What Happened to February?

Here it is the third to last day of February and I am not sure how it went by so quickly, we have been blessed with great weather for the most part and have been able to get out to the park every week for our play date. On the soccer front, the Lightning have folded due to financial issues, so Doug has resumed playing with the Fury a semi-pro team out of the same arena that the Lightning were. The season is quickly coming to a close and the Fury are playing in the division championship game this weekend against the Cutthroats (last years team), and if victorious will play in the international championship in Las Vegas next weekend, so either way a Fort Collins team will be advancing to the international finals. Outdoor soccer is set to begin next month as was softball, but we weren't able to come up with enough players for the spring league so I guess we will wait till summer.

Rachel has been crawling all over the place and is getting quite quick, she is pulling herself up at everything and taking a few steps behind her walker, she will probably be walking by the time I do the next posting. She had her 9 month check up at the start of the month and weighed in at a little over 17 pounds and was 28 inches tall, and most importantly healthy.

Caleb is getting more and more vocal, and it is funny to listen to the stories he has to tell and all the new words that he picks up along the way. He is really taking to playing with Rachel, they like to chase eachother around the house, and he has taught her how to climb stairs.

Doug's sister and her two kids came into town and we have been spending a lot of time together letting the cousins play, unfortunately, we had plans to leave town while they were here, we made a very quick trip to Oregon for our friend Tim Mills wedding in Coos Bay/North Bend last weekend, the weather was beautiful at the coast and it was really nice to see several old friends whom we haven't seen since our wedding. My parents came down and rented a beach house for all of us to stay while we were in town, and helped out with Rachel during the wedding. We tried to get in a few hikes, and sightseeing around the wedding festivities.

We are off to Steamboat with John, Jen and family this weekend, so more pictures later

Adidas 2009 spokesmodel

Playdate on a cool but sunny day, the teeter totter is always a big hit

The view from our house on Lighthouse Beach in Charleston

Doug and Rachel on a beach walk at Cape Blanco

Playing with toys at my Uncle Den's house in Langlois

Meeting my cousin's daughter Kylie

The groomsmen, Ryan, Corley, and Kenny before the wedding

The wedding ceremony, congratulations Tim and Ilana

The 2003 Baja crew reunion, Doug, myself, Corley, Danielle, Ryan and Tim

Breakfast in Cabo back in 2003, Tim, Ryan, Corley, Danielle, Me and Doug (notice the scruffy faces on some at this half way point in our trip)

A new park in the neighborhood and new fun to be had, Jen captured this great photo of Rachel and John on her phone

More swinging for Rachel

Bathtime is so much fun

Anna and Caleb were fighting for their turn in the tub with the bubbles

Steamboat in January

The last weekend in January we made a long weekend trip to Steamboat, which we have not been since last March, so this was little Rachel's first winter wonderland adventure. It was definitely winter, although the first couple days seemed more like a Northwest winter with gobs of wet snow and temps in the upper 30's, followed by champagne powder (steamboats trademark name) for real colorado snow. I heard after we got back that it had snowed 4 feet that week while we were there. Doug was able to strap on the snowboard for a day, and we made a few attempts at sledding, which were successful in some ways. Caleb and Rachel got to go on their first gondola ride as we went up to meet with the guys for lunch. Overall it was a good time and hopefully we will not have a 10 month hiatus again, and maybe I will get to strap on the skiis for the first time in 4 years (being pregnant and the primary food source for babies do not bode well for mommy ski time) This was also our first big trip with the new suburban, I don't think I can even describe the difference between it and the honda, road trips are much more comfy.

The big cheese on the gondola

The significance of this moment is lost on Rachel, she has no idea where she is or what she is doing

Between sled runs with papa Jimbo

Making snow balls....and usually eating them

Our quick 5 minute man, who for a few days later was worshiping the sun in a remarkable defiance of gravity

A view of the ski area from our house

Rachel's first sledding experience

This photo happened by accident, Caleb ran into Rachel while sledding and this was the end result

The ice road trike rider

Caleb's short and sweet ride..if you listen closely you hear him say "on your mark, get set, go!"

The fearless twosome