D.C. and Santa's Workshop

I headed to Washington, D.C., in early September for a training for the commissioners for all the states service commissions. It was great to meet others who are contributing in meaningful ways to their states via service and community outreach. I presented on new outreach strategies and my fellow Colorado commissioners attended the session as well to deem the effectiveness of my presentation…it was funny as they all shared that they were there to critique my presentation!

I also had the opportunity to catch up with Uncle Chad, Grammie Kass and Grandpa Jeff. I also saw Aunts Deirdre and Caitlin for their birthday with Grandma Patti. It was great to see all of them again. I also spent a day on the Hill advocating for more service dollars for AmeriCorps and for our state. I also recommended that we had a representative from Congress serve on the Community Service Caucus as we don’t have any representing Colorado on that caucus. I spent the day with someone from the I Have A Dream Foundation and a rep from an organization that does environmental rehabilitation…I can’t remember which one off the top of my head. It’s in my rolodex of business cards. Shame on me. Anyway, I loved it and even ran into someone in our Senator’s office who knew me as I was the HOBY Leadership Seminar Chair when he was a student ambassador to the program. It was pretty funny - - small world.

My 89 year old cab driver in DC - - that's right he was 89 YEARS YOUNG


Tutu came out for several weeks and we had a ball with her. During her first weekend, the boys and I took her down to Santa’s Workshop in Manitou Springs (the gateway to Pikes Peak), and had a blast! I had no idea what to expect but it’s perfect for toddlers of the boys’ age! We rode cars, motorcycles, airplanes, went on a huge slide and Tutu was brave enough to go on a helicopter vomit comet ride (of sorts). It was spinning so fast and the operator told her that she should give a thumbs down sign if Eban started to freak out as he was clearly the youngest rider on the ride. Well, he loved it - - more than loved it - - and I was more freaked out watching this contraption and Tutu told me she wanted to give the thumbs down for herself when they were flying through the air as crazy speeds!

Jack loved riding the rides with Eban. There was one where they shot at one another (I’m not a fan of this), but they laughed so hard flying in these circles. It was so darling to see them thoroughly enjoying themselves. They rode boats, race cars and all sorts of things! We went on the highest ferris wheel in the world (altitude wise) and Tutu shared a seat with Eban while I had Jack with me. They both wanted more after each ride and it was hard to keep up with them.

The attraction they liked the least was Santa. We entered his building and the boys both gravitated towards the door and not his lap. It was shocking to me as they both had practiced what they would ask for when they saw Santa and as soon as they saw him, they wanted to go the other way. I guess I can understand that - - ride or sit on Santa’s lap in the stinky house? We left completely exhausted and they both easily fell asleep on our ride back to Denver and north Thornton!

Fast ride with Tutu and Eban


Eban and Jack on the Motorcycles

Pre-School and the Denver Police Foundation's Gala

When we returned from the beach, I finally was able to get the boys in their beach outfits provided to us from Bubbe Rainen. They are so cute and I just want to gobble them up. Another HUGE first for Eban was the fact that he started pre-school.

He was so excited to be “a big boy” and start school like his friends at Quincy’s house who go to school all day. He goes to school for half days on three days of the week in Mrs. Lyla’s class. There are only four other kids on the class with him and I think Mrs. Lyla has a lot of structure and activities for someone his age. I tried to give him a hug and kiss goodbye but he was not having it. He waved goodbye to me from across the room and then I told him to get with his teacher and his friend so I could get a picture so he did and he made funny toddler noises the whole time rather than smile sweetly to me on his first day of pre-school. Boy, I wonder how it will be on his first day at kindergarten?

Because Eban can sit more easily at this stage, I brought him to a kid-friendly gala to benefit the Denver Police Foundation at Wings Over the Rockies Museum. I attended this event on behalf of JWU but talked to everyone there due to the fact that my kid wanted to visit every station and talk to the “cool police men and women”. It was a neat event with the exception of the clowns - - now, I thought the clowns were fun, but Eban did not like them one bit! He loved getting his fingerprints like the criminals do, he loved the police helicopter, he loved the incident command center where one can draw on Bing Maps of any given situation, loved the "tricked" out police car, etc. He also loved the police motorcycles, the police robot that detonates bombs, and the police dogs. He was a tad alarmed when he saw the police dogs and he said, “Your police dogs are so SMALL!” Of course the dogs were large German Shepherds and the handlers all laughed and asked if Eban had a dog and he stammered out a “yes” and then they looked at me to ask what kind of dog. I told them he had a mastiff and a blood hound.

After we had dinner with three commanders from the Denver Police Department, I dropped off Eban at Grandpa’s house for his first sleepover with him. According to Grandpa, the sleepover was a success because when Papa picked Eban up in the morning, Eban told him he didn’t want to go home. Jack is learning new bad words like “hate” and “stupid”. He’s very good about saying sor-wee right after saying them, but obviously we are holding him accountable for his word choice at this age. He still uses that darn pacifier and he is totally content with it in his mouth. I’m still determining when to get rid of it and the best way to make it as seamless as possible.

Enjoy one of the pictures of him in Quincy’s tree…he kept telling me, “MORE pictures” and then he would stare off into lala land and then want more pictures in the tree. It was “punny”…

The next issue will have Tutu’s visit and an update on my Commissioner Institute Training in D.C.!



Here's Eban playing his guitar and watching the movie Cars with Jack

Fenwick Island 2009

Following the visit to Grammie Kass and Grandpa Jeff’s house, we headed over to D.C. to see Grandma and Grandpa Tracy, aunts Deirdre and Caitlin and Uncle Conor for a trip to Fenwick Island, Delaware. The trip in the car with the boys was delightful as they handled the long stretches of time in their car seats much better than I anticipated. Grandma Patti was impressed too although we did get a tad lost as we were chatting so much we missed an exit. Grandma Patti was very frustrated with that and I kept saying, “It’s an adventure!” She wasn’t buying my statement in the least. She muttered that it was lost beach time and more car time - - my laughter didn’t help, I’m sure.

As we arrived at the beach house, we quickly unpacked and headed straight for the Bayard Street beach. Due to Hurricane Bill’s visit in the Atlantic Ocean, the waves were huge and the current was swift. The boys played in little “pools” higher up on the beach. I guess the hurricane creates these little pools and they dissipate as the tide rolls out. I could be completely wrong here, but it was a safe place for the boys to play and I was happy about that. Eban didn’t understand why he couldn’t run into the ocean and get swallowed by a big wave and its following undertow. There were several tears over this. Jack, who is usually timid around water, promptly wanted to play and like any good mother, I only had his diaper. I had him running around naked for awhile but I guess it wasn’t PC for an almost two-year old to be seen like that. Soon, he had his diaper on and it wasn’t much better.

The following day, I came down with a bug. My ears were clogged and I was just plain groggy and sick. Uncle Chad came down for a couple of days and hung out with his godson and Jack so it was good to see him! The boys loved hanging out with him and loved their outfits that created sounds as they walked. The dinosaur and horse were loud and crazy when they had their suits on. Very cute!

Great grandpa and great grandma Tracy were happy to see us too. We didn’t spend too much time there as the beach always beckoned us to play – or the little park they have in Fenwick Island. Great uncles and great aunts were all over and some many relatives that I have no idea how many were officially there. Maybe there were 70 this year?? Not as much as year’s past, but that’s still a huge mass of people convened in one little beach area!! The boys loved all the kids that were there – little Eleanor from Connecticut really took to them. She’s 4 and Ryan’s third cousin (maybe?). She always asked if they could play and off they would go. At one point, Eban came over to me and they were playing in the dunes and he asked, “Mama, can my brother have a pretzel?” He pointed to the dune to Eleanor waiting patiently for a reply and when I told him yes, he took off running to her and was yelling, “My mama said he can have a PRETZEL!!!!” It was the first time that he asked permission for Jack…wowsers! See the below picture of Ellie with the boys in the bonfire pit. I love her wink!

Of course we picked blue crabs – Grandpa and Conor taught us how. Eban loved it. I am so used to snow crab so the tedious labor that goes into picking crabs was painstakingly hard for me. I gave up after the first one and Grandpa, Conor and Eban ended up picking the rest of the crabs. Thank goodness they did as we had the most tasty crab cake sandwiches the next day!

On one of the last evenings there, they had the bonfire! What a fun evening! One of the parents – I can’t remember who – buys all the kids glow sticks and therefore you see all the kids running around and they don’t get lost. Drinking, singing, eating s’mores and laughter ensues for the rest of the evening. The kids all make the s’mores and go around to the adults and ask them who wants a s’more. It’s the nicest thing! Eban saw the s’more and said, “Ew mama – it looks yucky!” I told him it wasn’t and dared him to take a bite. He excitedly proclaimed that it wasn’t yucky and that it was REALLY good. I knew that would happen…it’s a s’more for heaven’s sake! Jack hung out with me the rest of the evening while Eban took off with the bigger kids – the 6 – 9 year olds. I couldn’t believe he was keeping up with them and it’s amazing to see how badly he wants to be “a big boy” - - he even wanted to join in for the daily Frisbee game which tends to get somewhat rough. The older kid relatives were just so great with him and his outspoken personality – I was thoroughly impressed. I can’t wait until the following years as the kids will continue to have a blast and there’s nothing better than seeing the kids be so free spirited while making fabulous memories!

Is there anything else I’m missing? Any good stories to repeat?? Please let me know and I'll put them in here!

Jumping into the Fire Pit


Picking Blue Crabs


Who's the Better Singer?

Grammie Kass and Grandpa Jeff's House

Flying to Washington, D.C., with my two boys was an experience as I think flying with toddlers can be hit or miss. The boys were good but Jack did lose it for the last hour of the flight. I felt bad for him and all the passengers around us. Thank goodness his screams weren’t infectious to Eban as he was busy watching a movie and/or entertaining himself. Grammie Kass, Grandpa Jeff and Granddaddy met us at the airport. We ate there before embarking onto Rixeyville, Virginia.

Grammie Kass and Grandpa Jeff live on a several acre property with a charming house situated in the middle of a clearing. The woods were loud from all the insects and animals and that was new to me as I haven’t been in the woods in ages. The mosquitoes - - ugh!! I don’t miss those little creatures whatsoever! They were plentiful and hungry. Poor Jack got a bite smack dab in the middle of his forehead in between his eyebrows. The bump was so huge and red.

We had a wonderful time in Culpeper, Virginia, and Rixeyville. One day, we walked around downtown Culpeper and had a blast! We went into the visitor’s center where they kindly greeted us with antique-like wooden train whistles. The boys loved blowing on them at the top of their lungs. We then played around a caboose that is housed near the visitor’s center. As we were leaving, a nice gentleman leaving the visitor’s center/chamber of commerce offered the boys doughnuts. Of course they happily said yes and they consumed a chocolate covered doughnut with glee! I only could capture Jack’s face on camera as Eban was off running to the volunteer fire department with Jeff.

The fire department, located on the other side of town (a whole three blocks), is completely staffed by volunteers who look like they are 15 years old. It was so interesting to see how committed these young boys were to their duties as firemen, etc. I know it gives them a sense of purpose and an ethic of helping others. It also keeps them from getting into trouble due to the high level of accountability that goes into a volunteer fire department. The boys were so nice and gave Eban and Jack the grand tour and the chance to sit in all their trucks. Of course, due to the high level of excitement and energy from the fire department visit, a big nap ensued with Grandpa Jeff crashing with Eban without the covers on and Jack hitting the hay on the couch in an uncomfortable position - - they were zonked! It was certainly a highlight for Eban as he wanted to go back to the fire station the next day.

The boys also loved the tractor tricycle that Grammie and Grandpa had. Poor Jeff had to push them all around the yard multiple times to make them happy. It was certainly a workout in the intense heat and humidity so the front yard kiddie pool was a great place to cool down - - for the boys, not necessarily us.

Inside the house was Jada and Clementine, their two rescued Doberman Pinschers. All I can say is that Jada is a huge love of a dog. I told them that unequivocally I would get Jada should something happen to them - -somewhat morbid, huh? But that big ol’ dog LOVED the boys and the attention. Poor little Clementine is such a shy puppy dog that we didn’t get to know her too well. She shied away from us at every opportunity although Eban did lay down in “her” room and told her not to worry… “that I’m a nice boy and won’t hurt you.” I could have snatched him up and hugged him so being so sweet to her. Obviously, something very abusive happened to her in her prior living arrangements. It just isn’t right when animal owners completely neglect their four-legged companions. Clemmie is a perfect example of it.

Enjoy the following videos from this visit.

Poor Grandpa Jeff Pushing Happy Eban Around The Yard 50 Times


Poor Grandpa Jeff Pushing Happy Jack Around the Yard 50 Times - with Eban's Help


I'm Done Eating Game


Caboose


The Tracy Band - Eban and Jack with their GUITARS