New House and Visit from the Cousins

Already our moving to CT has paid off.  We Love Love Love the location.  The lake in our front yard ROCKS!!! Our neighbors are AWESOME!! and we live close enough to Reyna that we get to see her way more often than we did before.  Ok the house needs some work but, you can't beat the location. 

Reyna's kids had a Winter Break at the end of February.  So, they packed up and came on down for a few days.  It was so much fun.  The lake was frozen over so we were able to make a rink for the kids and let them skate everyday, pretty much all day. 

Me pulling Chloe and Bridget on the tobagon on the ice and Joe skating next to us.  Now when they all piled on the sled was almost not pull-able.  It is really hard to pull a sled on ice.  Need to work on traction for next year.

I don't know if you can tell but we threw an old door down to get from land out to the stronger ice, then we moved out a bench to sit on and all of the gear. 

Joe sitting on the ice on the bench and Bridget heading out to meet him.

The kids getting their skate on with a little assist from Uncle Doug.

Chloe and Daddy on the ice getting ready to skate.  Yep, we took a wagon out on the ice too. 

Chloe using crates to get around on the ice.

Here you can see the rink we shoveled.  Since it had snowed we had to go out and shovel the snow off the ice to make room to skate.  The kids soon figured out they could skate all over and it was fun to skate through the snow drifts.  Can you see the Island on our lake in the background?

Joe did a ton of Chloe pulling.  That kid is amazing and super strong.

Doug on the ice.  Our new house is in the background. 

Chloe and I at the Island, yes, you could just walk on out to it, super cool.  We loved playing on the rope swing.

Hiking

Chloe and I decided we need to check out the trails behind our new home.  We headed out one afternoon for a fun hike.  I was impressed that she lasted over an hour on the trails.  They were super icy so footing was tough but she just kept plugging along.  

Posing for a picture on the trail.

Visit to Aunt Reyna's

We have moved to CT.  Before we moved we realized the house needed a ton of work and it might be a little easier to power through the work if Chloe were elsewhere.  Now that Reyna lives up the road (4hrs drive) we have the best babysitter in the world within driving distance, wahoooooo.  Chloe does adore her Aunt and Cousins.  So, we packed up our stuff in Texas and Chloe and I flew to CT, picked up Doug's truck and then drove to VT.  I left her with Aunt Reyna and drove back to CT to get to work.  She had a great time.  Bridget and Joe worked hard on her skating technique and she can now motor around a rink quite fast.  She will basically do ANYTHING those two tell her to do.  

Chloe on the ice with Joe and Bridget

Joe reading Chloe a bedtime story

Chloe all decked out for Joe's Valentines Party at school.  She talked about going to his party for weeks after. 

Chloe and her Aunt Reyna.  I think it is now obvious where Chloe has picked up her awesome face making skills.

Modesto

Chloe with Cousin Therese.  It was great to get to see family and for them to get to meet Chloe.

Chloe with Aunt Sharon. 

AZ - Jan2011

Chloe getting a lift from Caitlin at one of the viewing areas.

 In January we took a trip to Arizona to see family.  We had a great time.  Obviously (from the pictures) we went to the zoo.  Chloe just adores her cousin Anela.  She calls her Nelly.  So cute. 

Chloe and Anela in a Kangaroo pouch.

Chloe getting a ride.

Chloe and Anela

Chloe grooming a goat.

Chloe looking fierce

Cousins Angela and Colleen helping out Anela.

Chloe playing at Grandpa D and Grandma Jacquie's.  She loved their putting green and running around their backyard.  Grandma Jacquie promised to teach her how to play golf someday.

Colleen and Anela

Chloe and I

All of us at Grandpa D and Grandma Jacquie's House.  The kids loved playing golf. 

Soccer

At some point this year Chloe kept asking to go back to Soccer so we restarted her lessons and she had a ball.  She met a friend: Elizabeth and they had a great time in the class.  I have found a Soccer class for her in Ridgefield she starts this week (1st wk of March).

Random - Jan11

Chloe making brownies. 

Chloe dancing with her Safety Goggles on.  Oh man this one cracks me up.  We actually had like 10 videos to choose from.  Apparently she really had a lot of dancing to do in January.

Christmas

Chloe meeting Santa.  She let him know she wanted a Buzz Lightyear and, what do you know...the big guy delivered :)

Chloe in her new Castle Tent.  Everyone helped put it together.

 We were still in the apartment at Christmas but thank goodness the older kids were great sports and were all willing to camp out on the floor Christmas Eve.  They woke up to two elves stumbling over them and making coffee, followed by their 3yr old sister squealing and jumping on them.  I know, I know...they are real troopers. 

We were also lucky in that Grandma Meg was in town.  So we had a big crew for the big morning.  Everyone had a great time.

Chloe getting some Dylan love.

Caitlin, Ryan, Grandma Meg and Chloe

Chloe getting some assistance on a knot.  It is quite helpful to have older siblings.  All of her toys magically were put together, all knots undone, and everyone waited patiently for her to open gifts. 

Bahahahaha!  This one still makes me laugh.  Caitlin tried to catch some zzz's after the early morning but, Chloe thought Caitlin might like a snuggle buddy and kept jumping in bed with her.  It was funny if you weren't the one trying to sleep.

Grandma Meg opening a gift

Playing in Running Shoes

 At some point in December Chloe thought it was hilarious to put on my running shoes and dance around.  When she added in an instrument it put me over the edge.  She is one funny kid. 

Christmas Party with Friends

 Before Christmas we had a party with one of Chloe's Play Groups.  We did crafts and ate cookies, what more could a kid want, :).