Thanksgiving on the Front Range

For Thanksgiving, we packed ourselves up, dropped the fur-kids at their luxury accomodations, and us 2-legged Linstids ventured to the Front Range in the Super Subie.  (Not "Super" as in "Super Charger" in the event you get that reference!  Just Super because it makes the Subaru sound a bit more...edgy).  We had to wait for the blizzard warnings to expire and Ben made sure the road was Subaru-able by plowing before we left.  Yup, we've got snow!

This photo is titled: Wintering Ironman

We made it to the Good Ole' Fashioned Bradley Family Thanksgiving and had such a great time that I didn't take any photos.  Alas, the turkey was yummy, the stuffing was bountiful, the corn-corn-and-more-corn was chowed, the cranberry sauce devoured, the sweet potatoes with MARSHMALLOWS was delightful, wine was flowing, and the pies were the icing on the cake ;-)  Anika napped through the main part of dinner woke up to enjoying being the center of attention with her pumpkin bib on.  Really - it was quite festive!  One of the things that made dinner complete for me was Ben and Nick explaining an episode of Myth Busters that involved making earwax candles.  (Side note: Billy brought up the same episode a few days later when we met the Wimsatts for breakfast.) Ahhh...cherished and revered family time!

Friday involved shopping for Aunt Colleen and I (we went to a MALL!  I haven't been to one in so long!), and football for Ben, Uncle Bill, and Anika.  Anika really enjoys her football...she claps when the teams line up and whenever a play is made.  This isn't a photo from Thanksgiving, but I think it illustrates Anika and Ben's bonding through football (I think they were watching a VT game...)

Notice her grip on the remote and lack of attention to anything but the t.v.!

Saturday, we had an adventure of other sorts, however.  We went to the Butterfly Pavilion in Westminster!  I remember going there many years ago when Briana was Anika's age...the same trip I decided that I'd like to live in CO (the ski bug got me pretty good!).  In any case, Nick came up and joined Anika, Ben, and I for a trip to see some bugs!

Anika wanted to keep our new friend, but the Subie was already full :-)

One of the stars of the Butterfly Pavilion is Rosie the Tarantula.  I didn't hold Rosie back when Briana was teeny, and I stuck to my guns this time, too.  Not that there's anything wrong with holding her...heck, Ben can hold her and I'll park our 13-month old daughter within a foot of the action!

Whoa Daddy...Rosie's got lots more legs than the pups!

Not that Anika has that long of an attention span...

Charming smile from Ben...distracted Anika...and random rear shot of a woman.
Sorry random woman!

After Rosie got a break, we checked out some of the exhibits - lots of insects along with starfish and horseshoe crabs!

Nick, Ben and Anika checking out some insects.

Beetle vs. Roach...which one do you think this is, Anika?

We did get to see lots of butterflies...and a tortoise, too.  I was talking to one of the volunteers who is a former zoo-keeper and she said she's trying to get a sloth in the butterfly room.  I mentioned the one at the Baltimore Aquarium...I'm so worldly :-)  She then proceeded to tell me that sloths only come out of the trees once a month to poop.  What is it with me and people describing icky stuff?  I was in REAL ESTATE for goodness sakes...and for many reasons!  Okay...rant over...here are some great photos of butterflies that Ben took :-)



This one is sort of hiding...with the food!
Oh, yeah, and there's this cute baby in the picture, too ;-)



Anika was trying to get walking tips from the tortise...but he was slow to give any ;-)

After the butterfly room, we went through a more detailed exhibit about tarantulas.

I know I don't have much hair, but could you refrain from putting a stuffed taratula on my coif?

Nick acting out on long seated discontent with his older brother by being a tarantula and Ben as the prey.

Ben taking over his rightful position as the predator :-)

Finally, as my mother taught me, every good tour ends with a gift shop run!

Hmmm...these balls are nice, but what I really want is a BUTTERFLY!

It was a good day, and we were bug tired by the end :-)

On Sunday, before we made the trek back, we met up with the Wimsatts at the Blue Cow in Morrison for some pre-drive eats.  I didn't take pictures (camera was not in easy grabbing distance), but I will say that my breakfast sandwich was yummy!

We had a wonderful trip and we glad to be home and start getting ready for the next big holiday - Christmas!

Anika and Bismarck

I've mentioned the relationship between Anika and the dogs before - she's certainly interested in them, and Peli regards her as yet another human to tolerate...and maybe get some treats from (although she always has her eye on Anika!), and Bismarck seems to always be around Anika - she gets lots of attention, so therefore, if he's in the general vicinity, he will get attention too.  And maybe treats :-)

Here are some pictures over the last 2 months or so of the blossoming relationship:

Anika has been wanting to stand and walk (holding our hands) so much lately, so after breakfast, we plop her down and she looks out the back door.  One morning, she was super interested in whatever was outside...then the dogs got excited and that's when we decided to check things out, too.  Lo and behold, Anika spotted 2 deer right outside!  It looks like they were interested in Ben's weather station - there's an anemometer (whirly thing that tells the speed and wind direction) on top of the pole and it was spinning pretty well.

Alas, my furry friends!  There are intruders in the back of the house!

Said intruders...one looking up at the whirly thingy.

Bismarck tolerates alot.  A LOT.  For example, for years, Ben and I thought it has been very funny to put banana stickers on Bismarck's forehead...especially if the sayings on the stickers are humorous (those wacky advertisers!).

This sticker says: "Place sticker on forehead. Smile."
Biz isn't really smiling but...

ANIKA is smiling!

She just thought it was too funny to see Biz with a sticker :-)

To further illustrate Anika's amusement with Bismarck, this series of photos was shot around Halloween:

Awww....isn't she cute?  Showing off her dimples with her cute top and headband on?

Nah...something isn't right, Mommy.  Let's fix it.

Woo-hoo!  Now THAT'S what we're talking about! 
(note: no comments about my dog's masculinity - it takes lots of testosterone to pull off ribbons! 
Plus, it made the baby happy)

Anika even likes to hang out with Biz in Ben's office!

Look at that face!  I wonder what will happen next?

Ahh...yes!  The toe/paw inspection!

Followed by: geez, don't you guys ever brush these dogs?

In an effort to encourage Anika to crawl/walk/become at least somewhat independently mobile, I do strategically place her near Biz at times...and since she's always reaching for his bear-bell, I take his collar off at times (yes, he has ring-around-the-collar...and is okay with it).

Notice Peli in the background on our bed...

Anika and Biz will be friends for quite a while, I'm sure...here she is, reaching for him on a nice brisk fall day:

Okay, so she wants to help Daddy out, too :-)

Official One Year Stats

Anika had her 1-year checkup last week and was a champ, per usual :-)  She wowed the whole facility with her Lance Armstrong-esque lung capacity all the while charming everyone with her vibrant personality.  I wonder where she gets that from?

Here's the nitty gritty:
Length: 28 inches
Weight: 18 lbs 11 oz.

So, she's still facing the rear of the car in the carseat, which is perfectly fine with her, since she talks to the dogs the whole time.  I'm not sure how their relationship will change once she's strapped in facing the front of the car, but I'm sure we'll all get used to it.

I've gotten lots of comments about her "being small" from a variety of people and my standard response is that "she's petite, and enjoying every moment of it."  Funny, though, she's pretty much right on with clothing sizes.  When she was between 3 and 6 months old, she wore...3-6 month old sizes.  Now that she's between 12 and 18 months, she's wearing 12-18 month clothes - rather convenient, if you ask me.  Her feet, however, are still rather petite...more on the 6 month sizing of things - and holy, cow, whomever designed kids shoe sizing must be the same person that came up with women's clothing sizes!  I don't quite see the logic in it.  But, I'm not about to revamp the system, so we're just rolling along with it :-)

Here are a couple of shots on her quilt - she's a bit of a wiggle worm and is trying to become the world's first baby pilates champion by lifting her feet and head off of the ground while staying in the middle of things.  It's quite a feat, you know.  On a side note, a few months ago, I decided to make Anika my workout partner - whenever she raised her feet, I did the same.  Whenever she rolled around, I did it too.  Lets just say, our partnership lasted until naptime, and will never resume.  She's too tough for me!

Pilates Queen

Lizzy Lou, the bunny, is holding her down!

Anika's 1st math problem

So that's the down and dirty on Miss A.  As for BB#2, we heard the heartbeat yesterday!  The due date right now is mid-June, but subject to change, which is typical.  Supposedly the kiddo is 1.5 inches long and is sprouting arms, legs, fingers, toes, and eyes - it blows my mind to think that Anika was in the same boat as this one not too long ago...she looks so...non-Area 51/Roswell! 

The First

So, my last excuse for not posting was that we had computer hardware "issues".  As in the power button became detached from said computer.  Well, this time my excuse is a bit more personal.  Anika decided to routinely sleep through the night.  Not the "11pm-5am" sleeping-through-the-night that the all-knowing parenting websites gleefully state to enjoy.  Nope, Miss A graduated to 8pm to 8am status.  I was thrilled...and decided to take advantage of it and sleep, too.  



Then, other things happened...the Food Network got me hooked on "Chopped", and "24 Hour Restaurant Battle" - how dare they?  Then, Genevieve lent me the last of the "Twilight" series [Note: don't read that 3rd book while breast feeding - totally creepy].  Then, Nick and Liz got married - yippee!  Another sister-in-law - we have completed the TRIFECTA!  Then...Chris and Carol sent me the Sookie Stackhouse series of books, upon with the HBO show "Trueblood" is based.  (I haven't seen the show, but enjoy these books *much* more than Twilight - something about vampires wanting to make their presence known in order to enjoy certain business and tax benefits appeals to me.  But, I digress.)  Not to mention, Ben had wrist surgery this summer (not that it slowed him down much):   

4th of July hike - Wetterhorn Basin

In summary, LIFE has reared its head and I dropped a couple of things off of my to-do list.  Alas, I am mortal, and thoroughly enjoy it - the lack of pressure is wonderful, you know.  I will always fight the tendency to prove that I am the quintessential people pleaser, but eventually, the lure of sleep will win out and I will gleefully lie down in my bed and sigh knowing that I am happy.  I have my wonderful husband, amazing daughter, and 2 furry companions - making me a very content, happy, blessed woman.

Phew - my legs are tired and I am relinquishing my soapbox for the time being. 

Anika turned one year old on Wednesday, October 20th, 2010 at 7:27 am.  What a celebration this kiddo had!  Her Nanna flew out from South Carolina to western Colorado...she's is a pro at walking onto tarmacs to catch puddle jumpers, now :-)  Billy, my brother, drove out from the Denver area, and we had ourselves a little party on Saturday evening- after visiting the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park.   

Mom checking out the sights...not quite a walk on the beach!



Uncle Billy and Anika on a mini-hike





Ben, Me, Anika (GO HOKIES!), and Nanna



Back at the Linstid Homestid, the USFS decided to celebrate Anika's birthday, too.  They lit a heck of a candle behind our house:

Okay, okay - it was a controlled burn to clear out some of the underbrush from the forest areas right by the house.  But, perception can become reality, right?  Soooo...a giant candle in honor of Anika's first birthday it was!!!

Saturday evening, it was par-tay time!  We had mac & cheese for dinner and "decorate your own bug" cupcakes for dessert - we all got into the fun :-)



Anika is certainly using her noodle!



Check out Mom's vs. Billy's technique...wine in front of both, though!

Okay, so maybe Miss A. is a little tired...kiddo had a busy day!

Not quite sure about this whole scenario..

Oh, yeah, that's our baby!



Working to discover if gravity works on plates full of cake, too.



Even more so...she dug the bug :-)

Then, onto the presents (note, only some of the loot this kiddo raked in is represented!)

Digging into the bag - I think this bag has made the family rounds :-)

Holding onto squeaky shoes while rocking to Hoops & Yoyo

Clothes Hound!

Little lady likes the teacup!

Yup - perfect for an off-grid family :-)

Then the real day came....



I love getting this kiddo up in the morning - how many people would tolerate a hat being slammed on their heads within 5 minutes of their breakfast entering the room?  And SMILE about it?

Shortly after breakfast, I escorted Anika and her Nanna to Mountain View Winery in Olathe - Anika loved the dogs and cats and Nanna picked out the wine to compliment our dinner of lasagna and dessert of chocolate creme brulee!

Daddy chucked some wood during naptime - this is for you, Billy!

Daddy blowing Anika's mind with a talking monkey.

After the puzzle was conquered, then it was onto wrestling for the card!

So, that was essentially Anika's 1st birthday celebration - its amazing to see how far she's come and how Ben, Anika, me, Peli, and Bismarck have developed into our little family.

Well, that's the story of the FIRST.  And now, if you've gotten this far along in this most excellent post, you get rewarded with our news.

This morning, before the rain came and winter started taunting us with 38 degree F weather, Anika and I dropped Mom/Nanna off at the airport (off to run on the tarmac again!).  We met Ben for breakfast and ran a few errands.  Among those errands was a stop at the doctor for me.  5 minutes later, I came back into the waiting room, where Ben had been chatting with one of our friends that happened to have an appoitment at said doctor (there are only 3 of these types of doctors in town, so chances are pretty good of running into friends).  Well...that's when I told him to expect a SECOND.  Anika will have a little brother or sister in late June/early July 2011!

Onto my resolution to keep the blog updated yet again - "updated" in a rather creative manner - perhaps some photos from our summer adventures will be sprinkled in with what is currently going on at the Homestid.  Perhaps...not :-)