Bryan and Zander Head to Indy for the Annual Trip!

This was the first big trip with Zander and me (Bryan).   Once we flew into Indianapolis, Zander and I still had a two hour drive to get to Gram’s house.  We arrived and had some good pork steaks that Denny made.  On Friday, we were supposed to go down the Track for Carb Day and see some race cars.  However, with the temperature pushing mid 90’s, we decided it was better to postpone Zander’s first Track experience to another year.  So instead, we went to my sister’s house to help setup for my niece’s graduation party.  Zander was very interested in helping out with setting up the tent.



On Friday we also went to the mall to replace my sunglasses left on the plane
and Zander got to play in the play place there!



On Saturday we went to graduation party and met a lot of my family and friends.  It was hot and Zander found entertainment with the graduation balloons.  We ran out of time before we left for a haircut and Zander’s hair was a little shaggy!  Gram’s decided Zander needed a barrette to keep his hair out of his eyes!

Sunday is all about the smell of methanol and cars going 230mph.  The weather was really hot, but there was not a cloud in the sky.  We got to the track around 8:30 and cracked the first beer, this is normal on race day.  The race was great as usual, probably in the top five best finishes that I have seen out of my 17 races that I have witnessed.   Zander sat out the race, hung out at Gram’s house and had his first hot dog and played in the water sprinkler. 

Monday was a typical day after the race, always a little sore and tired.  Zander and I headed up to Angola to have lunch at my favorite fish restaurant with Butch.  It got cut short, due to Zander being extremely upset about something.  He was probably missing his mom.  So, we headed back to Gram’s and just hung out for the rest of the day. 

Overall, it was a very good trip.  I learned a lot with taking Zander and actually hung out with my mom quite a bit more than I ever had during race week…Which I really enjoyed!

Zander LOVES airplanes...no matter what we are doing, he stops
and points to the sky when he hears one.  The airport had lots to look at!

Zander at 15 months!

As I work to catch up, I don't have any pictures but want to make sure I keep track of Zander's statistics so I can compare them to Finley!  A 15 months, Zander's height is 31.75" (70%), weight is 30 lbs (97%), and still has a giant head at 20.47" (100%)!  He understands more and more everyday but still only has a handful of words!  Can't wait for baby brother to arrive!

Rockies Home Opener 2012!!

Finally, Opening Day at Coors Field is here!  Bryan was suppose to travel to Houston for the Rockies season opener but his trip was cancelled because of work.  He was very bummed but I think that much more excited for today!  We had a great breakfast at our house with friends, the boys headed to the stadium first while the Zander took a nap and then we headed down on the bus.  The game was TERRIBLE, but we made the most of the game and had a great time anyway!

Spring Break! Baseball...Sunshine...and Swimming!

WOW!  What a great week!  It went so fast, I can't believe it is over....I think it was first thing Thursday morning when Bryan said, "You know what I learned about having kids?  It makes our vacations go a lot faster!"  I couldn't agree more.  There was a lot less sitting, enjoying coffee or a beer and a lot more chasing.  It was great to travel with Grandma and Grandpa.  They did lots of entertaining on stroller rides and following our new walker in circles AND almost all of the entertainment in the car!

After our car rides, Zander was so excited to be released from his carseat!

We left early Saturday morning and headed to Albuquerque.  We met a friend and coworker of Bryan for drinks after checking into our hotel at a great brewery we found two years ago, Marble Brewery.  It was as great as we remember.  Grandpa got a little basketball, everyone (but me) got some great beer, and Zander got to do lots of laps on foot or in his stroller...his sitting still days are over!  We then headed into town for a great dinner, a little shopping afterwards, and back to the hotel so we could get an early start the next morning.

On Sunday we set out early so we could be at the ballpark for the afternoon game.  Manissa, Arya, Vincie, Donna, Tina and the Ortegas were already in Scotsdale and we met them at the game.  It was a beautiful afternoon and we enjoyed a little baseball before we headed to find our hotel and some dinner.

The hotel worked out perfect as we each had a suite.  Zander got his own space to sleep and we were able to take the monitor into my parents room for a little Eucher each night. 

On Monday we got up and headed to the zoo!  It was a great zoo and Zander enjoyed seeing all the animals with Arya!

Grandma and Grandpa dropped us off, got in a little gambling, and picked us back up...Zander was worn out! 

But he got a little power nap in so he was ready for the pool when we got back to the hotel!  Zander was not crazy about the pool, it was too cold for him!  But loved to rearrange the pool furniture and play with the bubbles that Grandma brought him!  He had also discovered ducks at the zoo and all of the birds were now ducks and in danger of being chased!

On Tuesday, we did some shopping in Scotsdale and went to the Giants stadium!  It was fun to see another ballpark but wish the Rockies were playing.

Wednesday was another Rockies game!  Bryan wanted to head to the ballpark for batting practice and Grandma and Grandpa took him and headed to the casino while mom and Zander got a nap!  The game was great but HOT! 

After baseball we headed to Tempe to meet Teri and her family for dinner.  They recommended a great BBQ and mall area that had a kids fountain!  Zander LOVED it!  I wasn't sure we were ever going to get him out!  And mom and dad did a little shopping too!

On Thursday, we decided to bypass the baseball game and the heat and head to the pool.  Vincie and Manissa were staying at a house with a great pool area.  Zander loved it!  Finally!! 

After the pool, we headed to a pizza place that Kari and Corey had recommended from thier travels...it was as great as last year!  That evening Bryan and I met up with Vincie and Manissa for some gambling and drinks!  We all left as winners and had a great time!

Friday was the day to start our drive home.  Again we stayed near Albuquerque at Route 66 casino.  We got stuck in construction traffic making our drive a little longer, Zander was not happy!  Luckily, Grandma and Grandpa were there to entertain him!!!  We had a great time gambling with Grandma and Grandpa's help to watch Zander and were on the road again in the morning for Denver!

We got in Saturday late afternoon and were happy to be home but sad to see our week go so fast!  We had a wedding for Stu and Allison on Sunday and Grandma and Grandpa were happy to take Zander for the afternoon...evidently he hadn't completely wore them out yet! 

What a great trip!!!  We were so lucky to travel with my parents as both Bryan and I agreed it take at least 4 adults to keep up with him!  And Zander loved all the attention...dropping him off at daycare on Monday morning was not an easy task!

Frankenstein!

Zander has a very interesting way of walking with his hands above his head....his teachers at Daycare have nicknamed him Frankenstein! I can't wait to spend the whole week with him when we head to Arizona next week and see what he can get into!!

A few odds and ends....

Zander is climbing everything! He climbs in his own stroller, he climbs in the bathtub, he climbs on the coffee table to make it to the couch, he climbs the dishwasher...you name it, he climbs it! I talk to my Grandma last night and she said, "Well you don't have much for him to climb do you?" Maybe she thought I was leaving out ladders??? But I explained we do still have furniture so if he finds it, he climbs it!

A couple other favorites right now are his new swing and baths!

Happy St. Patricks Day!

It has been beautiful here and St Patricks Day was no different! We headed to the parade downtown with some friends. Bryan and the boys continued on for a day of festivities to celebrate Stu's bachelor party and some of the girls and kids came to our house to hang out, watch basketball, and order pizza! It was a great day!