Staycation & Thanksgiving at GMom's

Staycation|stāyˈkā sh ən; və-|noun

1.  a period of leisure defined by not leaving ones primary residence.  2. an extended period of recreation, esp. one spent wanting to be away from home or in traveling but rather spent in ones 

backyard because one realizes that one has 

no monetary funds and/ or is so exhausted that one can not leave ones own doorstep: they took a staycation in their backyard | people stayed at home 

for a staycation [as adj. ]| a staycation home.

The Kirby's  Staycation (November 7-11) 

become a reality one evening when Stefan realized that by taking one vacation day off  from work we could enjoy a whopping 5 days a leisure 

KIRBY STYLE!  We baked bread (the best potato-rosemary bead he has ever made!),skied a Saturday afternoon away with the DuRoss clan, 

took in the local Hoogle Zoo  for the first time,  raked leaves, cleaned and winterized the house, watched Greta master her new walkin moves (that's right she's walking!) and even managed to move the rotting pumpkins off the porch to their final resting place, our backyard compost, to make  way for Christmas Cheer. The best part of the weekend was that we did not drive more then 15 miles from home and did not spend more then $20! It was a spontaneous, energized, relaxing, do nothing but did a lot, way overdue, time-off 

for the family.  

Thanksgiving took us to Montrose, Colorado 

to visit Stefan's Mom and Step-Dad.  The weather cooperated making the drive dry and uneventful...thankfully.  We filled our stomaches with all the goodies of Thanksgiving... the favorite being the "to die for" pecan pie (*of course Jess did not participate in the whole tradition of turkey day ... but was thankful that her conscience was clear). On friday, we attempted to shed a few of our newly acquired pounds by taking a walk along the Uncompagrhe River 

just outside of Ridgeway State Park. 

Our goal, to sneaking a peek at Bald Eagles who are

wintering in the area.  It was truly a sight! 

There must have been 30 of them perching in the barren trees boardering the riverbed. The rest of the long weekend was spent eating leftovers and watching Greta whip up imaginary cuisine between her toddling excursions around the house. 

It is amazing to watch how fast she is gaining strength and balance with each new step. 

 

Now we welcome December (which I can not believe is tomorrow...time sure has gone by fast lately).  It was a mild November...We're ready for winter! Bring on the SNOW!

We're Finally Blogging

After many months of putting off fixing our website and after many request from friends/family to get our #$%^* together and create a blog instead....we have gracefully accepted our comcast defeat and created http://teamkirbyofamerica.blogspot.com/  I have to admit that part of the delay in creating this blog was my silly feelings of intimidation. I am a tech savvy person, I am a GIS Analyst 

for Christ's sake, but I still do not know how to text on my cell phone, I just recently joined the world of facebook but have no idea how to use it and just today opened a gmail account (only because blogspot made me do it). You may be saying to yourself that "She's way behind her generation" and I can deal with that...mainly because it is true! This whole blogging thing is 

all new to me...but you have to give me credit...I am trying! Soooo hang on and enjoy the blogging ride because...

Team Kirby of America are finally blogging!

When I started this this post I struggled to figure out where in time to start??? I've settled on starting off our first blog with the month of October

 2008. My choice solely motivated by Miss G. 

The beginning of the month Greta celebrated her 1st birthday October 13, 2008. With all her Grandparents on hand (Nana (we missed Pops), Grandpa and Grandma Linda, G-Ma, and Popa-D) and a room full of friends, we made a cake and partied! 

"To the world you are one person but to one person you are the world" ~ Anonymous   

 

Greta's birthday celebration was also a day for Stefan and I to celebrate too. We made it through our first year of parenting! The trying times and sleepless nights that everyone warned us about turned out to be moot points in utter amazement we shared as we watched our baby grow into a toddler.  

After the cake flour settled, we packed up the van and headed south to canyon country for our last camping trip of 2008.  There really is nothing like red sandstone and yellow cottonwood leaves.  days were warm and wonderful.  Nights were chilly almost too chilly for Miss G.  All in all it was a great end to the first Kirby Family camping season.

The month wrapped up with another celebration. This time it was time to

 help good friends, Pam and Justin, get ready to welcome a little one of their own into there lives. With a little help we sent them away that night will a jar full of advise, arms full of baby gear and a truck full of hand-me-downs. 

The month ended, of course, with Halloween. 

This year Miss G wagged her way around the neighborhood dress as a Dog. Cooper did not think that was funny! 

Rain ended our night early, a welcomed sign that winter is finally here after a mild indian summer of a fall.  With that, we venture into November.  I promise to post at least once a month.  I hope you've enjoyed our first family blog :)