Denver Nuggets

A few weeks ago Bryan and I were lucky enough to get front row seats to the Nuggets/Clippers game. And when I say front row, I literally mean on the floor, in the folding chairs, no one sitting in front of us, 10 feet from the Nugget players on the side lines, listening to them talk to each other, almost right under the basket. It was SO awesome. The Nuggets won me over that night. But, LET THIS BE CRYSTAL CLEAR, I AM AND ALWAYS WILL BE A SUNS FAN FIRST AND FOREMOST. I owe that much to my darling husband. But, I have to jump on some Denver bandwagon since we are settled here now... and it won't be the Broncos so the Nuggets win. (plus, I like watching basketball more than other sports.) We had a blast at the game and it was definitely the best date night we've had for a while. The Nuggets squeezed out a win and we got to watch Griffen, who I learned is a rookie who's super awesome, play against them. Did I mention that the tickets were FREE?!?!?

Nene.

Anderson and all his tats. While I this his tats are super awesome I would rip Carter's ears off if he came home with this many tats.
Griffen and Nene fighting for the ball.
Afflalo warming up.
Carmelo Anthony. I wonder if he was wearing his own shoes (like his brand). I couldn't tell but I would sure hope so.

Snoopy

Ryan and Courtney Alexander are some of our oldest and closest friends. I've said it before and I'll say it again: it's REALLY hard to find couples where the husband and wife get along great. Not only are the four of us really close but our kids adore each other. They love playing together and I think Carter for the rest of his life will consider Blake one of his best friends.
For the past 3 years (at least) Courtney and I have tried to head over to her parents house to take a ride on Snoopy, they're (according to my kids) "really big" horse. :) Snoopy only hangs out in Gilbert during the winters and for some reason we haven't ever gotten our act together enough to actually go take a ride on him. So, about 4 days before I moved, with 6 month pregnant Courtney who was also sick, we headed to see Mr. Snoopy. He was SUCH a hit with the kids. We had a blast and it was the perfect "see you later" (NOT a goodbye) for all of us.

The boys passing the time while patiently waiting for their turn.

Kenzie and Addi. I love this picture!!

Carter and Addilyn loved Snoopy. Not scared in the least.

Can't say as much for Preslee... she was NOT (N.O.T.) A FAN!!

After they all road on Snoopy,Gary hooked up the wagon and took the kids for rides. My kids were a little more worried about this than they were riding on Snoopy.

Courtney and I even took him out for a spin. This picture is our attempt (amid lots of giggling) at a self portrait. Should have taken the camera out of manual. Obviously my photography skills are MUCH better when I'm looking through the camera. :)

Waiting for yet another turn on the stallion.

Preslee just played on the swingset while the kids took turns. (this picture was too cute to NOT edit.)

A Last Minute Visitor

Bryan moved up to Colorado three weeks before the rest of us. I am not built to live without my sweetheart. I'm just not. It's not the dependence on him that I need. (But he is quite the Mr. Fix-it.) It's not his role as a father. (Although he can kick any one's trash in the "Daddy of the Year" department.) It's just that I miss him. I miss seeing him (Face Time SAVED me!!), talking to him, cuddling with him, just knowing that he's there. And the kids missed him too!
Originally, since it was only three weeks we (and by we I mean Bryan) decided that he wouldn't come home any of the weekends in order to save money and all that. About a week and a half into his move he realized how very boring life is without us (DUH!). So he called me and said, "Why didn't we think to fly me home this weekend? I don't work Friday until Monday afternoon." I said to him, "We talked about flying you home (and by we I mean I wanted him to) but we (and by we I again mean Bryan) decided not to." After a call to my super awesome parents, we were able to use a free flight my Dad had accumulated and Bryan was home for the weekend. I didn't tell the kids he was coming home and when they saw him they were beyond excited. Carter ditched school and we just hung out enjoyed the beautiful weather while it was still ours to enjoy. **Side note: Bryan got home to a few inches of snow on his car.**We spent way too long playing with bubbles. (This is Addilyn's new uniform. It's a hand-me-down and in it's last leg. Poor Cinderella.)

This little girl is the one that had the hardest time with Bryan being gone and has also had the hardest time with the move. She would light up and start laughing hysterically EVERY SINGLE TIME Bryan would Face Time us. She loves him from head to toe, inside and out. (We all do, but she is proving to be quite the Daddy's Girl.) While he was gone she was SUCH a turkey. She took up screaming (I think I would have preferred drinking) and throwing very impressive tantrums. She could not get enough of him while he was visiting. Even still, everyday when Bryan leaves for work I have to distract her. She cries and cries when she sees him leaving and will chase him out the door. I mean, don't get me wrong, it's cute how much she loves him, but what am I? Chopped Liver?

Goodbye Old Friend

When I moved from Arizona I lost one of my most beloved friends. While I know I will talk to most of my friends on a regular basis, this one I will not. I will hear of this friend from my other friends... spoken of with great gratitude and joy. This friend cannot be replaced. My life will never be the same without my ol' buddy. I sigh daily at the thought of losing my dear friend but I guess I can't keep looking back. I have to look forward and try to find some meager substitute for this now long lost friend. But, fear not, Babysitting Co-op, you will always have a place in my heart. ALWAYS. AL. WAYS. May you rest in peace and may all my dear friends in Arizona continue your legacy with great love. May your sticks change hands frequently and may you provide much needed breaks for young mothers who are in desperate need.

So long, old friend.

Here's my new Babysitting Co-op: He's SO elated about the promotion. ;) And I don't even have to pay him!! (that's the look he gave me when I told him he is my new co-op. Can't you just FEEL the excitement?)

Curls

I love these curls. I know she'll hate them one day. I know she'll straighten her hair as soon as she's old enough to know that she doesn't HAVE to listen to me (shhh, don't tell her that's an option) but until then I will enjoy her curls every moment of every day. She is hands down the MOST adorable little girl in the world. (coming from a completely unbiased source, of course. :))

Traditions

Every winter growing up my mom made pumpkin bread. Those who know my mom know that she isn't much of a cook, but pumpkin bread was her specialty. She makes THE BEST pumpkin bread in the world. When I smell it it takes me back to being a kid. Every Christmas morning while we tore through all of the presents we undoubtedly didn't deserve we ate loaf after loaf of fresh out of the oven pumpkin bread.
I am happy to say that is a tradition I have carried on. I don't know if my mom noticed it became a tradition but it was something I always looked forward to. My kids feel the same. They know the smell.... they love to make it with me... they BEG me for it the moment I pull it out of the oven. I don't even think about NOT doubling the recipe. Preslee, at the ripe old age of 16 months will walk over to the counter where she knows the bread is a mere 6 inches away and sign "please" and scream her little red head off until I give her some. (Don't worry, I make her stop screaming and ask me nicely before I hand it over.)
I love love love my mom's pumpkin bread. I hope it's a tradition I pass along to my kids.
Addilyn even likes the batter... gross...
Cooking away...

The finished product BEFORE the kids get their grimy hands on it. (Don't you like how I blame the quick disappearance on the kids and not on Bryan or myself? :))