Spring Break 2010

We're just back from Spring Break.

We took Cole to Phoenix.

We stayed at the Arizona Grand Resort.

It has a fabulous water park.

Monday: breakfast burritos from my favorite shop -the Burrito Co., pool time, nap, dinner at Trip and Tiffany's. Cole played with Taylor. They had a blast.

Tuesday: RAIN - breakfast at the hotel, shopping at IKEA, lunch at In-n-Out Burger, nap, dinner at Steve and Nicole's. Cole and Isabell were instant friends.

Wednesday: breakfast at another burrito shop, not as good. Pool time, nap, dinner at Pita Jungle

Thursday: early flight back to snowy Colorado...I miss the desert already.

It was great to be in the sun and watch Cole swim and have fun.

Lesson learned: make sure you are willing to do what you encourage your kids to do. "Cole you should really go down the slide." "No, I don't want to." Repeat about 10 times before he gives in only to find out he isn't tall enough and they don't let you go together. Then, Mr. W. decides to go down the steep slides, which don't look all that fun to me. Honestly, just looking at them gives me a knot in my stomach. Mr. W. says I should really do it. Then Cole chimes in. They gang up on me. Repeat about 10 times. I have to do it. I can't be a hypocrite. But seriously, I'm scared. The slides are really steep. Do I really have to do it? I had that pit in my belly the entire walk up who knows how many flights of stairs. I can feel it right now just typing this. Anyway, I obviously made it to the top and I screamed like a baby the entire way down. I did it...once. There. Everyone happy?! I'm scared of a steep water slide, yet, I've jumped three times out of an airplane. Seriously! What's the matter with me? I've done some pretty crazy stuff so I have to laugh at myself for being scared of that silly slide.....it was really steep though. Ever gotten a water slide burn? I got it on my elbows. Ouch!

Happy Spring Break Cole!

It was so much fun hanging out with you.

Scams

I've got to say it. Casa Bonita is a scam. OK, that might be a little too harsh, but really $50 for lunch. Here's the breakdown $14 for my food, $5 each for the kids, plus drinks and oh, don't forget the tokens. Cole thinks the acting is terrible and we never get a seat where you can see the divers hit the water. I don't think I'm sold. But Cole and Sofia - they love it, which is funny since Cole hates Mexican food. Good thing they sell chicken tenders. This post sounds negative.

Glad I could make them happy. Was it me that made them happy or the guy dressed up like a gorilla? Maybe it was the chicken fingers? Or the tokens? Or the gift shop windown shopping?

All I know is for the hour and half round trip drive and hefty bill, they would have been equally satisfied going to McDonalds and playing together. End of story.

Slow Eating - March 21

Cole has become like his Aunt Veronica (pre-baby) where the pace at which he eats is slower than slow. He eats so slow that Mr. W. and I wanted to fall asleep at the table last night while we watched him finish his hot dog. If we hadn't been at a restaurant, we probably would have. Instead, right before our heads might have hit the table, Mr. W. said, "We're leaving. You can take that with us and finish it in the car." It was humorous to be sitting, completely done with our meals, watching Cole, slow and steady, bite after slow bite eat this hot dog that even after 45 minutes, he hadn't been able to finish.

The same thing happened at breakfast yesterday with Grandma. We were both finished with our meals and Cole was still slowly munching on his french toast and sausage. I thought he might never finish. And the same thing happened...I finially said it was time to go but Cole wanted to take his syrup cover saugage with us. That was a BIG NO. We finally made it out.

He sure is cute though.

Frozen Dead Man Days

After a quick stop for donuts, Cole and I made our way up to Nederland for our annual outing to Frozen Dead Man Days! We met up with Rachel, Sierra, and little Ryder. Every year, it's usually snowy and cold, but yesterday was a dream - it was 40+, sunny, and hardly any wind. It was perfect. Thanks for the company and for lunch.

Sierra and Cole

Rachel and Ryder

Cole pouting

Cole still pouting

I love both of their faces

The Ice King and Queen

Look at that!

Yoda

Cole's favorite part of the parade - Ghostbusters!

Self Portrait

Star Wars Storm Troppers

Ghostbusters!

Polar Plunge

Our Day of Fun!

Giving Up...by NieNie

I love this post. Don't you feel like this sometimes? I love the pictures and her caption at the end.

p.s. Secretly, I wish I was more like NieNie and CJane - they post clever, witty, posts almost everyday. It's a gift I wasn't born with. Am I jealous? Of course I am. It would be wonderful to be an entertainer. Derrick got all those genes. It's ok brother, I still love you and forgive you.

75 Tokens

(self portrait at Chucke Cheese)

75 tokens and a pizza will buy you 2 hours of pure kid, self-entertaining happiness. That's exactly what I surprised Cole with on Saturday morning...and he was in heaven. Then a quick stop by the Grandrabbits Toy Shoppe and he walked away with a new jump rope.
I love this little monkey so much. Thanks for hanging out with me.

Happy 7

Mr. W and I celebrated our 7th wedding anniversary on March 1. We stayed at Ward's cabin in Winter Park, ate at Hernando's Pizza, went snowboarding and relaxed. Time flies when you're having fun, right Mr. W?

The gift for seven years is wool and copper. We surprised each other with Uggs.

Happy Anniversary Chris!

Sisters

I love this post. It totally made my day. I'm glad we inherited each other.

p.s. when was this picture taken (i secretly like it alot)

Baker Baker

Cole loves to help me bake cupcakes. The only problem is, he is always licking the spoon and putting it back in the batter. Even when I tell him not to, he just can't help himself. Where did this kid get his sweet tooth? I'm pretty sure it's from Grandpa Jack!

p.s. as I'm catching up my long over due blogs, Cole is asleep in the next room. He was just mumbling something in his sleep. What an angel.

Dinner Invite

Derrick called me and asked, "What are you doing?"

"Driving home."

"What are you doing for dinner?" he asked.

"I don't know."

"Want to come over? Veronica made chicken and mashed potatoes," he said.

"Ok, yeah, we'll be there. What time?"

And that's how we spent our night. With the Pope's, eating great food, and enjoying each other's company. Thanks for the invite. We love you guys. Lots. And Lots! And you know that we have the cutest kids on the plant.

Parker Pie was my dessert. Sweet baby cheeks. Ummmm.

Monster Jam

For Valentine's Day, Mr. W. surprised Cole (and me) with tickets to Monster Jam. If you know anything about five year old boys, then you know this is a must see event. Cole LOVED it. If you can get over the WT crowd (not be judgemental) but seriously, quite the place to people watch. Check it out:

Grave Digger! Only the best monster truck EVER....according to Cole.

Who wouldn't like this

So, I've been out of town and my little monkey missed me. When I got home last night, I gave him a little kiss and tucked him tight. He was already sound asleep.

Perfection.

I watched him sleep.

Perfection.

With his little arms tucked around his neck and his little bitty breath. Perfection.

Then, this morning, he watched me sleep. I woke and found him sitting on my night stand staring at me.

Perfection.

To wake and have him be my first sight. Smiling, then giggling, then on top of me hugging me and kissing me.

Perfection.

His sweet little kisses.

Perfection.

He said, "Mama, do you want me to make you breakfast?"

I asked, "What did you have in mind?"

"A bowl of cereal?" he said.

Perfection.

Things I like today:

People driving who wave thanks when you let them over

Snow + sun + snowboard + great friend = amazing day at Eldora (on Monday)

Things I don't like today:

People who stand at the corner of busy intersections asking for money with a sign

Sink Holes

Last night I woke from a nightmare, sweaty and heart racing. I dreamt that Cole had fallen into a hole...a hole that went down miles...a snowy hole. He was jumping around on the snow and all of the sudden, it gave way and he was gone in an instant. I can't explain what it was like to see that happen. There was nothing to do. The hole went on forever and the snow was falling into it. I didn't know how to save him. I knew he was dead. My heart is racing just thinking about it again.

I was so freaked it out and worked up, that when I let the dogs out at 4:30am, I ate a bowl of cereal because I was starving. I tried to go back to sleep but it didn't work out so well.

I'm tired now. It finally caught up me with me. I didn't have time to be tired at work, but now, in the quiet of the house, I realize just how tired I am. I called Rachel and asked her why she thought I had a dream like that and she asked if I had seen the preview for Alice and Wonderland because there is a scene like that. I hadn't seen the preview so I kind of wrote it off. But later in the day, I realized that I did see a movie called All About Steve with Sandra Bullock (btw - it was quite funny). Anyhow, there was scene where about 20 kids are running through a field and all of the sudden the earth opens right up, like a big sink hole.

It makes perfect sense now. I still hate the dream.

Kitchen Sinks and Such

I don't know what to write about tonight. I should write about Cole and how amazing he is, but I'm not feeling very creative. More like out of sorts. Maybe just tired. So, I guess I'll sum up the highlights with bullet points:

• Spent four days in Orlando for a conference. It rained the whole time but I reconnected with some friends and met a new favorite, Mindy from Tennessee.


• Mr. W. got a new job. Yippee! I hope it's all he thinks it can and will be. He deserves to be happy and get paid for how smart he is.


• Cole absolutely loves gymnastics. We're upgrading from the rec center to a real gym ($$$$) and apparently he loves bubble baths too.
  
  
• Mr. W installed a new sink while I was gone. It looks fantastic. I love it. I mean, I really really love it.
  
• Going snowboarding on Monday with Michelle - can't wait to hang out with her.

Like I said, no creativity tonight.

On a side note, Mrs. Veronica - I just read your post from a few days ago. Motherhood has that affect on all of us sometimes, even if we don't spend our days at home with the babies. Big deep breaths. I bet it's better already. I love you.

Bounce Town

Bounce Town with Umple Joe and Michael - January 2, 2010

Deliciouso

Mr. W told me that my last blog was dark. So, I'll lighten it up by telling you about last night. I think the whole gluten-free thing is going to work out pretty darn good for us. Chris has already lost 10 pounds (that's what no beer will do) and except for a few times, has been belly ache free for nearly three weeks.

Last night we deciced to have fish, which we haven't had much of lately, but will become a regular in our new diet. It was tilipia fillets last night and oh my goodness....it was absolutely Jax restaurant style good. If you don't know Jax's it is the best seafood restaurant in Boulder. And apparently Mr. W should go work there.

First, the sauce: yellow onion, yellow pepper, garlic, honey, miso mayo, sea salt, sauteed for 15 minutes. Spinkle tipilia with Adobe seasoning, spicy spices, cover fish with sauce and bake for 10 minutes at 375, and then broil for 10 minutes. Couple it with steamed broccoli and some brown rice, it was the BEST dinner ever. We both couldn't stop talking about it. The broiled sauce gave the onions an almost carmelized taste. The fish was so tasty, we both wanted more, but there wasn't any left. UMMMMM! Deliciouso!

Then we tucked Cole in bed and Mr. W and I watched the movie, The Hurt Locker. It was intense. My heart was pumping, my adrenline flowing. I don't know how Dan Sespey does it. Be safe!

And that was our night. Pretty good right?

A quick plug for Sprouts. They have the best produce for CHEAP and tons of gluten-free things that are easily marked. Sprouts and Whole Foods are our main grocery stores now. So long and farewell Safeway and King Soopers.

Black and White

There is nothing like a scoulding hot shower to rinse away the black that builds up during the day. I don't mean dirt, either, although it does well for actually cleaning too. The black I'm talking about is deeper than dirt, just under the surface. It's the stress, the negativity, the cynism, the impatience, the selfishness, that develops during the course of a day or a few days. A hot shower is a moment to stand still, watch the black go down the drain, and say good-bye, even if not for long. It is a place where you can be wrapped in your thoughts, the aromas of good soap, and breath in the white. The white are the exact opposite. The white is patience, love, understanding, unselfishness, optimism.

I tend to worry about things, little things, big things. It's a part of who am I. And as I mother, I worry about things that I hope never in my lifetime or things that never touch our family. Tragic, horrific events. I put myself in a scenario of widower. I imagine myself the mother of a murdered son, or a kidnap victim. It's depressing, I know. But, millions of people have been in these very shoes. I imagine myself under circumstances like these, maybe living through it, with a dead heart and a shell of a body with no blood or emotion or anything flowing through me, yet they say I'm alive. I think about the mother in Haiti who has lost her son.

I know that as long as I live, there is no greater feeling of love, than what I feel for Cole. It is greater than me. It engulfs me. I love him more than words can ever describe, to the core of my being, to the center of my soul. I can't imagine not loving him, not seeing him every day. I cannot imagine my life without him. I want to wake him right now, but he sound asleep.

I love you baby.
I love you Mr. W.

Sweet dreams.

Paddington

Does it get any cuter? Seriously, I love this little boy.

More to come on Cole's adventure with Paddington the Bear.

Living Without

Dear Mr. W -

It's one of your closest friends, the bathroom toilet. You can call me Toi for short. I heard the news of your recent and long awaited poo test results. WOW! Big lifestyles changes for you. No gluten, dairy, and potato (otherwise known as salt). Sounds rough. But, there are a few positives you probably haven't thought about yet. Let's face it, you're probably still in some form of denial, wondering what you CAN eat. Listen, all I know is, you will save money on toilet paper, save on water use, and you will extend the life of me by not having to use me so often. I mean, who couldn't use more fresh air?

I hope it's not a bitter good-bye for us. I have enjoyed your company, magazines read, games played on the cell phone, but really, it's not forever. You will always need me. Here's to fresh foods, homemade meals, and let's be real, some stress. You'll find the way this fits in with your lifestyle and you'll be belly ache free in no time!!

Sweet sounds of health are just ringing in my water bowl. I'll always be here for you.

Love,

Toi