Grand Mesa

Though we both graduated from Mesa State in Grand Junction, neither of us took advantage of the Grand Mesa, which, at 500 square miles, is the largest geologic feature of its kind in the world. Luckily, Mimi and Papa are Grand Mesa veterans, so we had expert guides while fishing and hiking. Asher got to meet his first fish--a brown trout--and we spent time at multiple lakes. It was a little odd for him to see snow on the ground in July, but Asher had a great (50-some degree) day on the Mesa.

Mimi and Papa on the Grand Mesa

Lilly Lake

Hiking with Mimi

Hangin' with Mommy

Independence Day

The Fourth of July is one of the busiest times in Gunnison and it was great to be home to celebrate. It was Asher's first time to experience the Crested Butte parade, where he loved the hippy-dippy buses that cruised down Elk Avenue. He had a great time with Nana, Pop-Pop, Lincoln and Heath in Uncle Justy's and Aunt Cami's wagon. It was a great celebration of the Declaration's signing and was topped off by fireworks in Gunnison.

Baba's house in Almont

Nana, Pop-Pop, and the boys in their own little Fourth of July Parade--Crested Butte

With Uncle Justy in Crested Butte

Mount Crested Butte

Gearing up to watch the fireworks from Hartman Rocks

Powderhorn and Blue Mesa

Now that Asher's officially a resident of Gunnison, it makes him the seventh generation of our family to live in the Valley. Gunnison is just a short drive away from Powederhorn, home of Great-Great-Great-Great Grandpa Elijah McGregor and final resting place for many of our relatives. We picked up Mimi, who was camping above Cebolla Creek in Powderhorn, and made the short drive past the Howard ranches up the hill to the cemetery. There, the boys said hi to Baba as we shared stories. Then, it was back to town for a quick stop at Blue Mesa Lake, where the boys enjoyed some time in the water. We miss the Jersey Shore, but there's nothing quite like spending time with family!

Lincoln, Asher, and Heath saying hi to Granddad and Baba

The Woytek Clan in Powderhorn, looking down the Cebolla Valley

Mimi, Asher, and Nana at Blue Mesa Lake

The Boys enjoying some post-swim rough-housing

Lincoln and Heath relaxing with Nana and Papa. Asher's doing a little dance.

First Week in Colorado

We haven't had a whole lot of time to post pictures--what, with the 2,000 mile move and all--but things are finally settling down for us. We've been in Gunnison for a month now and, in retrospect, things were just as crazy as they seemed. Our move started with a too-small U-Haul and we experienced a flat tire in Ohio and a dead battery in Indiana. Asher traveled like a champ, largely due to his traveling partners Nana and Pop-Pop. We were greeted in Gunnison by a welcome home sign (thanks Mr. Ryan Leonard) and a ton of family including Mimi and Papa, the Martellaro Clan from Fairbanks, and Uncle Frank.

After settling in with the "big stuff," it was time to celebrate the Fourth of July with Nana, Pop-Pop, Uncle Justy, Aunt Cami, Lincoln, and Heath. The boys got along swimmingly--the 3 Musketeers--and played in Gunnison, Powderhorn, Crested Butte, Almont, and at Blue Mesa Lake.

Asher winding down in a hotel--Richmond, Indiana

Heath, Linclon, and Asher fueling up for fun

Hangin' at the Park

The Woytek Men

Powderhorn, CO

Mother's Day in Baltimore

To celebrate Mother's Day this year, we did what any mom would want to do...we drove to Baltimore to see a baseball game. We spent some time in the Inner Harbor, climbed the steps of Federal Hill, watched the Kinetic Art race through the city, swam (in a pool, though if Asher had his druthers, it'd have been in the Harbor), and, of course, went to an O's Game. While the Birds were handed a whoopin', we enjoyed the weather south of the Mason-Dixon. Charm City has always been one of our favorite trips and it was a great weekend to enjoy the city one more time before the big trek West.

Mommy and Asher at the O's Game

Eutaw Street, Oriole Park at Camden Yards

Asher and Daddy with ol' number 5. This is either a tribute to #5, the former high school catcher in Gunnison, or to Brooks Robinson, Hall of Fame third-baseman. We're still unsure.

Asher's saying, "Mommy's #1" on this Mother's Day weekend.

The big guy at the hotel after swimming.

Takin' a ride with the cousins

We visited family in Reading this past weekend and Asher got his first ride in a Caddy.

Carousel at the zoo

You Look Like a Monkey...

Mimi came to visit at the beginning of April and the rain clouds parted just long enough for a day at America's oldest Zoo--the Philadelphia Zoo in Fairmount Park. Asher loved gorillas (probably because they reminded him of Pop-Pop, who he'd just seen in New York). He got to ride the carousel with Mimi, saw all kinds of animals, and made it home in time to catch the end of the Fightin' Phils.

Mimi, Asher, and the Bear

Take THAT Geese!

Spot the Great Ape in the Picture...

Asher tries to get up-close and personal with Baloo

New York, New York

It's been a busy Spring at the Woytek household--full of visits, working, and thinking about packing (because there hasn't been a whole lot of actual packing going on...yet). At the end of March Nana came for a visit and we made the 90 mile trek to New York City where Pop-Pop was chaperoning a student trip. We made record time until we actually crossed the Hudson into the city where the last 3 miles took us one hour. All in all we had a great time in NYC and Asher loved seeing his Nana and Pop-Pop. He played in Central Park, checked out the toys at FAO Schwarz, took a boat to see the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, and met his first love in a New York diner!

Sliding in Central Park

Statue of Liberty

Pop-Pop and Asher with Lady Liberty

Nana enjoying the Audio Tour and Asher enjoying Nana's Audio Tour player inside the Statue Pedestal

Asher looking at his Great-Great Grandma Susan Scavnicky Woytek's name on Ellis Island

Dancing at St. Rose

Snow Day, Again

If you haven't kept up on the weather lately, you've missed the fact that, since January 1, we've experienced some nasty winter weather here in New Jersey. It has resulted in "two hour delays" for school openings and, of course, the coveted Snow Day! If you listen closely in the mornings, you can hear the collective celebration of every child under the age of 18 when the snow day is announced. Anyway, last week, both St. Rose and UD closed due to "inclement weather." That, of course, meant the whole family could take some time to play in the snow!

"Excuse me, sir. Are you ok? You're looking a little pale. And you're missing your nose."

Maybe Asher will be a plastic surgeon. Here's his first "nose job."

We just hope if he does become a plastic surgeon, he doesn't treat all noses like this.

Woytek Family Christmas

Ah, the Holidays. A time for reflection and thanks, family and fun, and thousands of miles of travel in winter weather. We had a wonderful Christmas break. It began with the first snow of the season for the Philadelphia metro area, which, of course, meant a 4 hour delay from PHL. But, despite this speed bump, our Christmas vacation turned out wonderfully. We traveled to Gunnison for the Curtis-Sowell nuptials and welcomed Becky into the family. (Congratulations Clay and Becky!) We then headed to Grand Junction for a few days to celebrate Christmas with the Curtis/Schultz family. Then it was back to Denver for the Woytek Christmas and our 8th (seriously EIGHTH) wedding anniversary and finally home to New Jersey for New Year's Eve.

Asher enjoyed playing his grandparents, aunts, uncles, and numerous cousins (some of whom he met for the first time) and, of course Santa Claus was good to him.

Nana and Asher in his new snowsuit

First Colorado Snow

Hangin' with Da Bears at the Zoo

"No, Heath and Lincoln, this is how you play with it!"

Lincoln, Brett, Asher, Felicity, Drew, and Heath

Aunt Keitha, Mommy, Mimi, Great Grandma Billie, and Aunt Becky

"So whaddaya have there Grandma?"

The Three Wise Men: Asher, Ryan, and Aaron

Hitchin' a ride in Mimi's wagon

Opening presents with Mommy