Happy Halloween everyone!

Jax has been getting into the spirit. He started with a trip to the pumpkin patch with his cousins.




That's Megan, Madison and Katelyn hanging out with him in the wagon.

Grandma was there as well. What's tougher than getting four kids to all look at the camera at the same time when it's blowing dust in their eyes and they're looking into the sun?


Jax did not get into this position on his own.


Ummm, corn...


I love my mommy. Even if she took my corn away.


After the pumpkin patch, Jax was glad to get those clothes off to get rowdy on his new elephant rug from Aunt Rose.


Now to the main event!

Jax definitely has no idea what's going on. His Aunt Amy got him a cow costume (they have better cow costumes in Wyoming) and he was ready to go. In fact, I think Jax thought he finally had hoodie-style pajamas.

The Graff's and Scrivner's combined for a Halloween fright adventure. With Kimn, Rob, Rose, Braden and Ryan in effect -- there were more adults than kids at the Grandparent Graff house for the first time all week.

That's Aaron (bat), Rachel (cat), Madison (skeleton), Megan (witch), Katelyn (lady bug) and Olivia (Cat in the Hat) from left to right. Aaron, Rachel and Olivia are three of the Terrell's friends from WY.

SHOCKER ALERT! SHOCKER ALERT!

Not only did the Scrivner's all come over -- they all showed up wearing wigs, costumes and even makeup. Don't believe it?

Nice work, Team Scrivner. And a thanks to Brado and Rose for the wigs.

Jax, what did you think about your first Halloween?


'Nuff said.


Note: Chik-fil-A was not an official sponsor of this blog post.

Happy Halloween!

6 Months Old!

Doing well! More blogs on the way this weekend (dad hopes)...

Bronco time

Cutler isn't the only baby in the stadium tonight!

Rockies Date with Campbell Grey

Campbell Grey emailed a few weeks ago hoping to take Jax to a ball game for some brats, breast milk and baby talk. Being that she's a very attractive young lady with such a fine pedigree... Jax quickly accepted. The two Brooke's had to do some serious chaperoning to make sure that there was no hand holding in the backseat.

They were traveling in their favorite automobiles (one of these is the new over-sized models).
Remember Jax, initiating conversation is the hardest part. Once at the game, there was plenty of time for baby talk and cooing.
What did he just say to me?
Things are starting to move along nicely.
That's so funny I've got to bury my face in your shirt!
And finally "the move"...
Very smooth.
That. Was. Awesome!
As responsible parents - we were forced to pull them apart. Let's go back to the kiddos for their reactions.

"What the heck was that? One minute we're talking colic reducing bottle delivery systems and the next thing I know we're on first base."


"I'm on top of the world!"

All in all, a successful first date for Jax... and if you haven't seen... the little guy's first Rockies game was one of the best regular season games in franchise history. Thanks Grey's!

Somebody's Teething

He has two bottom teeth and some coming in up top!

Happy Birthday Kate Hartman!

A Laughing Fool

Jax has a good laugh watching dad play with his mom's dog. We were a little worried that he might start crawling before he starting laughing. No more concern.

Jax tries food

Well, I guess we can call "Rice Milk" food.

That was his 4 month birthday, so we figured we'd give it a shot. Summary would be that he really likes rice milk, or at least he really likes the spoon -- and once he gets it in his mouth, he is trying to figure out how to swallow it.



Here's a long version for those that really want to see it (ie., grandmothers). We also added a bit more rice to this bowl.

He continues to enjoy eating, although he gets more on himself than he does in his stomach.
Good times!

Jax Goes Ranchin

Luckily for Jax, he has a lot of farming/ranching blood in his background (thanks to the Hoods and the Elliotts). Unfortunately for Jax, his mom and dad fashion themselves as suburbanites and city folk, respectively.

On the bright side, the Cushman's Twin Creeks Ranch provides ample opportunity for Jax to... to... well, I guess fishing/shooting/horse riding and 4-wheeling are out when you're only 3 months old? Raw deal, Jax.... someday, my son. Just be very very nice to Sam Cushman. She's not the one you should be kicking in the shins. That is, unless she likes it and kicked you first (we'll talk about technique in this area in a few years).

At least for now, you got to ride on a plane! True, your dad is a marginal husband and your mom had to fly with you alone. At least you share her love of escalators.


It should be said that Jax was completely easy on the entire round trip. His penchant for sleeping in cars clearly translates to airplanes. Plus, if he gets ranching from the Elliotts and Hoods -- he gets some flying prowess from his Grandpa and Uncle Graff.

Here he is taking it in on his own row...


And then falling asleep...


Once at the Ranch, Jax wanted to go for a hike.


Similar to his dad's approach to household chores, Jax finds it more appealing to sleep while mom does all the work.


And here is a potpourri of other good times at the Ranch.

(I know, no Jax -- but what a great shot of the Yak)

A Little More Family Time

Jackson continues his travels from one relative's arms to another's. First, the Grandma and Grandpa Graff headed downtown so that they could get Jax some ice cream (well, at least indirectly).


At first, Jax's hat needed to be backward or his patented headbutt would be uncomfortable. But when you see something that cute, you stick with it.


Man that's comfortable.

Fatherly Advice Alert! Fatherly Advice Alert! Fatherly Advice Alert! Jax - if you're reading this in 21 years as your physical activity is grinding to a halt and you move to a big city where you're going to be eating out most meals and going out at night... remember that Ben & Jerry are two hippies that you don't need as friends...


Jax finally got a chance to meet his Great Aunt Dona.


And yes, I know she looks like "Aunt" instead of "Great Aunt"... but I'm telling the truth here.

As a side note about this time (11 weeks) -- Jax started some intense drooling. He's pretty much has a drool pool from his belly button to his neck at all times. I mention because Jax has a drool bubble in this photo - and if the light was different, you'd notice that he looks like a coed in a Cancun wet t-shirt contest.

In late June, Brooke is getting ready to head back to work. This meant a lot of traveling to Fort Collins and having fun before her evil husband made her go back to work. Grandma Scrivner was often a happy recipient of Brooke's travels.


For those of you that haven't been blessed with two many "when Brooke was young," stories.... When Brooke was young she used to get tired when people were visiting the Scrivner household. However, instead of heading to her bed or a couch to catch some Zzz's, her favored move was to fall asleep on the floor under the kitchen table. This way she could feel like she "didn't miss anything." Yes - a strange concept when you're sleeping, but it was her move all the same.

I believe she's trying to teach Jax the same as she has him sleeping on the restaurant booth seat. Also, be assured that this was before Jax learned to roll over.

A Birthday - but not Jax's

Disclaimer: the information you're about to read/see occurred in the month of June and is just now hitting the blog because Jax's dad is a lazy son of a gun.

Pop quiz.

Question: What do you call your aunt's brother?

Note: (Pete Cushman has a Graff/Scrivner/D'Ambrosia family tree that might help answer any questions on this subject. Please see him for details)

Answer: A lush.

OK. OK. That's just a joke. Chris D'Ambrosia celebrated his 30th birthday with a big group dinner at Maggiano's followed up with his friends trying to buy him shots and avoid having to drink any of their own. Jax's dad was lucky enough to pick this as his driving night and avoid the shots entirely.

All kinds of fun people on the scene for this one (working clockwise). Some guys that I don't know over on the top left, Chris Theiss and his girlfriend Ali under the TV (no idea what Theiss is doing -- but best guess would be a Boulder-erotic townie gang sign). Peter Cushman next to Braden and Rose. Hannah and Dax -- recent Denver implants from Arizona. Josh and Jen Guernsey holding the little guy.... and finally Jill and the birthday boy wearing a ridiculous cowboy shirt complete with dragons and skulls.

As the Guernsey's are about to add a baby to their crew this month, I thought it would be a good idea to get Josh some live fire with a baby that understands how to eat. Josh did great... which is a good sign, let's just say that he started out a little "rigid".


Chris managed to still get in some photos with Jax. I think Chris was just complementing Jax on his Broncos colors.

Finally, Jax decided it was time to go home.
OK, that's not true. He was still rocking out. Jax's parents decided it was time to go home and slipped out of the party using the now wholly acceptable "baby's tired" excuse.


What do you do after an all-night birthday throw down?

Get a zerbert from your uncle, of course!