nancy - 81/365 - Aspen, Colorado USA

The drive up Castle Creek. B.E.A.U.T.I.F.U.L.

July 12, 2010

Vacation Day 4

My 36th Birthday! What an awesome day!

• Jeff made an incredible breakfast of biscuits and eggs.
• Spent the morning cuddling with my boys and reading with John.
• Drove up Castle Creek Canyon for lunch at the Pine Creek Cookhouse. A stop everyone should make while in Aspen. It was chilly, but I was surrounded by both an amazing view and my favorite people.
• A stop in Aspen for a walk, a journey to the Explorer Bookstore (found some awesome new reads), and Heron Park. Jeff was incredibly bummed that John had no interest in building a dam in the stream at the park.
• A nice afternoon nap - just enough time to feel refreshed.
• Laid in the hammock for the late afternoon and evening hours - Started a new book, worked on my list - 37 things to do in my 37th year, and cloud-watched with John.
• Received phone calls, texts and emails from some of my favorite people.
• Amazing dinner made by my hubby - steak, saute'd mushrooms and onions, and grilled asparagus. Appetizer was stuffed squash blossoms.
• Jeff had a cake made by a spectacular chef in Aspen. Quite possibly the best carrot cake I've ever tasted.
• Fun gifts received!
• Took an evening walk with Jeff.
• Ended the evening with a few rounds of bananagrams.

I couldn't have asked for a more perfect day.

me & my boys at pine creek cookhouse!

my beautiful mom

maybe the iced tea wasn't the greatest idea...it probably kept me a bit chillier.

john burbon. my johnbug. buggy. the burbonator. john boy. my guy. snuggle-bug-in-a-rug.

Owen busily teething in Jeff's lap.

Owen & Grandma Hanniford

Owen. O. Baby O. The O-Man. Owie.

A capture on our stroll through Aspen. The Pitkin County Courthouse.

John patiently awaiting the birthday cake. He's really not drinking any wine. It just looks that way.

nancy - 80/365 - Aspen, Colorado USA

July 11, 2010

Vacation Day 3

• After getting up several times with Owen, who is most certainly in the midst of a sleep regression (though I don't think I can call it that if his sleep has never really progressed), Jeff let me sleep in a bit.
• Jeff woke up with the children and went into Basalt to find me a copy of the New York Times - a pre-birthday gift. Yay!
• This morning we drove into Basalt to the farmers market and purchased a few goodies including squash blossoms. Jeff is going to stuff and bake them for my birthday dinner tomorrow.
• I'm beginning to feel the altitude - shortness of breath, tired.
• We took a walk in the neighborhood. Jeff & John saw a fox.
• John discovered trout in the pond and is now feeding them crumbs. He spent most of his day hanging out in and around the stream. I think he'd be perfectly content if we spent the entire week at the house.

View from the yard:

John is loving the one on one time with his grandparents. He really enjoyed "fishing" and used rocks as bait to catch the fish.

A perfect moment:

nancy - 79/365 - Aspen, Colorado USA

July 10, 2010

Vacation Day 2 -

• Surprise, surprise. We all woke up early. Owen was up FOUR times over night (which meant I was up FOUR times). John got up for the day at 5:30 and Owen at 6:30. Not too shabby considering the time change.
  
• We headed to the Saturday market in Aspen and returned with quite the bounty - fresh cheese, cherries, peaches, apricots, bread and more. Yummy!
  
• Owen spent a lot of time hanging out on the porch playing with his toys. Thankfully he's not crawling yet.
  
• I spent a lovely afternoon lounging, napping and reading.
• Owen tasted non-puree'd food for the first time - Rice Crispies. He was mesmerized.
  
• John played in the stream for hours. HOURS. He was thrilled to be able to spend all day with his Daddy. How awesome.
  

Surveying the pond in the back:
And the pond in the front:
The stream that runs beside the property. The scene of much activity:
my boys:

Owen loving his Rice Crispies:

Nancy - 27/365 - Kent, Ohio

May 16

Day 10 of vacation

• We awoke to another beautiful day, though were VERY tired.
• Lovely brunch at Mom & Dad's to celebrate Doug & Davelene.
• Wished my hubby a Happy 36th Birthday!
• Spent alot of time on the deck soaking up the sun.
• Owen napped TWO HOURS STRAIGHT.
• The gardeners of Westview & Diagonal Rd finished filling their beautiful community garden. Quite an impressive strip of land.
• Took a windows down, sunroof open drive through the country with my hubby to return the tuxes.
• Visited the chickens down the street. In the words of John, "those chickens are beautiful, mama."
• Wonderful dinner and conversation with the family.
• Packed and packed and packed and packed.
• Played a few rounds of bananagrams until way too late at night.

What a lovely vacation we have had.

A few more shots:

The beautiful chickens:

The infamous community garden:

Nancy - 23/365 - Cleveland, Ohio

Mom H & Owen

May 12

Vacation Day 6

• Weather is still crappy. 50ish degrees, but no rain.
• Scouted locations for wedding photos in Cleveland. Found some fabulous places on CSU campus and the West Side. So. Very. Excited.
• Owen tagged along for the ride and was a total trooper.
• Visited Mom H's office to show off the perfect grandchild.
• Tasty vegetarian lunch at Tommy's on Coventry.
• Shopping at Nordstroms. Purchased new Camper shoes. !!!!
• Shopping at Trader Joes. Why can't we get one of these in Orlando?
• Read a few chapters in front of a roaring fire tonight.
• Finally downloaded photos from our trip.

So enjoying this time away.

A few more favorites from today: