Week 15/52

Dearest Boys,

Week 15 was a proud parenting moment for us!  We had friends visit us from Indiana who happen to be "Dinks" (dual income no kids) and they had such positive things to say about you two!  I know you're awesome kids but it always feels good to hear that affirmation from other people.  While they were here, we did some Dallas sight-seeing.

This was also the week that Daddy & I got to go out to celebrate our 11th wedding anniversary.  

And last, but certainly not least, this was the week that I got to chaperone your very first trip on the big, yellow, school bus!  You took field trips last year with your preschool but never on THE bus!  Your whole class was pretty excited!

My fab. five for the day:  you, Connor, Sophie, Nona, and Sahira

We saw a play, Seussical the Musical, at Casa Manana.

And finished our fun with a picnic in the park!

I loved seeing you in a different element.  You were goofy but kind as well as helpful and responsible.  

See?  Proud parenting moments for sure!

Week 14/52

Dear Jackson and Colton,

It felt like Spring really made its grand entrance this week.  The weather was perfect and color returned to those things that had been in a season of brown.  So we gladly celebrated its arrival with lots of outdoor activities!

Jax you had soccer practice - so, Colt, it was just you and me at my school's festival.  Between this large, inflated, ball and the cake-walk, you were content for HOURS!

Grandma and Grandpa's neighborhood had their spring festival too so we headed that way in between soccer and baseball games.

For the first time ever, y'all were interested in trying the zipline!

We tried another bluebonnet session but neither of you were interested in being unpaid models that afternoon so most of the pics were left on the editing room floor.

Literally the first picture I took - little did I know that it'd be the best.

Your fear of bees kept you from sitting down

Most of your smiles went something like this

Welcome, Spring!  I am so happy to see you!!

Week 13/52

Dearest Boys,

Easter was really early this year so Good Friday started off our week on March 25th.  Since the 3 of us didn't have school that day, we went to the dine-in theater to watch Zootopia.  

Grandma and Grandpa had us over that night where you had Easter goodies awaiting you already!

They also hosted an egg hunt in their backyard.

Another set of Easter baskets greeted you on Sunday morning. 

Your grandparents' church had their Sunday morning Easter service in UNT's "Super Pit" so we joined them there. 

(If you look back on this suspiciously one day, just know that you wanted to grow your hair long despite me asking you often about going for a haircut.)

You were a little sleepy so you rested even while 5,000 voices were singing out praise songs around you!

And just because flashbacks are fun...Easter of 2011: 

Weeks 11 and 12

Dearest Colt & Jackson,

I want a new camera.  I've thought my pictures were blurry for a while but I've made up excuse after excuse (Maybe it's my eyes?  Maybe I'm on the wrong setting?  Maybe I have a tendency to quiver and I just haven't noticed?...) for the poor picture quality.  I'm over it and these past 2 weeks have been the blur that broke the camera's lens (figuratively speaking...I don't think the lens is "technically" broken.).  Between your very first tournament with your new baseball team, soccer games, and the world's fastest bluebonnet session, I was really hoping for some great shots.  Instead, I have these unfocused memories:


First up - baseball tournament

The unusually frigid temps must've kept people away because your team was 1 of only 4 in your division.  You played a total of 4 games and you loved every minute!

Colt, you stayed warm during your soccer game!

Jax, you had a neat opportunity with your soccer organization to participate in the Dallas Cup (an annual invitation only tournament that hosts soccer teams from around the world).  It was at the Cotton Bowl and your team got to walk onto the field with the US Nationals at the start of their big game.  Y'all also played on the field during half-time!  So much fun but not many shots to show you (Thanks a lot, blur!!)

The tournament teams after the opening ceremonies

Legends waiting to walk in

Playing on the field during half time

We bundled up to watch you!

Once the cold spell headed north, the weather returned to Spring-gorgeous!  On one particularly lovely day, we parked on the side of the road for a super quick bluebonnet break.  Our usual fields have either been mowed down, flooded, or trampled so this patch might be it for 2016. 

 The weeks are flying by and I don't mind...because that means we're that much closer to SUMMER!!!

Week 10/52

Dearest Jax and Colton,

Let me start by back-tracking a little bit...back to a night in December when we were out to eat with the Vaughn & Harycki families.  The Haryckis mentioned something about a visit they were preparing for to Pagosa Springs, Colorado over Spring Break and the Vaughns chimed in about going on a ski trip during that same week.  They nicely suggested that we join them and I quickly agreed without really understanding what I was getting us into.  It wasn't long before we were booking a cabin and scouring the internet for all.the.things it takes for a week in the snow.

So, we'd all been anxiously awaiting 2016's Week 10 since 2015's Week 49! 

It started on Friday night when we had soccer practice for the both of you and last minute packing.  We tried to go to bed at a decent time since we knew we had to be up early - but we were all too excited!

Just as planned, we were out the door at 5AM on Saturday!   We made it to our first rest stop & made you 4 kids run off as much energy as possible.

It wasn't long before we were driving under this:

 

And this awesome sign greeted us at about 5PM.

  

You kids wanted to play in the snow immediately...although there really wasn't much to play in.

 We all went out to dinner that night before Michelle & I took off for a girls night.  (Ok, it was actually just to grocery shop -- but still fun!)

The four kids took over the lower level of the house and us adults stayed upstairs on the main level.  

Sunday morning was literally the calm before the storm.  Our plans to go snow tubing had to be cancelled as there simply wasn't enough snow.  Instead, the dads went off "hunting and gathering" (headed into town to go to the store), us moms relaxed by the fire with our books, and you littles ran around playing games.

We went to lunch before picking up our ski equipment.

We wrapped up the day by soaking in the Hot Springs.  All of our belongings were kept in lockers, which means we didn't get any pictures of us sampling the 100+ degree tubs...but here's a shot I borrowed from the internet -- so you can just imagine us down there ;)

Shortly thereafter, the snow started to fall and I was soooo grateful for this comfy spot and roaring fire.

We woke up on Monday morning to a snow covered land.  I wish I would've paused as I was rushing around gathering all.the.things so I could've taken a picture of the beautiful scene from our cabin -- but I did not.  Again, you're left to imagine.

Now, before I get to all the "Happy, Happy, Joy, Joy" photos, it's time for some blunt honesty.  

This was y'all as Michelle dropped you off at ski school that first morning:

 

See those fake smiles?  I'm not even mad about them because I had one too!  The altitude, combined with lugging all.the.things up some evil hills, mixed with frigid weather -- had us starting off on the wrong ski boot.  There were tears and a lot of uncertainty.  But, I'm proud to report that that was the last picture that was less than stellar.  All of us picked up skiing really well and our smiles turned from forced to for-real!

Mommy and Daddy graduated from our group ski class after only 1 hour and had our own personal instructor for the rest of the day!

 I was so excited to break for lunch!!!!

 

We took it easy once we got home and tried to let our bodies recuperate for the days to come. 

In keeping with our Monday tradition, Brandie came over that night to watch our trashy television addiction.  I was laid across the couch for the whole show and Brandie & Doug commented that I seemed really tired.  And then I saw this picture and I understood.  

#WOAH

 Could I be any more exhausted?!?  It's hard work being a ski bunny! 

 

Tuesday morning's drop off was MUCH more pleasant!

 We skied a few runs with the Vaughns that morning and took advantage of having extra hands for photography.

Day 2 was a night & day difference from Day 1.  Although we had less fresh powder, the temperatures were near perfection!

Tuesday night was super fun because The Haryckis came over for game night!  Lucky for me, the games required very little movement ;)

Everything still hurt on Wednesday morning.  Instead of shredding that mountain, we took it easy and stalked your ski school.  We became the unofficial photographers of the Wolf Pup program that morning.

That afternoon we got to do what we'd all been looking forward to the most:  family skiing!!  

It was so fun to cruise down the mountain together -- but it was also nerve-wracking and, at times, down right scary.  You kids have NO fear and little understanding of how dangerous cliffs can be so you just whipped down and never looked back!  You both skied remarkably well and I was in awe when I wasn't panicking!  

We stopped by Treasure Falls on the way back to town.  You 2 were ready to hike to the top of it, while our adult legs were screaming for us to get back in the car!  : )

We packed up all.the.things slowly on Wednesday night and reflected on all the fun we had before taking our one and only whole group photo - in the driveway of our home away from home.

We were on the road bright and early Thursday morning and the drive home was, thankfully, uneventful.  Some of us even got in some angelic napping : )

Week 10 was the best yet & you two are already wondering when we can ski again.  Surprisingly, you're not the only ones who wants to go back ASAP!