Colorado Trip - Part 1 - Breckenridge

Bryan and the boys doing "face"

we got back last night from our Thanksgiving trip to Colorado. My mother and her husband Howard moved there 3 1/2 years ago and this was our second time visiting them. the first time we only had bryson...this time was, in fact, quite different with the 3 boys. this was our first time traveling with all of them. they did amazing on the plane. i think it had to do with the fact that the older boys sat with their daddy and i had bobby on my lap away from them.

Me trying to surf...note the tongue of concentration

My mountain man

The gang of us

oh and by the way...they almost made us buy a ticket for Bobby because you have to have proof of birth. i still haven't gotten a birth certificate for him (the agent said the letter from the midwife would do) but i didn't know it was for any baby. we had to buy bryson a ticket when he was almost 2 because of that, but thought it was because he looked almost 2...didnt know it applied to babies too! just an FYI if you happen to travel with a lap infant...but maybe you knew that already...like i probably should have.

Me forcing Bodie to have fun...Bodie politely refusing

The sleigh ride through the woods

anyhoo...so we made it to CO and the next day we headed up to Breckenridge for some snow fun. right behind the *gorgeous* cabin we stayed in was the best hill for sledding, so we took advantage of that every day.

we had an Italian style Thanksgiving - my  mom cooked AMAZING food all week...i was so so spoiled...she was in the kitchen like the whole time poor woman! but that is a way she shows her love and it would be so rude not to accept all the mama lovin from the kitchen, no?

Bodie looking so happy...

Proof Bobby was there too...our little bear all bundled up

on friday we met up with my aunt and uncle and cousins (my cousin danny and his family live in CO also) and had a St. Lucia brunch and some more snow play and then hopped on a sleigh ride to this cute little tent/cabin thing where we listened to country songs and drank hot chocolate...and the adults got a little peppermint schnapps thrown in which helped warm us up a bit...and then dinner in Breckenridge with the whole lot of us. good times!

If the boys would have slept well, it would have made the trip extra perfect...i feel absolutely exhausted from trying to get each boy to sleep and stay asleep. every night i would go from our bed to the boys bed and back to our bed, sometimes 3 trips each night. Bodie did not have an easy time of it and Bobby ended up getting a cold and so the poor guy could barely breathe.

Bodie slept so little during the trip, which is i think the real reason i am exhausted. On the way home from the airport he fell asleep (around 6) and didnt get up until 8:15 this morning - which is a record for him (he usually wakes around 5:45-6.

but the million cups of coffee helped...plus the chilly mountain air. breckenridge is just breath-taking beautiful. It so helped to put us in the mood for Christmas, even if we did come home to 70 degree California weather.

Bryan and I agreed that it was hard, but so worth it and we are glad that having 3 kids doesn't stop us from exploring and living and exposing our kids to new experiences...even if people at the airport look at you like you are nuts...and about a million people tell you, "looks like you have your hands full!" because we do...but it doesnt stop us...because we crazy like that!

Bodie did not care for sledding...but he looked adorable!

on our way...

to colorado...for our first trip with our party of 5! i have our bags packed...plus a party bag for the boys to *hopefully* keep bodie occupied long enough to not make the flight miserable for all.

P.S....packing for 5 is a workout! both mental and otherwise.

we will be heading up to the mountains (weather permitting) and spending a couple days cozying up in a cabin - we are looking forward to no computers and no work and lots of play...not looking forward to the COLD - looks like the high will be 15 degrees tomorrow! ouch...

wish us luck...throw up a prayer...we have a lot to be thankful for and excited there is a holiday reserved just for that...well...that and eating...hope you and yours have a wonderful holiday!!!

The Second Child

we would have never bought bryson a scooter before he turned 2...nor would we think to put him on the balance bike...there is just something about this that doesnt seem right!

Bodie on Bryson's Razor




Bodie on the Balance Bike

Bobby at 2 Months

okay...i am a wee bit late for this post...i realize...almost 2 weeks late, so he is more like 2 1/2 months but humor me...

sweet bobby b. he is a little sweetheart - this month he has really been cooing like crazy - big huge smiles for us and any time you pay him attention he is over the moon about it.

this month he has been active like crazy - holding his head up so well and practicing jumping on daddy's lap.

he has been sleeping much better too. he still spits up a lot, but wakes 2-3 times a night, and now i can help him go back to sleep after his second waking. the trick is to put him in the bassinet, not hold him...much to my sadness. i wish i could cuddle him but its not helping either of us out.

big brothers are in love with this boy too. they fight over who gets to hold him. i sneak peeks of bryson singing to him and bodie sneaking kisses. he is such a perfect little puzzle piece to our family. he fits in seamlessly and i could not imagine our life without him. although its only been 2 1/2 months...i feel as though he has been a part of our family all along...its odd...but this month has really been about me feeling like our family is complete and he helps seal that deal ;)

The Golfers and How to Cool Up Hand Me Downs!

my husband is little bit brilliant...although he is the only boy among his siblings and did not have to share his boyish toys to the extent these three will have to, he knows how to make hand-me-downs seem cooler than they are.

bryson just turned 5 this week and for his birthday he received a big boy set of golf clubs...a VERY nice set of clubs...like when bryan told me how much he spent on them i was a little taken aback... but its an "investment" he assured me...ummm..mmm...hmmm...okay...if you say so, honey! bryan also took him to the "big boy" course (a local par 3 - they only did the front 9) and he started his next level of golf classes. so this has all been very exciting (for them) of course. 

Part of our dilemma in our household right now is how to encourage sharing, but also how to keep the "bigger boy" toys separate from the "little boy" toys. bodie should not in any way be playing with bryson's clubs - bryson also needs to learn how to care for *very* nice things/property. so bryan was very intentional with this...

first he took bryson's old clubs and had them shortened at the golf shop...then he spray painted the club part white to appear new and he got them re-gripped and lastly, he got Bodie his very own new standing bag. 

to help show Bodie the difference of ownership, Bryan had me print out some pictures of the boys and attach them to their bags to show "this is Bryson's!" and "this is Bodie's"

and it worked so well! i was so blown away! we all made a very big deal of bodie's clubs and you could tell he felt pretty dern cool...

i love that bryan's brain thinks this way - i would have just given him the old clubs and be all like, deal...these boys are very lucky to have such a creative and thoughtful daddy!

Ready for the So-Cal Hurricane Season

i think these two "dress up" in some fashion every day...love it! 

sunset reflections

my *bigger* boys have been gone all day with their dad. i have a lot of catching up in the office to do...so i have had a quiet house...which is amazing...my brain can think...but its also bittersweet -i miss my boys' chaos and laughter too. bryan is good about filling me in on the special times when he has the boys - he just emailed me this picture he took on his phone of the boys at the beach.

i wish i was there and not here...but it is so so nice that our boys have this time with their dad. this was our dream - to have the both of us raising our children like this...and although i feel more than a little over working (if you know me, then you know i have been trying to get fired for the past 6 1/2 years) i can't help but look at a picture like this and know that we are making the right choice.