An Apple A Day – Updated

Special Wisconsin Edition

If you have seen us on Facebook, you know that we were seperated for a little while late last week: Ahna and Ezra had already come to Wisconsin, while I had to work two more days before joining them. Well, we are all back together and are enjoying a wonderful fall weekend in this beautiful area near La Crosse. We came back to spend some time with Ahna’s folks and have had a really fun time watching Ezra play with them and enjoy their company.

Yesterday afternoon we headed out to a local apple orchard to pick some apples; well, really it was to spend some time outside and to let Ezra have an experience that’s something that is decidedly more difficult to get in Colorado. There is a great little spot only a few minutes from the house, and located on the top of one of the coulees (coulee is a Wisconsin word for the size of a land mass that is between a large hill and a small mountain – or at least that’s my best guess coulee is a LaCrosse area word for the valley between the bluffs. So, we were on top of a bluff, looking down at a coulee). It was a classic day: cool temps, slight breeze that left a crispness to the air, sun, and a stroll around the grounds.

Ezra simply loved being at the orchard. He was having a great time walking by himself up and down the rows, speaking about everything that he saw. We filled a bag – with just a little help from Ezra – collecting most of the apples from one tree. Then we headed over to the part of the experience that Ezra seemed to love the most: the tractors. We plopped him in the drivers seat for an opportunity to drive the tractor, and I am sure that we actually plopped him right into a world of euphoria.

After we finished up with the apples, we walked across the farm road and into their pumpkin patch to find a pumpkin that Ezra could bring back and leave at his Grandparent’s house. We found two nice pumpkins and came back home for a great afternoon nap – for all of us. It’s good to be back here.

Goodbye Old Friend

As a birthday present, I received a much needed replacement travel suitcase from Ahna, Ezra, and my parents. The old one was getting, well, old and was well on it’s way to a new life somewhere else. Only thing is that it’s hard to say goodbye. I started packing for a trip back to Wisconsin and was lost and confused. For the first time in 20 years I didn’t know where to put things. What is this zipper for? What is supposed to go in this pocket? The old suitcase holds lots and lots of memories. There are countless trips around the US that it has been my companion on (probably somewhere in the neighborhood of 120+) from Alaska to Orlando; and it has been to Japan, Canada and Mexico once, and Israel 3 or 4 times. There are lots of miles from lots of cities on those wheels, and now it’s time to develop a new relationship with a new bag. I took a note from the cutthroat business model by replacing my old trustworthy TravelPro with it’s newer, sleeker, and more  modern member of the same family. This first trip with my new partner in travel is a good trial run; and since Ahna and Ezra will be meeting me at the destination (they left early since I had to work a few more days) the opportunity will present itself to have some one-on-one bonding time. Here’s to 20 more years of travel greatness with a new TravelPro bag by my side.

15 Month Appointment

Ezra finally had his 15 month appointment yesterday, a full 5 weeks late, but that’s the way that schedules work sometimes. Ahna took Ezra to the doctor’s office for the appointment and was greeted by an office full of sick children: flu season in full effect. It’s gotten so bad that they have only one exam room that they have kept for ‘well baby’ checks, and they have devoted all of the others to sick children. The appointment went really well and Ezra checked out ‘perfectly’ according to Dr. Sheehan.

Here are the vital statistics: Head: 19″ (75%), Height: 32.25″ (75%), Weight: 23lbs 1 oz (25%).

The Zoo At The Zoo

On Wednesday, Ezra and I hit the free day at the Denver Zoo. Once we arrived at the parking lot, we were greeted by what appeared to be every single family in the Denver metro area with a child under the age of 18. Parking was scarce. Super scarce. So hard to find that I settled on ‘one last drive around before leaving.’ Fortunately, we found a space and headed into the zoo.

The crowd that was in the parking lot/entrance area turned out only to be a small fraction of the number of people stuffed into the grounds. Ezra and I had to wait in a line to see anything and everything. There was lots to see and do (many arts and craft projects set up for the kids) but all of them required a wait in a line that is nearly impossible with a 16 month old. Ezra did enjoy the elephants, the giraffes, and the seals. All of the other animals fell into the following categories: too long of a line to wait for them, way too hard to see, or gone (yea, seemed like half of the animals in the zoo were not there).

I know that the pictures just described was a meek one – but that was for an adult. For Ezra, he seemed to have a great time. He absolutely fell in love with the seals and the sea lions. We are now pointing in a direction that will land us back at the zoo in a few weeks with a lot less people (hopefully).

Oh, turns out that there aren’t many photo opportunities at a day like this trip…especially with a child Ezra’s age and no other hands to watch him. So, here is what we got:

Photoshoot Outtakes

Here are the photos that ‘didn’t make the cut’ for the 16 month shot….all from the same session (if you call it that – it’s more like: Ezra, let’s play and let Daddy take pictures for a while). We thought that these were too good not to share.

Photos From Savta

A few photos from when Ezra has hung out with Saba and Savta…apparently they are teaching him to drive…

16 Months!

Race For The Cure

We spent the early morning on Sunday out on a little stroll with 55,000 of our friends. I was able to secure a few hours off of work to participate, and Ahna, Ezra, and my Mom picked me up from the firehouse at 6:15am. We made it up to Denver, parked, and wandered near the start line by 7am…and started our walk at the end of the 5K run that had just kicked off. We were able to find and meet up with our friends Britta and Ryan Fisher, and we enjoyed their company as we completed the course. It was again a chilly morning (seems like it is cold every single year) – with temps hovering near the 30 degree mark and a slight wind that made it occasionally colder. Denver is the home to the world’s largest Race For The Cure, and even though the numbers were a little down from last year, it was great to once again head out and help such an amazing cause.

Thanks to my Mom for the photos.

Fun While Walking

Ezra’s mobility continues to amaze us. He is really close to running – and at times (like going down a hill) appears to actually be moving fast enough to be considered a run. I noticed the other day that he has become comfortable enough with walking, that he is now started to have fun with it: changing the pace, changing the stride, stepping over or around things like lines or patterns in the ground, etc. Oh, and up and down stairs? Should be mastered by the end of the month.

Winter Park

This was a solo deal (ie: Oren only). I had the opportunity to go to the East Grand Fire Department in Winter Park and teach a one-day course in Rapid Intervention (firefighters saving firefighters). The course went well and was fairly uneventful…but I did get up there about 15 minutes early and was able to snap a few photos of the changing trees. We are hoping that all of us get up to the mountains to see the trees soon….