We'll miss you, Tinkles...

We finally made the decision to have Tinkles pass on. He's just so old, and yesterday we found an abcess on his chin. Shilah asked if there were special treats in kitty heaven, and I told her Tinkles would have all the treats he could ever want and that he'll get to see our other 4 past cats. She then asked if the vet office was kitty heaven, and I said no, but the doctor will show Tinkles how to get there. Shilah then asked if kitty heaven was in the mountains, and I said that it was in the sky and that if she looks up at the clouds she can wave to Tinkles. She asked if he was going to fly in an airplane up to kitty heaven, and I said a little kitty plane would take him there. Tinkles definitely used up his 9 lives and lived a good life.

Party Time!

Yesterday we went to a double birthday party for Shilah's friend from playgroup and his mom. It was an all day & evening event! Here's Serena being a biker chick...

Sully the birthday boy rubbed frosting all over his belly (hilarious), and of course Shilah had to try some...

There was an awesome bouncy tent at the party for the kids-- Shilah & Serena had so much fun! Here's Shilah with her friend Sadie and below that, Serena testing her walking skills on a new surface...

Little Mama

Here's Shilah wearing her baby doll in our sling (I had to adjust the length). Serena has almost outgrown it, so at least it's still getting some good use!

Ridiculous headline of the day: Boy, 5, leaves day care; goes to Hooters

Swim Sisters

It's been pretty hot in the Denver area the past few days. Here are Shilah & Serena cooling off in our little swimming pool...

"Sharing" a toy...

Ring Around the Rosie...

Serena's One Year Stats

Serena recently had her one year checkup. She is 18 pounds (low on the percentile chart) and 29 inches tall (average). The doctor said she is doing great! Once babies start walking, their weight tends to drop and plateau, so the doctor wasn't worried. I'm a little surprised she doesn't weigh more since she eats all the time, so she must be burning calories like crazy with all her walking around! Serena can clap and wave when you ask her to (if she feels like it). She's very quick with her steps, and can do a 180 pretty fast! She likes to take something and then have someone chase her to try and get it. Serena also likes to climb on things. She is an adventurer!

Growing up is hard work...

Serena's birthday party!

Saturday we had a small party to celebrate Serena turning one. We had lunch & birthday cake, and a lot of fun!

Serena's first taste of chocolate (that we know of)...

Shilah & Maggie enjoying some ice cream & homemade chocolate cake...

Serena had a lot of fun with Cousin Emory, Uncle Gabe, & Aunt Andrea!

Me with my brother (AKA Uncle Keith). His girlfriend Lauren and our neighbor Karen also helped us celebrate!

A wagon full of presents from Deb, Marlene (her mom) and Laura (her sister)...

A nice nap with daddy after a fun party...

That night I got to go out for a girls night (with my Jazzercise friends) to a local karaoke place. It was a lot of fun! And today I got some really nice one-on-one time with Shilah... we met a few of her friends at a local theater to see a production of "Wizard of Oz." It was Shilah's first time attending anything like this, and she LOVED it! I was pleasantly suprised that she didn't get bored and she didn't fall asleep. After it ended she kept asking, "Are we going to Dorothy's house?" Maybe the next time Shanti travels to Kansas...

Happy Birthday to You, Serena!

Here's video of everyone singing happy birthday to Serena at her party. As you can hear, she's not too excited about it...

Happy First Birthday, Serena!

Serena turned one today! This morning she had fun opening her presents, which she mostly delegated to big sister.

Here's Shilah showing off the card she decorated for her little sister...

Shanti took the day off (since he had been working late nights) and we spent the day registering the VW van, playing at the park in Golden, and using up Serena's birthday gift cards. Serena was a bit fussy, since one of her top teeth just broke through the gum, and the other is coming any day now.


















A birthday wouldn't be complete without ice cream...

What a difference a year makes... here's Serena only a few days old.

Belleview Park

Last week we met one of our playgroups at Belleview Park, which has a nice little stream, train ride, playground, and petting zoo. Serena had so much fun playing in the water, which has led her to playing in Cosmo's water bowl any chance she can. And Shilah had a great time petting the farm animals! I would have taken more pictures, but it was a challenge just monitoring 2 small kids around water and animals :)

Sunset from our Deck

Deer Creek

Yesterday morning we drove the VW van to Deer Creek (in Bailey) for a small hike. Cosmo had a great time riding shotgun! After we walked around we ate lunch in the van, which has a nice fold-down table.

Yesterday evening Shanti and I used the babysitting co-op and went to dinner (just the 2 of us). We went to a Vietnamese-Thai restaurant in Evergreen (called Saigon Landing) which was amazing! It had a whole section of vegetarian entrees. Yum!

Fantastic Four

Yesterday we watched Maggie & Alex for the day while their parents (our friends Deb & Greg) rode in a 120 mile bike race-- wow! Deb & her girls spent the night Friday night. Shanti actually had to go into work yesterday, so it was just me, 4 girls, and lots of fun!

Dance party!

Fun on the playset!

Although Serena couldn't keep up with all the activities, she still had a lot of fun!

Eating lunch...

Fun with watering cans...

"Quiet" time up in Shilah's room...

Wagon ride!

Cuddling with daddy after his weekend work...

Cutting Teeth

Poor little Serena-- the gum area where her top two teeth are coming in is so swollen! She looks happy here, but sometimes she has a rough time growing those teeth...

Ridiculous headline of the day: Milkshake the Cow has identity problems