Roasted....

 We got a spring tease during spring break that foreshadowed this summer.  I have a feeling we are going to get tons of use out of the fire pit!

We grilled portabella mushrooms, chicken, and roasted  little smokies and marshmallows.  It was really off balance with no fruits and veggies but we didn't seem to mind.  In fact it felt a little rebellious and I was secretly liking it.

We had some sort of unspoken contest to see who could roast their marshmallow the most golden brown and then would buckle over with laughter when it would catch on fire- blowing frantically to salvage any part of it.

Oh, what fun a small backyard fire can bring!

Golden, Co

 The train museum is so close and we had never been before so we decided to give it a whirl.  It did not disappoint.  We were able to learn tons of fun little facts and get some fresh air.  We will definitely be back!

It's GREAT To Be 8!!!

 Of all the birthdays yet, I have been anticipating this one!  Such a special age.

 I have been reflecting so much on Nathan lately and how I feel so grateful to be his mom. There are so many neat and interesting qualities that make up this boy.

My absolute favorite thing about him is:  He is NEVER in a bad mood.  He has the ability to see everything through rose colored glasses.  Anyone who knows me knows I don't do grumpy.  Let me tell you, Nathan is ANYTHING but grumpy.  He brings such a positive happy flare to our family.  He is one sweet boy!

 The morning of his birthday, he woke up to green streamers covering his doorway and continued into the kitchen.  He picked out Krispy Kreme doughnuts with sprinkles for his birthday breakfast and blew out a candle early.

The boys ate and opened gifts.  New scriptures, pencils, a case, a baptism book, a white towel, stickers, and a quarter collection complete with quarters!  It was exciting!

Then Justin took the day off  and we headed to an early showing of The Croods at the movie theaters.  We loved it!  On the way to lunch we all talked about our favorite parts.

Nathan picked Asian Chefs for lunch and gobbled down his orange chicken.

We went home to relax and play and the his cousins came over with Aunt Lisa.  The night ended with a cake pop delivery from Natalie and boys and Lemon crunch cake (his treat of choice) with whip cream and raspberries!

....and just like that, my little boy turned 8!

SpRinG bReAk!

 This spring break our options were limited so we opted for a staycation.  Although it didn't go exactly as planned, spring break was delightful this year!

Friday: Spring Break started when we picked up Nathan from school for early release.  We all came home and spring cleaned the house to get it ready for the week (which stayed clean for maybe a day). We rented the Legend of the Guardian from red box and piled all the pillows and blankets downstairs.  A cozy slumber party ended the night.

Saturday: Woke up to a huge snow storm.  It was beautiful!  I had started baking 4 dozen cinnamon rolls for a baby shower that morning and it had got cancelled so.... we made deliveries! The boys were in and out making snow angels.  A haircut and a baptism followed that afternoon.

Sunday: Had a lovely at day church did some genealogy for Justin's side of the family and came home.  Had the Stadleman's over for dinner.  Made ooey gooey popcorn, visited, and ended the night with a game of chicken foot with all the kids.

Monday: Took the boys to Zumba.  Came home and got ready to go to Jenn's.  Took the cousins to the sledding slopes.  Watched them fly off jumps and slide 3 at a time.  Came back to Jenn's and made Butter Beer to go with our Harry Potter movie.

Tuesday: Nathan woke up at 1 am with croup.  We spent all day Tuesday doing steam treatments, watching cartoons, resting, and trying to get him better.  Kendall also had a slight fever.  We played tons of games.  Sequence, got beat playing Blokus, and battleship.  It was the perfect recipe to get feeling better for the rest of the week.

Wednesday: Meet up with the Stadelemans, Alverez family, and Martha and Buddy at Chuck E Cheese.  Played and played. Got tickets and prizes.  Ate pizza and salad.  We walked over to Krispy Kreame after and watched hundreds of tiny fresh doughnuts being made.  We may have sampled a few and grabbed some for Nathan's birthday breakfast in the morning.

Thursday: Happy Birthday Nathan!  He woke up to streamers and gifts!  8 years old is extra special.  A new set of scriptures, stuff for his baptism, and a quarter collection from Mammy and Papa. Dad took the day off to help celebrate.  We finished eating birthday breakfast and went with our family to see the movie, The Croods.  We loved it!  Nathan picked lunch at Asian Chefs and was happy to eat orange chicken.  The car was washed and we headed home just in time for Cole, Cara, and Aunt Lisa to come over.  We topped off the night eating Nathan's pick: Lemon crunch cake with whip cream and raspberries.

Friday: Headed to the scout store to pick out "starter" stuff because Nathan officially starts scouts.  After, we went to Golden to the train museum.  We wandered around for a few hours admiring all the old trains and then set up the fire pit in the back yard.  Justin grilled portabella mushrooms and chicken.  We roasted little smokies and marshmallows for s'mores.  Justin read to the boys and Mammy and I set up a glow in the dark Easter egg hunt in the backyard. The boys went to sleep and the adults watched the Hobbit.

Saturday: Our friends the Craigs, put on an Easter egg hunt at the pavilion.  Lots of eager kids hunting for millions of plastic filled eggs.  We ate an egg salad picnic and topped lunch off with chocolate covered cream puffs.  The rest of the day was spent napping, going for walks, and delivering Nathan's baptism invitations.

Sunday: Went to church.  It was amazing.  Heard to best talk about a little 9 year old girl in the Martin Willie Handcart company.  Got to be with the kids in primary and taught singing time in nursery.  After church we came home and baked rolls while watching the Man From Snowy River.  It was then time to eat Easter dinner at Jenns.  We all piled into her house and had a traditional Easter Feast.  Lots of kids and laughter.

Monday: Last day of spring break and also catch up day.  The boys helped clean the house, work on book reports, practiced piano, and ate leftovers.  We had some friends over and did laundry.  Took naps and got a few more games in. When dad got home we ran to Costco, Target, and Nordstrom Rack and had one last hoorah at Costa Vida....Whew!!

Nightly Adventures

 I feel like right now, especially at night, I'm living the good ole days.  Each night Justin gets out Fablehaven for Nathan and Magic Tree house for Kendall and reads... for hours. 

The boys get snuggled up in their blankets and sink into an adventure.   I find myself joining the party on the bed here and there.  I gaze around and it seems like there is no care in the world.

Sometimes the boys sit in a box they have transformed into a car and sometimes they lay completely still listening to Justin's soothing voice as they cast shadows on the ceiling with their flashlights.

I always find myself thinking that I wish this phase of life would last forever.

Snow = Hours of Fun

 "I shoveled off the deck.  We made a BIG pile and then we cannon balled in it!  We made snow angels and a snowman.  I super loved loved it!"

-Kendall Age 5 1/2

Green Fun...

 I know St Patrick's Day is a silly holiday but our family loves holidays and any chance we can have to make fruit loop necklaces and try to catch short hairy leprechauns, we are going to take it!

On March 17, we woke up to lots of mischief!  Those leprechauns had turned upside down all the couches and made a giant fort for the boys.  The milk was green, golden Rolos all over, and little green footprints were on windows, counters, floors, and toilets!

We had shamrock stir fry and lucky coconut-lime shakes.

Cheers!!!

Meet Periwinkle...

Last August, Papa was tinkering out in the yard when he discovered a most unusual caterpillar.

He asked the boys if they would like to put some leaves and sticks in a jar and keep it.  The boys were excited and wanted to see if the caterpillar would turn into a cocoon.

To their amazement the very next day halfway up a stick, was a brown cocoon.

The jar was safely placed upon a shelf in the boys room and they would check it every day or so.

SEVEN months later... Nathan came running out of his room and said that the butterfly finally hatched!

Sure enough there was a huge beautiful yellow Swallow Tail butterfly!

Well, here is the second part of that story:

The butterfly hatched too early.  There was a huge snow storm the day it hatched and if let free it would surly die.  So... we have let it have free rein in the house.  We set up a little nectar and food for it on the counter along with a jar full of sticks and leaves. It flutters by the window and crawls here and there but mostly stays by the window sill.

We sure have grown attached to this beautiful butterfly and the boys even named it Periwinkle.  We will wait until the temperature gets a little warmer and set it free but for now we are enjoying this fluttering bit of happiness in the kitchen.

Cupcakes!

We woke up Sunday to quite a snow storm.  We started to get ready for church when we got a call...church had been cancelled!   

We decided we better celebrate and make coconut cupcakes.

 This is how excited the boys were.... Just kidding!

Collecting Memories....

1. The boys and I decided to make homemade marshmallows to go with our hot chocolate during a snow storm.  We ended up with a huge sticky mess and lots of laughs because of the misery it caused.
2. Kendall is a great helper at the grocery store. He likes to carry EVERYTHING so that I don't have to carry one thing.   So when he asked for a ride on the horse I couldn't resist.  Apparently, it was the fastest one in the whole store.
3. A really nice Aunt sent the boys this "squishy baf." SO FUN!!  It was an amazing blue color and felt so cool!
4. Lots of checkers games happening these days.
5. Sometimes we have target practice in the back yard.
6. I love to catch Nathan reading to Kendall and seeing them in the middle of an adventure.
7. We are bubble bath people.  The boys take it to the next level... every time.
8. This cute cousin has been coming over every Monday.  A highlight of our week!
9. A picture during one of our little couch chats.  Love having the boys on my lap talking about everything and anything.
10. This guy...
11. Working together to get the Christmas lights off the house...in March!
12. Creating lasting memories.  Having a Fondue party in the kitchen.
13. Oh, just a sword fight with Papa, the ultimate.
14. Relaxing in a luxurious bath.... again.
15. Snow day.  Way more fun when Mammy comes out to play.
16. Nathan making his famous pickle and chip turkey sandwich...yummmmm!