice. The bear hat is part of a costume my mom made over 20 years ago and has been worn by most of us kids. The body part was way too big for even Gabe. Here, brown jammies would have to suffice. And thanks to a hand-me-down dress-up from Aunt Cortnie, Julia had a perfect Goldilocks dress. I love spending $0 on Halloween costumes.)

 (Again, don't mess with Gabe.)

 

Warming up a little...

 Some smiles, at last!

And of course, the long-awaited Trick-or-Treating:

Gabe couldn't get enough of the candles in the pumpkins.
He sang "Happy Bur-day dear pu-kins" several times. Julia reported that Halloween was her "best day ever." Until it snowed the next day. Then that was her "most best day."