Playing in Denver with the Millers

A highlight to the Denver trip was spending a day/night with the Millers.  They are the type of friends that you can catch up right where you left off as if no time has passed...but boy, the time together is never long enough. 

Thanks for hosting us so graciously, Miller Family!

Luke (age 3) asked to dim the lights...hmm, a romantic on our hands.

They sure did like each other!

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Is it just me or is Luke lifting up her dress?  We will have to watch these two...

From Araby (Carrie's Mom) -

"These Miller boys, you can NEVER be too careful!  :-).  And on closer look, he even appears to be drooling!  Parents:  Guard your daughters!"

  We enjoyed a great brunch in Boulder and a nice brisk walk.  Julia wanted nothing more than to hold Luke's hand.  He wasn't very willing until he realized that he could further impress Julia with his 3 year old ways and walk backwards while holding hands.

I ate a hamburger

A week ago, I saw someone eating a hamburger and have not been able to stop thinking about it.  I haven't had a hamburger, like a real beef burger in 15+ years.  Talk about pregnancy cravings!

To make it worse, I was flipping through Seattle magazine that was featuring the area's best burgers.  Sadly only a couple were on the eastside. 

I shared all of this with Brett and he made my dream come true!  We first worked out to earn our burgers and then we headed to Five Guys...named for "best value" and at $5 to curb a week long craving, yes it was the "best value".

"Am I really going to like this?"

Playing in Denver with Karen

(Beware...catching up on blog posts and therefore they will be out of order for awhile.  Sorry 'bout that!)
Julia and I had great fun in Denver, particularly playing with Will and Lila (5 year old twins) that Karen has nannied for since birth.  They really are like part of Karen's family and Julia loved hanging out with them.

Karen and I both enjoy baking.  Here we are sharing that with Julia.  Karen really enjoyed the cookies from Speciality Bakery here in Bellevue and they sell a boxed mix that we brought to her.  They were nearly as good as the ones from the bakery itself!

This girl loves to run! 

Happy 2nd Birthday, Julia!

Hard to believe that Julia is already 2 years old!  We celebrated with a hot chocolate date in the morning before work and then Chuck E Cheese that evening.   If I can get a few spare moments, I hope to organize a birthday party for her...stay tuned!

She loved all of her gifts but boy does she like her Dora Happy Birthday Balloon. 

Thomas!?  Thanks, Luke for my birthday gift and for sharing your love of Thomas with me!

Chuck E Cheese slide...Oli had to get the baloon down for Julia.

"Are you stuck, Julia?"

"Here I am!"

This was a video game that the seat moved...look at how thrilled Oli is and Julia was scared, holding on to Oli's sleeve.  While she was scared, she didn't want to come off. 

Julia was happy enough playing with all the buttons using no tokens.  Cheap Date!

Appears that the balloon tied to her pants is lifting her away...

The boys loving Guitar Hero...I had to catch a moment that they were smiling because they were taking it all very seriously.

OUTTAKE VIDEO

Notice how she realizes that her fingers aren't quite doing what they are supposed to :)

Karen's Baby Shower

It was a very fun and special day to celebrate my sister and their soon to be daughter at Karen's Baby Shower last Saturday! 

A girlie affair with plenty of pink to make Julia feel right at home!

Julia with Will and Lila (the twins Karen nannies for).  Julia loved hanging with the older kids. And they proved that they will be great big pseudo siblings to Karen's baby.

All dressed up and chatting on her new purple Dora phone - thanks, Aunt Linda!

My Colorado relatives...from Left to Right: Aunt Linda, Cousin Shelley, Cousin Kristin, Karen, and well, you know us.

Karen being cuddled by the twins that love her so much.  Think they will have some adjusting to do when the new baby comes.

This will never happen again...sisterly bumps!

All guests at the shower filled in a list of "Wishes for the Baby"...a great keepsake!

Karen organized a little craft that will turn into a mobile for the nursery - look forward to seeing how it all turns out!

One happy little girl...she cannot wait to meet her cousin!  (btw, you may see this face again...whenever I say 'smile' this is what she does)

Boy or Girl...

If Oli had a choice, it would have been a girl since he thinks a baby brother is going to be QUADRUPLE trouble where as a baby sister is just DOUBLE trouble.   Brett caught the picture below the moment that they told us - this expression says it all.... but look closely and there is a little hint of a smile there. 

Look at the wonder in his eyes!  It was special to have him there to see the ultrasound and get the news with us. A memory I hope he has for a long time. 

There he is....already love him!

Getting out of Snow-maggedon

Julia and I were scheduled to leave for Denver on Wednesday when the storms really got serious.  Luck was on our side and we got to the airport...however, then were delayed an hour, got on the plane and delayed another 2 hours.  Little did I know that only  few hours after we took off, they closed the airport.  So, even with the delays, I was thankful to leave snowy Seattle and arrive to sunny Denver. 

Leaving our street...must admit, I wasn't even sure we would make it down our street let alone all the way to Denver.

Ride to the airport...Brett successfully got us there.

Snowy pic of our garden.

Our home covered in snow...and our long driveway that Brett continued to shovel.

Julia on her way to the airport...snowing outside yet she needed her sunglasses on and her 'watch' which is Oli's bedside clock that she fancies wearing on her wrist.

My boys kept us girls company with a stop at Starbucks before going through security.

Goodbye hug

While Julia and I were enjoying the sunshine in Denver, Brett was snowed in.  I missed the excitement of a 20ft branch falling from our enormous pine tree.  Luckily missed our house and just broke a few panels of our fence. 

More posts to come on our 5 days in Denver...heading back in the AM.