Dinger

On the lookout for Dinger


Daddy day grabbing hand for a cheek hug

Picture late in the game with Miss Colorado contestants

We went to see a Denver North High School baseball game last night. We wanted to get him ready for his first Rockies game this season. I think it went pretty well. We stayed for about 2 innings until he wanted milk. This morning we played baseball in our bedroom. He had his inflatable bat and had me throw an imaginary baseball to hit. After the 3rd pitch he hit he dropped the bat and proceeded to run around the bed just like he was running the bases.

It was all about Dinger tonight. From the moment we got there to the time he was asleep mumbling “no touch dinosaur”.

The New Elitches or Griffin meets Elvis

Much like tween girls when the King first played the Ed Sullivan show, our son swooned and screamed at the sight of his idol, Bob the Builder. Sorry, not too sure if there currently is a modern equivalent right now.

Quite a Sunday and we’re now paying for it with a kid who falls asleep and wakes up excited and crying.

It started off with a half marathon in front of our house. The runners went up stadium drive around Sloan Lake and then back down stadium drive towards the final mile into downtown. We went out to watch the runners and he declared he wanted to run with bulls. We compromised by racing up the sidewalk next to the runners. This gave Mom enough time to make breakfast. After our cheesy eggs we went to the playground next to Volker lofts. We then met TJ, Annette, Courtney and Annette’s sister and her family at Mercury Café.

It was then nap time for Griffin while Dad went to see the Rockies tie a franchise record of 11 wins in a row. Colorado kept its streak going in victories and nasty weather. The game had to be called for 45 minutes as a funnel cloud was seen forming near the stadium. It was the same one Kim was describing to me over the phone appearing over our house. You can see the funnel starting to reach out of the cloud but luckily it didn't fully develop. In hindsight it was a little scary. I hope the Rockies end the correlation soon without a sacrifice to their record or our property.

After nap we met up with our old friend Max and his mom Melissa and dad Scott. Our families went in on an Elitch's season pass and we’re trying to put it to good use. We got Max to go into the ball pit for the first time, mostly to get out of the last rain of the day. We also unfortunately found a ride they didn’t like. Partly because it was a little more sophisticated (it went up and down about 15 feet) and partly because I think Griffin ended up having collected rainwater poured on him during the ride. By about the 3rd pass they were both screaming and crying. Luckily there was one other girl on the ride and we managed to get the ride shut down to get them. All the while we were next to where they put on the Bob the Builder outdoor show. The moment they started playing warmup music in his theater Griffin knew. Unfortunately it was in the middle of the swing ride and he immediately started crying and wanting to get off. His ability to recognize something was about to happen was pretty good since he had to tune out all of the screaming kids, ride noise, and blaring park music.

Griffin telling poor innocent Max that his Mom is up to something. Mom recognizing Max’s disdain towards aerosol sunscreen and Griffin’s evil grin. The star with his helpers who put on show after show day after day hour after hour.

I was about ready to break out the smelling salts.


Our little genius for the 5th consecutive time being the first to correctly shout out the names of Bob the Builder’s machine helpers. It took very little coaching from us which was kinda frightening. Notice how the guy to his left kinda gave him a look after he nailed his 5th consecutive answer. Also notice that no one wanted to sit next to Mr. Knowitall.
I’m not too sure how this reflects on us as parents. He can say his ABC’s, count to 20 and recognize letters so for right now I feel a little better about his balance of knowledge.

We ended the day with Wazee Supper club pizza (he devoured a ¼ cup of side black olives) and a return trip back to the Volker playground. He’s going to be draggin at daycare Monday.

Bob the Builder

Found out from his teacher that all the kids in his class are chanting "Yes, you can" whenever she does anything. I thought it was a bit odd that she remarked everyone in his class knows Bob. I know most of the kids and they don't seem the type. I asked a couple of Moms who stated they had never heard of the cartoon.

Guess who the ringleader is in this little escapade?

The teacher seems to get a big kick out of it. For now.

The Old Elitches

Here are a couple of pictures from last Sunday's trip to Old Elitches with Jack Delsey and Oliver and parents.

ABC

Went to a First Friday Artwalk in the Highlands on 38th. Ended up at a Gallery that had artwork in the front connected to a house which had a small yard and a studio in the back. We got to sample Greek food while Griffin played with a bunch of playmates in the grass. He loved the jasmine rice and meatballs along with the black olive and mandarin oranges dish. Who knew he was Greek? I swore that I never wanted to see that combo of food again after a couple of explosions with those food groups and formula. We got out just in time as it started to rain and then hail on the ride home. We stopped by Sloans Lake to watch the storm and Mom and Griffin shared a vanilla cone. He had a GI bug most of the week so that meant no milk for bed. Big mistake. 20 minutes of nonstop crying for milk. Luckily this video was captured in the car prior to the meltdown.


This was the week before at Wash Park playground. Note he wanted only to be pushed and hang on by himself from one side to the other. Despite the fact that the drop was twice his height.

Move It

Late night at Costco.
One of his first sing alongs in public. Not too sure why he's watching his left hand but we think he is trying to snap his fingers. He had people cracking up all over Costco not to mention Kim and I.
Special note - his Bob the Builder shirt with screwdrivers, saws and hammers. He spent most of the morning finding all of the tools on his shirt. He told Angelic he was doing yoga today in class.

From the Farm

Griffin and Mom spent a wonderful week with everyone on the farm and Griffin was sooo excited to go! We left Monday, 5/11 and got back home Friday, 5/15. We flew from Denver to Nashville – This was Griffin’s first “big boy” trip which means he sat in his own seat all by himself for take off and landing. Well, Bob the Builder sat next to him all buckled in too – for moral support. I was a little nervous about how that would work out, but he did really well. We watched “movies” with ear phones and ate plane snacks (apple jacks) – it was quite exciting. He had never had Apple Jacks before – they came in a big paper bowl – he called it his bucket of cereal. Aunt Vicki and Aunt Barba picked us up at the airport and we met Kevin and Vicki (Chicken Vicki J ) Then we drove to Patty’s to meet up with everyone for dinner – Uncle Kevin and Aunt Vicki (Chicken Vicki), Miss Joyce, Uncle Tim and Aunt Munye.

Patty’s is a fun family destination spot – with a sort of mini-zoo – but this time all of the fancy chickens were sleeping – but we did get to see a great big turkey in it’s big house for the night. And there were kittens, two bunnies and one very friendly pig – he wagged his tail!!! Now anytime we talk about ‘turkey’ (e.g. turkey sandwich) Griffin says “big house!”

I quickly discovered Griffin had outgrown a pack and play when he proceeded to just about one tip over from the inside – so we shared a bed. It was a bit like sleeping with a monkey and two cats. I did actually wake up to him sleeping on top of my head one night.

We had fun feeding the chickens, throwing rocks in the lake, playing with the puppies, and riding in the “jeep”. We helped Aunt Barba plant lilacs and picked strawberries for the chickens. Uncle Tim and Aunt Munye drove us back down to Nashville and then they stayed to see the Botanical gardens

Some classis Griffinisms:

** Upon waking up with a really stuffy nose and hearing that his breathing was noisy he turned to me and said, “Mommy, I’m a pig!”

** When we stopped in Petco to see the birds, fishes and gerbils – he told another little girl who was two that he was three – holding up his fingers for proof. Lying about his age to impress the ladies. He clearly knows that he is two – oh boy, he’s starting out charming the ladies early.

** Going up a muddy hill in the jeep and saying to Vicki, “Can you do it? Yes, you can!” A nod to Bob the Builder and our Prez.

** “whatcha doin’ Barba?”, “Going to change my clothes.”, “Oh, are you poopy?”