Sealed with a Kiss

Last Day of School

2008-06-01T14:23:00.001-07:00

Thursday was the "official" last day of school. The kids were dismissed at 11:30 AM, but I do not feel that it was a productive academic day since I saw beach balls flying in Claire's room.

The last day was a little "bittersweet" for the kids. They were excited for the school year to end, but they were sad saying goodbye to their Colorado friends. It has been quite a year for them, but overall I think they are glad to be going home.

End of the Year Picnic

2008-05-28T19:16:00.000-07:00

Today Claire's class walked to a park near the school for their end of the year picnic. It was a beautiful day, so the kids were able to enjoy the park. They played soccer, baseball, limbo, lacrosse, and any other sport you can image. Everyone seemed to have a great time. Claire was completely exhausted tonight, and VERY dirty from a hard day of playing.

I have not mentioned Braden's end of the year picnic because it was cancelled. It was scheduled for yesterday, but it was terribly cold and rainy. They were allowed to watch a movie at school, but unfortunately, there was no picnic. :(

Coors Field

2008-05-28T19:10:00.001-07:00

Yesterday, Claire's class toured Coors field. It is the home of the Colorado Rockies. It was quite an experience for the kids. They were able to sit in the dug-out, the locker room, and the press box. It really was a lot of fun.

Memorial Day

2008-05-26T18:39:00.001-07:00

We were invited to a cook-out at our friends Shay and Eric's cabin. It is in Bailey, CO which is about one hour north of Denver. It is located on the Platte River. The view was absolutely breath-taking. The cabin is nestled in the mountains, so you get to enjoy the view and sounds of the river while being surrounded by the mountains. It was a little piece of paradise.

We followed several families on our journey. We brought new meaning to the Griswald's vacation. It was comical and quite time-consuming to make our trip; however, it was worth every bit of effort it took. We had such a great time!

The kids played softball. The kids said they beat all of the Dads. They were so excited! I didn't witness the game, so I am not sure how hard the Dads were trying, but it definitely made for excitement and bragging among the kids.

Following the softball, the kids wanted to go fishing; however, we didn't have enough gear for everyone. The guys creatively made fishing poles from leftover lumber, string and a washer. The kids then dug for worms and began their quest to catch fish. The wait for a fish was FOREVER!! In fact, everyone had given-up, when a fish attached itself to the hook. It was on Claire's "pole." She was in the yard playing, when Justin spotted her pole floating down the river. It was attached to a fish!!! Everyone was so excited. (Especially the Dads because this meant their invention was a success). I have to admit I was a skeptic on the ability of their homemade poles, but I was proven wrong.

The most humorous part of the fish story is that Eric had been fishing all day without any success. He was completely outfitted with the vest, the pole, the WORKS. Can you imagine his frustration when a fish was caught on a piece of scrap lumber and string? PRICELESS!!!

It was such a fun day!! It really made us realize how lucky we have been to find such a great group of friends/family here in Colorado. :) We really are going to miss everyone. Our Colorado Crew will always hold a special place in our hearts.

SOCK HOP

2008-05-26T18:12:00.001-07:00

Friday was the much anticipated Sock-Hop. The girls have been talking about the sock-hop for MONTHS! The discussion has been about who was going to the party with whom, and what outfits they were going to wear. As you can imagine, these were HUGE decisions.

Claire finally decided to go the the sock-hop with Jack England, and that she had absolutely nothing to wear. This meant that she and I had to go to the mall late Thursday night to shop for an outfit. The shopping included an outfit, shoes, AND accessories...who created this fashion maven?!! The shopping was made difficult by the fact that the theme for the party was "FIRE AND ICE." This meant that you had to wear red or blue. Claire was very thoughtful in the theme. Her shirt was red, her bracelets were blue, and her headband and shoes were decorated with clear crystals that looked like ice. WOW!! She is very precise don't you think? The results were perfect. She looked fabulous, and you could tell she loved her outfit.

We had a "pre-party" here at our house. The kids ate pizza and then we all walked to the party. It was such a fun night. The kids were so excited and they danced the night away. (complete with the Macarena)

I have to mention that there was some "drama" between the girls and the boys. Some of the people that were supposed to be there together didn't dance with each other. (Claire included). My understanding is that the girls decided only to dance with each other, and this upset a few of the guys. (BOY...it starts early, huh?)

Braden and Drew also went to the party, but they only stayed for about five minutes, and then they went to the park across the street. The loud music and dancing just wasn't their scene.

It really was a fun night, and we LOVED getting to watch the kids in their element. I also video taped some of their dance moves, and I am planning to use it for black-mail in about eight years.

Snuggle Up and Read Day

2008-05-26T18:01:00.001-07:00

Friday was "Snuggle-Up and Read" day at the kids' school. My titles are "Teacher Catch-Up Day," or "Just be quiet and leave me alone Day." Seriously, the kids and teachers are finished with school, and it is crazy that they are still going to school, but OH WELL!!!

The kids were allowed to wear their pajamas and to bring their pillows and blankets to school so they could "snuggle up and read." It sounded like a lot of fun; however, I am not sure how much reading Braden completed. He admitted to me that he had four recesses on Friday. Sounds like a perfect day in First grade! :)

P.S. Please note that Drew participated in the festivities by wearing his pajamas while we walked Claire and Braden to school. He definitely didn't want to be "left out."

Our Monday Morning Walks

2008-05-26T17:55:00.001-07:00

Every Monday morning, Drew and I walk to the bakery in our neighborhood to get our bread for the week. It is such a yummy tradition. We are REALLY going to miss the freshly baked bread. It is made with all natural ingredients, and it just melts in your mouth.

This is the statue outside of the bakery. In addition to our tradition of purchasing bread, Drew has instated the tradition of climbing and playing on this statue. Unfortunately, it is not the most stable of structures, but hopefully it will last for a few more weeks, and Drew will not be responsible for its demise.

Field Day

2008-05-26T17:33:00.000-07:00

WOW!! Last week was such a busy week, and I have a lot of blogging to "catch-up." It always seems that the last few weeks of school are extremely busy...and boy, has that been true this year.

The kids had field day last week. (It was postponed from the previous week due to the unexpected SNOW storm...yes it is MAY!!) Anyway, Braden had a blast. Drew and I were able to come to watch him in the 50-yard dash. He performed very well, and seemed to have a little competitive spirit toward the guys in his class. He was racing as quickly as he could while constantly watching over his shoulder to see where the competition was. I was worried that he might trip because he kept turning his head, but thankfully, he never fell.

Following the race, the next event was the "Tootsie-Roll Relay". The kids raced to a stack of Tootsie rolls. They placed large gloves on their hands and had to remove the wrapper from the candy. It was quite comical. Fortunately, Braden stayed focused and was able to get it opened pretty quickly, so he didn't delay his team.

Drew and I were also able to attend Claire's field day, but I forgot my camera. She wasn't in the best of spirits because she had received two last place ribbons. She was trying as hard as she could to be a good sport, but you could tell it was really making her angry. Oh well...

As you can tell from the pictures, Drew held his own "Mini-Field Day." He wasn't allowed to run the 50-yard dash, so he ran his own race (against himself), and made sure that I was taking pictures of him. I find this a great parallel to Drew's existence. He is definitely running his own race with his own rules, and he always has an audience. Don't you agree?!! :)

FIELD TRIP

2008-05-20T11:24:00.001-07:00

Braden's class took a field trip to a local pizza restaurant. Each kid was given a "mini-pizza." Each child was given a choice of toppings to make a pizza. It was quite interesting the different methods the kids had of making their pizzas. The girls were very careful in the placement of the toppings. Some of the girls even made designs with the cheese and pepperoni. Then the boys were just throwing the toppings on their pizzas.

I have to mention that Braden's pizza was the first pizza in the oven. True to form, he knew exactly what he wanted. He chose his toppings and threw them on the pizza., and "that was that."

Drew also was able to make a pizza. You can imagine how excited he was when they had made a pizza for him to decorate. He felt like such a "big boy." He was thrilled!

Drew and Tiger

2008-05-13T08:16:00.000-07:00

Drew saw me posting pictures of Claire, so he insisted that I take pictures of him to post. He wanted me to introduce everyone to his Webkinz named Tiger. (notice the originality of the name...the animal is a tiger...clever, huh?) LOL! :) Anyway, here is Drew and his Webkinz Tiger.

Claire's Project

2008-05-13T08:06:00.001-07:00

Claire's class was assigned an architectural project that coincided with "Denver History Month". The students were to make a model of a historical building in Denver. As soon as Claire received the assignment, both Claire and I knew this was one that needed Justin's participation. He gladly accepted the challenge (especially when I mentioned that two of the kids in Claire's class were the children of architects).

Claire and Justin shopped for the supplies, and actually drew out a "blueprint" of what they wanted to do...complete with actual working lights. The process of building the model began three weeks ago, and was completed the night before the project was due at 10 PM. WHAT AN ORDEAL!! Anyway, I think both Justin and Claire were proud of their results. We now are waiting on a grade to see if Ms. Leighty were impressed.

Braden's Science Fair

2008-05-07T09:24:00.000-07:00

Today was Braden's science fair. He chose to do a report on Turtles. He has worked very hard on his project, and it turned out GREAT!! He seemed to be very proud, and was doing a great job answering questions about his research. I keep watching him in amazement. He seemed so "grown-up" as he was fielding questions from the visitors. Boy, does time fly!!!

Justin's Birthday

2008-05-07T09:18:00.001-07:00

Last week we celebrated Justin's birthday. Drew and Braden went with me to help to pick out the cake and candles. Drew was mostly responsible for the choices. He was very thoughtful in his decisions. He made sure the cake and candles had Justin's favorite colors. As we were leaving the store, he wanted to carry the cake. He grabbed it and said "I will carry it, but this time I will not drop it." (Remember, he dropped his cake on the floor and was VERY upset about it). It was so cute watching him carefully carry the cake to ensure he didn't drop it. I was quite amazed that he could be so cautious. As you know that is not a "typical Drew" behavior.

Anyway, HAPPY BIRTHDAY, JUSTIN!! We hope you had a great celebration. You have accomplished a lot in your 32 years, and you should be proud. We love you!

Boulder

2008-05-07T08:45:00.001-07:00

Several weeks ago, the kids were out of school on a Friday. Our good friends the Elmers invited us to go to Boulder with them. It was such a fun day. Boulder is honestly one of the most beautiful towns/cities I have ever visited. It was picturesque with the Flatirons in the distance.

We took the kids on a hike in the mountains. They were able to climb on the rocks and to explore the park. It was beautiful! We then had an all-organic, litter-free picnic. (Just kidding, Boulder is the home of the organic and arguably the green movements).

After our picnic, we went to a cool little area of town and let the kids have ice-cream. (SUGAR and all). The town has a really cool "vibe" about it. There was a lot of great "people watching." It is a very diverse population.

We then went to a park and let the kids play in a stream. It was such a gorgeous place. The water was perfectly clear. One of the kids "accidentally" fell in the water. Then to my amazement, all of the kids had accidents where they fell in the water. They were SOAKED!!

We completed the day with a stop at Old Navy to buy dry clothes for the trip home. It honestly was one of my favorite days here in Colorado. It was a perfect day!

Long time, no blog

2008-05-05T13:46:00.001-07:00

I am going to spend some time this week "catching-up." It seems that I have fallen behind on my duties of documenting our "adventures" in Colorado. We have been completely off schedule with Drew gone. Once he returned, I left for Arkansas to work on the house. I was in AR from Monday through Wednesday. When I returned to Colorado, I was awakened in the middle of the night with our ol' buddy the stomach virus. Great fun!! I am now waiting for the kids to get sick to complete the cycle.

With all of that said, I am going to spend this week sanitizing the house and catching up on my blog.

Claire's Field Trip

2008-04-19T07:08:00.000-07:00

Claire was so excited that she had a field trip scheduled this week while Drew is gone. I have not been able to go on any of her field trips this year because younger siblings are "discouraged from attending."

We went to the Denver Mint and the Colorado State Capital. It is always fun to watch Claire and her friends. We had a picnic on the lawn of the capital, and I got to watch the little "groups" form within her class. It is so true to how it was when we were young. The athletic guys congregate to play/talk sports, there was a "cool" girls group, the athletic girls group, etc. It proved that our grouping tendencies are innate and timeless.

The Denver Mint was quite interesting. I have never been to the Mint, so I found it intriguing. Claire and her friends were a little bored by it. We then went to the Capital. One parent had to stay outside to watch the bags. Nobody would volunteer, so I ended up sitting on the steps of the capital for one and one-half hours watching pack-backs and visiting with homeless people. VERY INTERESTING!! It wasn't that bad, but had I known I would have brought a book or something to do. Oh well...

It was a fun day and Claire thanked me for coming. Hopefully, I can join her again.

Arkansas Bound!

2008-04-14T12:43:00.001-07:00

Today, Drew left for a two-week visit to Arkansas. He flew home with Justin's family so he could spend some time with his grandparents. He was so excited!! Last night, he insisted that we pack his bags. He began his packing process by placing four Webkinz, a Luke Skywalker action figure, and his Nintendo DS in a bag. He thought that was about all that he needed for his trip. I guess he is right! Silly me, thinking underwear and socks might be useful.

Nonna reported that when Drew was going through security, the guy asked him his name. He said without hesitation, "D-R-E-W." He was a man on a mission...a mission to Arkansas. He was not going to let this guy slow him by getting his name wrong.

I know Drew is going to have a great time, but it was really difficult to return home to an empty house. I am going to miss my little buddy.

Copper Mountain...final weekend!!

2008-04-14T12:22:00.000-07:00

Justin's brother, sister-in-law, and mom came to visit this weekend. Nonna babysat the kids while the other adults went skiing. It was so much fun, yet VERY exhausting. We skied extremely hard and may have "overdone it" due to our excitement, or it could have been the result of a little brotherly competition. :) It definitely made us realize that skiing with adults is a whole different experience than skiing with three kids. We were very tired by the end of the day.

The second day of skiing was a beautiful, clear day...much better than the first day which was cold and snowy. It was perfect!!

We really did have a great time, but I have to say HOORAY! Ski season is over!! I like to ski, but I am ready for Spring. In addition, the end of ski season means we are one step closer to coming home!!

Destination Imagination

2008-04-11T06:47:00.001-07:00

Last week, Claire participated in a program called Destination Imagination. Her team has been practicing once a week on a play that was written by the girls on her team. The rules were strict about NO adult participation. The adults were only allowed to supervise. Needless to say, the play had quite an interesting (and somewhat difficult to follow) plot. Claire was Angry Bob in the play, and I must say, she plays the emotion of anger quite well.

Their team did not advance to the next level in the competition, but they definitely had a great time. We celebrated the end of the program with a pizza party, and one of the parents took all of the girls to their house in the mountains.

The bottom two pictures above are from the night before the performances. Everyone came to our house for dinner, and the girls made props for the play. It was a lot of fun! As you can tell, it was a full weekend of Destination Imagination.

OH, SO VERY EXCITING!!

2008-04-08T16:24:00.001-07:00

Today the movers came to give us an estimate for our moving expenses. I honestly felt butterflies of excitement the whole time he was here. Finally, at one point I realized I was following the guy with the most giddy grin on my face. I had to regain composure to make sure he didn't think I was crazy. Seriously, isn't this exciting!?! It really feels like we may come home. I have often compared this experience to being on a vacation, and you just can't get home. Well guess what...I think we have found the map!! The "adventure" may finally come to an end!!!!

Estimated moving date...June 6th. YEAH!!!!!!:) Estimated moving cost...UGH!! TOO MUCH TO MENTION. Cost of us finally getting to be near our family and friends...priceless.

OH, SO VERY EXCITING!!!

2008-04-08T16:23:00.001-07:00

NOT QUITE READY TO LAUGH...

2008-04-05T12:24:00.000-07:00

You know those moments as a parent that will be funny someday, but right now, you are just not quite ready to laugh? Well...here is a picture of my most recent moment where this occurred.

Thursday night, Claire and her DI team came to our house to finalize their project. Drew had a friend Aidan at our house to play with him. (really to keep Drew occupied so the girls could work). Drew, Aidan, and Braden played upstairs. I frequently (obviously, not frequently enough) checked on them, and they appeared to be playing nicely and to be having a great time.

At one point, I heard a lot of laughing upstairs, so I decided to go "check it out." I opened the door to Drew's room (in what now seems to have been slow motion), the picture above is what I saw...a sea of tiny, Styrofoam pieces strewn everywhere. Drew ripped open a HUGE stuffed animal and shook the contents all over the floor. He then proceeded to drive tractors through the Styrofoam mess leaving trails. He was having a wonderful time. At the moment I opened the door, I could only begin to laugh. Now, those of you that know me, are aware of the fact that I often laugh at inopportune times, i.e. saying my wedding vows, when people are telling very serious things, etc. Honestly, I think it is an immune response or something. I have never been good at seriousness. Anyway, I now know that the laughter as I opened the door wasn't humor, it was merely disbelief, or some kind of maternal protective mechanism preventing me from harming Drew.

The laughter really started to fade as we began cleaning the mess. The Styrofoam had a lot of static electricity so it was very difficult to clean. Our vacuum cleaner and broom could only do so much, and we are still finding Styrofoam all over the house. (and probably will for months to come, ugh!!!)

Leave it to Drew Henry. Honestly, there is never a dull moment with this kid. I am sure I will look back and laugh at this, but I am not quite ready to laugh now.

P.S. A huge shout-out to Justin for having the patience to clean up the mess. I started the process and became quite frustrated. He stepped in and finished the job. Thanks again!!

We're back!

2008-04-05T12:16:00.003-07:00

We spent last week in Arkansas (really only five days, but who was counting?) working on our house. We couldn't believe the changes and progress that have been made. WOW!! It will be so exciting to return home to a "new" house.

We all had a great time breathing the abundant Arkansas air, and seeing our family. The saying "There is no place like home," is so very true!

We were sad when we had to return to Denver. Reality is sometimes a little too real! Justin immediately returned to work and has been "on call" and away from home ever since we returned.

I posted this picture of the house in LR as a personal reminder that we really can't go home right now, since our house is "unlivable." This could quite possibly be the only reason we haven't packed-up and returned to AR. We are all very homesick and ready to be done with this "adventure." Only eight more weeks, but again who is counting?

WE'RE BACK!

2008-04-05T12:16:00.001-07:00

Crazy Outfit and Crazy Hair Day

2008-03-21T09:24:00.000-07:00

Today was Crazy outfit/hair day to show school spirit. Claire began planning her outfit last night. The outfit is a mix of Halloween costumes, swimsuits, and nailpolish i.e., every finger has a different color. WOW!! It is crazy. She fixed her hair last night and slept in it. You can imagine the look it produced.

Braden decided at 8:30 PM last night that he might want to participate. He then chose his outfit at 8:15 AM today. True to Braden's personality, slow-paced, and easy-going he threw together an outfit.

I think they both produced CRAZY outfits and looked adorable!

Claire's Play

2008-03-21T09:11:00.000-07:00

Claire's class performed a play this week entitled "Character Matters." (The teacher chose this play in an attempt to improve the dynamics of this class...scary, huh?) It really was a cute play, and the kids did very well. I was totally amazed by their confidence on stage. At ages eight and nine, they were completely unphased by performing in front of a large crowd.

Claire was Goldilocks from the fairy tale. She had a singing solo. I am not kidding (or bias) she did a GREAT job! Her tone and pitch were perfect. Again, she was completely confident on stage. You could tell by her expression how seriously she was taking her performance. She truly enjoys performing. (I guess we should have known this when she was two years old performing on the table, singing and dancing at the top of her lungs).

Justin and I were very proud of her! She did a GREAT job! Hollywood here she comes!!

Braden's field trip

2008-03-21T09:01:00.001-07:00

Yesterday, Drew and I joined Braden and his class for a field trip. The location was the Botanic Gardens so we walked there from the school. Luckily, it was a beautiful day.

The kids were to take pictures of flowers and to choose a flower and sketch it. (The field trip was for art class). Braden and his friend Adam were busy completing their assignment. They were carefully studying each flower to choose the best subject for their designs. Before long, Drew was following their lead. He carefully chose his subject and diligently sketched it. I was quite impressed with his attentiveness. It actually gave me hope that he may be ok at school next year.

We really had a great time. Thank-you Braden for letting us join you and your class!

P.S. Claire had a field trip on the same day. I am in HUGE trouble with her that I went to Braden's trip and not to her trip. The issue is that Claire's teacher will not allow younger siblings. Oh well...I am constantly in trouble with someone.

Drew's Birthday!!!

2008-03-21T08:39:00.001-07:00

It is difficult to believe that Drew Henry is four years old!! I can't believe how quickly these four years have passed. It has been very sentimental for me. Four has always seemed to be the point where there is a lot of change. He will start Pre-K, which really makes kids "grow-up."

We celebrated Drew's birthday a little early so Gee and Pops could be here for the celebration. After school one day, we had all of his friends come to our house for cake and pizza. It was such a fun time. We had a great group of kids. Most of the kids are friends of Claire and Braden, but they have grown to know and to love Drew. They all seem to get a "kick" out of his antics.

The kids decided to perform a talent show at the party. The girls were dancing and singing. It was very entertaining. When it was Drew's turn to perform, he and his friend Joe, re-enacted the light saber fight between Darth Vader and Luke...complete with "I'm your father." I have to say their performance was a crowd favorite.

Following the performances, we had cake and ice-cream. (SUGAR AND ALL!!! ha/ha) I wanted to point out the cake. Please notice the destroyed icing. This was a result of Drew "helping" to get ready for his party. He grabbed to cake from the counter and began carrying it. You know what happened next...yes, HE DROPPED IT!!! Luckily, the cake still had the lid on it, so we served it anyway. For previous parties, I probably wouldn't have served it, but by the third kid, I really didn't care. It was just a story to tell. It's amazing how much you learn with each kid!:)

The kids were so sweet to Drew. They clapped and cheered as he opened his gifts. You could tell by Drew's expression how pleased he was.

We concluded the party with our traditional pinata. We found a Darth Vader pinata, so it was perfect.

It really was a great party!! What a great day filled with great memories!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DREW!! WE LOVE YOU!!

Drew's Birthday Party

2008-03-21T08:21:00.000-07:00

St. Patrick's Day

2008-03-19T09:09:00.001-07:00

Since living in Colorado, I have gotten to be good friends with a lady from Ireland. She is such a funny person, and I truly enjoy visiting with her. She has a beautiful accent, and a lot of funny Irish lingo. (She uses wee little lad, etc...it is adorable). I have to admit that when people hear us talking, they wonder how we can communicate between the Irish accent and the Southern accent, but we manage.

Anyway, she has a wonderful group of friends that live here that are also from Ireland. We have joined them at the zoo and on other outings, and let me say...these girls are hilarious. They really know how to have fun! :)

Apparently, there is a larger Irish population in Denver. There are several Irish pubs and Denver has the third largest St. Patrick's Day parade in the USA. (We missed the parade because the kids didn't want to quit playing video games...another issue entirely!)

Drew and I decided to join our Irish friends at the pub for lunch. It was a lot of fun, but I am not sure if Drew knew what to think about it. There were leprechauns and a lot of noise i.e. bagpipes, etc. He was quite reserved (SURPRISE!!). Eventually, as we were leaving, he began to join the festive spirit and posed for a picture outside. (I tried very hard to get a picture of him and the leprechaun.)

It was such a fun experience. I never knew St. Patrick's Day could be so much fun. In AR I am lucky if I remember to wear green.

Hey Party People!!!

2008-03-16T19:04:00.001-07:00

Claire was invited to a slumber party for one of her friends. The party was for Remy. She is one of Claire's best friends here and is also part of "The Sisters." There are five sisters in Remy's family, so they are affectionately known at school as "The Sisters." With the five sisters that made the attendance at the party about 13 girls and 1 boy. WOW!! I think they had a blast, but needless to say, there were some grumpy girls today!! I don't think there was much sleep or slumber at the party.

From the looks of the pictures, I think they had a GREAT time!

San Francisco

2008-03-12T12:13:00.001-07:00

Last week Justin and I got to go to San Francisco for his work. I have never been there, so it was a fun experience. We did all of the traditional tourist things, Golden Gate Bridge, etc. It was great to see a new place! I have to say that I did expect the weather to be warmer. I assumed everywhere in California was as sunny and warm as southern CA...but it is not.

The best part of the trip was getting to "catch up" with some of our friends that were there attending the same meeting. It really made me homesick, but it was great to see everyone.

The most fun thing we did was to rent bikes and ride across the Golden Gate bridge. We toured the small towns on the other side of the bridge. Thanks to our detour, i.e. we got lost, we ended up seeing most of the island. The guy from whom we rented the bikes said our loop was about 20 miles. We didn't intend to go that far, but since we were lost we had no choice. It was great fun! I highly recommend renting the bikes.

My last comment on San Francisco is that I think the song "I left my heart in San Francisco" is improperly titled. It should be "I left my wallet in San Francisco," or "I left my child's college fund in San Francisco." It is by far the MOST expensive place I have visited.

ZOO

2008-03-02T10:18:00.001-08:00

Yesterday was the last of our good weather for a while. It was 76 degrees, so we (and everyone else in Denver) headed to the zoo. Our group kept expanding, and we ended up with four adults and eight kids. It was a blast!! The kids laughed, ate ice-cream, and were just plain silly all day. They were quick to go to bed last night, so I guess our mission was accomplished.

During the night, three inches of snow have fallen. I guess all good things must end. Hopefully, we will see the Spring sunshine again soon!

Drew's Playdate

2008-03-02T09:30:00.000-08:00

Drew is always upset that Claire and Braden have "playdates." In his mind he is six years old, so he should have all of the privileges of a six year old. I finally "gave in" and let him invite his friend Roan to our house on Friday morning. They had a great time.

We walked to the park. One of Drew's favorite things to do is to start at the top of the hill and roll down. He giggles and laughs when he gets up and is dizzy. He really likes the dizzy/drunk feeling...should I be worried?

I also had another "Denver" experience on Friday. After Drew's playdate, I took him to get a haircut. My parents are coming next week, and my Dad does not like for the boys' hair to be over their ears...a true child of the fifties. Also, will I ever grow out of trying to please my parents...anyway. I took Drew to the place to cut his hair. When he was called, I could see the "thrill" of the girl's face that she got a kid. It was obvious she was not a fan of kids. I positioned him in the chair and then stepped away. He does much better without me "hovering." I went around the curtain, and a second later she came out with a look of horror and disgust. She said I HAVE to come here!! She pointed to Drew's scalp and asked (imagine a snarled, ugly face) "What is this? Does this kid have lice?" I looked and pointed to the different colors, i.e. white, brown, black. I also showed her that it was in the hood of his sweatshirt. It is only sand from the playground. She didn't seem ok with that, but possibly more disgusted by dirt. WHATEVER!! How embarassing to be pulled from the seats where business men were sitting, to be loudly asked if my kid has lice! I hope that girl has ten kids someday, and Kharma kicks her where she needs it! ha/ha

Drew at the Zoo

2008-03-02T09:23:00.002-08:00

Thursday was a BEAUTIFUL day. Drew and I walked around the neighborhood, and then we decided to go to the zoo. The animals were very active. I guess they are like us humans with the first signs of spring...they get moving!

We ended up meeting some friends, so Drew greatly enjoyed showing them around the place. We have been there so often he feels like a tour guide. I made the mistake of calling him "tour-guide Barbie," (remember in the movie Toy Story). I was quickly reminded that he is NOT a girl!

It really was a great day!!

2008-03-02T09:23:00.001-08:00

Bike riding

2008-02-27T08:50:00.001-08:00

Today is a sunny, beautiful day. Drew decided that after we took Claire and Braden to school, he wanted to go for a bike ride. We left our house and he rode until his legs could go no more. Really, I think it was about 20 minutes, but for his little legs, I am sure it felt like an eternity. We rode through our neighborhood, up to another area that has a bike lane. He loved that he was riding on the "real" road, and that he had to watch the stop signs. It was a lot of fun!

Yes, Drew IS still in his pajamas in these pictures. I didn't was to slow his momentum by making him change clothes. Once he gets inside of the house he never wants to leave. Again, mom of the year...allowing him to ride through town in his p.j. OH WELL!!!

Winter Park Part Deux

2008-02-19T11:42:00.000-08:00

This weekend we went to Winter Park. Justin's parents were here, so the kids wanted to show them their "ski skills." We were informed (after we were in Winter Park), that this is the busiest weekend of the ski season. Who knew? I guess the long weekend is everyone's perfect trip to the slopes.

The first day of skiing was warm and sunny. We were still unsure about Drew's ablities, so we took him to ski school. He was not happy about that decision, but we felt it was best.

By the second day, Drew was skiing with us. He did a great job, but he did tire quickly. We were on a blue slope (after about one to two hours of skiing) and he fell. He began to cry and we couldn't calm him. Finally, Justin cradled him in his arms and snowboarded down the mountain. That was the end of the day for Drew. We often forget how much work it is for their little legs and muscles. They work twice as hard as we do to cover the same distance.

Claire and Braden did great! They have really progressed. Braden said he thinks blue slopes are easier. I agree, especially on a day as crowded as Sunday.

All in all, it was a great weekend. We were thrilled to have Nonna and Popa here. We are missing everyone at home, so it was great to have a little Arkansas influence. Nonna cooked some good ol' southern food for us Saturday night. It tasted sooooo good. Especially after a hard day of skiing. "Ain't" nothing better than a good ol' southern meal.

More Valentine's Day

2008-02-19T10:50:00.000-08:00

Drew and I were able to attend Claire and Braden's Valentine's Day parties. Drew had such a great time, and I am pleased to say that he was on his best behavior. (Of course, I had threatened him within an inch of his life...but whatever it takes!!)

When Claire and I were making her box for Valentine's Day, Drew wanted to make one too. I allowed him to make one. He covered his box in dinosaur paper and had me print out Darth Vader and Power Rangers so he could apply them on top of the dinosaurs. The box turned out to be pretty cute, and definitely reflective of Drew's "style." Anyway, I thought he had forgotten about the box, but when I told him it was time to leave for the parties, he ran upstairs, grabbed a backpack, and packed his box in it. It was so cute that I couldn't stop him. When we got to Claire's party, I feared her teacher would be upset that I allowed him to bring his box, or that none of the kids would have extra Valentines for him. It was priceless when he placed his box on the table next to Claire's. He then sat in front of the box with a look of patience and excitement. The first two kids passed him without placing a Valentine in his box. I could see his shoulders beginning to "slump" with sadness. THEN...Claire's friends came to the table. Now you must know that Drew is somewhat of a celebrity among Claire's friends. They love how "spunky" he is, and are often amused by his actions. When Claire's friends began putting cards in Drew's box, his face began to smile. It was a sly, confident smile, as if he knew all along that "his girls" would come through for him. He was very excited!!

I must tell everyone about the parties here in Colorado. As you know, there is a "NO SUGAR" policy in Braden and Claire's classes. Generally, I am ok with this. The kids don't need sugar, etc., and since they are allowed to eat snacks at school, I think it is a good idea that those snacks have to be healthy. I have to admit, there is a little pressure about how healthy you make the snacks...somewhat of a competition, but,whatever I am over it.

I did find humor in the fact that the Valentine parties were equally as healthy. For example, my participation in Claire's party was to bring a veggie tray. We were laughing at the image of "Happy Valentine's Day...here is your carrot." It was quite funny. Braden's class did have good snacks, and the kids seemed not to miss the sugar. They were served real popped corn, fruit, cheese, etc. I did miss the beautifully decorated sugar cookies and cupcakes. It seems traditional to have them at the parties; however, I did enjoy a good night of sleep the day before. As you know I am often up until late hours preparing the treats for the parties. The veggie tray didn't require that much preparation time. I just walked to the counter at Costco and paid for it...much easier, huh?

Valentine's Day

2008-02-14T08:17:00.001-08:00

Happy Valentine's Day!!! The kids are so excited about school today. Even Braden was ready to go this morning. It is such a fun day at school. Last night, we completed Braden's box for his Valentines. (Claire finished her box two weeks ago...true to form).

We also received about three inches of snow during the night. Yesterday, the temperatures were in the high sixties, but today...back to the snow.

I hope everyone has a great holiday. Hopefully, I can get some cute pictures at the parties, and I will post them later.

Skiing/Boarding without kids!!!

2008-02-11T17:29:00.000-08:00

Yesterday, Justin and I were able to go skiing without the kids...thanks to Gee!! We had a great time. It makes you remember why you like to ski. When we take the kids our experience is quite different, and makes you feel as though you have lost your love for the sport.

It was a beautiful day with sunshine and only moderately cold. We only felt the "pain" of the chill when we were at the top of the mountain.

Overall, it was a great day. Hopefully, we can do it again (sans kids) before our "adventures" in Colorado end.

A Day in the Life...and other thoughts

2008-02-04T14:27:00.001-08:00

I wanted to show everyone our daily routine. We are fortunate and live within walking distance of our school. This means that every morning and afternoon, we make our cold, snowy pilgrimage to the school. It has proven to be very convenient, but my preference would be without freezing temperatures and precipitation. When walking to school, I often think about the stories my parents would tell of how poor they were and walking to school. Their stories often had them walking in the cold and snow, no shoes, uphill both ways...etc...you get the picture. I now feel that I can relate. Someday, our kids will exaggerate... I mean tell...the same stories to their kids.

On another note, I have to share a conversation I had with Braden. This morning we were listening to the news while getting ready for school. They were talking about Valentine's Day. Braden asked why they kept talking about the holiday since Valentine's Day wasn't for a long time. I corrected him and said that it was next week. He paused for a minute, and then with a very serious and concerned look said, "Man, I gotta get a girlfriend."

I found such amusement in this conversation with Braden. As many of you know, he is a man of few words. He is so "laid back" about everything, and seems uninterested in most social things. It truly caught me "off guard." The conversation then continued with a discussion of who could be his girlfriend. He said one little girl, EF, could NOT be his girlfriend because she was a "pencil-stealer." Apparently, Braden dropped his pencil and she picked it up and would not return it to him. This action, removed her from his list of possiblities. (You know...serious consequences for serious actions. How dare her steal his pencil).

P.S. I just read that it is 75 degrees in Arkansas. This really "chaps my hide." It is snowing and 27 degrees here. UGH!!!

Adventures with Drew

2008-01-31T13:20:00.001-08:00

Today, I was finally able to convince Drew to leave the house. He has gotten to be quite the "home body" and doesn't want to go anywhere...except Target. The convincing required some bribery, i.e. lunch at his favorite restaurant, but whatever it takes.

Our journey began by stopping at Claire and Braden's school to say "hello" at lunch. Claire seemed a little embarrassed, but true to form, Braden was elated. (I hope he never catches on to the trend to be embarrassed by your mom...I think I will be heartbroken if he does).

We then went to the (overpriced) restaurant that Drew loves, where he joyfully dined on his Mac and Cheese. (We have been on a band of eating out due to our budget, so he was thrilled.)

We then just walked around the neighborhood. He made a lot of new friends...kids, animals, annoyed elderly people, etc. Drew didn't care. He was saying "hello" and working the crowd, regardless of the response he received.

We finished our journey at the park. It was humerous watching Drew slip and slide in the snow. The park has quite a different "vibe" when it is covered in four inches of snow.

The afternoon was fun, but on the way home Drew said he wished it were summer, so Claire and Braden didn't have to go to school and could play with him. I love how much he misses them. Honestly, when we pick them up at school, Drew almost tackles Braden with hugs, because he is so glad to see him. I guess mom is not as fun of a playmate as Braden.

Kite Flying

2008-01-28T18:14:00.001-08:00

Yesterday was a beautiful, sunny day. It was the warmest day in a long time. I think the temperature reached 60 degrees. That was a "far cry" from the previous week when we walked to school in 12 degree weather.

Justin was working, so the kids and I went to the park to fly kites. It was crazy how crowded it was. It was literally a "sea of people." There were people (and dogs...and dog poop) everywhere.

We flew kites and Claire jumped rope with one of her friends that we saw at the park. It was a great afternoon.

On our way to the park, the kids were discussing what they want to be when they grow-up. Claire said she is still deciding between an orthodontist and an interior decorator. Braden said he wanted to build homes for people that didn't have one. (He said he wanted to build them for free, and then Claire quickly pointed out that he would not make any money doing that...always bursting Braden's bubble...it's her job.) Drew proclaimed that he still wants to be a superhero, but that he is going to live with his mom. PRICELESS!!

Poison

2008-01-18T13:48:00.000-08:00

Yesterday, Braden announced to me that he wants to begin eating only healthy foods. (YEAH!! Music to my ears). As you may know, he is BY FAR the pickiest eater in our house. He likes tacos, mac and cheese, and cookie dough. (Honestly, I try to introduce healthy foods...I promise.)

Let me say, that I am a little embarrassed by our eating habits in Colorado. For instance, I feel as though I must wear a large hat and dark sunglasses, if I choose to drive-thru Burger King. I do not want to be recognized or I might possibly be assaulted by the other parents at school. They are constantly talking about how healthily their kids eat. It is almost a competition as to which kids eat the most vegetables. Some of the conversations sound like..."my kid is healthier than your kid...na, na, nah, nah.."obviously, a little annoying.

Anyway, Braden's proclamation to eat healthy food was quite a surprise. I told him I thought that was a great idea; however, I couldn't resist the urge to ask what prompted his change. He told me that his friend Chance told him that Oreo cookies are poisonous. Braden had offered him a cookie and he refused because he didn't want to "poison his body". WOW!! I am now a believer in brain washing . Poor kid! If he ever is introduced to sugar, he will probably go crazy. (Like the preacher's kid who was deprived of everything and goes crazy at college). Anyway, we will follow this positive peer pressure and take advantage of it while it lasts. I will let you know how it goes!!

Lovin-time's Day

2008-01-16T07:52:00.000-08:00

Yesterday, Drew and I were reading his favorite Spongebob book. (Let me say, I have it memorized...as does he...no skipping pages). Anyway, when we finished the book he was "reading" the back cover. It was advertising other Spongebob books that are available. One was a "Happy Valentine's Day" book. When he got to the picture of Spongebob and hearts he said,"Spongebob's Lovin-time's Day Book." Isn't that priceless? We should change the name of the holiday...don't you think?

I also wanted to report to all of my friends in Arkansas that it is a high of 19 degrees today. Isn't that great?! I love cold weather!! ha/ha

YOGA

2008-01-10T08:18:00.000-08:00

Yesterday, I decided to try the "yoga-craze". Now I have done yoga in the past, and I really enjoyed it. My yoga phase was years ago. I think it was 1999 or 2000. I didn't feel as if it were a work-out, but it improved other work-outs by providing flexibility and strength. At the time, Claire was a newborn and Justin and I were both in school, so the best part about yoga was the peaceful hour it provided.

Since I have heard such rave reviews recently about yoga, I attended my first yoga class at the "oh, so snobby" gym here in CO. It was ok, but a little weird. I think this was more of an instructional class. I hate to be "singled-out." The beginning of the class she posed the question who was new. There were two of us. She then made us move to the front near her so she could "keep an eye on us". UGH!

Throughout the class I felt ok and was gaining a little confidence in what I was doing. I seemed to achieve the poses relatively well...key work relatively. However, this confidence came CRASHING TO THE GROUND on the last pose. It was some weird pretzel, something pose, i.e sitting on the floor with your legs crossed around your body...not natural. Those of you that know me are aware that "Mee-maw" doesn't have the best knees or the greatest flexibility in the lower body region. Frankly, I couldn't do what she was asking me. It hurt!! She stopped class, came to me, and kinda asked (smugly), "What are you doing?" I wanted to say that I am TRYING the best I can... you tree-hugging b*&^$#. But I refrained and politely smiled in my humiliation and continued my best effort.

After my yoga humiliation, I ran a couple of miles trying to redeem my self in the work-out world...in my delusional mind that anyone cares. My verdict on yoga is still undecided. I think I should give it another try...maybe a different teacher.

P.S. My Colorado-induced anger toward people verified the fact that I need to do more yoga. I guess my ZEN needs some work, huh?

My brain is better

2008-01-10T08:09:00.000-08:00

Today before school, I enjoyed an enlightening conversation among the kids. They didn't know that I was listening, which I find to be the most entertaining and informing times.

Drew was arguing that his brain was better than Claire and Braden's brains. Claire and Braden began asking him questions to test his brain. For example, how many days are in a week? Drew smugly said he wasn't going to tell them, he will only tell his friend Aidan. The conversation continued for quite some time; however, throughout the conversation Drew remained firm on the fact that his brain was better than their brains.

Immediately after the conversation/argument ended, Drew began punching himself in the stomach. Seriously, doesn't that sound like the behavior of a child with the best brain? I wonder about him sometimes!!!

Shame on me!

2008-01-08T15:19:00.000-08:00

I recently found out that a friend of mine, someone who I have known for over 15 years, has been battling breast cancer. I last saw her in July, before we left AR, and she has been through four surgeries and obviously a lot of issues since that time. My emotions overcame me as she was telling me of her experiences. I could not believe the strength she displayed as she told of her illness. I was greatly impacted by our conversation. The fact that someone so young and healthy had experienced this was overwhelming. In addition, I was also struck by the fact that I, nor any of our friends knew. SHAME ON ME!!! I can't believe that I have gotten so "busy" (as you know that is FAR from the truth) that I am unable to keep in touch with my friends.

This prompted my New Year's Resolution. Now, let me say, I am not a fan of resolutions. I mean honestly, why do we subject ourselves to failure, i.e., weight loss, saving money, etc. These resolutions are those that I am unable to keep; however, I really want to be a better friend. I want to make a conscience effort to "keep in touch" with everyone. There is no reason why we shouldn't have known that our friend was facing this terrible illness.

I am now going to be known among you guys as Amy "all in your business" Seale. This is your warning! I am going to check in on everyone periodically. GET READY...

Teenager?

2008-01-07T17:54:00.001-08:00

Today I walked upstairs to see Claire doing her homework while wearing her earphones listening to her MP3 player. Seriously, I think she is a teenager. Please notice the look of annoyance as I am taking her picture. Again, another characteristic of a teenager. WOW! What do I have in store.

Lifeline

2008-01-07T17:40:00.000-08:00

Tonight while we were eating dinner Drew was unusually quiet. We had homemade chicken noodle soup, so his struggle to keep the noodles on his spoon kept him occupied. Amidst regular conversation between Claire and Braden, Drew said, "Mom you need a lifeline. It is always there for you."
I could not keep from laughing. I find the thoughts of this kid to be so random.

Now for those of you that do not know, this comment was sparked by a cheesy commercial that advertises a device for senior citizens that automatically calls for help. Previously, these commercials were "help, I've fallen and I can't get up."

The humor I find in this is that of all of the commercials this kids sees, why is that the one he remembers. Crazy!!!

I guess my humor should turn to concern in that it is a testament to how much T.V. Drew watches when his thoughts revolve around commercials.

I'll be home for Christmas...

2007-12-27T12:23:00.001-08:00

We are currently in Arkansas!! It has been a great trip. We have gotten to spend a lot of time with our family and friends. The quality time with the people we love has been exactly what we all needed.

The kids and I were so excited coming home that we sang "I'll be home for Christmas" on the plane. We had a great time, but unfortunately, I do not think it was as enjoyable for our surrounding passengers. I almost had to go "Denver" on one old man, but in my Christmas spirit, I refrained.

The kids had a wonderful Christmas. They received LOTS of presents, and exactly what they wanted from Santa. As always, I am glad that it is over. Seriously, I think I am the GRINCH. It was difficult for me to muster excitement this year. I really need to work on that for next year.

Now we are facing the dilemma of finding a way to transport the toys, etc. home to Colorado. I think some of the toys will be left here in AR. Maybe it will be like a second Christmas when we return, OR we could re-wrap and re-gift them to the kids for their birthdays in June and July. It will be long enough that maybe they will have forgotten. Always thinking...

Going, going, gone

2007-12-18T19:52:00.001-08:00

The best part of the gingerbread house is the EATING of the gingerbread house. Since we are leaving for Arkansas tomorrow, we decided to have a little dessert after dinner. The result was a completely destroyed masterpiece...a true work of art demolished.

Claire and Drew enjoyed the taste, but Braden didn't want any because he ate ice-cream last night, so he didn't want to eat too much sugar. IS THIS MY CHILD?!!!!

Dance Performances

2007-12-18T19:41:00.001-08:00

I apologize for the quality of this picture. When I arrived to the performance I realized that my camera battery was dead; therefore, this picture is the result of a camera phone...not high quality.

Sunday, after Claire's busy week as a budding actress, her dancing career was calling. She has been a member of this dance team the entire semester. The three performances were Sunday. She did a great job, even though she was not feeling well and was exhausted from the week.

She can really shake her bum. It is precious how uninhibited the kids are as they groove to the beat. She took the performance seriously and put forth every amount of grooving effort she has. PRICELESS!!

Now let me add that the day could not have been complete without some diva drama. As you can imagine, a budding actress/dancer must practice her diva-ness and her mom was the target of her practice. It was all about the make-up. I had thoughtfully purchased (what I believed) to be appropriate make-up for her to wear. I then began to help her to apply the make-up. However, according to Claire, "I didn't know what I was doing." Therefore, I left it to her. After she was finished, she was completely mad at me because she wasn't happy with the results. It was all my fault because I didn't help her. EXCUSE ME?!! I thought she asked me to stop helping her...WHATEVER!! Sometimes you can't win, and even if you chose to fight, you must learn to "pick your battles."

Winter Park

2007-12-16T08:00:00.000-08:00

Last weekend, our friends the Johnsons came to visit. We went to Winter Park for the weekend. It was a lot of fun!!

We rented a condo and the kids loved the excitement of the hottub. They thought it was so cool to sit in the hottub while it snowed. They would then take turns jumping out of the warm water and lying in the snow to make snow angels. I think everyone staying at the resort were familiar with us, between our screams and carolling in the hottub our presence was greatly known.

One of the highlights of the weekend was that we think Drew learned to stop on his skis. He went to ski school (again), and they let him go on the "big mountain." He was very proud of himself. The comments on his reportcard from ski school were as follows: fearless, quite a leader, ready to "rip" (aka go fast), and charming.

Justin and I were able to ski with Claire and Braden. It is such fun to ski together...when the kids are fed and rested. Justin (in true "type A" fashion), pushed the kids. They were not allowed to rest and barely allowed to eat. It was quite humorous. Finally, by the end of the second day, it was a disaster. Claire and Braden were both crying as they skied down the mountain. At one point, the kids were crying, and Justin had lost a ski in deep snow and was cussing. I made up a song at that moment to the tune of "Twelve Days of Christmas." The words were something like two kids crying, one dad cussing... Seriously, it is humorous when you make your kids miserable trying to make them have fun. ha/ha

Decorating the Christmas Tree

2007-12-16T07:54:00.000-08:00

The kids and I decorated the Christmas tree. My OCD was having issue with their choice of ornament placement; however, I finally "gave up." The result was that I allowed them to finish their job, and then I quietly stayed up late that night repositioning the decorations appropriately. The next morning the kids commented and praised themselves on what a great job they did. If only they knew...wink, wink.

Gingerbread House

2007-12-16T07:48:00.000-08:00

After school and play practice on Friday, the kids and I made a gingerbread house. Please do not be too impressed, we used a kit. I had planned (and even saved the boxes) to make our gingerbread village like we made last year. However, I haven't been motivated, and believed it to be a "sign" not to make the elaborate version when we received a kit from Nonna. The kids had a blast. The boys politely took their orders and creative direction from Claire. She really had them "in line" so I sat on the stool and watched. It turned out to be VERY cute!!

May I have your autograph?

2007-12-16T07:35:00.001-08:00

This week has turned out to be quite a busy week for Claire. She auditioned and was chosen for the Missoula performance of "The Pied Piper." She was a townsperson, and let me say she was quite a little performer.

Missoula is an international drama company that travels to schools for one week, intensive drama workshops that conclude with performances. The kids were required to practice every night from 3:30 to 8:00 PM. As you can imagine, the kids were exhausted by the end of the week. Of course, in true "Seale" fashion, Claire had a touch of stomach virus during the week, just to keep it interesting and to add to her exhaustion.

Claire did a great job and really seemed to enjoy herself. She was very expressive in her speaking parts. I am amazed at her confidence. She is not shy or intimidated in the least. A packed audience affected her none.

As we were leaving the last performance, she and I were walking home. I asked her if I could have her autograph. She rolled her eyes and said "stop, please." I think she was a little embarrassed by her mom. A true star, a little annoyed by her fans.

DJ Jazzy Drew

2007-12-14T08:22:00.000-08:00

Last night while Claire and Braden were doing their endless homework, Drew came to the table. He proceeded to "spin" cds while wearing my sunglasses. He then added sound effects like a rap star. WHERE DID HE GET THIS? His little mind... The scary thing was that he had a little rhythm and beat going. Can you imagine this kid as a teenager? I picture him at parties, "spinning a beat," and dancing on tables. He will probably be the life of the party. We better just hold on and enjoy the ride.

Winter, winter, winter...

2007-12-11T17:30:00.000-08:00

I guess that I need to "put on my big girl pants and get over it." (that's for you mom).

Today, as I was following my daily routine of checking the unpredictable Colorado weather, it read "high of 24 degrees." There is also approximately 4 to 6 inches of snow on the ground. Now let me say that the issue I had this morning as I read the forecast was that I have my yahoo account set with the LR weather and the Denver weather to appear. You can imagine the sickness in my stomach as I read the high of 24 degrees next to the high of 78 degrees in LR. Oh how I wish I were in Arkansas!!! I am dreaming of wearing a short-sleeved T-shirt, WITHOUT the dry, cracked skin that we have acquired.

Skiing again...

2007-11-26T16:19:00.001-08:00

On Saturday after Thanksgiving, we went skiing again. The kids wanted to show Gee and Pops what they had learned. Justin was working, so I was very reluctant to go without him. I must say, skiing has a new meaning when you go with three kids, versus the trips you take in college with your friends. It is such work, and I was completely exhausted on Saturday night. I honestly do not remember getting in my bed that night.

Claire and Braden learned to get on the lift, so we were able to ski the green slopes. They did GREAT!!! We saw some of Justin's friends on the mountain. They reported to Justin how "fearless" Claire and Braden were coming down the slopes. Kids learn this sport so quickly.

More Thanksgiving...

2007-11-26T16:15:00.001-08:00

My theme for thanksgiving was "I was NOT dreaming of a white Thanksgiving." We had quite a bit of snow on Thanksgiving. It was very cold, i.e. less than twenty degrees.

We did have a great holiday. We had several friends join us for dinner, and the kids were very well behaved. It was one of the best days we have had in Colorado!

Martha Stewart Can't do this!!

2007-11-26T16:03:00.000-08:00

Please know that I do not mean any disrespect or harm toward my idol, Martha Stewart. I LOVE her; however, I KNOW she can't do this. What I mean is you should have seen the "help" I had cooking Thanksgiving dinner. Claire, Braden, and Drew were "all in my business" while trying to cook. They had such a great time, and surprisingly, everything turned out ok, without foreign objects appearing in the food. LOL!! The kids helped in every dish. Their favorite was cutting out the leaves and pumpkins for the pumpkin pie. Aren't they cute. (On that note, I have to plug the gadget from Williams-Sonoma that we used. It was this cool pastry cutter that comes in a set of four. It was fabulous and the kids had fun using it. I highly recommend it).

I also have to mention that I kept waiting on someone to appear with the little dishes that had the ingredients pre-measured where all we had to do was dump the items in the bowl. Where do you get those people? I need a Wes and Angie like Martha has in her kitchen.

Seriously, I do not think Martha could have cooked Thanksgiving dinner while entertaining three kids. I felt very accomplished when we were finished...as did the kids.

WHY DO WE DO THIS?

2007-11-26T15:42:00.000-08:00

How about "Have a 'rockin' Christmas"?
At this point we were thinking about omiting Drew from the picture and maybe drawing him in with a pencil.

The greeting for the picture above could be "Drew picked this card for you to wish you a Happy Holiday." The worst part is that in the following picture, please notice the position of his finger. We have caught him picking the booger and then eating it on film. What a memory!!!

My mom has been here visiting for the past two weeks. During her visit, my plan was to get as prepared for Christmas as possible, i.e. shopping, decorating, and...the dreaded Christmas card picture. Seriously, that is one of my greatest obstacles every year. It is a feat to get three kids, fed, dressed, and napped in an attempt to get the perfect Christmas picture.

Have you every thought about the concept of the Christmas picture? Honestly, we are trying to send out a little P.R. for our family each year. This picture is to portray the perfect family, living their perfect life, in their perfect house, in Pleasant Valley, on Happy Lane, etc... WELL, as I have mentioned before, we are no June and Ward Cleaver, and Wally and "the Beav" are not our children.

I am going to provide you with a little sample of my success (or lack thereof) in acheiving the perfect picture. Imagine me rolling on the ground to get the right angle, threatening my kids within an inch of their life to smile and to look like they love each other!!! What a pleasant experience. Mind you all of this was performed in front of a park full of people, quietly enjoying their Sunday morning...until the Seales arrived.

Skiing

2007-11-26T15:28:00.000-08:00

The first opportunity that Justin's schedule would allow, we took the kids to the mountains to learn to ski. It was early (November 10), so there was not a crowd. The kids were able to have their own ski instructor because there were so few kids there that day.

Braden learned to ski on his third attempt. It was humerous because he was the one who did not want to go. He cried as we were walking to the slopes because he didn't want to do it. After he learned, he was "hooked." He loves it!

Claire learned very quickly also. Initially, she was a little frustrated. In true "Claire fashion", she felt that she should have been an expert skier on her first attempt. Of course she had to learn, which did not fit into her plan. She ended up doing very well.

Drew, well, that is where the story begins. He loved it!! He learned very quickly to ski; however, he failed to learn the important detail of stopping. We would have to stand at the bottom of the hill and let him impale us. Justin took the majority of the "hits," and he was very sore from it at the end of the day. In fact, he had something in his shirt pocket that was completely bent at the end of the day from the impact of Drew. It was so funny!! Drew would get to the top of the slope and point his skis toward the bottom. He would then race, as quickly as possible, to the bottom...smiling ear-to-ear. He would then slam into Justin or me to stop. Crazy kid!!

More Halloween pictures...

2007-11-26T15:25:00.001-08:00

Here are more pictures from Halloween.

HALLOWEEN

2007-11-26T15:14:00.000-08:00

We had a great night on Halloween. Claire was a "movie-star witch." Braden was a pirate, and Drew was the red power ranger. Braden was going to be the green power ranger, but he later decided...after we had bought the green power ranger costume...that that was too "baby" and the kids might make fun of him, so he changed to a pirate. Justin was dressed as a tired, over-worked, orthopaedic fellow. Isn't his costume authentic?

Braden's class did a Halloween program. He did a great job. He had a speaking part, and performed beautifully. I was very proud of him. After the program, he joined the rest of the school for the parade around the neighborhood. It was fun to see the kids (and adults) in their costumes. Claire's teacher dressed as Snow White. Isn't she cute?

Catching up..

2007-11-26T08:27:00.000-08:00

I can't believe how long it has been since I have posted. I definitely need to "catch-up." It may seem as if I have fallen from the face of the earth. Believe me, if that had been a choice over the last month, I may have taken my babies and jumped. LOL!

Since the last post, we have experienced a lot of "adventures" in Colorado. Halloween was a great night. (I will post pictures later). One of our friends (yes, we have maybe two friends in this lovely state), had a Halloween party. The kids trick-or-treated together, and had a great time. Of course, Justin had worked the entire night and day before, and was exhausted. He barely got to attend the festivities, and was on the phone the entire time. (I heart Colorado and Fellowships.)

The highlight of the last month (and possibly the last six months) was a trip to Arkansas!!! We had a blast. It was great to see everyone. The kids were able to eat lunch at their Arkansas school. They visited with their friends. It was great to be around our friends and family. We miss you guys SO VERY much!! The trip was impromptu and was the result of Claire's parent-teacher conference where I was informed how poorly she was being treated by the girls in her class. Apparently, this group of girls are notoriously mean. (Aren't we lucky to have joined them). With this news, I , like any great mom, packed my kids and headed south. I booked the flights at 2PM on Friday, and we were on the plane by 7PM that night. Again, mother of the year, I am teaching my kids to run from their problems (in case you are still trying to cast your votes). I do think it was helpful for them to see their friends and to remember how brief our visit to Colorado is. They came back with a sense of refreshment. Now let me say, it did not improve Claire's situation at school, but it made her feel better. Honestly, if you see me on the Oprah show in the near future as the mom who kicked some third-grade "tail", don't be surprised. I think that is my next step. Just kidding, but I am running out of options. I guess Claire is going to be a stronger person. Maybe she will become more sensitive toward other peoples' feelings, or something. ugh! Whatever...just another adventure, huh?

The other thing that my children are gaining from their experience in Colorado is a "potty mouth." Braden has been discussing various body parts that his friends at school discuss on recess. Can you believe they are discussing such topics in first grade? We did not have a clue! I would also venture to say that the kids in Arkansas are not discussing such topics. These kids are very "worldly," and knowledgeable. I hope my kids are not learning too much. My fear is now they will go home with a potty mouth and will be avoided by all kids at home. I can hear some mom telling their child not to play with Braden because he talks inappropriately. What lessons they have learned?! Fabulous, huh?

On the positive side, the kids have learned to ski. It has been great fun wathcing them learn. They are fearless. I will post pictures later.

I hope everyone is doing well in Arkansas. We miss you guys so very much. It also made me realize how important "girl time" is to me. I miss my buddies, and the support and information I gain from you guys. I can't wait to get home!!

Mt. Evans

2007-10-29T10:24:00.001-07:00

On our way to Breckenridge, we visited Mt. Evans. It is difficult to tell in the picture, but we are above the clouds. The kids said we were flying. It was amazing!! Again, it is difficult to capture the beauty in pictures.

Botanical Gardens

2007-10-29T10:04:00.000-07:00

We also visited the Botanical Gardens. The kids enjoyed walking through the gardens...or should I say running through the gardens. They were full of energy and excitement.

Anderson Farms

2007-10-29T09:45:00.000-07:00

We also visited a farm. The kids loved it!! They were able to run through a corn maze, feed animals, and pick pumpkins. It was such a beautiful place to visit. The mountains were in the background. It is difficult to capture the beauty in pictures. We were there until the sun set. The sun setting behind the mountains was amazing.

Kari, Dean, and Cooper/ Red Rocks

2007-10-29T09:36:00.001-07:00

My sister, her husband, and son Cooper came to visit us. It was such a great weekend. The kids were so excited to see each other. Cooper and Drew tackled each other in the airport because they were so excited.

Field Trip

2007-10-29T09:19:00.001-07:00

Last Monday, Drew and I accompanied Braden and his class to the zoo. It was a VERY chilly day; however, that proved advantageous because the animals were quite active in an attempt to keep warm. We were able to see a lot of things we had not seen before. I have never been to the zoo in the cold weather, but I must admit it is a good time to go.

The field trip also provided me the opportunity to give thanks that I did not chose a career in education. I do not have the patience it requires to chase kids daily. The kids were everywhere. Seriously, I would have to be medicated to do that every day. It takes a special person to be an educator.

Braden had a great day, and it is always fun to see him interact with his friends. He told me yesterday that he loves it here. I think he is very happy in Colorado, but I must say, Braden is happy everywhere he goes. He has the best spirit...super laid back and easy going.

Our first snow

2007-10-21T14:02:00.001-07:00

Today was our first snow. Can you believe it is snowing on October 21st. I think the weather in Arkansas is in the 70-80 degree range. What a difference!

The kids and I took a walk around the neighborhood. It was a beautiful sight; however, true to what everyone has told us, the snow didn't last that long. By 2PM the sun was shining and the snow was melting. That is the best way to experience snow...short periods with a lot of sunshine.

HE IS BACK!!!

2007-10-21T12:43:00.000-07:00

This was a picture of Drew at his doctor's appointment on Friday. Obviously, he is feeling MUCH better. The doctor said he looked great. He also said we were very lucky. What an event?! We are very glad that our Drew is back!

I am finally winning the battle

2007-10-17T17:10:00.000-07:00

I have to brag for a minute because I am feeling as if I have won a great battle with my kids. As you know, I am one that is quick to jump on the latest dietary bandwagon. Most often the bandwagon is not a successful venture; however, I think this time I have succeeded.

My kids are the WORST eaters in the world. They love junk food and anything fried. Since we are living in this healthy Colorado society I have decided to make an effort to improve their nutrition. (which I should do anyway). It is also a result of my extra time that I have been able to try these new receipes, because you know healthy food takes longer to prepare.

Anyway....I am in love with Jessica Seinfield. Her book "Deceptively Delicious" is AWESOME. I made the chicken nuggets with vegetables in the coating, and the kids LOVED it. I also made peanut butter and jelly muffins with carrots hidden in them, and the kids LOVED it.

I feel as though the score is MOM 2 KIDS 0. I finally feel as though I am winning the ever difficult war against bad nutrition. I cannot say enoughgood about the book. Here is the link about her appearance on Oprah with the recipe for the chicken nuggets. http://www.oprah.com/foodhome/food/recipes/200710/food_20071008_nuggets.jhtml

Almost perfect weekend

2007-10-15T19:37:00.000-07:00

This weekend our very dear friends Mica and Eli came to visit. We went to the mountains for the weekend. The weather and company was perfect. We couldn't have asked for a better weekend.

The hotel had a fire pit around which we roasted marshmallows. They were delicious. We reluctantly allowed Drew to have his own stick to roast marshmallows. We quickly had to take it from him. He kept turning to talk to us. When he would turn to look at us he would swing the stick in the direction he was looking. You can imagine a group of people "ducking" to keep from being hit by a sharp, hot object being wielded by a three year old.

The temperature dropped Friday night, so when we awakened on Saturday it was quite chilly which made the hot tub the most logical place to "hang out." We had a blast watching the kids play and "catching up." You really don't realize how much you miss people until you see them again. The kids and Eli had such a blast while Mica and I relaxed. It was perfect!!

We also took a hike up the mountain. It was beautiful. It is hard to express in words the beauty of the mountains. It is amazing!!

After our hike, Claire, Mica and I went to get a manicure and pedicure. We were not able to get an appointment at the place we had "scouted out." The lady sent us to the salon in Wal-mart. That should have been a huge RED FLAG as to what we were about to experience. It was awful! I left bleeding and we were all very unhappy with our results. You can imagine how disappointed we were.

Now let me say that that was the beginning of the end of a perfect weekend. I promise that the story I am about to tell is true. It will be difficult to believe...but it is the truth.

You should remember as I tell this story that you are hearing about the Seale family. You know the family that "if it can happen, it will happen." SO......

When Mica, Claire, and I returned to the hotel, Drew was lying next to Justin resting. That is an unusual behavior for Drew. He stood up when I came to him and told me he was about to "throw up." He threw up everywhere. We then realized that he had fallen from the bed. Anyway... you see where we are going. We had to take him to the hospital. We went to Vail hospital. After the initial testing, they said he needed to go to Denver Childrens' Hospital. They wanted to MED FLIGHT him to Denver, but a significant storm had arrived, so the helicopters were not flying. This meant that Drew had to be transported via ambulance to Denver which was two hours away. Drew and Justin left in the ambulance and I returned to the hospital to get Mica and the kids. We began our journey from the mountain. We quickly got into the first winter storm. It was AWFUL!!! Our two hour trip became four hours. What a stressful drive...snow, worry, etc.

Drew spent all day Sunday in the hospital. He has a fractured skull and the doctors were contemplating surgery to relieve the pressure on his brain. He was very nauseated, uncomfortable, and lethargic. It was not the Drew that we know. Anyway, just as children do, about 4PM on Sunday he began to be more responsive. Within an hour he was back to being Drew. I have never been so excited to see my over-active, spunky Drew. He was back!!!

We were discharged from the hospital with instructions to watch for signs that the swelling or bleeding was getting worse. These signs would be nausea or seizures. (YES, I said seizures...that is reassuring huh?). What a blessing that he is doing this much better. It is an answer to prayers!!

Now, you might think the story ends here; however, true to "Seale" form we have to add another "twist." Last night Justin went upstairs to bring Drew to bed with us. Being the responsible parents, we are going to have him sleep with us so we can monitor him closely. As Justin was reaching the bottom of the stairs, his feet slipped and he fell. He braced Drew to make sure he wasn't injured; however, he forgot to make sure HE wasn't injured. We think he broke a rib. Yes, a broken rib, and a fractured skull in one "Almost perfect weekend." ONLY AT THE SEALE HOUSE!! lol

IS THIS WORTH REMEMBERING?

2007-10-10T07:51:00.000-07:00

There are some comments and memories that I have debated if they are worth documenting. I decided to mention this event to have a record to share with Claire when she has a daughter... you know the daughter that knows more than you.

As you know, the kids do not wear uniforms at their school here. I MISS the uniforms. Anyway, this provides a daily opportunity for Claire and me to disagree. I asked her please to wear nice clothes because we had errands to run after school. She came down the stairs dressed like a homeless person. I told her that she needed to "try again." In her frustrated tone, accompanied with the roll of the eyes, she said "Mom you do not have a sense of style. My outfit is fine." (Notice the quotes...these were her exact words). What have I done? I created this fashion "monster." I fondly remember the days where I could dress her in precious smocked dresses with matching shoes. It was adorable.

BTW, does she know that I have had a subscription to "IN STYLE" magazine for almost ten years. That should count toward my sense of style, right? I have no sense of style?!!!! I will remember this forever, especially today when I go shopping trying to redeem myself in the eyes of an eight year old. LOL!

Anyway, my choice to document these events is driven by the fact that this will be around to share with Claire when her daughter is rolling her eyes at her and questioning her sense of fashion. I CAN'T WAIT!!!

June and Ward Cleaver do NOT live here

2007-10-08T10:43:00.000-07:00

Claire had a friend spend the night on Friday. She had a great time! I also had fun. The girls and I painted their nails and talked (very informative for me and them). The little girl is a vegetarian, so Claire and I were educated on the choice to be a vegetarian. You should have seen Claire's "matter of fact" expression as she stated that God placed animals here on earth for us to eat. She is so confident that she is correct on all matters! Anyway...

The little girl also asked a lot of questions about my job at home, and Justin's job here. I told her I was a pharmacist, but she didn't know what that was. I explained that we give the medicine to people when they are sick, and sometimes we make the medicine, etc.

Her mother came on Saturday morning to get her. I was upstairs on the phone and didn't hear the doorbell. Justin went to the door in his normal "just out of bed attire" (no shirt), and opened the door for the mom. He yells for me to come downstairs. (His tone was that he was frustrated and what could I be doing that was more important than answering his call...you can imagine). I angrily yelled back that I was on the phone and that I was not coming downstairs. Then he told me that I had company. You can imagine how EMBARRASSED I was. I barely knew the mom and I was arguing with my husband in front of her. You should also know that she has five kids, and is very 'laid back.' I am SURE there is no yelling at their home. UGH!

Later in the day on Saturday, I had to talk to the mom again. She quickly asked me if I work. I said not here in Denver, but at home I do. She quickly asked me what I do. (It was a little odd how random the question was). Anyway, I told her that I am a pharmacist. She burst into laughter. Obviously, she was relieved because her daughter told her that I was a DRUG DEALER!!! Can you imagine this mom. My husband answers the door half-naked, she saw me yelling at my husband and now she thinks I am a Drug Dealer. I am sure we made a great impression.

I laughed and told her that June and Ward Cleaver do not live here. We are the REAL DEAL ...living in the trenches!! LOL!

Pumpkin Patch

2007-10-07T11:53:00.000-07:00

Drew carefully chose his pumpkin, and then insisted on carrying it himself. This picture was taken during his "break" he needed while caring the pumpkin to the car.

There were horses and chickens for the kids to pet.

The competition was great in the potato sack races (however, they were pillow cases?) Claire definately has the competitive spirit. She was intense on winning the race. Where did she get this quality...JS?

We rode in a covered wagon. The driver of the wagon asked Claire if she would help him drive. She sat in the driver's seat and helped to steer the horses. She was very excited!

On Saturday, we went with friends to the Pumpkin Patch. It was actually a festival with a lot of activities for the kids. It was a lot of fun. Definately, more than we expected.

Avid4Adventure

2007-10-05T07:56:00.001-07:00

Avid4Adventure is a program that visits the area schools to promote outdoor activity. The program comes to the school and sets up a mountain biking course, rock climbing wall, and a kayaking pool. WOW! (They definately do not do this in AR.) The kids LOVED it!!! The program allows the kids to stay after school and to participate one afternoon. The program instructors allowed Drew to participate with Claire and Braden. Unfortunately, I did not have my camera, so the only picture I have is from a borrowed cell phone. (Thanks, Miss VA). As you can tell from the expression on Drew's face, he had a BLAST!! Claire and Braden both loved the rock climbing, and were able to reach the top. They felt this to be quite an accomplishment. What a great experience for the kids. The program has a summer camp. Both Claire and Braden have said they are going to attend!!

Ski Equipment

2007-10-01T08:45:00.000-07:00

This weekend we went to get the kids' skis. I have been dreading this outing for quite sometime. Just to my expectations it was crazy!! I think three different people helped us to hurry our process so we would LEAVE!! Drew was running around like a maniac, and Claire was mad because none of the ski boots were "girl" enough or "stylish" enough for her. Two hours and two frustrated parents later we arrived home with our equipment. Drew was so excited about his ski boots that he wore them all night while watching TV.

Back to me...

2007-10-01T08:19:00.000-07:00

During our visit to Bachelors Gulch, Justin's mom had scheduled an appointment at the spa for me as a surprise. I was completely THRILLED! You know with my vain tendencies this is the perfect gift. On Saturday morning, I strolled to the spa excited about the possibilities ahead. Now I must mention that I have been worried about my skin in CO. The air is SOOOO dry. I was told by one lady that living in CO for one year will age my skin up to TEN YEARS!! Can you imagine these words falling on the ears of a vain, thirty-something who is worried about my wrinkles? With that in mind, I chose the "nourishing, vitamin C facial." (I love the names...I am such a sucker.) Once the facial began, I asked a lot of questions. Isn't it true (as one wise man...I believe it was McCauley Caulken in "Home Alone") that you should be careful what you ask. My questions opened the door to a lot of answers and observations. UGH!

The greatest of these observations is that apparently I have some hyper pigmentation on my cheek...(yeah, I knew that); however, I was unaware that the hyper pigmentation also included a "PREGNANCY MOUSTACHE." WHAT?!!!!!! I have a moustache. My heart began racing, it was all I could do not to grab the mirror from her to view it in disbelief. She must be WRONG!! Does this girl know she is talking to a young, cool, hip person. I watch "E! News." I am "down" with the coolest, hippest things. She is definitely mistaken. Nobody this cool can have a moustache.

Did you guys know this was possible? We suffer enough to bring these babies into the world...why, why, WHY do we need a moustache? Needless to say, I purchased the product that she suggested to help to fade my moustache. I gladly took my product and hyperpigmentated self to the room turned on the TV and tried to absorb an extra dose of "coolness" to compensate for the moustache I have acquired.

Bachelors Gulch/Beaver Creek

2007-10-01T07:53:00.001-07:00

This weekend Justin's parents came to visit. We went to Bachelors Gulch and Beaver Creek. It was great. The kids were able to hike on the mountain, swim in the pool, and play on the playground. It was a perfect place to take kids. We had a BLAST!!

This is the view from our balcony. Isn't it beautiful? The leaves were changing colors. There were a lot of beautiful yellow and green colors.

The kids were able to roast marshmallows after dinner. It was freezing, but my kids were still dressed in swimsuits. (Mom of the year...once again. Please hold your ballots until final voting. LOL)

Saturday night it snowed, so the kids were thrilled to see the snow. They had a snowball fight in their bathing suits. It was great to sit in the hot tub

sipping hot chocolate watching them play in the snow. (It wasn't that much snow, but they were impressed...boy do they have a lot coming...they will learn a lot about snow).

PASSED!!!!!

2007-09-27T08:12:00.001-07:00

JUSTIN PASSED HIS BOARDS!!!!!

This is a major event in the Seale household!! Justin has been fearful of the mail for the past two weeks. He wouldn't even walk near the door when the mail arrived. We are VERY excited for him. He has worked so very hard.

We must acknowledge this has been a community effort. His accomplishments are credited to our family and friends who were supportive and of invaluable help during these processes. We are truly blessed to be surrounded by such loving and wonderful people.

For those of you that are wanting to add me to the ballot for "mother of the year..."

The good news arrived in the mail before Justin was home from work. Claire was having a playdate with the sweetest little girl. I made all of the kids walk with me to the liquor store to buy champagne for Justin's celebration. Yes, I proudly walked four children (one that is not my own, whose mom I barely knew) to the liquor store. I told the friend's mom that we took a "field trip." I have to admit I was feeling badly when we were walking down the alley with a paper bag full of alcohol. The liquor store did have free suckers for the kids...like the bank. Doesn't that make it a little better? Once again...mom of the year.

Here we go...

2007-09-26T04:42:00.000-07:00

Today the temperature is 41 degrees, but according to the weather report it "feels like" 37 degrees. ugh! Please note that we are still in the month of September. I am supposed to be dreaming of colder temperatures and a fall wardrobe, not truly experiencing them. I also want to mention that it was hailing on Monday. I saw the hail on our deck, but Braden told me his experience of being hit by ice at recess.

Everyone tells me that the winters are not that bad. I have been told over one hundred times that the sun shines 300+ days a year and the air is not that cold. Let me just say...it is cold. Thirty-seven degrees is cold with or without the sun.

Oh well...winter in Colorado...here we go. I have to go in the basement and find warm clothes for the kids to wear to school this morning. Just another "adventure."

Zoo

2007-09-23T08:45:00.001-07:00

The kids were out of school on Friday, and Justin was "on call" all weekend...aka I am on my own. This forced me to schedule activities and keep the kids moving. When they are "on the go" they seem to do better and are very tired at night which makes things easier. We decided to go to the Denver Zoo on Friday. It was a lot of fun. The kids were able to watch the polar bears during their "feeding" time. It really was something to see.

The trip was successful, because after we returned home (four hours later) everyone was very tired...myself included. Pushing the stroller with 100+ pounds should count for something. lol

Winter Park

2007-09-23T08:33:00.001-07:00

Last Sunday we drove to Winter Park and took the kids to RED ROCK. My parents came to help me to celebrate my birthday. Justin and I wanted to take Dad to the mountains. Justin and I debated between Breckenridge and Winter Park. We chose Winter Park. I rode in the back seat and became car sick. Seriously, I have never had much trouble with car sickness...again Colorado and I are working on things. Then after we got to Winter Park the Alpine slide and the areas for the kids were closed. We eventually found a Pizza Hut and ate dinner. Yes, my birthday was spent with car sickness and a trip to Pizza Hut. What happened to symphonies, five-star restaurants, etc? I think it is called being a mom. lol We did have a nice day, minus the car sickness. Just another "adventure."

Butterfly Museum

2007-09-21T09:12:00.001-07:00

We visited the Butterfly museum. It was a cool place for the kids. There were spiders and sting rays the kids could pet. There was also a butterfly area where the butterflies were flying freely. The kids were standing as still as possible trying to get butterflies to land on them. Only Braden (isn't that true to form...still, calm, patient Braden) was able to have one land on him. He was VERY excited. Claire was busy studying the colors and watching how they fly. (again I am amazed at her little brain and how it works). Drew...well Drew was running around like a MAD MAN. The workers at the museum had to get onto him twice. He truly is the "spunky" one. He found his element in the play area. He is pictured above climbing on the spider web. He loved this area. It was a GREAT day!!!

It was just another "adventure" in Colorado.

Red Rocks Concert

2007-09-21T08:00:00.001-07:00

Please forgive the lack of clarity in these pictures. We had to use our camera phone. I never think of taking my real camera when the kids are not involved. We were able to go to a concert at RED ROCKS. The concert was BB King, Etta James, and Al Green. It was a great concert, but the scenery was amazing!! It is hard to capture the beauty of the area with a camera. The combination of the red rocks and the Denver skyline are priceless. The weather was perfect! My only complaint was the gentleman smoking an illegal substance two rows behind us. Seriously, those of you that know me know how quickly my allergies react to smoke. Apparently, the reaction does not discriminate against tobacco smoke and that of other substances, because my eye began swelling. It was quickly becoming so large that my vision was slightly impaired. I know this may be TMI but it again proves that Colorado and I have some things to "work-out." As I have mentioned...if it could go wrong...it has. This shows that even on the times that I am out having a good time issues arise. LOL! I guess this was another "adventure" in Colorado.

(Seriously, we did have a great time).

MOVING...ugh!

2007-09-21T07:51:00.000-07:00

This picture is posted for comic relief; however, I am still not completely humored by the experiences of our move. Honestly, if it could go wrong...it did. This is a picture of us at the hotel where we had to unload everything in the parking lot. Yes, that is me sitting on one of our couches in the parking lot of a hotel. Memorable, huh? We ended up staying in the hotel so long that my friend Carey (the etiquette guru) told me that I should include the hotel workers on my Christmas card list. Honestly, she might be onto something. LOL.

Colorado Gorge

2007-09-21T07:43:00.000-07:00

I am still catching up on posting our "adventures" in Colorado. This was a trip we took in July to the Colorado Gorge. It was BEAUTIFUL! The kids were able to see elk, horses, etc. It was an especially memorable trip because both sets of grandparents were here. How lucky are these kids to get to spend time with BOTH sets of grandparents.

Fun in Breckenridge

2007-09-20T10:27:00.000-07:00

We went to Breckenridge on Labor Day weekend. It was such a BLAST! We rode the alpine slides, and walked around the village. It was beautiful! We have been to Breckenridge before, but it was much more enjoyable without the freezing temperatures. It was chilly that day, but not like it is during ski season. This truly was an "adventure." LOL

Learning about the blogging world

2007-09-19T11:30:00.000-07:00

I have been completely intrigued by the blogging world in the last few months. I have found myself anxiously awaiting the daily posts of others to see what type of crafting, parenting, cooking, etc ideas I can gain. This intrigue and the fact that we are living in a new state for a year has prompted me to join the blogging world. I also discovered that you can print the blogs and have them bound into a notebook. This sounded like a great way to document our "adventures" (a term I use loosely, and sarcastically) in Colorado.