turkey day!

Happy Turkey Day!

While things were getting set up, Dennis and I thought it might be a good idea to get the kids outside for another one of those "hikes". There is this beautiful open space not far from Papi's house that has a whole lot more trails than I realized. The parking lot was also packed! 

Cyndi was in search of the perfect cactus to text Greg... this might explain the boys fascination to flipping everyone off!

 And then it was back to the house. I can't remember quite what we did next but we didn't wait too long and Thanksgiving dinner was ready!

The really sweet thing about the past two years is that Dad has indulged us with a caterer... and for some reason as much as I am into cooking my own food... I am incredibly grateful he does this. It makes the day a lot more relaxing to just sit back and smell someone else cooking!

In the meantime, someone used my phone and capture a few fun photos of all of us... thank you to whoever that was!

Very grateful to be able to spend time with family during Thanksgiving!

rubber ducky you're my one...

Looking back, I am a little sad I didn't take more photos while we were at Papi's but I am so glad I captured this particular moment. 

My sister and I were relaxing in the sun and she decided she might like to relax in the hot tub sans kids so she went changed and got in. She was enjoying her peace and quiet when Nana happened to come by and appear to be asking my sister if she would like the jets on to soak and work out those sore muscles... while secretly Nana tipped some bubbles into the hot tub. Nana then came by and said with a twinkle in her eye, "you might want to get your camera!"

The minute the jets went on, the bubbles multiplied and the minutes the bubbles multiplied... kids came running!

 First it was just the girls...

 And then the boys jumped in!

And there was lots of weird bubble beards, mustaches and hairdos! 

So much fun!

cathedral rock...

Many years ago, actually it feels like eons ago but before kids, Dennis and I did a mini tour of the Arizona. We visited numerous national monuments and parks along our pilgrimage to the Grand Canyon, and one stop was to Sedona. We sought out to hike and discovered that there were several great hikes in the area... one was Cathedral Rock. 

This time for Thanksgiving, we piled everyone into the car and told the kids we were going to Sedona for the day and hiking Cathedral Rock... you should have heard the groans especially Wesley and Alyssa! Go figure, right? Jaiden and Courtney were mildly interested and intrigued with an unknown adventure and not at all daunted with the word "hike". Wesley said it was going to be "boring" and Alyssa just plain wilts when the word "hike" is used.

But we ventured out anyway. And we had the most beautiful weather imaginable.

 The boys took off but the best part about that was there is only one way up and one way down and the two of them were wearing these obnoxiously florescent yellow or is it green? shirts. We could spot them at an instant!

 The view of Sedona valley halfway up the hike.

 Looking up at my sister, Woody, Courtney and Alyssa.

 Dennis took this one of the girls probably while I was taking one just a little further below of the beautiful scenery and I love this one of Courtney and Alyssa!

 The boys looking down at us!

 At the tippy top!

 Alyssa wasn't too keen on the "hike" and she really doesn't like heights but we make her try it anyway. She won't smile for me but seriously? How can you not have fun exploring?

 Dennis and Cyndi over on one of the far ledges. I definitely couldn't get Alyssa to go with me. Courtney hesitated too, and came back to sit with us.

And then I had to go find the boys... hiding out in a mini cave! 

 They wanted a photo with this rock.

 So I took one and little did I know they are flipping me off in this photo?!

When I thought they were pretending to be riding a roller coaster?!

Boys! And just a side note here, Wesley's idea of "boring" had already quickly changed and he was enjoying himself tremendously ... likely because flipped off his Aunt and she took a photo of it?! 

The last climb down... and this is probably why Alyssa is afraid of heights because we make her do things like this!

The ride home proved to be interesting as well. The girls were in one car, happy as can be. While the boys were in another car and had their own sort of adventure. All I am saying is there is serious mischief when you are hanging with your cousin!

#3 swim meet & more

Another super early morning and in snowy conditions! On our way to Alyssa's 3rd meet in South Denver. Alyssa took this photo for me. The sunrise looked so beautiful!

 She also got a hold of my phone and took a selfie!

 This meet wasn't as crowded as the Thornton meet but it also had a lot less room to sit! I was glad that they asked for parent volunteers to time the kids so I jumped on that so I could get front row seats!

 Her freestyle heat.

And then she actually swam in my lane!

 And looked absolutely adorable!

 After the meet we drove back to town and joined up with our Girl Scout Troop at the holiday bazaar. Charlotte and Alyssa looking very ready for customers. 

Unfortunately, we had the slowest shift being the last hour of the bazaar but as a whole, the troop did amazing! Our adorable clay girl scout cookie earrings and necklaces sold like crazy! So fun to have their first bazaar be a huge success. I think my co-leader deserves the credit for this clever idea!

And in a few hours, we head to Scottsdale for family fun and Thanksgiving week!

how long?

The previous patient still waiting... 

Jaiden and I can not stop laughing at the irony of this photo opportunity. We can not wait to be done with this orthodontist office... the wait time is about this ridiculous most the time!

rockin' the tuba

Jaiden's first band performance was tonight! It was awesome, actually incredible at how well the 6th graders played given most had only just learned their instruments for the very first time since August!

Jaiden was in the way back with the two other Tubists...

 In this photo, Mrs. Clanin had any child who had started working on optional Scale Karate to stand up. Jaiden stood up! the only tubist but also very few other kids stood up. She said it was optional and that these students had gone above and beyond!  Kind of ironic given how much he cried while first learning to play the Tuba! 

Go Jaiden go!

 And the final performance where they all stand and we applaud.

We watched the 7th & 8th grade band play as well. That was interesting to see how much they change from each year. It will be fun to see if Jaiden stays with this or not!

family photos take 3...

Yes, take 3. We headed over early but even before we got there I was saying I think the lighting was too harsh. I took this one photo and we literally turned around and went home!

The shadows were way to intense on their faces and if I turned us into the direction of the sun, we'd end up with raccoon eyes and be squinting... so frustrated. 

Dennis being the most patient suggested other locations around the town but I kept saying the lighting is way off that it is better to come back at around 4 pm instead and so we did.

And this is what I captured late in the afternoon...

I can't decide which one I like best but I finally felt like I accomplished what I was after and what I would consider acceptable up on Dad's hall of shame!

The irony was the kids weren't so interested in coming back but after I finished, they were certainly interested climbing around the river banks... and it reminded me of when they were young and how we spent several afternoons in this area playing and exploring.

Although now the playing involves dangerous leaps for this boy...

and still sweet smiles for this girl...

A good day indeed!

yummy play doh sweets

I was trying to clean up this enormous mess (as usual) in the guest room and Alyssa keep bringing me these adorable play doh treats. I love this sweetness!

african safari

Last week, Alyssa and I went to her schools African night. It was actually very cool and we wandered the halls looking at the kids artwork, map displays, sat in on a presentation. It was amazing what the entire school put together.

Alyssa showed me her animal art that night but it was dark and I wanted a good photo of it so I waited and snuck in today after helping in her class and took a few shots. These animals were really well done by the 4th graders but I especially loved the ocelot that Alyssa created.

Isn't it cute?

family photos take 2...

Time for take 2... I wasn't fully pleased with the family photos I took in Breckenridge... well, I was for one of the photos but the feedback I received was less than what I wanted. I studied  what I liked and what I didn't and thought of a fun location with these colored bricks in an alley in Boulder and thought we could try again. 

The kids were less than thrilled to be at it again!

But I threatened them and we managed to get this one...

This one cracked me up... Dennis can be so strange, Jaiden trying to explain himself and Alyssa just trying to keep a smile on her face oblivious to the nonsense behind her... apparently she listened to my threats!

This one was okay too but again, not quite what I had in mind. I took plenty of others but it just wasn't working for me.

And after some frustration, I said let's try a silly one. Jaiden looks like he has a neck strain happening... I think he thought he was doing some parkour?!

Later in the afternoon, Jaiden, Tyler and Dennis went to the new movie theater where they were doing a special pre-opening fundraiser. Movies were $3 a person, $3 popcorn and $3 drinks. All proceeds went to the OUR center. They got the movie tickets and popcorn, and saw their latest favorite Insurgent. 

While Alyssa and I stayed at home and played...

I love how she plays. She created this adorable house with a moving fan and cool lights!

pumpkin stuffed with everything good

It's been 2 years since we met this most amazing family who had to relocate from their house in Lyons during the flood. We had just finished our basement and made a make do apartment set up for them... and it was the best experience ever! 

We shared a ton of meals together and the kids hit off immediately. It was awesome!

Every year, we try to get together in the Fall when we make Pumpkin Stuffed with Everything Good. The dish was something that Ken had heard about on NPR several years ago. He and Judy had made it before staying with us but they introduced us to it... and now every time, we get our pumpkins from the CSA... it's time for our annual Pumpkin Stuffed with Everything Good dinner with the Brownsbergers! 

 Even just looking at this photo makes my mouth water! This is the traditional recipe with bacon, cheese, bread cubes and cream and some spices but it's delicious. I make a second one that has rice, chicken sausage, cheese, cream and spices which is also really yummy too!

The kid's table! Actually when the Brownsberger's stayed with us, we only had this table so all 8 of us crowded around this table for dinner. It was hilarious, crowded and fun. Lots of dinner time conversations. We decided though that we could officially have a kids table and an adults table these days! 

birthday lunch

Alyssa invited me to have birthday lunch with her at her school cafeteria... of course, I packed both of our lunches!

 I even picked up some cake for us to share!

 Later that night, the kids and Dennis gave me an air popper popcorn maker. The minute I set it up and turned it on, the kids came running over to watch it!

Never knew popping popcorn could be so entertaining!