Great Grandma Grimm turns 100

In February Chloe's Great Grandmother on Doug's side turned 100. There was a huge party for her in New Jersey, where she lives. The whole family was supposed to be there unfortunately due to a blizzard all of Doug's siblings and his mother couldn't make it in. So, we were the representatives for Doug's side of the family. We had a great time. Chloe got to meet her 2nd Cousins and they were amazing with her. The first picture is of Chloe sleeping in the car while we drove from VT to NJ in the blizzard in a Nissan Cube. Ummmmm, for all of you ladies out there, don't let your husband pick the rental car without your approval. They don't think about things like if car seats and luggage will fit without being piled next to your child. Oh and the Nissan Cube, while cute, has basically no room for luggage in the back.

Chloe and Doug at the airport. This is on our way home. Sorry the pictures are out of order.

Doug, his Uncle Peter, Caitlin and Chloe.

Chloe and her 2nd Cousins (Mia, Abigail and Evan).

The Birthday Girl and her Great Grandkids (Chloe and Caitlin) and their Dad (Doug).

VT Feb10 - Part 2

I told everyone this would take two posts. Please start with the post below. This picture is of Bridget showing Chloe how to properly eat snow.

The kids decided that it was perfect weather for digging in the dirt. Never mind that Reyna had to show her house the next day and they would be tracking in tons of mud :). They had a great time. All of our kids love to get dirty.The kids running around the living room. Chloe has no idea they are running from her. It was so much fun to watch them go and go and go.The little Jumping Beans at work.

VT Feb 10

Let me start this post by saying: It is going to take two posts to fit in all the pictures and movies. We were busy up in Vermont and Chloe had a blast with her cousins. She was worn out everyday. Chloe and I were only in VT for 4 1/2 days but somehow we managed to pack in a ton of snow time in those few days. She also learned the art of jumping on couches. Her cousins are masters of making forts out of couch cushions and jumping until their hearts are content or their legs are worn out. It was awesome to see her running around with them. Bridget and Joe were really great with her. Of course Bridget being a super nurturing girl really took Chloe under her wing and was willing to do just about anything to help out her "Chlo Bo." Here you see Chloe and Bridget at the bottom of a sledding run. Bridget was showing Chloe she didn't have to pick up the snow to eat it, she could just put her face down in the snow and eat til she was frozen. Chloe thought that was great. After all Chloe's favorite snack is a handful of snow.

Aunt Reyna made the kids an awesome snow cave. I know she is an awesome mom. The kids are lucky. After she was done with the work the kids jumped and had a little rest.

Aunt Reyna took Chloe down on one of her first sledding runs. Soon after this Chloe decided it was much more fun to go on her own and Reyna and I got sidelined. Chloe was fearless. She would jump on the tubes and go zipping down the hill. When she would go flying off the tube and land in the snow she would just roll over and laugh. Clearly she is Doug's child when it comes to her sense of adventure. It is so much fun to watch her explore new things with such abandon.

Joe and Chloe working on some Couch Fort Making and most likely some jumping knowing the two of them. Joe is a jumping machine.

Chloe trying to hit the hockey puck into the boards like her Cousin Joe was doing. Chloe adores hockey. I don't know if it because that is what she hears her Dad talking about or if she really likes it but, it is all she can talk about when it comes to sports. Oh please Sports Gods let her like running too, don't doom me to a life inside of freezing cold Hockey Rinks at all odd ours of the night and day :).

Oh I hope this works this time. I can see the video of I click on it but not sure if others can. This is a video of Joe and Chloe on the rink in Reyna's backyard. Yes, I am being serious. My sister meticulously manages a rink in her own backyard. She made the form for it in late fall, she shovels all the snow off it, she lays down new layers of water to keep the ice nice and even built a fire pit area for the kids to rest after their skating. If this isn't the life for a kid, what is?

Chloe and Bridget swinging in the backyard.

Chloe Posing

I had to add these pictures in because, they were just too dang cute. I wanted to take a picture of Chloe and Doug was showing her how to pose for me. It was hilarious and fun. I can't remember where we were headed that day.

If you could only see that off to the side her father is doing the same pose.

Snow Angels

It snowed here. I am not kidding you. It snowed a whole 12 inches in Dallas TX this past week. Thank goodness we have hand-me-downs that come from VT so we were ready. Doug and Chloe had a ball. They made snowmen, they made snow angels, they threw snow balls, the rolled around on the ground, they tried a garbage can sled (movie below), etc... You name it they tried it. Chloe loved being outside in the snow it was great. This picture is of the two as they head out around 7am on the first morning of the snow. I think both Doug and I were worried it would melt fast so we wanted her to get a chance to play in it before it disappeared. Come on, you have to admit these two are just the cutest.

Here is a picture of the first snowman they built. I think they built 4 in all.

Chloe trying to catch the snow in her mouth as it falls.

My cuties making snow angels.

Chloe and her buddy Dax eating Snowcream. Dang was that stuff good. Dax's mommy Cindy brought out all the fixings and we made a big batch of snowcream. The kids loved it. Ok the adults loved it too :).

Even Dylan joined in the fun. He and Chloe were throwing snow balls and playing chase.

Doug used a make shift sled that Cindy had and dragged Chloe down a trail. Chloe seemed to really like the sled action.

Chloe and Dax heading back to the house. We had to bribe them to come in. They both I think would have stayed outside all night if we let them. Obviously it was the lure of hot cocoa that got them moving.

Play Date - Feb 2010

Just a few pictures of Chloe at a recent play date with our neighbors the Day's. The cute little blond girl is Audrey and you know the rest of us. Her brother Brendon was there as well but all you can see is him climbing into the tent. They had a blast.

Soccer

Ok having all sorts of trouble with this post right now and formatting so bear with me on this one. As most of you know Chloe began Soccer in December. It is once a week, it is all drills and she has a parent out on the field with her doing the drills at all times. She needless to say adores it. The pictures of her with the hula hoop are a game that they play where the parents roll the hoop and the kids try and catch them before they hit the ground. The picture of her with the cone is this cool game where they kick the cones over and then have to gently use their foot to tip it back up. They also do stretching as you see. They smell their feet and then the coach goes around and asks what their feet smell like. Chloe likes to pick things like cake and ice cream, love it. She really just loves running around. Sometimes she gets so tired she just sits down and waits for the next drill. Enjoy the pictures and movies and if you are in town on Saturday you can come to practice with us.