Satori Smiles

On our visit to London we had the privilege of meeting David’s dad and his family. I have more photos, but here is just one.

We celebrated Satori’s 5th birthday yesterday with a Fairy Magical party. Despite a winter ice storm, all our mountain friends made it except one who didn’t have snow tires. And my brother’s family from the flat-lands made it even, but had to walk up our driveway. The party lasted almost 4 hours and most called to let us know they got home safely after the party.

Mama had so much fun decorating for this party! A magical autumn fairy grotto was the centerpiece in our living room with twinkling lights, autumn leaves and tulle draped everywhere. Tiny tea party sets were placed in the middle so our little fairies could celebrate.

Fairy Grotto

As people arrived, we beaded fairy wreaths. It was fun getting to know each other, as we live in a mountain community, which I think is more close-knit than places we’ve lived in the past. There were 3 homeschooling families, new friends of ours that were at the party.

Photography backgrounds were setup, but by the time I pulled out my camera, a couple of guests had to leave to beat the ice storm home.

Satori had a blast running around with her old and new friends!

Satori and cousin Peyton:

Even Aiden gets into the fairy spirit for a moment!

Every year Satori freaks out when we sing Happy Birthday to her. This year she was okay through the song, but then she fell off her chair and slid under the table so she couldn’t blow her candles out. Next year I am sure she will make it all the way through this birthday ritual!

We woke up to this today:

It hasn’t stopped the birds, you might be able to see one of the large Stellar Blue Jays in the tree.

We are supposed to get 3-4 feet of snow by tomorrow. Luckily, our neighbor plowed us out this morning before we woke up, although he’ll probably have to do it again.

We are heading to London! Just for a few days, but it should be  a fun experience. More about this later, we only booked our flights this morning.

Since there’s a possibility we may skip Halloween, I thought I’d post a few snapshots I took at a costume party we attended a few weeks ago.

I was hoping Satori wouldn’t want to be a Disney princess this year, but instead, she was TWO Disney characters. She really wanted to be Ariel, but the costume is very restricting, her legs are stuck together.

So for the rest of the party she was Roselle, Tinkerbell’s friend.

Abigail at her turn at the pinata.

Not my best photos, but sometimes you take what you can get.

David and I hung out with my brother Justin tonight and Satori stayed home with her grandparents. While my mom was at the computer, Satori drew a picture for her “Great Grandma”.

Here is her drawing complete with a “beautiful dress” and my Grandma’s cane. (Great Grandma is nowhere near this wide, but it is a beautiful dress!)

Here she tries to sound out “Great Grandma”, the short-u ending the “grandma” part.

I also have a bunch of “grat” photos from last night, but I want to wait until I get home until I post most of them, but here’s a sneak peek! This is Satori and her cousin Eliana, my sister’s 6 year old daughter. They had a great time together! More photos will be up by Monday!

I hung out with my childhood friend Rhonda tonight and we had fun with Satori at the Pumpkin Patch and then went geocaching. Rhonda made a very talented geocache, she has the eyes for it! It was also my very first cache in Wisconsin! Just two miles away from the house I grew up in even.

Satori scored at the pumpkin patch with all kinds of handmade clothes for her barbie dolls and American Girl dolls.

Updated our facebook photos…

And a few at the Pumpkin Patch, it was a cooold day so we didn’t post for long.

Wow, the first time Satori has worn jeans since she was a toddler! She took them off in the car ride home though, hehe.

We are here on my parent’s farm, and our week is now booked! We just threw a family party last night and had over 25 relatives at my parent’s house. The rest of the week Mama’s going to see friends that she hasn’t seen since her wedding!

Trying to get a shot of Satori swinging on her swing eating fresh grapes that Grandpa pulled off the vine a few feet away.

Mmmm… One of Satori’s favorite foods is grapes!

Next, we found this furry caterpillar, I remember these guys in plenty from my own childhood here.

When I’m away from home I use Picnik as my editor, I just upgraded to their Premium service and got cool frame options!

Saturday we spent the day in Breckenridge for their Oktoberfest. The drive was beautiful, the trees were all turning their colors and the weather was perfect! Here’s some photos of our day.

Dog waiting patiently for his owner to return, ski slopes in the background. His eyes never wavered from the spot he saw his owner last. His brother is in the cab of the truck, doing the same…

Upside-down laughing girl on her way to the party.

We soon found the stream running through the town, with children playing in it. It wasn’t long before Satori made her way across.

Trying to get back to Daddy on the other side, sipping from his Breck beer bug.

Mom trying to warm her back up!

Satori smiles…

Got two geocaches during the day, one was just a few yards away from where we got our third and last shared beer. The second was on our way home. Geocaching brings you to beautiful vistas like this! This was just a few miles south and my eyes would’ve never set upon this sunset-lit scene if it hadn’t been for the cache. We didn’t see any mountain goats as it suggested we might, but it was a memorable moment nonetheless.

Labor Day Monday we spent the afternoon at the Boulder Creek Festival. Satori jumped, flew, climbed, and got wet!

First up, a quick face painting.

We were doubtful Satori would be up for this, but she remained undaunted. Well, perhaps she was slightly intrepid here…

Satori in the Sky!

Above was purposely exposed for the sky, to allow a silhouette of my little girl. Next up, some flash in the face.

I think she likes it!

it tickled my tummy!

- Satori

Next up, jumpy jumps!

They had 5 separate jumper companies. We did them all!

Some strange zucchini race animals. We kept seeing their wheels fall off as people toted them away.

Ready to go home… Satori just had to get her feet wet in Boulder Creek. Unfortunately, some guy distracted her and she FELL into the water! She was quick to say “I’m OK, I’m OK” to all the onlookers.

Uncle Justin (my brother) and his girlfriend Senaca flew to Colorado to see our family and Ken’s. They were only here for a few days, so we had to make the most of it!

Aren’t they a beautiful couple?

After meeting for lunch in Boulder, we then went to Evergreen, CO to do some geocaching around their beautiful lake.

The Lake at Evergreen CO

It was their first time. I gave them both a nice GPS device so they could hunt down the “catches” (as Justin says). Some were harder than others, but we found all 5 that we searched for!

Senaca and Justin Geocaching

As we strolled around the lake, I would snap quick little portraits.

justin & senaca

Goofy little Princess

No Making Out cache

I think they were thinking romantic shots, as I caught this after Justin and Senaca together solved the cache “No Making Out”.

It was a wonderful day, weather was perfect, scenery beautiful, and a good time with family and friends!