Mommy & Daughter

Me & Cait--yes, that's a spoon in her mouth, don't ask me why!

(I took this picture myself, holding the camera away from us, pretty good, eh?)

We Caught It...

It seems that the fall cold season has made a visit to our house. No amount of daily vitamins or orange juice could’ve stopped it.
Caitlin woke up early Friday morning pretty unhappy and tugging on her ear. At fist, we thought maybe her earrings were bothering her or that she had slept in a weird position. But no, it couldn’t be that. We took her temperature instantly, thank you ear scan, and she had a little bit of a fever but nothing to be alarmed about. Then, we noticed ever since she woke up, Cait had wanted to have her left ear pressed up against something (a shoulder, a pillow, the couch cushion) and would fuss if we tried to expose the ear to sound or air. I got her to lift her head long enough to see that her poor ear was pretty red. That sent up a red flag to this mommy & daddy and we were immediately on the phone to the pediatrician’s office. Of course, they wanted to see Caitlin. Ben was able to take her (this bad mommy had to report to work for a few hours) and calm her while the doctor looked in her ears and down her throat. The diagnosis was---*drum roll*--a “progressed” inner ear infection, probably a symptom of a strain of bacteria that’s been going around and making everyone miserable. She prescribed some Amoxicillin and handed Ben a sample of Children’s Motrin to help with the pain Cait was feeling. Thankfully, Cait is a pro when it comes to taking medicine and after her first dose, she was a lot more comfortable. We are on the meds for a least another couple of days, as we have to finish the whole bottle. Caitlin’s cold also seems to have progressed from an ear infection to a full blown cold complete with a cough and hoarse voice.
I have also come down with a little throat irritation and a headache. Ben, so far, has remained unscathed—luck duck! In the meantime, Cait & I are just going to take it easy, drink lots of liquids and pray that this passes before tomorrow night!

Caitlin's Weekend

Caitlin had a really relaxing weekend. She got to play with her doll house, her Magic Cook kitchen (and it's wide selection of plastic food) and be a mommy to her dolls. We ventured out to Riverbottom park this afternoon for some fresh air but forgot to take the camera along. Caitlin had a blast climbing on the play structures, walking along the river, playing in the Aspen leaves and then riding her bike across the bridge and throwing rocks in the "big water". Today was the perfect fall day, crisp & clear (temperatures in the upper 60's).
Here are some pictures from earlier today, before our park outing...

Three Dozen Things That You Probably Never Wanted to Know About Me

1) Name the last four things you bought: Pack of Doublemint Gum, Fruit Smoothie, highlighters and gas for my car.
2) Name three drinks you regularly drink: milk, H2O, cream soda
3) Last time you cried? This morning
4) What's in your CD player? In my car, Wiggles
5) What's under your bed? I’m afraid to look
6) What time did you wake up today? 7:15 am—thank you Caitlin
7) Current hair? Straight & short—no time for fussing
8) Current clothes? Polo shirt and jeans
9) Current desktop picture? Caitlin covered in a blanket surrounded by her stuffed animals
10) Ever worry? Of course, I’m a mom
11) Current Hate? Crazy drivers
12) Favorite place to be? With my family
13) Least favorite place? Big, noisy party
14) If you could play an instrument? Piano
15) Do you have a crush? Besides my husband, no
16) How tall are you? 5’6”
17) Favorite random quote? “Problems do not go away. They must be worked through or else they remain, forever a barrier to the growth and development of the spirit.” -M. Scott Peck
18) One person from your past you wish you could go back and talk to? My maternal great-grandmother, I heard she was a cool lady
19) Favorite day? Sunday
20) Where would you like to go? Some days, anywhere but here
21) Where do you want to live when you get married? Already married and we live in a small town in Western Colorado
22) Favorite food? I don’t think I could pick just one thing. I like most Italian food though
23) Color of most clothes you own? Blue or cranberry pink
24) Number of pillows you sleep with? 2
25) What do you wear when you go to sleep? Usually capri pajama bottoms and a T-shirt
26) What were you doing 12AM last night? Sleeping—fast asleep
27) How old will you be in 10 yrs? Yikes—37!
28) What do you think you'll be doing in 10 years? Raising a teenager and hopefully, living in my own house and working as a librarian (one with an MLS)
29) Are you paranoid? Sometimes, depends on what it is
30) Do you burn or tan? Most of the time—burn, but if I use enough sunscreen, it is possible for me to tan
31) What is the brand of your wallet? It’s handmade leather, I got it at a local craft show a few years ago—it’s held up great
32) First piercing: my ears, I think I was about 4
33) First enemy? This kid in 5th grade that used to pick on me, I think his name was Steven
34) Last person you yelled at? It wasn’t yelling exactly, more like an exclamation—when Caitlin spilled her lemonade in my lap—brr!
35) Last person you kissed? Caitlin, on her forehead
36) QUICK what song is stuck in your head? This Wiggles song that goes: “Watching the ponies galloping home…”

My Inner Princess

You Are Cinderella!

Dignified and hard working. With a gentle and soft-spoken manner you have something many people don't. Patience. Even through the moments of heartbreak you're still able to hold onto all of your hopes and dreams. Bide your time; your dream will come true.

Which Disney Princess Are You?

Yep, that sums me up! I think I became Cinderella by osmosis. Caitlin & I must watch it at least twice a week.

Pumpkin Pickin'

Last night, when Ben got home from work, we headed over just south of Delta to go pumpkin pickin' at Ryan's Farms. They had a huge field filled with every shape & size of pumpkin out there...even some green and white ones. Caitlin had so much fun running up and down the rows before she found her "perfect" pumpkin. She got a little bit scared towards the end-it was starting to get dark-and thought that the pumpkins would get her. A hug and reassurance from Daddy did the trick.

I'm sure we will have more pictures next weekend when we do the actual carving. That was Caitlin's favorite part last year.

Morning Rituals of a Big Girl

This step stool was a great Target find--no more lifting for Mommy!

Right now, she's washing her hands.

Goofy teeth-brushing face.

Must be all serious when applying bubble gum toddler toothpaste.

All done, rinsing my toothbrush off.

I'm so good at this!

Here is Caitlin--"I do it by myself!" If only she could change her own diaper and get herself dressed. Well, she can except that two legs end up in one pant leg and shirts get put on upside-down...she's learning though.

Hardy Har Har

**Read at your own risk. It just might make you laugh!**

I got this from my friend Jeanne. Thought I would pass it on.

A crusty old sergeant major found himself at a gala, host by a local liberal arts college. There was no shortage of extremely young, idealistic ladies in attendance, one of whom approached the sergeant major for conversation.

She said, “Excuse me, sergeant major, but you seem to be a very serious man. Is something bothering you?”

“Negative ma’am”, the sergeant major said, “Just serious by nature.”

The young lady looked at his awards and decorations and said, “It looks like you have seen a lot of action.”

The Sergeant Major’s short reply was, “Yes, ma’am, a lot of action.”

The young lady, tiring of trying to start up a conversation, said, “You know, you should lighten up a little. Relax and enjoy yourself.”

The Sergeant Major just stared at her in his serious manner.

Finally, the young lady said, “You know, I hope you don’t take this the wrong way, but when is the last time you had sex?”

The Sergeant Major looked at her and replied, “1955”.

She said, “Well, there you are. You really need to chill out and quit taking everything so seriously! I mean, no sex since 1955! Isn’t that a little extreme?”

The Sergeant Major glancing at his watch, said in his matter-of-fact voice, “You think so? It’s only 2130 now.”

To Telluride We Go!

View of the mountains surrounding Telluride. Bridal Viel falls is in the middle of the picture. The mountains got some snow last week when we had some serious thunderstorms.

Plunging down into Telluride on the gondola.

Way down there! Boy, it's steep!

Caitlin playing a computer game at the Wilkinson Library

Caitlin discovers chalk.

We roamed the streets of Telluride after getting off of the gondola. We ended up at the Wilkinson Library. We were pleasantly surprised to find it open on a Sunday and even more suprised to learn that we could check out books there and return them to Montrose! For such of a small mountain town (at least in the off-season), Telluride has a cool library with an awesome selection. I picked up three books, a couple of books on CD and a movie. Caitlin got some CDs and Ben snagged some music and a magazine. I don't think I've had that much fun at a library in a long time! We were there for a couple of hours.

Mountain Village Center

Mountain Village Center Station. From here, it's up to the top of the "hill" to St. Sophia and then down into Telluride.

Nursery enterance. There's also a ski school next door. 

I found the Mountain Village Nursery. Skiers and workers alike can drop their kids off here for the day. Caitlin would have a field day--this place is H-U-G-E! I guess Mommy & Dadd had better learn to ski first! 

The Gondola Ride

Caitlin enjoying her 1st gondola ride.

Ben was filming and doing commentary as I was taking shoots with the digital.

I've looked better--seriously need a haircut.

View of the gonola track on our way to Mountain Village Center

Views from the gondola.

Telluride/Mountain Village is home to the first public (non-profit) gondola system in the United States. It connects the towns of Telluride and Mountain Village thru a series of "stations". The cars for the gondola (seat 8--stroller and wheel chair friendly) were imported from Switzerland--go figure. The engineering necessary to construct this is amazing. It goes up a steep grade to St. Sophia station and then drops at almost at 15% grade into the town of Telluride.
This was Ben & Caitlin's first ride and what can I say, they had a blast!

Telluride Excursion

Views of the mountains surrounding Mountain Village...look at the Fall colors.
Sign welcoming us to Mountain Village (where a lot of movie stars live). That's no typo, the elevation is 9500+ feet!
Just one of the many lodges on the way into Mountain Vilage--beautiful, huh?

Some of the Fall color witnessed in the Aspen trees.

5 Things

5 Things I hope to do before I die-
Travel across the United States & oversees
Have a Masters degree in Library Science
Watch my daughter grow up, get married & start a family of her own
Make friends with lots of interesting people
Live life to its fullest

5 Things I can do-
Lip read
Proof read
Catalog a book
Speak German
Raise a daughter

5 Things I can't do-
Sing--very well
Scrapbook
Sew
Draw or paint (without having to label what I create)
Ski (downhill)

5 Things that make me hot about men-
Truthfulness
A good listener
Expressive with their feelings
Good sense of humor
Attentive

5 Things I say too much-
Crapola
Hello?!
Shizznizzo
What's that?
You wish!

Many Moons Ago

I've been tagged by Lauren to do this--

Ten Years Ago
I was a young 17, in my senior year of high school. I had a bad case of senioritis and was ready to go to college. I was involved in Speech Team and Drama Club and working part time at McDonald's as a Ronald Ranger.

Five Years Ago
I was 22 and finishing up my bachelor's degree at Fort Lewis College. I thought, once I graduated, that I was going to bring about big changes in the world. Plans were well in motion for Ben & I to be married two short weeks after graduation and moving to Michigan. Five years ago was a time of big changes.

One Year Ago
I was the mommy of a one-year-old and had just started my job as a librarian at a minimum security correctional center.

Yesterday
The three of us spent the day exploring Telluride, CO (pictures and narrative to follow). We went to the library there, rode a gondola and took lots of pictures. It was a great day!

5 Songs I Know the Words To
Anything by Amy Grant or Point of Grace
Hangin' Tough by NKOTB (I still know the words even to this day)
Fruit Salad, Yummy Yummy or Wags the Dog by the Wiggles
On Top of the World by The Carpenters (I grew up listening to them)
Wind Beneath My Wings (From the movie Beaches)

5 Snacks
Butterfinger Crunch bars
Kettle Corn popcorn
Combos
Fudge popsicles
Anything with peanut butter & chocolate

5 Things I'd do with a million dollars
Get a nice, comfy house with a grassy backyard in a good neighborhood
Pay off all of our debt
Put money aside for Caitlin's higher education and wedding
Go back to school full time (Ben & I)
Take a real honeymoon

5 Places I'd run away to
Target
The Coffee Trader (with a good book)
Germany, Switzerland or Scotland, I could be a dot on the map then
A big mall on the Front Range
The spa

5 Favorite books/TV shows
Law & Order
Judging Amy
Just about anyting on TLC/HGTV
Any non-fiction book
Books by Luanne Rice or Kristin Hannah

5 Greatest Joys
My husband
Caitlin
My parents & brothers
My dear friends
Living in Colorado

5 Favorite Toys
My computer
The digital camera
Caitlin's Little People playsets
My jump rope
DVD player

Five People I'm Tagging
You x 5