Crested Butte 2015

Crested Butte 2015:  THE BEST FAMILY VACAY YET!

Maybe it's because although it is still a LOT of work to travel with young children,  it was a little easier this year.  Maybe it's because we had not ONE but TWO groups of family friends in town with similar aged children to hang out with.  Maybe it was the GORGEOUS weather (but not the best snow).  Maybe it was because Preston finally became a real SKIER!  Most likely it was a combination of all of these because we had the best time both being active and chilling out as a family.

Jeff and I have always worried what will we DO when our kids can out ski us.  Never thought it would come so quick but Preston is almost there. Could not BE more proud of how he learned and with confidence tackled something that is not easy to do if you've only done it like 8 days in your whole life.  SO MUCH FUN SKIING WITH YOUR KIDS :)

John Cole hung out in ski school until the very last afternoon.  He's just not there.  But he had LOTS of chocolate waffles and LOTS of hot chocolate and had a great time.

Just finished putting up the (every year growing amounts) ski gear .  Until next year.....

Showering Baby Singh!

Although I am already an Aunt, Jeff's sister and family live in Baton Rouge and we don't see them very often.  So, I can not put into words how excited I am to be Aunt something??  to Kendal and Kevin's Baby Singh!  (No name yet.  Driving me nuts.  KK are you reading this????)

To see the beautiful day we had on Saturday you just would NOT believe that just 36 hours earlier the world was covered in ice!  It was truly a beautiful day and just perfect for celebrating this new life that will arrive sometime in May.  Baby Singh got some beautiful things...and I just can't wait to get my hands on all of his baby boy cuteness.

Love you bunches Kendal and Kevin and will continue to pray for the baby and you both as you prepare to become Mommy and Daddy!

Preston's BIG Weekend!

Preston has had a BIG 36 hours as he got to have two very special experiences this weekend.  First, he was the SUPER SCIENTIST at school and got to present the project we did at home to his class Friday afternoon.  It was so cute how he acted a little SHY (which we ALL know he isn't) when he first got up there but he quickly got into the groove and did a great demonstration of Newton's 2nd Law of Motion.  I was so proud that he actually understands the science (physics, actually) of his experiment...even if it was made of LEGO cars....

And I will have to be honest.  I have somewhat dreaded having a friend over to spend the night.  You all know I am pretty regimented, and so are my boys, and I have just feared the unknown of having another child over but BOY was I mistaken.  Preston had his very first sleepover last night (a little happy to celebrate his 1/2 birthday) and it was FUN!  Our guest George was just a doll.  They played outside for just a bit (it's COLD!), took an extra long hot shower, watched movies, played Candyland, ate pizza for supper and donuts for breakfast (P's favorite part) and of course built some more LEGO balloon cars to race down the stairs.  THEY WENT RIGHT TO SLEEP AND SLEPT TIL 7am!!  Pretty great.

Mucho thanks to Nana as she has kept John Cole for a few days so I could just concentrate on Preston ....oh and I think she wasn't sad to have some JC time. :)  Thanks Nana!

Now to the paint store.  It's all fun and games til you realize you are touch up painting the wrong color.  OOPS!  Gotta get the house in ship shape for Baby Singh's shower next weekend.  Until then....

Once every 15 years....

As best Jeff and I can remember, it has been 15 years since we got this much snow.  We remember because we were driving in it trying to get from Monroe to Shreveport and we had to turn around and go home New Year's Eve 2000.

Yesterday was just MAGICAL!  The boys were loving every minute and I think will actually both remember their first REAL snow day.  John Cole was especially cute all bundled up in his ski clothes that are a little too small wearing boots that were a little too big :)  Jeff and I just watched them it was quite entertaining.

These FOUR snow days have been just the best time for us to slow down, snuggle and really enjoy family time together.  Can't remember the last time we were playing board games WITH Daddy on a weekday.  Good stuff.

Now, this Winter has been great.  IS IT TIME FOR SPRING YET???

More later...

January FUN!

Well, January has come and gone and I am BEYOND grateful we are healthy and happy and all doing great!  I am also NOT sad that duck season is over.....

It has been both unseasonably cold and unseasonably warm so we have done our best to be outside on the warm days and curled up on the cold ones.  Mid-month Nana and Pop were gracious to keep the boys so Mommy and Daddy could have some grown up time in New Orleans and we had a blast!  Missed those boys though.  It will be there turn next time!

The tooth fairy came to visit us again.  Preston pulled his second tooth AT SCHOOL BY HIMSELF and was so proud!  John Cole has just really been having fun at MDO and just loves his teacher so.

Had a little girl party last Saturday for my friend Valerie as she welcomed her precious #3 "Nola" into the world around Christmas.  We had a great turnout and I really enjoyed using all my pretties and my dining room.  And of course we go to a lot of bball games...HOPE WE MAKE IT TO THE BIG DANCE!

Last but not least P has really been doing well at school and we both had fun at his 100 days party and school expo this month.  At his expo I was so proud as he played the piano in front of his classmates recital style.  He didn't want me to play with him though :(  He's really maturing lately and it's kinda hard on this mama....

Hope you are all doing well and staying warm....more later....

Christmas in Pictures....

I apologize if you come to my blog to read anything I have written because it just hasn't been happening lately!  I did want to document our Christmas season in pictures, though, and as you can see we all had a BLAST!!  Mommy and Preston were super busy with The Best Christmas Pageant Ever the first weekend in December and had a wonderful experience.  Thanks to all who came out so see and support us.  When that was over all of the school Christmas fun got into full swing and I had so much fun being very present for everything this year.  The gingerbread house, the ballet and of course the reindeer games and Christmas party.  So FUN!  In other big news PRESTON LOST HIS FIRST TOOTH!  It was so magical has the tooth fairy and our elf "Buddy" got into a bit of a dental floss tangle!  Preston said he didn't hear a thing!!  We had a wonderful Christmas with each of our sets of family but were not sitting on the couch Christmas Day as we packed up and headed to Dallas to cheer on our Bulldogs!  They came away with the win and that made it all the more special.  And let me not forget Daddy and Preston went on two seperate hunting trips--one deer and one duck---and had lots of camp stories to tell!  Mommy gets a little depressed when she realizes John Cole will soon be gone too...but for now we still have movies and hot chocolate in Christmas jammies by the fire!  Hope you and your family had a wonderful holiday and are settling back into a (cold, wet!) routine.  Love to all!