Blizzard 2016

So, here we are deep in the blizzard of 2016. One of the worst storms of the century. The snow is falling up to 30 inches in some places, so we are hunkering down at home and trying to stay warm.


Just kidding, we live in Phoenix.

While the East coast is covered in snow we've been enjoying "cool" weather in the high sixty's and low seventy's. Here's a few of the things we've been enjoying lately!

Hiking:

Let me just preface this by saying, my parents spent most of my young life dragging me on hikes where I hated every minute and complained the whole time. I just never got the point of "walking" up a "hill".

Apparently things have changed in my old age!

We've spent the last few weekend exploring local hiking trails with the boys, and then trying new restaurants for lunch in the area afterwards. It's pretty much my new favorite activity, and we plan on keeping it up until the weather gets too hot.

The boys do surprisingly well on the hikes. I carry R on my back (which is quite the workout!) and L and L2 have actually kept up pretty well. Last weekend we even did a slightly longer and more difficult  hike, which I was worried they wouldn't' be able to keep up with, and they did awesome!

And while, I miss the forests and the mountains of Northern Nevada, this is not a bad view!

Fire Nights and Twinkle Lights

One of the best Christmas Presents I received this year was a fire pit from S. We've been talking about getting one forever, and just never pulled the trigger.

After we set up the fire pit I convinced Shaun that we should string some white Christmas lights over the backyard. Again, something I've been wanting to do forever and just never have. The results have been amazing.

We've been doing a fire pit a few times a week, and usually letting the boys roast a few marshmallows. And with the added light from the Christmas lights our backyard is suddenly an amazing place for them to run around in once the sun has gone down!

There's a lot I don't always love about Phoenix, but when your kids can run around the fire pit with no shirts on, and you can go hiking every weekend in tank tops, in January, it's actually pretty nice.

Sending warm thoughts to all those affected by the crazy weather out East!

A wedding

Last weekend an amazing friend from college tied the knot. Do you know what that means? I mean, obviously it means that we got to witness two amazing people joining their lives together and committing to each other in love in front of friends and family.

But do you know what else?

It means we got a whole day and night with NO KIDS!

Don't get me wrong, I love my kids and they are my world. Nothing makes me happier then spending time with them. But… a whole day and night, people!!!

We're talking adult friends, high heels, adult beverages, and a hotel room to go home to at the end of the night, where the next morning we got to sleep in!!!!

It was heaven.

And, equally important, the wedding was beautiful. The bride is one of my closest friends from college, someone I actually lived with for several years and was in the same sorority with. I love weddings, because it reinforces to me that loves really is everything. And it makes me fall more in love with S every time I watch people make their vows, because we are eight years in and he's still the love of my life.

Ok, that was sappy. But I feel like where weddings are involved, sappy in acceptable.

And, while the wedding was beautiful and touching and emotional…. the party afterwards? It was really, really fun.

We danced and we drank and we stayed out way later then these parents of three are used to. There was a group of us who were all close in college and everyone was there, so it was like a big reunion and we took full advantage!

(The beautiful bride and her Chi O girls!)

These next two pictures are two of my favorite from the night. They are blurry, and we're all looking  a little worse for the wear as the night drew to a close, but you can tell just how happy and how much fun everyone was having!

It was an amazing night, and we are so grateful to have been able to sneak away and let loose. But we were also grateful to return to our kiddos in the morning! (After we took full advantage of sleeping in, of course!)

Goodbye, 2015

Happy New Year's Eve!

It's hard to believe that 2015 is coming to a close. I swear, the older I get, the quicker the years go by. I guess that's life though, right?

2015 was a good year for us. In February I celebrated my (gulp!) 31st birthday and we took a trip quick trip down to California to celebrate Valentine's Day.

In March we drove to Reno for the boys spring break. It was the first time I'd been back since my parents sold the house, which was hard, but it was still a great trip.

In April we had old friends come to visit from Colorado, took the boys camping, and celebrated our seventh wedding anniversary.

In May both boys finished up the school year, and we geared up for summer vacation.

June and July brought us long, hot days by the pool, trips to Sedona, an amazing visit from my sister and her family, as well as my parents, and we celebrated S's 31st birthday.

August got a bit crazy. L2 started his second year of Pre-school and L started KINDERGARTEN!!! It was a proud, emotional, bittersweet time for me. R moved out of his crib, after being caught climbing out of it numerous times. The biggest thing in August is S got a promotion that required him to go to Pennsylvania for 10 weeks to train. He left about a week after the boys started school and it was hard and a big adjustment for all of us!

In September L turned 6 and S got to come back for a week long visit. I started to find my footing as a "temporary single mom", and started to feel confident that I could do this!

In October L2 turned 4, we celebrated Halloween with good friends, and most importantly, S finally came back from Pennsylvania for good! We were so happy to have our Daddy back!

November brought is R's second birthday and another fun camping trip, although it was much colder this time!

And then, finally, December. This month was filled with holidays and school stuff and friends and family. It's always my favorite time of the year, and I'm always a little sad when it's over. But now I'm looking forward to a new year, and excited to see what it bring for our family!

I hope everyone had as wonderful a 2015 as we did, and I wish you all a safe and happy 2016!

Christmas 2015

Well, another Christmas is in the books, and I'd say 2015 was pretty successful!

S was lucky enough to have Christmas Eve off, which means we got to spend the whole day eating, and drinking, and watching Christmas movies, and finishing wrapping. Christmas is by far my favorite holiday, but Christmas Eve might actually be my favorite day of the year. It has a feeling of celebration, while still having the anticipation of the next day. Christmas day is obviously amazing too, but there is always a sense of sadness for me, that after a month of shopping, and baking and wrapping and Christmas carols and movies… it's just suddenly over. But regardless of the inevitable sadness that it has to end, it's still the best time of the year!

L was over the top about Christmas this year. I think he may have inherited his mommy's freak flag for holidays! He spent the entire month counting down the days, singing carols and asking all kinds of questions about Santa. L2 and R were excited too, but seeing the amount of understanding and how inquisitive L was was pretty special.

(Trying to explain to R that he couldn't eat Santa's cookies!)

(Our annual tradition of "The Night Before Christmas" in front of the Christmas tree. I don't think anyone was actually listening to me!)

On Christmas Eve S and I always put on Christmas movies and put together/ finishing wrapping all of the boys Santa presents. This year we got them an easel and their own little table and chair set. (among many other things!)

We always stay up to late for what is inevitable an early morning wake up the next morning, but it's always worth it!

(R and S had a little bit of trouble waking up, but L and L2 were ready to go!)

We always walk down together so we can catch the boys expression on video, and then open stocking while Daddy makes us some much needed coffee! 

(Opening his stocking!)

After stockings (and coffee) we try to have the kids open gifts in a nice and orderly fashion, one at time. That usually doesn't work out, but we do manage to have some sort of organized chaos.

L2 and R got a little overwhelmed about halfway though. I think there was just too much going on. So we had to take a couple breaks and help them open a few presents. At a certain point they both just wanted to sit at their new table and eat the goldfish Santa left them in their stockings!

And, after it is all said and done, out house looks like a tornado went through it, but our family is happy and cozy as we play with new gifts and eat Christmas breakfast.

It was another Christmas, made perfect not because of the stuff, but because our little family was together and happy and healthy. Merry Christmas to all, and to all a Goodnight!

California Christmas Trip 2015

Well, this last weekend we took our annual trip out to California to celebrate Christmas with S's family.

S had a great time, seeing his family and visiting with old friends. The boys had a great time, seeing their grandparents and aunt and uncle and getting to run free and explore on their amazing property.

(Bath time in Poppa and Grandma's super cool tub!)

I'd love to tell you what a great time I had…. except I came down with strep throat on the second day. Seriously, is that Murphy's Law or what? I've spent the last month taking care of everyone while one illness after another went through our house, all the while never catching anything because I just couldn't. Literally I think I willed my body into being healthy because we just didn't have the time for me to be sick.

But, of course, the second I had chance to relax and catch my breath I ended up down for the count.

(In all fairness, it's probably my fault. I did volunteer at L's school the day before we left!)

Anyway, enough of my pity party. The boys and S had a great time, and that's what is important. S's sister was in town, and his brother is living at home again, and the boys love spending time with them. We also got to spend time with S's best friend from high school, and his girlfriend, on the night before I got sick.

And then I pretty much have no pictures or stories, because I spent the next day and a half in bed. I know, I know…. poor me. But it did really suck.

By Sunday  I was able to pull it together enough to to Christmas/opening presents with the family.

And as usual, our boys got totally spoiled!

(This is L2's "angel" face! Don't' let it fool you!)

The boys got so many toys I was surprise that we were able to fit them all back in the car for the drive home! And the hard part was convincing them that we probably shouldn't open ALL of them before we left the next day!

(Poppa opening his present!)

(This is R's "Give me my present look")

I was proud of the boys with how grateful and thankful they were for all of their gifts. At this age, it's easy for them to get consumed by the toys, but the boys did really well!

And they also made out like bandits…..

So that was our last day. We went out to dinner that night, which was fun, and I'm glad I was feeling well enough to go and eat. Honestly, by that point I was starving! Strep throat really does a number on eating!

So the weekend wasn't exactly a blast for me, but the moments I was around for were wonderful. And everyone else had fun, which is the most important thing!

(I have to add that we are now home, tomorrow is Christmas Eve, and S just got diagnosed with Strep! Please send healthy thoughts to our family!)