Many Thanks

This year, and every year, we have MANY things to be thankful for! Just to name a few, I am thankful for my two boys, my family, my few (but very close) friends, my job, my memories, the way that my son looks at me with love filled in his eyes, Kyler's laugh, my loving husband, the fact that I'm married to my best friend, the way Josh helps out around the house with EVERYTHING, telephones so that I can keep in contact with those I love the most (especially my mom), the material things that fill our house, the roof over our heads, the food on our table, and much, much more including the love from my friends and family such as you that keep up on our blog!

Thanksgiving was a bit different this year. Before Kyler was born, we would take the trip over the mountains to visit Josh's family for the holiday. With only three days off and not really being able to predict Colorado weather, we opted to stay home. And as far as my family is concerned, we usually don't get together for Thanksgiving because everyone usually has plans with their significant others' families. But this year was a little bit different. Adam, my younger brother, decided that he was going to invite us all over to his house for a brunch. It was a welcomed change. We all brought a little something to munch on, watched the Thanksgiving Day Parade, and visited with the ones we care about. Kyler even got to play with his cousins! We all had a terrific time...I hope Adam invites us over for next Thanksgiving (hint, hint)!


Kyler LOVES his cousins!

They couldn't get enough of those stacking blocks!

Cutie girl Jillian!

Great Nanna and Madi (the oldest - or should I say most experienced - and the youngest in the family)

Down at the park

As I've said many times before, Colorado weather can be quite interesting. With our few days off, we have been enjoying the unseasonably warm weather by playing at the park. We are lucky to be living very close to two well-maintained parks. It is a place where Kyler is safe and feels free to run around. Today we had the whole place to ourselves!
Where to now?

All by myself!

Slidin' with Mommy!

Swingin' with Daddy!

Man I LOVE the park!

Say Cheese!

Over the weekend Josh and I were cleaning things up a bit and came across an old film camera. Just as Josh was going to throw it away (who even uses those things anymore?), he thought out loud, "We can give it to the little boy." (that's what we call Kyler) What a great idea! We gave it to him not really knowing what he would do with it.



He knew EXACTLY what to do with it. He immediately held it up to his face and said, "sheese"! I am continually wowed by the connections that a 17 month old can make!

We LOVE Deb!

We recently made the decision to switch Kyler's daycare provider. I, being the teacher that I am, wanted Kyler to get into more of a preschool setting. Deb doesn't usually accept children under 2, but she made a gracious exception for our little guy. He is already catching on to lots of things...he raises his hand for more snack (even at home), he is getting great at going up and down the stairs, he is becoming more social with kids, he is making tons of connections, and his language is coming right along! We are so impressed!



At Deb's they are currently working on a transportation unit. Just the other day they were focusing on the train. He came home with a train made out of rotini noodles, and he even learned what a train says! Thanks Deb! I can't wait to see what else he brings home with him!

Having a moment...

After changing his diaper, I grabbed Kyler off of his changing table and decided that I would snuggle him in the rocking chair in his room. As the two of us sat there, Kyler glanced up at me with a look of love in his eyes and placed his head gently on my chest. Rocking away, he laid in my arms quite motionless as I softly rubbed his back. It was as though he was trying to tell me that he still needs a mommy that will rock him and comfort him. I took this as a snapshot in my mind. Then a tear ran down my cheek as I remembered just how many great memories we've had in that chair...breastfeeding in the middle of a cold winter night (we both kept eachother warm, rocking to sleep when a cold kept him awake, reading a nightly bedtime story, Lucy trying to get cozy with us, and just relaxing and enjoying a moment. I looked down at Kyler to admire his innocence and grace then noticed that he had fallen asleep on my chest. It warmed my heart to know that I am just as important to him as he is to me.

Snow Baby

How do we go from wearing short sleeves last week at the Cozy Cow Dairy to 8 inches of snow? We live in the lovely state of COLORADO, where the weather changes as quickly as I change Kyler's diapers!



We still don't have the appropriate snow gear for Kyler, but we are getting closer. All he needs now is some snow pants and boots, so we made due with pajamas as long underwear, fleece pants and hiking boots. Kyler still had fun playing in the snow!

Cozy Cow - MOOO!

Today Angy and I took the kiddos out and about. First we went shopping at Old Navy (one of our favorite places), then out to lunch and finally to the Cozy Cow Dairy for a treat. Even though the kids were pooped (no pun intended) by the time we got to the dairy, they had a delightful time.



We even got some ice cream, but weird as it sounds, my kid doesn't like ice cream. So...mommy had to eat it all by herself - just what I needed right?!

Trying on my new schwag! Ready for more snow!

Once we got home Kyler was past the point of a nap, but I was not. So daddy gave me a break and took Kyler to the park to feed the geese. Apparently he LOVED it! He even came home with goose poop all over his shoes. Kyler had a fantastic day with some individual mommy and daddy time! He is so lucky, and so are we!

Happy Halloween!

Halloween was a bit more low key this year than it usually is in the Urich household. Josh has been sick and Kyler is going to start at his new daycare tomorrow, so things have been a little hectic. We weren't really in the "Halloween Spirit" this year, and I think that had everything to do with us not having our annual "Pumpkin Carving Party". We still had fun.


Josh and I took the day as a "date day" and went off to the CSU/Air Force game while Angy had her hand at being the mother of two. THANKS FRIEND! Then when we went to pick Kyler up, we just stayed at the Kinyon's and had dinner there. THANKS FRIEND! After that, we took Kyler and Lanie Trick-or-treating to a few houses, but that's about all they could handle.

Kyler the Lion and Lanie the Pumpkin!

We came home around 8 and still had Trick-or-Treaters on our block, so we just shut off all of the lights and watched an episode of True Blood. We saved ourselves about $50 in candy that our neighbor said he'd spent. Our other neighbors keep a tally and said that they had 250 Trick-or-Treaters at their door. Boy was I glad that we opted out! Hopefully we'll be back in the spirit next year!