Colorado National Monument

November 28, 2009

On our last day in Colorado Grandpa took us on a drive through the Colorado National Monument which is about 10 minutes from his house.


It's a pretty drive and if you don't mind heights you will be just fine, I was scared to death the whole 2 hours but was fine every time we stopped at a look out.
It was cold and windy but a beautiful sunny day just the same. Some of the railings were a bit of a joke, I think the one in front of Emma and I in the picture below was just there so you would know there was a drop off. I just couldn't get that close.

Emma was so cute taking her cheeky monkey with her. She wanted him to see the sights and the snow too.
Auntie Bernadette came along too, so to enjoy a bit of time with her little Emma.
Peering over the edge was something I am just not good at but everyone else didn't seem to mind.
Donald got some great shots of the the monument. It was a great day for it.
On the way home Emma got REALLY hungry so Grandpa saved the day when he stopped at at store and brought out a banana for her and monkey to share. It was gone in a mater of seconds. I barely got these two shots in.

Hip Hip Ouray!

November 28, 2009

After a day of Black Friday Shopping, Donald, Emma, Grandpa Sugar Pie, Victoria and I all headed out to the Rockies to a wonderful little town called Ouray.

Daddy was all to happy to jump out in the freezing cold in his Kabob shop shirt to get this shot...notice the lovely Movember stash he has been growing :)

(side note: We are all really proud of all the work and fund raising Donald did during the Movember campaign for Men's health. He got his entire company to participate and raise funds. Donald raised $4,000 and was 193 in the Nation and his team was 155 for his hard work and fund raising.)


Emma and Daddy stepped out into the cold and Emma was a bit shocked once the first gust of wind hit her.


Tori and Emma walking the shops feeling a bit more comfortable in the cold.


Ouray is the place to go if you want to go ice climbing. No climbing was being done today but it still was pretty to look at.


They have these bridges you can walk out on, but I wasn't any good at being out there to look down at the ice so this shot of Emma and Daddy was as good as I could do.


Grandpa and Emma soon found the snow and Grandpa was all to happy to show Emma how to make snowballs.

Daddy and the camera soon came the target of Tori and Grandpa's snowballs. Donald did great dogging them.

There were some wonderful look out points as well as opportunities to get some clean snow for Emma to try :)
Emma enjoying her first bite of snow.


After a cool day out to Ouray, nothing beats a jacuzzi bubble bath!

Emma loves Grandma and Grandpa's jacuzzi tub and all the amazing bubble is makes. She had a blast and warmed right up!


And after the bath what's more Leppink then a hot game of Yahtzee!
Of course no one was very thrilled with Grandpa having Emma on his team to help him win.
But Emma sure had a blast! And Uncle Tim would have been thrilled to know that there is still so much love and fun being played around the table he made 10 years ago!

Then it was a horse ride to bed provided by Auntie Bernadette.

Thanksgiving in Colorado

For Thanksgiving this year we made the treck out to Colorado to visit my mom and dad and my sisters and their families. Unfortunaltly we arrived to my sister Linette being in the hospital so my first 3 days were spent in the hospital with her. We were all thrilled when she was realeased befor Thanksgiving so we could all be together, and so Emma could see her Auntie.


One of the first nights there, my dad made his famous shrimp boil! 20 pounds of shrimp and all kinds of yummyness. But since I came with news that Emma was now going to be a big sister, I could not enjoy the yummy shrimp. Still it smelled amazing and everyone else ate it all up!


Emma and Uncle Erick are hard at work at the construction site while the shrimp is being prepared.
Getting in lots of giggles and playtime with Uncle Gabe and Victoria.

I didn't take a lot of photos my first couple of days in Colorado since I spent my time in the hospital with Linette. Emma was not permitted so Donald would take Emma sight seeing around the town during the day, but sadly he didn't take any pictures either...so on to....


Thanksgiving Day.

Emma enjoying her turkey dinner.

Most houses have the kid table but my parents house has the teen table. All my nieces enjoying their Thanksgiving meal.

Daddy and Emma skipping stones at the pond behind my parents house.
Erick caught his biggest fish yet this year and had to show it off to the girls... he even let them touch it.

Emma got a chance to hold the mino too! She was so thrilled.

Emma got a hand at the fishing too! Alex was a great help and Emma was thrilled with her little mino.

Getting ready for the family picture. I never did get one with all of us in the photo. Was hoping my sister would send me a didital so I could up load it to Emma's blog.

Playing with Uncle Gabe while everyone was going through the ads for black Friday and watching the game.

My mom went through her kindergarten supplies and pulled out some fun crafts for the girls to do. Victoria was so kind and helped Emma out with her scar-crow. It was a fun way to end such an exciting day.

Halloween 2009

This year we went to my friend Julie's house and met up with a group of mom's, dad's and kids for a night of Trick-or-treating. Emma made quick friends with a unicorn and there is nothing cuter than a unicorn and fairy holding hands.

They weren't too worried about collecting the candy as they were getting to know each other so here is a rare shot of them actually going to the door.The two of them loved just walking around together.


Time to enjoy the loot!

Trying to decide if they should have one more piece before running all over the yard playing chase.
The fairy showing the unicorn her magical light.
It was the best Halloween yet. Going with a group of kids all around Emma's age made all the difference. It wasn't about going to a ton of houses it was about having fun with friends and really enjoying ourselves.

The Midway

October 4, 2009

Always looking for something fun to do with Emma on the weekend that is new for her and sometimes us as well. Our annual pass to the childrens museum gave us the oportunity to visit the Midway for free. Neither of us had ever been and with how much Emma loves boats and planes we thought it would be a fun exploration for all of us....

so Saturday morning we were off for a few hours of fun on the Midway.

Emma has never been in time out so this was new and no fun for her at all.

Our little pilot!

We stopped to watch an informational video in jump seats. "Very cool" as Emma put it.

Getting to sit in the cot pit. Emma didn't know what to touch first!

Finally making it to the flight deck. Emma was in heaven.. she loves planes and helicopters and she was allowed to explore them all......

with the help of Daddy of course.
Being such a big girl exploring a helicopter all by herself.

Sitting in one of the helicopters with Daddy

Possing with Daddy on the cold and windy flight deck with ESET building in the background.

Getting to sit next to the "red" phone..oh the power for such a little lady.

Walking back to the car with a very tired little lady. She still remembers our trip to the Midway every time we see it. In all it was a very fun morning and I highly recommend it. But if you want to see it all be prepared to spend the ENTIRE day and get there early so you have plenty of time. There is so much to explore!