Double Birthday Celebration!

On Monday night, we had a big birthday celebration for Mimi & Kelsie Rae. Their birthdays are a week apart, so we had a big blow out! Sean grilled steak & chicken and we had a great meal topped off by yummy cupcakes (no, I didn't bake them!). It was fun and the rain didn't start until after dinner, so we lucked-out.

Mom & me modeling our new age-specific lotions...
Mom's: Menopause & Beyond

Mine: Pregnancy & Motherhood

What will they think of next?!

The Birthday Girls!

Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday dear...

The whole gang!

Just the girls...Mom, Debbie, Tina (Kelsie's friend), Kelsie, Amy (she's like one of the family) and me.

Just the guys.

Carter, Sean & Grampy

Kels, Amy & Mar

Cousins

Taylor & Carter

Kelsie & Amy

playing in the fountains

This afternoon was HOT...so Carter and mommy headed to Northfield Stapleton to play in the fountains. He loved it!

I tried to get a shot of him "drinking" the water, but this was about as close as I could get. He was having so much fun splashing and chasing the other kids there.

I had to shut off the video because Carter took off running for the street. Little did I know that he was actually running towards the outdoor speakers. He thinks they are "drums". Can't imagine what it's going to be like chasing after TWO boys! This mommy needs running shoes & an extra set of eyes to keep up!

Fun in the sun

Carter & I caught some rays this afternoon at the Beilman pool. Mostly, Carter splashes and I cool off by putting my feet in the water. It's pretty awesome...now if I could only get the dog trained to bring us fruity drinks!

The video is a little long...

It's a...

BOY!

We had our 20-week ultrasound this afternoon and found out we are having another boy! Carter is going to have a little brother and we couldn't be more excited. I'll admit that I was pretty surprised when they finally told us it was a boy (we had two docs and a new sonographer in the room...both the docs knew, but they were waiting for the sonographer to announce it & she wasn't as sure as they were. It seemed like forever before she finally said "boy"). Anyway, this whole pregnancy has felt different, so I was sure we were having a girl, but I am so happy to have another little boy. We love Carter so much & I think it is so much fun having a boy! Two boys are better than one, right?! Hopefully our two boys will grow up being best friends. Bring on the cars, trucks & trains!

Now that I know we already have everything we need for this little guy, I am going to get busy trying to find a double stroller...that's pretty much all we need! I've got to have an excuse to shop for something!

Oh, and by the way, everything checked out great with the baby. He is measuring right on-target and is developing just as he should. He was so active during the ultrasound that it was hard for the sonographer to follow him around. What a healthy little guy--we are so thankful!

Botanic Gardens

Sean had Friday off, so the three of us headed to Denver's Botanic Gardens for a family outing. Sean had been there a few weeks ago & got us a membership. After 11 years in Denver, I finally made my first visit to the Gardens and was pretty impressed! What a cool place to visit! They are undergoing a huge renovation, so we had to fight the construction, but other than that we had a great time. AND, we can take six guests each time we visit so next time you're in town, we can take you, too!

Sean & Carter hanging out by one of the many fountains.
Lily pond

Another fountain with one of the Dinos (a temporary exhibit at the Gardens).

At the entrance to the Japanese Garden

Carter & Mommy at another fountain.

Carter chasing a turtle (aka Turtie)

Daddy & Carter by yet another fountain.

Check out that big dino behind us!

Family picture in the Japanese Gardens.

This place is cool, Dad!

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new pool

Daddy & Carter testing the water...it's a little chilly!

Carter & Sean set up the new splash pool in the back yard over the weekend. Carter's favorite thing to do in the water is splash and pour water, so this was right up his alley! I think this pool will be getting a lot of use this Summer!

Ride Makerz action shots

Ride Makerz

Ride Makerz was definitely one of the highlights of our trip. This place is a "Build-A-Bear" concept store where you can build a toy car...making it as simple or as elaborate as you want (to pay for). It was an awesome place for a little boy who LOVES "wheels". Carter was in heaven...I just wish Sean could have been there to see it all.

Since this is the ONLY shop in Missouri, and there are NO Ride Makerz stores in Colorado, we were so happy to be able to make this special stop on our trip. Carter is a little young for this type of thing, but he sure enjoyed running around the store and playing with his new "wheels". And, Grandad was there to help Carter pick out just the right car and all the cool parts for it. Thanks, Grandad!

Cool car!
Watching the guy put our car together.

Ohhhh...I want THIS one!

So many wheels, so little time...

Outside the store...can we go inside now, Mommy?

Branson!

On Wednesday, we really "did" Branson. We swam in the hotel pool, saw "The Duttons" show in the afternoon (it was awesome!) and then headed to Branson Landing to "Ride the Ducks" and build a race car at "Ride Makerz". The photos are in reverse chronological order (oops!).

Mommy & Carter on the "Duck".
Carter helping Mommy "steer" the Duck.

Grandad & Carter enjoying the ride.

Carter at the Precious Moments museum in Carthage, MO. We stopped here on our way to Branson on Tuesday.

Carter & Grandma Nancy checking out the moving Precious Moments statues. Carter's not sure what to think about all of this!

Thank you Dad & Nancy for a great trip to Branson & all the fun outings! We had a great trip and hope we can go again someday!

Lunch at Mimi & Grampy's house

We were fortunate that mom & Arlen could come pick us up from the airport on Monday afternoon. We went back to their house for a good lunch and got to spend a little time visiting.
We also got to spend time with Uncle Josh & he was kind enough to take us over to the Legends. Thanks Uncle Josh!

Mimi, Carter, Grandma Irene & me
Grampy showing Carter a tiny baby bunny that is living in their front yard (or should I say WAS living in the front yard).

Mimi came out to meet us at the airport on Thursday before our flight left for Denver, but we didn't get the camera out for that visit. It was pretty rushed, but we are so glad we got to see Mimi before we had to fly home. We miss you Mimi & Grampy!!!

Dinos, Dinos & more Dinos

Last Monday, Carter & I flew into Kansas City for a quick stop before heading to Branson on Tuesday. On Monday night, we ate dinner at the T-Rex Cafe at the Legends. It was a dino paradise! Carter loved it!

Mommy, Carter & Grandpa Tim outside the restaurant...pretty cool!

You can't really tell, but the dinos were moving & roaring...kind of scary!

With Grandpa in front of a BIG dino.

Checking out one of the many huge aquariums. Carter loved all the "fishies".

16-week OB visit

Today we had our 16-week visit at Dr. Johnson's office. Sean couldn't come today, so I took Carter instead (much more work than taking Sean). We heard the baby's heartbeat & it was perfectly normal, but they had trouble finding it at first because the baby was so active (I had just eaten lunch). We could hear movement, so I wasn't worried at all, but we almost ended up in the ultrasound room to visualize the heartbeat instead. Finally, the third nurse that came in could hear the baby's heartbeat with the doppler.
They drew blood for routine lab work and we scheduled our next appointment for 20 weeks, that's the BIG one where we get to find out this baby's gender! I hope the baby decides to cooperate more on that visit!

Sean's Birthday

Tomorrow is Sean's birthday, but we have already celebrated it twice! Last night, Kelsie came over to babysit so we could go to Texas de Brazil, our favorite celebration location, for dinner with our friends the Zunigas. Hector is one day older than Sean, and Desiree & Hector's anniversary is the same day as Hector's birthday, so we had a lot to celebrate!
After we had our fill of steak, we walked down to the movie theater to see "The Hangover". I wasn't too excited to see that movie, but it was actually hilarious! I laughed so hard (maybe it was because we only go out on about two dates a year & haven't seen a movie outside of the house in who-knows-how-long)!


Last weekend, we went to dinner at Olive Garden (my choice, not his) when Mimi & Grampy were in town. We had a great meal & we surprised him with a cake...yummy!

Too bad this one turned out fuzzy.

Just "the girls".

Mimi and Grampy visit

Mimi & Grampy are in town for a short visit. They spent Monday night at our house before heading up to Ft. Collins to help Uncle H. They will be coming back through Denver on Thursday for another Carter fix.

Mimi reading Carter a book before naptime.
Three generations...me, Carter & Mimi

Grampy, Carter & Mimi at Panera

Carter showing Grampy the new patio furniture.

New house!

Sean decided that the box from our patio furniture would make a great house for Carter. So, while I was asleep on Saturday, he transformed a giant cardboard box into every kid's dream house. Ok, maybe that is a stretch, but Carter seems to love it! We'll see how long a cardboard house can stand up to a toddler....I'm giving it a couple of weeks.

Can I sleep in there, Dad?

No parents allowed!

I think this place needs a woman's touch!