Meghan and Greg…. got married!

My dearest friend Meghan is finally hitched! I’ve been waiting for this day since they were engaged, and it was a wonderful day…actually month (with Meg coming down for her shower in Durango, and Ellie and I making a couple of trips to Denver for showers and to pick out flowers.) I’m so excited for them….there’s just something so wonderful about seeing your closest friends marry wonderful people! And just for the record, I don’t think I’ve ever seen such an organized groom—mister rocket scientist (!) took on the spreadsheets and the organization. Lanterns, candles,  family, friends, prayer, tears… and beer and pizza. It was everything a wedding should be and just perfectly Meghan & Greg…

We just got some pictures and I wanted to post a big Congrats to the now Fatticci’s!

I love you Meg! Congratulations on your absolutely beautiful day!!

 

25 years old

I turned 25 years old yesterday, and still have to thank my mom for lying in bed all night so that I wasn’t an April Fool’s babe. ;) There’s always something about that next age up that just sounds so much older… 25… just seems like 10 years older than 24… don’t know why! Can’t wait to see what this year will bring…seems like every year is an epic year! When does that end?

I slept in, took Sage to the dog park, went for a jog with the baby along the river trail, and treated myself to a lazy afternoon curling up on the sofa with some hot cocoa and a Jane Austen movie as it started to snow outside. Then we celebrated with good friends, wine and dessert at one of my favorite resturants in town. My perfect birthday combination! Some pics:

 

 

Colorado Firsts….

My good friend Lani and I took our babes to their first hotsprings experience…I don’t think I’ve seen Ellie so happy…she loved it! Wonderful warm water to kick and swim in ;)…it’s going to be a weekly outing I suspect….And check out Davis…he’s one day older than Ellie…what a wonderful little chunck man! He is twice her size–ha! ;) 

 

Sportin’ the sunglasses! We had to get these…even as funny as they look…beucase  she stares STRAIGHT into the sun whenever we go to the dog park or on a hike ;)..and although they say babies eyes are a little clouded over in the first few months…that just can’t be good.

 

I love my BOB!

 

A huge thanks to my Grandma Joyce for our wonderful jogging stroller! I love it so much! I’ve been running a couple of times a week with it, and Mark and I have been able to take it anywhere…I mean anywhere we’ve gone on the weekends. That thing can bust over curbs, rocky trails, grass etc… So thank you so much! Ellie loves being out doors and it has been a huge blessing–everyone told me I’d love it …and I have to say I’ve been totally impressed!

 

My wonderful sister…

My wonderful sister-in-law Erin found some stinking great deals and bought Ellie and I a ticket to Atlanta for a week! We just got back and it was such a fun trip! It was so nice to be able to take the baby and get out of Durango for a few days and to finally be able to visit Erin and Paul. Erin is such an amazing hostess and took us everywhere. I got to experience a good southern low country boil (which was delic.!), visit Martin Luther King’s home, visit the World of Coca-Cola, see the house that they are buying next month, eat out at fabulous resturants, spend some great time with her and Paul, and of course do some great big city shopping!

Ellie did great on the flights…I think probably the best she’ll do for a long time…only a couple more months of this non-mobile bliss :)

Such a big girl

My wonderful sister-in-law, Erin

Paul and Erin infront of Downtown ATL

Ellie loved Erin!

Paul, Erin and Ellie

The “I’m so done site-seeing mom!!”

A low country shrimp boil…yum!

We met John, Jess, and Annie half way. Annie is so big and beautiful!

The house Martin Luther King was born in

The World of Coke

The Coca-Cola bear :)

Tasting the cokes from around the world

I love Erin!

Yea…had to stop at Athropologie…my favorite store in the world..and there’s me with about 25 things to try on! :)

I wondered if I was going to go stir crazy staying home with Ellie…but I have to say it has been such a blessing to focus on things other than work these last few months. I thank Mark every day for working so hard to give us this gift!

Ashley

 

Copper Condo ‘09

We just got back from our anual trip to Copper Mountain last weekend. Every year Ryan gets a nice place and about 10 or 12 people pitch in for the weekend. It’s a great chance to get out of town for the weekend and catch up with friends. Ash and I split a day on the mountain, in part, to take turns watching the little one, but also because lift tickets were so dang expensive without a coupon ($92!!!). It was great to spend time with some good friends over the weekend. Somehow we didn’t get any pictures this year, but our friends Scott and Rachel had a little boy about a month before Elise and I got this video of Ellie trying to get his attention but found the girl in the mirror might have liked her better…..

 

One month old…

Today, Elise is just over 5 weeks old. I tried to capture all of her accomplishments for this month. Holding her head up (kind-of), really smiling, making eye contact, and tracking….. and didn’t do a very good job, but here is a video anyway. This video probably won’t be too exciting if you aren’t family :)…. But especially for Grandpa Steve and Grandma Ginger, and Great-Grandma Joyce here are some clips:

 

She loves taking a bath. Do all babies??

Classic Ellie shot…always sticking her tongue out ;)

Much love to you all!

 

A great book…

It is rare for me to pick up a book by chance that I can’t put down. Snow Flower and the Secret Fanis a super interesting novel that shows the life of nineteenth century Chinese women. I never have known much about the Chinese culture…other than their allowance of one child and their thoughts that girls are worthless….and that the majority of the things in our lives were made there ;)… But I couldn’t put this book down all weekend…for all my girlfriends out there, I would recommend that you pick it up if you have time for an interesting and educational novel. :)

And I would love any recommendations from good books you’ve read recently!! I have lots of time while Ellie and I are sitting around staring at eachother to read good books ;).

Ashley

 

Babies first snowshoeing day

Elise got to experience her first snowflakes and trekking through the snow ;0. She did great, and might I say much better then our not so great snow dog Sage who was up to her belly in fresh powder and whining the whole time ;) It was great to get out in the mountains and drink hot cocoa in the beautiful snowy town of Silverton after being in the house for the last two weeks.

Totally miserable!

 

Great to see family

Mark’s parents, brothers and sisters-in-law all came down to Durango to spend the second half of Christmas. Paul and Erin came in from Atlanta, and Chris, Amy and their son Micah came in from Boston. My grandma came up from Albuquerque as well. It was so wonderful to see everyone and for us all to be able to spend time together!! Hopefully we’ll make it out to the east coast this next year to finally visit them :).