Our Own Little Ski Village

If you have ever been to Vail or Breckenridge or to any little mountain town during ski season, there is just something fun and exciting about being there. Plus, it's beautiful. The snow is perfect. Just being there makes you feel all cozy and for some reason even though it's cold, it doesn't feel that way.  You can stay outside for hours.  I've been fortunate to be able to visit the "real" ski towns several times, and I miss it.  Right now, we just aren't in a season of our life where a week in a ski town is a convenience.  This past week if felt like we had our own little ski village right out our front (and back) door!  Neighbors helped neighbors shovel.  Kids played for hours by means of sledding or snow forts.  We had our nice cozy home to sit, warm up and enjoy the beautiful view (sans mountains!).

I personally think this has been the most perfect winter.  We've had lots of mild temperatures and time spent at the park, riding bikes, chalking on the sidewalk and then we also got to enjoy a "real" winter with all the snow.  Jackie is proving to be our little snow bunny.  She literally spent three hours outside yesterday and not once came in to warm up or take a break. I don't know that she has ever done that in the summer!  I'm so glad she has been able to enjoy the amenities that a big snowstorm has to offer.  Plus, she's at the age where she will actually remember the sledding and the snow forts!

It might be a long time before we have this much snow again.  I love spring and summer like most people do, but for now I'm going to enjoy it.  Plus, the biggest decision I've had to make over the past week is "what sweatpants should I wear today?" 

SNOW!

I figured I needed to get the pictures of the first snowstorm up, before the second one hits tonight! The girls (and daddy) have made the most of the snow. Sledding, snow forts, snowmen, snowballs and any other snow related activities have occurred in the last 72 hours.  Jackie loves it and spent most of the weekend outside.  Gwen likes it in small doses.  She actually got around pretty good, considering the snow was pretty much past her knees in most places.  Anyway, a few pictures of our winter wonderland below.

Jackie and I built this snowman yesterday.  We were trying to go for a Hula themed snowman, but it turned into a princess/hula/ballet snowman.  At one point we put one of my bikini tops on it..but it didn't fit quite right.  Plus, it was probably a good thing I took it off because the neighbor later asked if that was a bra we were putting on the snowman.  He said that would have been a first for our neighborhood!

Happy Half Birthday!

 

Beau is officially 6 months old and for his half birthday he got his first tooth!  This actually might explain the "not so good" sleeping he's had the last couple of weeks.  Although, I can't really say he's ever been that awesome of a sleeper since about 4 weeks of age.  Anyway, it was quite a surprise to me because it's by far the earliest any of our kids have gotten their first tooth.  I'm sure the one next to it isn't far behind, because "they" usually say teeth come in pairs. 

As far as other developments... he has found his feet and loves to grab them, put them in his mouth, etc.  He can sit up for longer periods of time, but definitely can't be left to fend for himself yet.  You can tell he's a bit of a wiggle worm.  He wants to move so bad.  He's almost getting up on his knees when he's on his stomach and can definitely move around the floor.  I'll leave him in one position on the floor, turn my head and he's managed to face a completely different direction or has even found himself under the coffee table at times. 

He's eating solids three times a day now and still nursing.  Besides cereal,  he's eaten peas and sweet potatoes and loved them both.  Let's hope the more he eats, the better he starts sleeping.  Although, so far there seems to be no correlation.

That's about all the new and fun things for now.  Here's to your next month Beau!

6 Month checkup

I took Beau in for his 6 month checkup today. Is he really almost 6 months?? Wow. Anyway, he's 17.5lbs and 26.7in tall. Putting him in the 50th and 75th percentiles, respectively. Two more shots today, but no shots for his next checkup..wheeee! The best part of the appointment was when my doctor handed me the pictures below. She takes pictures with all the babies she delivers and her walls in the office are full of beautiful, beautiful babies! Loads of them! Let's just say, she is one busy doctor. Anyway, I love these pictures, because she has been my doctor for all three of our kiddos....(with an asterisk, since she didn't quite make it in time for Beau's delivery!)

 

Celebrating a Birthday

My Big 5 Year Old

Dear Jackie,
A friend of ours once said, "Your kid turns one, then you blink and they are five."  Well, I just blinked and you are my big 5 year old.   I can barely wrap my head around it.  5 years ago, I was holding you in my arms, so blown away, and scared of doing the wrong thing.  Now, you sit in my lap and your almost too big for me to even carry.  You are and will always be our guinea pig child.  We've got a few years under our belts, but will always be treading new waters in each milestone you hit.  You are such a good girl and we are so lucky you make things easy on us.  We couldn't ask for a better role model for your younger siblings.

Jackie, your natural sweetness blows me away.  For a 5 year old, you have the empathetic heart of someone well beyond your years. You never want to see your sister upset and you will go to great lengths to make her laugh or smile.  You are always trying to help me out and make things easier for me when I'm having a hard day.   I love that you cry during sad or really happy parts of movies.  (Just like your momma).  You are always making "just because" cards or pictures for your family members...and sometimes even the dentist! 

You are a great companion.  You'll go on the littlest errand, just for something to do.  You are always game to try new things and never really make a fuss.  You love playing with friends, but can be content doing your own thing too.  We used to spend so much time, just you and me, when you were a baby.  I'm now enjoying our moments of going to the grocery store together and playing games during "nap" time with you.

Jackie you've always been our dreamer.  You have big ideas when it comes to birthdays and holidays.  You love to decorate, create, build and invent.  You can turn a small thing like a trip to the ice cream shop, into a huge and glamorous event. 

You are so smart.  You can be such a realist, when you aren't dreaming.  There is nothing that gets by you.  You figure so much out by yourself, just by observing.  You are always using such mature vocabulary.

This will be such a huge year for you!  You will start Kindergarten in the fall!  I promise not to be all sappy then...ok, maybe just a little.  I'm looking forward to our last summer before the start of  "official" school and our new schedule changes. 

Happy Birthday Jackie!  Always know, that we love you so much and we are so proud of our big 5 year old. 

Love,
Mom

Happy Valentine's Day!

Hope your Valentine's Day "Blows" you away!

Love,
My three little Valentines

Happy Birthday to Us!

So glad I'll always have a birthday buddy....Happy 5 and ahem 5th anniversary of turning 30! :)

This Won't Last Forever

A couple of weeks ago, when dealing with some unfortunate illness in our household....I had this little epiphany.  It's easy to get caught up in the day to day struggles or just plain stuff and forget about the bigger picture.  While caring for my sick kiddos, I had to keep reminding myself..."this won't last forever."  All the sudden, one day...I thought while putting Beau down for a nap, "this won't last forever!"  He is approaching 6 months old and as you can tell in the picture above, my baby boy liked to be swaddled.  I quick grabbed my camera this one afternoon and snapped a picture of him in his swaddle, because I knew soon enough...the swaddle would be history.  As of this week, my little guy decided he wanted a little freedom and swaddling is another one of those things that didn't last forever. 

Gwen Counting

Gwenie practicing her counting.  Before I took the video she actually made it all the way to "eleventeen"...you know, that number that comes right after 13!?!?