Alive, Barely.

Life has been like a whirlwind. In between working and school, we have been super busy packing and getting ready to move.  Again.  Don't worry, this time we are only moving a couple streets away.  Soooo, I am going to post some pictures of our last couple weeks and leave it at that....

Did I mention that we have company.  Oh yeah, that too.

Never a dull moment.....

Just to spice things up a bit, Sam and Alice both decided to run for school office. Sam ran for president and Alice ran for vice-president. Sam and his VP running mate won. Better luck next year, Alice!  They both gave great speeches in front of the whole school.  I was one proud mama bear.

We carved pumpkins a bit early this year.  Everybody loves this tradition...

except for Paige.

This shot may or may not give an accurate picture of how Sam really felt.

We have also been super busy sewing Halloween costumes.  Paige will (obviously) be a slice of non-vegan pizza, Alice will be going as a banana (not the easiest costume ever), Mason is stylin' as a cookie and Sam will be a swimmer being eaten by a shark.  Scott and I will be dressed as ski/bike shop owners.  Imaginative, I know.

This is the sneak peek to Sam's 11th birthday.  He was blessed to have Grandma, Papa and Uncle Tom here for his big day.  More pictures to follow and I promise that post will be before 2013.

Whew.

Jennifer

Sunday Drive

We were all (mostly all) up bright and early this morning and unanimously voted to run up to Copper for some doughnuts.  After a day of snow flurries, the mountains were breathtaking.  After eating doughnuts the size of our heads, we hopped in the car and headed out for a quick drive to see the Rockies in all their splendor.  Our first stop was Mayflower Gulch.  Let me just say that my picture does not do it any justice.  The only word I can think of was majestic.  

We left the gulch and headed toward Leadville.  While driving along, we came upon Camp Hale.  Super duper cool.  Sorry, super duper epic. Evidently, I have become so old that I am using terms that I shouldn't.  Epic is the new cool.  Gosh, it isn't like I said swell.  Anyhoo, Camp Hale is where the 10th Mountain Division trained and prepared for WWII and the difficult terrain of Italy.  There isn't a base there any longer but some remains of building and road signs.  We were super jazzed about finding this spot because the kids and I became interested in the 10 Mt. Division after a field trip to the Ski and Snowboard Museum in Vail last July.

After leaving Camp Hale, we started the drive back toward home and found ourselves in a little town outside of Vail called Minturn. Tiny, cute locals town with a river and a view to kill.  Of course, the kids spotted a park and we pulled in to play.  Next to the park were some old railroad tracks.  I had a ton of fun snapping pics of the kids and they had fun messing around on the tracks.  

Enjoy the pictures :)  I got a bit carried away.  What can I say the light was good and the subjects willing.

Hey. What can I say.  They are cute kids :)

Hope you stayed awake for all the pics.

After our drive and doughnuts we made it to Sam's last soccer game of the season and now we are making out way through the kitchen with boxes and packing tape.  

I hope you all had a fabulous Sunday.  

We sure did.  

Jennifer

Make a list

Every year, as you all know, I dread the start of school.  What I really dread the most about school starting is the morning routine.  I end up using my "ugly voice" and somebody under the age of 10 cries.  It isn't pretty.  I hate it, they hate it, and nothing gets done.  So this year, we made a morning list a couple days before the start of school.  We did a trial run and have been working to the list ever since.  The list is a great tool for all the kids.  They are constantly checking it to see where they are and what needs to get done.  One hard rule: they may not eat breakfast until the list is done.  That is a huge consideration for them.  You know how my kids love to eat.  They don't want to miss a meal.
The list has changed our lives. Too dramatic?  Okay, so at least it has changed our mornings.  We still have the occasional crier but rarely are we hearing from the ugly voice.  My kids work to a list really well.  I am not sure why we didn't do it sooner. Oh well, live and learn.  And drink.  No, just kidding....maybe.
The best things about this list?   Everything gets done and I don't do it.  They do it all and get it done earlier than later.  I don't pack snacks, start showers, make beds, throw dirty clothes into hampers or stir oatmeal.  They do it and have taken ownership of it.  It goes so smoothly (most of the time) that I think I could add in another kid.  Just checking to see if Scott is reading :) 
Anyway, we are loving our list.

Part of the list thing is that I also learn to let some things go.  Like comforters on upside down:)

BTW, Mason's bed is not shown but he always makes his bed, even on the weekends, bless his heart, before 6 o'clock in the morning.  Oh, and he does get a bath.  We just do that at night :)

Have a great day!

Jennifer

Look at me....

Look at me!

Look at me!

Look at me NOW!

It is fun to have fun

But you have to know how.

― Dr. Seuss