Early Christmas

DJ started a very fun Christmas gift tradition for little Cole when he was a baby. For Cole's first Christmas DJ bought him a caboose for an electric train set and Cole received another Holiday boxcar last year. This year we decided to get him the tracks and engine (the set came with several other cars as well.) The engine even has a whistle and can blow smoke! Next year we will have to buy more tracks so the train can go around the tree.

We let Cole open this gift early (I think Dad was really excited to get it out and start playing.) as actual Christmas Day will be so overwhelming. I am very new to the electric train world and find it a bit intimidating at times - it goes fast! I am paranoid it will fly off the tracks and hit someone or something. Cole of course likes to get the train going as fast as he can to try and derail it. Or, placing his cars on the train tracks as it goes by - which usually results in a crash and then me fixing it. So we have been working "train etiquette" the last couple of days and reminding little Cole we can't be as hard on the train as he is with his cars.

(Meredith - Cole did just have a growth spurt...of course after I went shopping too! He is such a little boy now and no longer a baby at all! Complete sentences and everything - it is amazing!)

Christmas Tree Hunting -

Last weekend we took a drive up to the Jemez Mountains to hunt for our Christmas tree. There was no snow and the weather was beautiful; almost no coat weather - so it did make the activity a lot of fun but very serial. Cole had an absolute blast! He was in charge of measuring the prospects and making sure we didn't go over the permit allowance.

10 Reasons Mommy Loves Cole (Of course there are more....)

1. The way he gives me kisses with a big open mouth.
2. When he puts his arm around me while sitting together and pulls me closer.
3. "Come on Mom, Come on" - when he wants to play. Or "Do this Mamma, Do this..."
4. The random "huggings" of my leg and the way he sweetly says "Mamma".
5. He's just so stinking cute!
6. The way he acts like he doesn't hear me but then later I realize he was listening after-all.
7. When he pats the couch cushion and says, "Sit Down Mamma, Sit.".
8. His sense of humor - for example, when ask, "Cole do we need to change your diaper? You're stinky." Cole's response, "No I didn't, just tooted." Hah...I think we need to get going on potty training. Lazy parents....
9. When he laughs at my silly cheerleader routines and dance moves.
10. He is very much like me! Hah...I get his moods completely.

Powdered White Donuts...YUCK!

Had I known videos were so easy I would have done this a year ago!!! My dad used to give us these donuts when we went on family vacations. He introduced them to Cole last spring and they STILL catch Cole's eyes everytime we go to the store. Thanks Dad! I told Cole on Sunday I needed to go to the store and he said, "Donuts Store Mammma, Please..." So, I couldn't resist.

Thanksgiving @ Pagosa Springs, CO

This year for Thanksgiving DJ, Cole, Annie and I headed to Pagosa Springs with some friends. (Cole's godparents Rob & Natalie Trujillo) We rented a cabin for a couple days and did nothing but relax, eat, have a drink, eat some more, play and then eat again. It was great fun and great company. Cole and "Cousin Sofia" play very well together.

October Fun

MCall's Pumpkin Patch



Trick-Or-Treat Dragon

Pumpkin Carving Fun

Amusement Park Fun

Yesterday we hit some family fun at "Cliff's" in Albuquerque. (We all 3 needed a break from the construction at home and this was perfect.) DJ and I were able to ride all of the kiddie rides with Cole - and there were several his size.

Cole's 1st ride was the Merry - Go - Round which you can see he quickly protested. However, as soon as the horse started moving his mind change, he trusted us and wanted "More Neigh Neigh".

Next was the "bouncy car" which turned out to be his favorite ride - close tie to the train. Luckily for me, DJ rode this one cause it would have made me sick for sure.

I got the joy of ridding the "Doggie" with Cole which happened to be much gentler. It did go around in a never ending circle but surprisingly enough - I didn't get sick. (He wanted to ride the one that looked like Annie.)

Can you believe Cole rode this waterslide!!! I was shocked to see him and DJ come down. The climb to the top was long and I was certain after waiting for a 1/2 hour that they were going to be walking back down the stairs - but he did it! DJ said he was quiet the entire way down (I am sure it was dark inside) but by the look of the face at the end - he liked it! Cole said, "Agua, wet, boat..."

We took a break for lunch and then Cole saw this next ride - I have no clue what it was called. I was just THRILLED - I wasn't the one he wanted to ride it with. I would have lost my lunch no doubt. (The Cole girls are known for motion sickness if you didn't know - and going in circles is tough!) I was thinking Cole might get sick on this ride but he just laughed and laughed and tried to spin the wheel harder to spin faster. We were laughing so hard at him. (I think he takes after his Papa Rodney. The faster, the bumpier, the better!)

School Picture Day

Today was "picture day" at Cole's Montessori School. Poor little guy had to squeeze into his dress outfit one more time. He kind of looks like a little old man in his hat. :) He had a growth spurt all of a sudden this last week and is getting so tall and his feet are LONG! Hah...

Northwest Vaction Part 3 - Gig Harbor

After a fun filled week in Lincoln City, OR, we drove back up the coast to Gig Harbor, WA and spent an amazing weekend at Rachel and Scott's home. Scott and Rachel have the most beautiful home and a very fun farm! Laura, Chad, Jake and Clara also came for the weekend which was the icing on the cake. The kids had more fun playing with the chickens, puppies, hunting out the kitty, feeding the goats and of course Scott's famous tractor rides. Saturday night Scott and Rachel hosted an outdoor movie night which was fantastic! Such a fun neighborhood activity! DJ thinks we need to do it at our home but for those of you who have been to our house - I don't think the neighbors would appreciate it. We spent some time at Pike's Market enjoying the amazing scenary, drinking wonderful coffee, eating great sea food and more! We rented a boat for a day and took a small tour under the Tacoma Narrows Bridge - what fun. I think one of my highlights was all 9 of us traveling in the suburban! What fun....I say we do a road trip sometime. :) Thanks to Scott and Rach for opening their home to a weekend of "controlled chaos". 

Northwest Vacation Part 2 - Lincoln City, OR

The 2nd part of our travels led us to Lincoln City, OR. Most of DJ's family was able to come for the week and partake in the fun. We had such a fun week playing on the beach. Some of the many wonderful highlights were: blowing a glass orb (mine ended up looking not so round...), playing in the sand, crabbing (DJ, Mark and Michal caught our meal for an evening) YUMMY, seeing the cousins play and sometimes bicker, attempting wire wrapping (Corey was a great teacher and very patient with her students. Meredith was a quick learner and I was too much of a perfectionist. Although very fun and I am happy with my end results!), YATZEE til all hours of the night (James - "That's something!") and running each morning at sea level and going for coffee/scones afterwards. I still can't believe how out of breath I am running at 7000 ft and I was only gone for 12 days! (Maybe it was all the cookies and cake I ate) Hah...