Almost time to Head Home

The past two weeks have gone by so quickly--seems like I just got here, but the variety of photos taken shows that we've done a lot, and been a lot of different directions. Kristen has been mucho busy with the rehearsals and then three performances of the stake production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, and she was both relieved and disappointed to have it be over. The timing for all the busy-est part of this was (of course) right during the stressful part of midterms for Aaron, which is why Chase invited me to come in the first place, and it was (I think) helpful for me to have been here. I don't think I have spent so much time on the floor sitting and crawling and playing, as lately. Also hurdling baby gates and barriers, and wrestling with a slippery FAST, twisty feisty little guy (who remembers what you just put out of his reach and goes after it the second he gets another chance...) I will miss him, and even though we'll be seeing them all again at Christmas, I wonder if he'll remember me. We've had a conversation of sorts on several occasions, and those are sweet memories I'll replay again and again.

I can see why my mother was always exhausted and a little relieved to see family visitors leave with our little noisy messy ones, but she always saved a few sticky handprints on sliding glass doors and mirrors for a few days, just to keep us there a bit longer. It will be fun to see how big Chase will be the next time we see him--officially one year old.

Boo-tiful Day for a Drive

After church and a quick lunch we drove (for more than an hour, so Grammy sorta snoozed) to Letchworth State Park. It was the perfect day to see the leaves, close to 80 degrees, no wind, and SUNNY. Lots of other folks thought so too, and it was a little tricky finding a place to park. We got to enjoy some of the beauties of Nature. I'll never understand how some people can claim that there is no Creator when we see waterfalls and how gorgeous Fall leaves look with a backdrop of BLUE SKY. (Of course the blue can't compare to the colors we REGULARLY see back in Colorado, but it happens so rarely here that we truly APPRECIATED it!!!)

I felt a little guilty being so enthused about our weather here, because at HOME they were getting the first measurable SNOW of the season, and the cold wind to go with it. I figure there will be more about the time I go back just before Halloween, because Colorado ALWAYS seems to be cold and rainy or snowy for trick-or-treaters. (Chase is going to be one of the BEST because he's got the cutest costume, but that's for another post)

Going to put some of the pix on from our drive, then get ready to go watch the little fishy at swimming class...

Back to Buff I go

Well actually I'm already here, and worn out from crawling around for four days. We've been busy doing all the things moms and baby get to do, and it's quite a challenge climbing over baby gates to get into the kitchen or bathroom, because little one wants to be where all the action is, and little hands can get into big messes in no time!!

There are lots of barricades to go around and frustrate little bodies, and most everything goes into the mouth to be tasted. I am amused and awed at the same time at all the "work" babies do and make. Seems like they go through a LOT of laundry and food time--then diapers, so it's a constant round of stuff to do or catch up on. Such is the life of a mom, and I'm glad I had my turn with the tinies when I had more energy and agility. (I went to bed early last night because this gramma was a pooped person)

I arrived on Saturday afternoon, and we all got reacquainted, which was good, because Chase and Grandma got to hang out together at church while Mama went to Primary and Daddy taught sunday school then went to priesthood meeting. After lunch and a short nap we took a drive to see fall leaves (which haven't really seriously changed yet) and a nearby ski resort (which has a dinky little hill, bit it was well groomed--hey, people here are easily impressed with what there is nearby, but it isn't exactly Breckenridge or Keystone.)

We went to swimming class on Monday and again today, and it was a lot of fun, except the water could have been a few degrees warmer, but once Chase was in he was pretty happy to be there. He sure wants to go after things, and his little legs are constantly moving. The getting in and out, and the drying off and dressing are all an adventure not to be missed. One mom just has her year-old guy sit naked while she gets herself dressed because otherwise she is trying to keep him from getting wet all over again on the dressing room floor. Kristen learned after the first class to come in with an umbrella stroller to lock her little guy in so he's off the floor and safely restrained so she can dry off and change. Lots of work for a 30 minute "lesson" but it makes for some fun pictures!