Scottish Fest

Jack's roots (tried to find Hogan but it wasn't available.)

Lee's cabin

Hangin' out with Aunt Pam

Fair grounds

Parade

We had a blast yesterday! Pam, Dan, Jack and I headed up to the mountains for Scottish Fest. The fair grounds were in Estes Park ( I hadn't been there since my dear friend, Katie's, wedding.) It is absolutely breath taking up there. The skies were crystal blue, there was a chill in the breeze, and kilts as far as the eye could see. :)

When we arrived, we realized we had just made it to the spot where the parade ended, so we just found ourselves a spot and enjoyed the bagpipes and Scottish clans. Jack was a bit cold, but looked oh so Irish in the outfit his Nana gave him. The parade was a bit too far for him to really see what was going on, but I think he enjoyed the music.

Upon arriving on the fair grounds, we found some yummy food. Pam and I split a Reuben sandwich which was expertly prepared by a grey bearded fellow...scrumptious... Next, we headed to the Highlander games. We saw something which looked like a discus contest and then a log throwing contest, all done in kilts of course. There was a fantastic fly over by the Marines as we ate our popcorn and barbecue, and then it was off to the Irish Dance competition. I think Jack really enjoyed that. He loved the elaborate costumes, loud sounds of the dance shoes and music.

Before we headed home, we stopped by Dan and Pam's cousin's new cabin. Lee's place was a bit hard to find, but once we did and stepped outside, you felt completely cut off from the world. It was so peaceful. The cabin was built in the early 1900s and Lee and his wife, Michele, are in the process of fixing it up. Quite charming, indeed. --Jack loved Gunner and Rico, Lee's dogs. He couldn't stop giggling at them, and he was absolutely taken with Lee. I also think he loved the clean, crisp air. Wish we could have stayed longer, but it had been a long day and we were getting a bit tuckered out.

All in all it was a great outing. Jack loved spending time with his Aunt Pam and being exposed to his Blair/Hogan roots.

Sl'inte!

August with our Jack

Pics of Samuel Tucker, Jack here and there, and of his baptism

Again, it's been awhile since my last post, but once August hit, I was either getting ready for school, starting school or learning to balance grading and lessons while wanting to enjoy my time with Jack. --Daddy has been wonderful, as usual, helping me to get back into the routine of working. I am so blessed to have such an amazing husband.

Several things happened in August.

1. The first weekend in August, Jackson was baptized at St. Francis of Assisi Church in Castle Rock, CO. The day could not have been more beautiful. Both sets of grandparents came, Aunt Pam, and Aunt Mimi (Angie), and Aunt Gaby and Uncle Michael were there as well as loving Godparents. (Dan and I have always felt so at home at St. Francis' because when I traveled to Italy before I met Dan, I visited Assisi and prayed for my future husband there...St. Francis is very special to us.) Being at the church named for him, with the mountains behind the altar, surrounded by the warmth of family, the day was simply perfect. His grandma Anne (Nona) had even sown his baptismal gown from my wedding dress...it was such a gift of love. I could feel God smiling down on our little Jack creating a peace which permeated every minute of the day.
2. Jack and I went to visit my dear friend, Michele, after the birth of her second child, Sam. We spent several fun-filled days there hanging out with the Tuckers and Jackie and Michael, Michele's siblings. However, it was such a fun-filled trip, we didn't take too many pictures unfortunately, but it was a special time to be together and I'll never forget that. We got to sip coffee together in the mornings, watch a movie like old times, and chat like no time had passed at all.

3. Jack started going to his babysitter, Ms. Christi. It was really hard to leave him, but he loves being there with and her two little boys (Eli, 3 and Isaac, 5 months.) He always has a big smile on his face when we get there in the mornings and is so content when we pick him up each afternoon. She has been a true Godsend, even though it's so hard to be away from him so much during the week.

4. Intermingled in all of these events, we went to baseball games with Aunt Pam, skyped with the other aunts and uncles and of course with the grandparents. We are counting down the days until Grandpa and Uncle Theo come to visit in a few weeks. Then it will soon be hunting season in November, Thanksgiving with the Blairs, and two trips to Dallas in December.

Jack fills each of our days with more happiness than we ever thought possible and can wipe away a bad day with the flash of his smile or sound of his laugh.