Thursday, December 24, 2009

And now for some "walking in a winter wonderland!"

We got a good dump of snow last night and the timing couldn't be better. I had spent the whole day yesterday plotting and scheming on how I was going to make Charlie a really cool Christmas present. I had been out the day before and looking at all the crap that is made in China and just didn't have the personal touch I felt a gift for Charlie should have. I didn't want to buy him something that would just get tossed out later. I wanted to give him something that each year as he got older we could make just little better. So I built him a sled.

Here he is with Michelle

today she is playing the part of

the green booted sleigh horse.




I added the bolted on rubbermaid bucket for now but it will eventually come off as he gets older.
Charlie fits perfectly and was comfy with his blanket and pillow.



Here he is with his other sleigh horse.


We have a nice slightly steep grade (but not too steep) on our street that really put the sled to a test.


A trip around the block was fun!





mmmmm. This tastes like candy!



Well the snow is soon supposed to melt but we're sure to get more later. This is Denver afterall. We hope that you and yours have a wonderful holiday season. We're taking it easy for now and waiting things out until January when we get our new house. I haven't looked yet but I wonder if there is a good place to go sledding there.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS FROM
DENNIS, MICHELLE AND CHARLIE!




Wednesday, November 18, 2009

Let's get everyone caught up shall we?


So in the last few months we have gotten a little distracted. Both with work and big life changes happening all around us. I have been seriously scolded my many of you and in reply will now post a whole bunch of photos for you. Please be aware that our lives are in huge flux right now and we will try to keep you all posted with the changes as they occur.


Pumpkin patch




Out of this world Birthday Bash!








Some other random fall pics... note the cute plaid pants Michelle made






Thursday, October 8, 2009

HE IS WALKING!!!!!!!!!



Charlie took his first series of steps yesterday... he walked about five feet before falling but was not deterred. He kept trying so I have no doubt that within a few days he will crossing the room.
(Dennis is working on getting some video downloaded).

Charlie spent about three days this past week with his Aunt Karen. Below are a few photos from our excursion to the Denver Aquarium with Grandma.







We also spent a few days with our friend Dave... for some reason there are no pictures but I'm sure that he will be back soon for a bit more fishing so, never fear... there will be photos of Charlie and his Uncle Dave soon enough. Thanks to Dave Charlie (and I) had our first tastes of fresh rainbow trout.

I did manage a photo from last night's dinner with Andy and David. They are moving to LA (today) so we had to squeeze in one last trip to to our favorite pizza place before they left. I suspect the next pictures of Charlie with them will be at Disney Land - Hooray. They have generously offered us a place to stay anytime we want to go visit the big mouse.

Sunday, September 27, 2009

Summer's not quite gone yet if you ask us.

Sure it's officially fall but you couldn't tell it from our front yard today. Upper 70's I'd bet ya!Today was a great day to get outside and enjoy the sunny weather. Also an excellent day for a quick photo shoot of everyone's favorite curly headed giggle-face. After I mowed the lawn we decided to let Charlie explore a little bit of the flower beds. He loved the flavor of the marigolds but we are still questioning his behavior at dinner where he seemed to be hallucinating and listening to voices from the dinner table. Sorry no photo available on that one. But we did get a few really nice pics. Here they are...




Ripping up the marigolds...
Just helping you reseed them dad!




Learning all about the flowers and which ones mom and dad will let me taste. A very intense little hortoculturist we have.



Nothing like the smell of fresh cut grass!

She loves me...she loves me not...she loves me....


So warm I'd better stay hydrated. Also need to wash that funny
marigold taste out of my mouth!


Mommy I sure love being outside with you and dad.
Do you think it could be summer for a little longer?


up up up up!

Oh no!



That was fun! lets do it again!

Thursday, September 10, 2009

B-day wish list

I'm sorry if this is tacky but I don't know how else to let you all know what sorts of things Charlie needs/ wants. Let us know if you get Charlie one of these things but not from Amazon so we can be sure to take if off the wish list.

Here is the link to Charles Vander Houwen's Amazon wish list...

http://www.amazon.com/gp/registry/wishlist/2I0I14MZUOIS8

Wednesday, September 9, 2009

40 days and 40 nights until Charlie's first B-day

Hello Charlie fans!!!
Mama Michelle here....
Wow, time flies and Charlie will be walking in no time. His grandma Cheryl, Aunt Nancy and Uncle Simon are all flying out for his 1st and we are hoping that they will see him walk. It really amazes me to watch him. This week he has figured out how to get the rings back onto the stacking toy, he is pushing things (like diaper boxes) around while walking behind them, I finally saw him step down backwards off a step, and, he gets better and better at feeding himself (see pictures). He is reading (rather looking at books and turning the pages very carefully), he is waving (all be it backwards), and he is even attempting gymnastics (off the changing table)... he is very advanced!!!
I have been working hard but have found a bit of time to start planning Charlie's big birthday bash (yes, I know he won't remember it). I think that I will make Charles an Amazon.com wish list... just in case you are wondering what he needs... well, he doesn't need anything but.... just in case.
Charles has encountered some LARGE animals recently and adopted a very small one. First he and I went up to visit some friends of mine at their new home in NE Colorado. Ginger and Travis have a 105lb black lab. Charlie let him lick his ear (multiple times) without even flinching. Since he was okay with Porter I decided to really test things. Charlie took my parents and I to the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo in Colorado Springs and he was within a foot or two of a giraffe's head (and 16" tongue) and Charlie didn't mind a bit. This was a great adventure and Charles and I decided immediately that we will have to go back with Dad. The entire zoo is amazing... if only it weren't in Colorado Springs.
The new small animal in Charlie's life is a bunny (hopefully a magic bunny). Dennis had a contest to name her and the winning name... (she will be long gone before Charlie can spell this) is.... Gossamer Pippinpoof III
I hope you enjoy these photos and have been enjoying them all year... we have been blogging for over a year now and I'm so glad. It is great fun to look back at how much my boy has grown... (and the pictures of me pregnant are pretty amusing too).
We have been a bit better this round about keeping the camera handy and catching some great moments.
Charlie communicating with monkeys at the Denver Zoo.


A flower as big as Charlie's big head (Denver Zoo)

Charlie's first Crepe (one of Dennis' specialties)... liked the crepe, the cream cheese and the peach but not so keen on the raspberries



Gossamer
The Cheyenne Mountain Zoo with Grandma and Grandpa

Charlie's delight in discovering the joy of matzo balls....

and then we added a bit of Grandma's brisket... he is his Grandfather's boy!