Happy Anniversary!

9 years and one day later...

It's amazing how quickly time flies! It has been the best adventure of my life...9 moves, 3 kids later, and everything else in between...

I can't wait to see what the future will bring! XOXO

Long Live American Idol!

First of all, I am a huge...HUGE, American Idol fan! After watching the first few seasons (and secretly dreaming of becoming a singer all my life), and with the support of our loving husbands (who voluntarily babysat all weekend) Robyn and I decided to put our singing skills and desire to the test and traveled to Denver, Colorado to audition for American Idol.

Here are some life lessons we learned along the way...

• Don't EVER book a hotel room 1 mile away from Invesco Field with plans of walking to the stadium at 4am! Upon your arrival you will seriously wonder why you valued saving money to rent a car over your personal safety. Thank goodness for thoughtful in-laws who allow you to borrow their car so you don't have to worry about getting mugged at 4am.
• Take an extra pair of comfortable shoes to wear while waiting in line...5-7 hours to be exact! Even if the camera captured you, at a glance, it probably wouldn't see your shoes anyway.
• Be prepared to make new friends who swear you have the best singing voice they've ever heard and vow to be your best friend for life.
• Also, take ear plugs to avoid having to listen to your new friends sing for you, while waiting in line, over and over and over again.
• Know how to tell a good lie when someone asks you to compliment them on their horrific singing skills.
• Always walk through downtown Denver whenever there to visit. The shopping is quaint and super fun!
• Don't plan on getting any sleep in your hotel room. You will be kept up almost all night by sounds of others practicing and singing in the hallways.
• Make sure to ask Chris Daughtry for his autograph while riding on the shuttle with him...he will be one of the biggest stars of the season!
• Just sing your heart out and have fun even though there are practically thousands auditioning at the same time.
• Try not to snap at your BFF and sister when the process is over. Rather, realize you are both really, really tired and anxious to get home.
• Last, but not least, don't EVER wear your new pink American Idol t-shirt in the airport because it will make annoying boys think you want to sing your heart out to them and everyone else in the lobby.
  

So. Here's to a new season! Can't wait to watch tonight at 7pm!

I Can't Believe it's OVER!

Twas the night before Christmas and all through the house
Every child was strung out on candy and leaping and running all about the house.

The stockings were hung by the chimney with care
While the children (already strung out on sugar and candy) decorated cookies for Santa to share.

The family anxiously awaited turkey and trimmings to eat
While myself and grandma hurried to get it ready--it was quite the feat!

After opening Christmas Eve PJ's and getting the children all snug in their beds
Santa, and his helper, hurried to wrapped presents in blues, silvers, and reds.

Almost ready for Christmas, interrupted with sounds of screaming, while still wrapping presents,
I ran down the stairs to find a little one crying and throwing up, what seemed to be, gallons.

With a bath, some kisses, and new clean pajamas
We were ready to sleep deep without any shouts or yo mamas!

Without much sleep, Christmas morning finally arrived,
The children were giggling and full of jive!

Traditional pictures on the stairs was a must,
And then off to open presents starting with the youngest.

The air was filled with lots of ooh's and aah's,
And when it was over, I sighed with a pause...

The joy of Christmas is wonderful and sweet,
and this year we enjoyed it and felt quite complete!

Dance, Girlfriends, and More Snow!

Taylors dance recital was last night...woo-hoo! She did such a good job. It made me want to join her dance group just so I could wear cute, tight leather pants too!

It has been snowing ridiculous amounts of snow and so instead of trudging back home after the rehearsal, I stayed at the school and let the kids run and run and run in the school gymnasium.

All of a sudden, Blakey is going through an "I Love Girls and want to chase them EVERYWHERE" phase. Seriously! Who knew this was coming? At the school he met, and fell in love with little Emma. He chased her and chased her and hugged her and hugged her and when it was time to go he would not let go of her! He cried for her all the way out of the school.

Look at that sad face!
It continued to snow ALL NIGHT LONG! Luckily, it stopped long enough to build our first snowman! I forgot how hard it was to roll snow balls in the snow, but it was worth it!
And, "Ta Da" Luke is so proud!!

Wii Giveaway

With all of the snow we have been receiving, we have been spending A LOT of time indoors! We've made lots of cookies, colored lots of pictures, and watched lots and lots of movies....

Then, I heard Amber over at Mile High Mamas is giving away a Wii and Wii Fit!

Having one would definitely make the winter more bearable, don't you think?

If you want to enter click here!

I hope I win.... because I would much rather be doing this...

Then and Now

It's hard to believe last year at this time we were living in warm, sunny San Diego! Now that it is snowing and FREEZING cold, I am in complete culture shock!!
Right now I am missing:

• The Beach
• Capris and Flip Flops
• Good Mexican Food
• A warm day at the park hanging out with friends
• Christmas Tree Lane

Right now I am greatly disliking:

• 32 degrees with a wind-chill factor of 15 or less
• Icy roads
• Snowy roads and hills that my 2-wheel drive car cannot climb
• The fact that it takes almost 10 minutes, per child, to get dressed to go outside
• Ice cold toilet seats and bed sheets
• Scraping ice and snow off the windshield
  

However, I am totally LOVING:

• That it (for once in 6 years) is actually really beginning to look a lot like Christmas!!
• Watching my babies love the snow and playing in it
• Kissing their rosy cheeks after coming in from the cold
• Warm blankets, socks, and hot chocolate
• Cute, festive storybook and Christmas lights parades in town

It's amazing how much life can change in a year...this year was a drastic one...can I move back now, please?!

Adventures

Uncle Curtis warmed up the helicopter yesterday and took us all for a ride. Taylor, Blake, and myself all got to go....here we are strapping in and getting ready to take off.
Now, the pictures are all jumbled and out of order...but here we are safely landing and putting our feet on the ground.
Luke and Devon didn't ride. Devon was too nervous and since Luke has had the flu, I couldn't imagine anything worse than throw-up--especially in a confined space hundreds of feet above the ground...so he didn't go, but he had a blast watching the helicopter take off and land.
Here we are coming in for a landing...whew! Look at that sunset!
These are the first two pictures of us taking off. Neither Taylor or Blake screamed...they loved it! Blake kept waving out the window. I, on the other hand, was okay until we were in the air. It is way different looking out the window of a helicopter than an airplane because the window goes all the way to the floor...it takes your breath away!
Luckily, for me, since the kids were with me, Curtis spared me of his dare devil ride! My stomach was queasy enough as it was. The canyons were beautiful and the ride was awesome! Thanks Curtis!