Easter and Other Things That Happened in Colorado

Tyler has spent the last five weeks in Alabama, completing some necessary training. In an effort to break up the time that he was away, and avoid my inevitable pity party when Jackson and I spent Easter alone, the two of us headed back to Colorado for a week and a half of over-eating, relaxing, and playing catch up with friends and family.

And it felt like such a luxury - Colorado twice in two months?! Yes please.

The time we spent in Colorado overlapped with my mom's spring break, my dad's birthday, and, of course, Easter. Prepare for picture overload, per usual.

Like a boss.

Can you tell we're related? Maybe?

Apparently, I bring the weather.

Celebrating papa's birthday - like children. 

And Easter eggs!

Incredibly, the Easter bunny found us.

I could eat him up. Seriously.

Easter brunch with the crew.

The ol' Ester egg hunt. Don't mind the tie - fighting for eggs is serious business.

One last bed time story with Aunt Katers.

Homeward bound (which always means breakfast at McDonalds).

THREE

You’re three today, and I can’t wrap my head around how that happened.

It seems like yesterday that we found out I was pregnant with you. That day our world shifted, and we began the exciting, scary, and overwhelming journey of preparing for your arrival. We didn’t know it then, but our lives would never be the same in the very best kind of way.

In the early morning hours on March 9^th, 2013, we headed to the hospital anxious, nervous and excited for what the following hours would bring. By 5pm, I was holding you in my arms, and in that moment, you moved our world.

In the months and now years that have followed, we have experienced moments incapacitating fear and vulnerability, and right along with it, a joy that we never knew could exist. Your happiness is our happiness, your sadness is our sadness.

Sweet boy, you have added immeasurable love and joy to our lives. For each day that we get to be a part of your journey, we are blessed. You are a sweet, fun-loving three year old who loves big, plays hard, and hugs really, really tight. You are cautious and careful, and you are smart and funny.

We are so proud of the little guy you’re becoming, and can’t wait to see where the coming years take us (but we’re in no hurry).

Happy THIRD birthday, Jackson!

The Stars Aligned

A couple of my best friends and I had been working to plan a girls trip, where we could surprise our other friend Jamie, for her 30th birthday. We settled on surprising her right at home, in CO - meaning that I could bring Jackson along, giving the family a much-appreciated fix.

Jackson and I stayed for a week and a half, which also happened to coincide with the Super Bowl and my mom's birthday, where the BRONCOS were playing. On top of that, Tyler would be in Las Vegas for work the week I was in Colorado, so he was able to fly through for the weekend - meaning we could watch the Broncos defeat the Panthers as a family WITH our family in Colorado. What a week.

Here are some pictures from our last minute, super-amazing adventure.

He's become a stellar traveller.

Surprise!!!

It snowed nearly 20 inches over two days (this was day one), resulting in 3 snow days for my mom. Even more winning.

Mama's birthday dinner!

Snow Dayyys

We had a snowy day last week, and it looked something like this:

-Sleep until 8, at which time I turn on Mickey Mouse Clubhouse.
-Heat up some frozen french toast.
-Watch the Today Show.
-Build a train track.
-Read books (about pooping in a toilet).
-Encourage Jackson to poop on the toilet for upwards of 30 minutes.
-Shower.
-Bundle up.
-Drag Jackson up and down the tiny hill in our front yard for 45 minutes (this doubles as my workout for the day).
-Eat Mac n Cheese and drink hot chocolate.
-Put Jackson down for a nap.
-Jump on a work video call.
-Search for someone to plow our mess of a driveway.
-Write a blog.

So much poop, so much laziness, so much snow.

I could really write an entire series on snow days. But because I know that would bore you even more than it would bore me (which is a lot), I'll just throw some pictures of us enjoying the pretty white stuff up for your enjoyment.

Yes, where IS the poop?!

Christmas

This Christmas was warm, quiet, lazy, and filled with simple joys.

We started the morning by ensuring that the reindeer had enjoyed the carrots we left outside for them, and Santa had eaten the cookies and drank the milk we left for him. Then Jackson noticed the excavator Santa left, and we spent the rest of the morning redirecting his attention from the much-loved excavator to the opening of all the rest of the presents under the tree.

Tyler threw together an exceptionally delicious breakfast burrito spread accompanied by mimosas, then, thanks to the unseasonably warm day, we headed out for an early afternoon hike. The afternoon and evening was spent watching Christmas classics, playing with toys, Face Timing family, and munching on cheese fondue.

I love this little family.

Merry Christmas, from ours to yours.

Behind the scenes....

This year, we decided it would be a good idea to load up the dog, the two-year-old, and the camera on a particularly warm November morning. We headed to Pixley Falls, a beautiful spot for hiking and picnicking about 30 minutes from our home. In my infinite (cheap) wisdom, I figured we'd set the camera on a rock, set the timer, and snag a picture.

While I imagine this particular park is jam-packed all summer long (the shallow water practically begs for you to jump in), this unusually warm November weekday meant there was no one else in sight. And thank goodness.

Kahla barks at and chases every moving thing (if you've met her, you know). Jackson is... two. And Tyler, he managed to forget to grab the shirt I placed at his fingertips on our way out the door. Win. Win. Win.

Incredibly, Kahla was by far the most well-behaved individual in our family. Jackson was throwing tantrums - because he hates the camera. Tyler was frustrated - because Jackson was frustrated. And I was over it before it began because - Tyler forgot his shirt, Jackson HATES pictures, and Kahla barks at everything.

BUT. She saved the day. She was calm, posed for the camera, and held this nightmare together. We hiked out of there a sweaty, stressed, confused mess - but that's life.

We managed to snag exactly ONE decent family picture - but that's all you need, right?

Here's to real life. Merry Christmas - from our family to yours!

 

She wins a gold star for this endeavor.

 

Ok. this isn't so bad...

 

Nailing it. Picture after picture.

 

What a backdrop.

 

Nope, that won't do.

 

There she is, posing the way she does.

 

....This won't work either.

 

Mid-tantrum.

 

Things improved once we stopped for lunch, and stopped forcing pictures.

 

 

... and we got one. He's not smiling, but we'll take it.