Molars

I was tickling Gwen yesterday and she was laughing so hard (she is very ticklish and her laugh is the best sound in the world) with her mouth wide open.  I peeked at her top gums and there were both of her Two Year Molars.  I didn't even know that they had come in.  I hope the bottom ones come as easy as these did!!

The Holidays Are Here!

The holidays are here!! It's my favorite time of year and started out with my parents visiting for a week for Thanksgiving.  Gwen had a wonderful time with her grandparents and was as cute as can be.  She really is a doll and I am so lucky!!

It was a busy week.  We watched football, shopped, ate great meals, took Gwen to Monkey Bizness and the Denver Aquarium, shopped, and just enjoyed each other's company.  Mike made a fantastic meal for Thanksgiving and Steve, Lily, Nico, and Gloria joined us and brought over some yummy food as well.  We were all fat and happy by the end of the day.  Mom and I then worked off the meal by shopping for 6 hours on Black Friday.   We may have been the only 2 people who barely shopped the sales, paid full price for most stuff, and really only shopped for ourselves.  Needless to say I still have a lot of Xmas shopping to do.  It was a wonderful time though and it made me realize how much I miss shopping with her. 

Today I drove my parents to the airport and as usual it was sad.  I do miss being away from them.  This is my 10th year here in Denver and it really doesn't get any easier.  We all relaxed today and none of us got out of our pajamas.  To get Gwen ready for bed we just changed her into new pajamas...haha.  I guess we did something, we put up our tree and will decorate it tomorrow. 

Enjoy some pics from this week!

Egg Nog Mustache






At the Aquarium



Putting up the snowman



Thanksgiving

Putting up the Christmas Tree

Thankful Thursday

Since Thanksgiving is only a week away, I thought I would share the 5 things about Thanksgiving that I am thankful for:

1.  Cornbread stuffing covered in Mike's maple gravy

2.  A table full of good food, good wine, great friends/family

3.  Going around the table and hearing what every person is thankful for.  At the end of the day we are all thankful for life, friends, and family.

4.  A day to do nothing but eat, drink, and watch football.

5.  Shopping + the day after Thanksgiving casserole = perfection

Wordless Wednesday

Yo Gabba Gabba Live

It has been a week since we took Gwen to see Yo Gabba Gabba. It was actually not as bad as we thought it would be (they served beer). We went for Mexican (margaritas) first and then headed to the show. It was about 1.5 hours long and had an intermission. Gwen was extremely overwhelmed at first and cried. She then had fun and would clap after each song. At the end of the show she started crying when they put Foofa away as the show was ending. It was adorable. I think she may have been a bit too young to really enjoy it, but I think she had fun. She was definitely sad when it was over. Enjoy some pics!

Thankful Thursday

In honor of Veteran's Day I am going to devote my Thankful Thursday to my dad.  It was easy to come up with 5 reasons I am thankful for my father.  The tough part was choosing which ones to put down!  I had an amazing conversation with him this morning.  In my opinion he has lived an amazing life and I am who I am, because of him.  I love you dad!!

1.  My first job out of college was with IBM.  My parents drove me to Endicott, NY to help me move into my 1st apartment.  My dad spent all day putting together a entertainment studio.  When they were about to leave he hugged me, with tears in his eyes, and said "I am so proud of you".  That moment drove me to work as hard as I could and never fail.

2. Dad:  "Look at this sweater, it's only 75 cents".
    Me:  "Um dad, there is a reason it is only 75 cents". 
That sweater was seriously the ugliest thing I have ever seen in my life.  My father loves a deal........no matter what it looks like :-)

3.  It's no surprise to hear that my dad used to be cheap when it came to himself (see #2).  Well since he went back and got his real estate license, he is buying nicer things and really enjoying himself.  I know he wishes he would have done this years earlier, but hindsight is 20/20.   I am so proud of him.  I am so happy that after years of being miserable, working outside, on a truck, he is able to do something he enjoys.  I love watching him truly enjoy/splurge on himself.  I have to say that when he bought an +$80 pair of shoes, it brought a tear to my eye as did making him 3 Crown & Gingers........

4.  The Utica weather in winter is not very good. In high school I drove a 1980 Chevette. One morning, in particularly bad weather, I heard my father leave for work (he used to leave really early). He took my car so that I could drive his, which was better in snow. I heard him trying to get up our street in my car but his wheels were spinning because of the ice. To this day I never forget how my heart broke for him. He works so hard and he risked getting to work so that I would be safe.

5.  Our yearly  25 cent chocolate milk from the milk stand at the NY State Fair.

Wordless Wednesday: Paparazzi