May 2010

May
My grandfather passed away on May 8th. He had not been doing well for the last year so the news was very sad for us, but good that his suffering was over. I keep trying to focus on what a wonderful grandfather he was that always makes me smile to remember all the great memories. I went out to Colorado for the memorial service and funeral. It was nice to be able to see the family and meet some of the old neighbors that grew up with my dad and my uncle. The service was in the same church that my dad went to as a kid and that my grandpa had been going to for years and years as well as got married in and that was very special. We even got to see my dad’s picture from when he received his eagle scout in the church when he was 18. We took some pictures together since it was nice to have everyone together.

Anika, Collin and Maddie


Steven, Linda and Tom


The two brothers – Tom and Jim ( I did get a picture with Tom sticking out his tongue, but I thought this one was probably a more respectable photo of the two of them).


Delsa, Deb, Dad and myself


Later in the dad we took a walk around downtown Fort Collins. It was such a beautiful day, a day my grandpa would have loved to walk in the park with his dog Misty.


I was able to stop by and have dinner with Maggie and see her new place which was great.


Later in the month as the weather got warmer by in Virginia we had more time outside with Teagan.
I brought back B-day gifts for Teagan from the Walds and the Gardening set was a big hit. She got right to watering the palm tree and flowers at front.


Here she is showing off her shovel and rack. She could not get enough of the ladybug garden gloves and even after we went inside she wanted to keep them on. This is funny from a kid that never wanted to have mittens on during the winter.



It has been many years since we braved the holiday weekend at the beach but this year we went down to Virginia Beach with my mom and had a great time.

After the day at the beach, Teagan took a nap with all her toys in her pack n play


Teagan and Grandma


I loved this photo of all the balls with a smiley face and 2010 on it. There is Craig with Teagan in the stoller on the right. (see photos with people in them – sometimes I forget)


Teagan playing with her sunhat in the room

Teagan turns TWO

Birthday Party
For Teagan’s birthday party this year the theme was “Yo Gabba Gabba.” She loves the show and knows all the characters. My mom made her a Foofa dress and she was so excited to show it off. She also made Foofa Purses for the gift bags they were adorable.



She was in a stage where Chicken nuggets were about the only thing you could count on her eating –so there is no surprise that is what we cooked for the little ones at the party.


Grandma and Nana


She loved the bubble machine






She got a Foofa ball that shakes and sings their song “ wiggle, wiggle, wiggle ..stop” and she couldn't stop laughing.


The dads inside played with the helium tank.


We got to see Jackie, Fawaz, and Mia – she was adorable.



Katrina and her sister with their two children Hannah and Avery come over to say hi


Christi, Jon, Claire and (Grace almost- Christi was almost 9 months pregnant) come by to visit


Not only were friends over and she had bubbles outside but there was balloons inside.


Amy and Mehdi brought the baby goats so we had a little petting zoo. Teagan loves those goats and it is very funny to hear her say “baby goats” because she puts the emphasis on “ts” on the word goat. Here she is showing the goat off to the neighbors.


Mehdi joining in the celebration


And then there was cake! Craig made a Foofa cake – designed and decorated. It was amazing. And even 4 months later (since I am just now bloging) Teagan still talks about her Foofa cake.



When everyone started to sing to her she got nervous and her new thing when she is nervous is she puts her finger in her nose – lovely.

She was nice to share and even fed Grandpa Max some cake



The next morning she came down stairs in her Monkey pjs and looked and the balloons still up and exclaimed “ Foofa Cake Fun!” The party was a big hit for her.


On Sunday the neighbors came by to help her open her gifts.



She loved putting on the high heels and lining them up in a perfect row (that must be her dad in her) – Thanks Shirin. I should add now since it has been several month she walks in heels better then I do she will put on a pair and run around the basement - literally run. It is impressive I must say.


Craig with munchkin and her new boa heels


She got a bubble lawn mower from the Ivanovic that she wasn’t sure about until she saw Daddy mowing the lawn about one week later then without saying anything she went into the garage got her lawn mower out and followed daddy around the lawn “helping.”

April 2010

April started with our community easter egg hunt on 4/3/2010. Teagan was not sure initially what the fuss was but once the kids got lined up and she realized the eggs were “balls” she was eager to collect as many as possible. The community rule was 10 eggs per child. She liked this so much as she put more and more in her basket we had to keep taking some out and re-hidding them.

Teagan and Daddy


Teagan set up with catepiller basket –courtesy of grandma


Why are we still waiting…


Teagan and Craig planning out her course


She found and collected her first egg by herself…what an accomplishment


Surveying her collection so far…


She was followed by the paparatzzi



I can’t believe she can do this on her own. The difference between last year and this year is amazing. She looks so big.


After the egg hunt was done she took so time to play on the swings and the slide.




She even went down the big kid slide but this time had to relinquish her basket to daddy so she could have two hands.


At the end of the excitement she stopped to admire the Easter sign, and tried out her luck as Vana White.


Quick group photo


She has also really started to like helping water the flowers. Here she is in her favorite shoes – the frog boots that she would wear everyday if she could.


Nice technique


Puchi face for the camera


…Oh look a plane


She was exhausted after all that fun and closed her eyes for a little nap in the car.


On Sunday the 4th, the Easter bunny came and left some presents, primarily “potty candy” -her insentive to use the potty.


I think she has outgrown this sleeping outfit – the pants look a little short but the piggies are so cute.


Later on Easter we went out for brunch and a new local Italian restaurant. Teagan even let us put a bow in her hair. Here she is grabing a quick snack before lunch.


Sitting on mommy's lap


Eating with daddy. She loved the capers and was eating them by the spoonful. I guess the lemony flavor is what she liked.




Courtney and grandma joined us for the fantastic lunch.


We took advantage of some beautiful weather on Thursday and took her to the fantastic children’s park in Mclean.


Can you tell she is having a blast?


On the 18th we went to Elaine’s daughter -Maddie’s 1st year birthday celebration



Teagan’s birthday fall on a Thrusday this year so we got to spend the day together. Grandpa Max brought Teagan her own little outdoor couch and Teagan spent a lot of time finding the perfect spot on the new patio. She even supervised daddy working on the border.




While daddy was working on the patio. We went to the mall with the idea that she could play in the kid’s area. There were doing construction so it was closed but they had hired some people to come and paint faces, do characters and to do balloon animals. We had a blast and I was so happy to get some photos when we got home before her nap.




We had some nice weather in April and Teagan has been enjoying playing outside and anything that she can use as a pool she has ...bucket, blow-up raft, etc.