Memorial Weekend

I know I'm wayyyyy behind on blogging but I wanted to catch you all up a little bit.

We had a FANTASTIC memorial weekend!

Saturday was pretty relaxing. Was in and out most of the day. Kyle installed our new clothes line, and worked on fixing the siding of our house. I just did laundry and played with Wesley outside. Nothing special but just a fun day at home.

Sunday was our anniversary. Kyle surprised me with some beautiful yellow roses (which didn't last long), and I made Kyle a video and surprised with with Brooks & Dunn tickets!

 We took a lunchtime bike ride to subway and back, Wesley went down for a nap and I did laundry and hung clothes on the new line. I did a workout while Wesley was napping also, and then we all went on another bike ride to the park after Wesley was up from his nap. We wanted to take him to see the ducks and feed them but the seagulls wanted the bread instead.
Instead of cooking we ordered togo from one of our favorite pubs in town. The Library. They have amazing sweet potato fries, and I had a breakfast sandwich, and kyle had Philly steak sandwich.
We relaxed and watched Avatar.

The next day we headed down to Fort Collins to visit my Dad. Grandma was in town visiting  and we wanted to see her before she went back to Illinois.

It was a gorgeous day down in CO. We had some grilled chicken for lunch with a bunch of fruit and veggies.
Since my Dad lives right on a lake and it was warm enough and we brought our suits, we took a little swim in the water!

The neighbors dog Cody decided to come take a swim with us too!

Wesley played on the porch for awhile to dry off.

Wesley was such a trooper. He didn't take his usual afternoon nap, but sure did take a great nap on the drive home and went to bed a bit early.

What a wonderful weekend we had!

Visit from "Grandma Kim"

The last week Wesley got to see his grandma. She flew in from California. Saturday I drove down to the harmony transfer station in fort collins to pick her up. From there we headed to Cheyenne to get Wesley's birthday cake, and then hopped on i-80 over to Laramie. 

Sunday was Wesleys first birthday party. It was a lot of fun. We didn't really do much. Just made some food, and had balloons for decorations. Wal-mart helium doesn't last that long. By then end of then night the balloons were already sinking and by morning they were all on the floor.

(Birthday pics here)

On Monday, Wesley had his 1 year doctors appointment. He had to get 2 shots this time; chicken pox & mmr. He only cried for a minute and then was all better. Went on a walk later that afternoon. 

Tuesday: I had a few overdue books from the library so we headed over to the University. It was a gorgeous day. Wesley loved walking around and following all of the people. Since it was spring break it was pretty quiet. I took some of Wesley's 1 year photos that day as well. Couldn't have asked for better weather! 

Wednesday: St. Pattys day.  We didn't do anything super special that day. I did wear green, and dressed Wesley up in a really adorable outfit I'd been waiting for him to wear. We headed to the park to play and to take his "official" 1 year photos. It was just a fun photoshoot. No posing, just real, in the moment shots. Those are my favorite, since I hate posing. 

Thursday we took a nice walk in the morning! Kyle was volunteering over at the territorial prison for a couple hours. Since we live just down the street from there, we walked down there and said hello. I always have my camera with me just so I can find something new to snap pics of. After Wesley's nap we headed to the rec center to swim! I love the pool. I plan on taking Wesley every week or two until our community pool opens up May 1 or June 1. Can't remember. And then of course to undine park this summer if the new water pad thing is built.

We ended up getting snow Thursday night. It was so gorgeous and then boom, snow. Of course! Thats Wyoming for ya. We had planned on going to Breckenridge for a mini vacation (friday & saturday) but I didn't really want to drive 5+ hours in the snow to get there, and the roads were icky, so we decided not to go. I know my mom wanted to leave saturday since the roads did clear up, but 1 day just didn't seem worth it. But it probably would have been. :( Bummer. Definitely next time!! So instead we did some shopping around town. Mom got me some sweet new walking shoes. I usually wear etnies, which had absolutely no support and kill my feet, so I'm thankful she wanted to get me some!! 

Kyle and I were going to see a movie, but never ended up going. So he went out for a couple drinks with a friend.

Saturday was just a fun relaxing day. Watched a movie in the morning, my sisters keeper, (very good!!), and then headed back to the rec center in the afternoon to swim. There were a lot of people there so it kept Wesley entertained. 

Sunday came and went. Drove mom back to the bus stop and said goodbye. I did have a few tears in my eyes when I left. I really love my mom, and am so thankful she came to visit and helped out with Wesley and cooking, and cleaning. Love you Mom. Thanks for everything!!!

Visited my dad for a little bit before I headed back to Laramie. He just lives in fort collins and didn't have any plans. Kyle and I ended up seeing Alice in Wonderland in 3D when we got back. Wesley hung out with our friend Stephanie for a couple hours while we had a little date. 

It was a very awesome week, but went by way too fast. I can't believe next week is April already! 

Welcome Baby Miles

I am just now getting around to announcing the arrival of my nephew; Miles Scofield Hoskins. Born Tuesday January 12th 2010. He was 6lbs 1oz and 19.25" long. He was 4 weeks early!! Not due until Feb 12th. Because he was early he was under oxygen, and needed to gain some weight. He wasn't eating the best either. On Friday my sister was released from the hospital but Miles was still there being observed through the weekend. Sunday my sister had to have an emergency surgery. It had been a crazy week especially since Saturday they moved into their new house and closed on the house friday! And had just finished the new roof on the old house before they could sell it. What else could they jam pack in the week??
But it all worked out and my sister is out of the hospital with Miles and they are both recovering.

She lives 2 hrs from us, and I'm really looking forward to visiting her and Miles soon!!

I guess when she is ready to see us then she will let us know. Here are a few photos I have.

Welcome to the world little man

Corie, baby Miles and Jason

Miles & Grandpa Jud

Miles & Grandma Carol

Miles & Great Grandma Brown - After coming home from the hospital

Oh the places you will go, vacation style...

School ended Dec 11th so I haven't be blogging at all, and now school just recently started again but I have a short break and have a chance to update everyone on the month of December.

Wesley and I left Dec 12th to go visit Grandma & Grandpa Cool & Uncle Griffin in California. The airplane ride was only a couple of hours and Wesley was a great traveler. Unfortunately after he had his snack and started playing and jumping on me and looking at the other passengers he thew up. He wasn't sick, it was just a combination of the altitude, and the activity. And stupid me, I didn't put a change of clothes in the diaper bag! So I tried to get Wesley as clean as possible but that didn't work very well. A very kind passenger offered one of her sons shirts to us and that was wonderful because I didn't have to keep Wesley naked the rest of the trip. Now his pants were still wet from me washing them, and my shirt was completely gross and I atleast has a sweatshirt to throw on (which was the zip up kind and was short and not the best thing to wear, but it worked for a bit).
So the first day we got in it rained later in the afternoon. We didn't get a chance to relax, we immediately went to a soccer party - bbq for my brothers team. Had some food, and then got Wesley back to take a nap. We had been up since 5a that morning.

While we were there we got to see Griffin play in 3 basketball games. (1 we only saw the tail end) 1 win 1 loss. Wesley loved it! We also played a lot and hung out with the neighbors kids. Wesley of course got to eat In-N-Out Burger. Yumm. He had a hard time sleeping for the first few nights but finally got used to his pack n play after awhile. 
We had a lot of fun there! And Wesley really enjoyed being around uncle griffin. My husband had to work so he stayed back in Wyoming.

2 days after arriving I did receive a phone call from my husband that his father had passed away. It was an untimely death, and for the rest of the trip I wanted to leave an go home so bad to be with him. This has been very hard for us still to cope with.

When I arrived back home Dec 22nd, I had a lot of Xmas shopping to finish up. Got everything situated and went down to Fort Collins. Wesley got to see Grandpa Jud and Great Grandma Brown. We had our Xmas the next morning on Xmas Eve. We received so many wonderful gifts. Wesley got a new sled, lots of toys, a couple outfits. He preferred to play with the wrapping paper and bows! lol.
Kyle and I got a new sled also, a digital picture frame, tools (kyle), photography and art books (jen), gift cards to old navy, and lots of other many wonderful gifts. It was wonderful to visit and we loved everything!

The roads were awful Thurs night when we drove back home. My car (chevy corsica), was really and unreliable car to be driving. I've had so many issues with that thing, and I just wanted something better that wouldn't break down on me anytime soon. But we made it home safe, and thank goodness because the roads ended up being closed later that night thru Saturday!

Xmas morning we woke up whenever Wesley did. Santa was very generous this year and we had a lot of things from family that we had brought back from California as well and things that were mailed. A few things Wesley got was a choo choo train, other learning toys, sesame street dvds, new bath toys, hat & gloves, and lots of books!
Kyle and I got new baseball gloves!! I'm super excited to break mine in when the weather gets nicer. I lost my other one a few years ago and have no idea where it went. I'm hoping to also join the co-ed softball team this summer as well. It would be really good for me to do, plus I don't know if I'll be nursing but once a day then so it will work out perfect. I got a Wacom graphic tablet that I'm super excited to start using for my designs! Its the perfect tool I needed to help me in photoshop and illustrator making my own graphics and such. Some other things we received were some jeans (kyle), model kits (kyle), torrid gift card (jen),  harry potter and a new blu-ray player that my wonderful husband got me. I also surprised him with a limited edition xbox 360 elite and he was in love! We had an amazing Xmas and are so thankful for everything we received. Even though Kyles father had passed we did try and make Xmas the best we could.

Later that afternoon we were going to have dinner with my friend Amy and her family. But my car decided not to start that day. What luck. We were able to get a ride from Amy and headed on over there for some yummy food and enjoyed hanging out with everyone. Wesley loved Brooklyne. I'm sad I didn't get any photos =(

Saturday we had to get a rental car that would make it to Kansas because of course mine had to break down.
We ended up with a Kia Spectra. It worked to get to and from without breaking down because it was a new vehicle. We left for Kansas Sunday morning and got in that evening. Wasn't a bad trip at all, about 450 miles. We were right on the border of Kansas, Oklahoma and Colorado. Didn't see the tri-state line but thats ok. The memorial service was on Tuesday the 28th. Very sad day for everyone. There was a lot of food and drinking afterward. I only had 2 bacardi mojitos. For the rest of the trip we just hung out with Kyles family. It was good meeting everyone and meeting my nephew Jasper, who was born in September. We left on New Years day and got in that night.

I was so glad to be home. I had been traveling pretty much the whole month and had only spent a couple days at home for almost a month. There was only a week left before school started so it was nice to relax a bit.
My dad had been talking to us about getting a new vehicle for awhile since mine was on its last legs. We started looking online the next day to decide what we wanted and really loved the rav4. It had more room than my car, was 4wd, and had pretty good gas mileage. We looked at a few different ones and found the best match for us in Fort Collins. Tuesday we headed down to toyota to get the suv. We were there for a few hrs and had Olive garden afterward. I love their soup, salad and breadsticks. I had the zuppa, mmmmmm.

Our beautiful new 2008 Toyota Rav4 Limited

  And that my friends, is the brief version of our holiday season. Phew.

Where did October go?!

I am definitely overdue for a post! I've been spending so much time on editing photos, and getting my company webpage together I've neglected an update.
Wesley is already 7-1/2 months old! Some of his favorite things to do is to get into everything. He can't crawl yet, but when he is on his belly he turns himself around and pushes himself to things he wants with his feet or hands. This has been something hes been doing for awhile now. He loves to bang on the keyboard. I have an extra one lying around and he yells at it and figures out different sounds he can make with it..so cute.
He is still a rocker..He dances to his music, or when I sing to him..rocking and jumping are ultimately his favorite activity!
Sleeping can sometimes be a struggle. He doesn't always take his naps and when he doesn't he a big crab the whole day. Whether or not he sleeps I still lay him down in his crib and put on his music, which usually works, but not always. Sometimes I think its due to his teething. He has 3 teeth in and 2 more close to coming in.

We went to visit Grandpa Jud on Tuesday. Wesley is a great traveler usually except for this time towards the end of the trip to Fort Collins he wanted to cry the whole time. Even with his binky in his mouth. He had already eaten and had a diaper change...the teething gets the best of him. I must say though he really is a trooper and a great baby. Food is never an issue. Hes an excellent eater. He will try anything I give him. Most of the time though he is impatient and won't wait for me to get it ready. When your hungry your hungry!
I did give him some chicken the other day. FUNNY...when he took a bite he didn't swallow it, or do anything. He let it sit in his mouth and gave me the "what the $@#* was that" look. I'm going to try again next week with a different meat.

There really isn't any other news. Both of our classes are going well and life is still pretty much the same. Very excited for Halloween next weekend. We didn't even carve pumpkins this year. We didn't last year either. Were so boring lol. Next year for sure when Wesley is older. But I'm going to take him downtown to trick or treat..mainly to show off his costume and to get out of the house, and go with a friend and her daughter that night trick or treating. I do have a cute picture of Wesley in his 1st Halloween outfit Grandma Kim got him. I'm going to take some pictures of him in the Cat in the Hat costume this week.

And as always please check out my website.
http://www.cmwdesign.weebly.com

I also forgot to add that we had a really big snow on Oct 10th and we took Wesley outside for the first time. He enjoyed it and can't wait to take him outside more this winter.