Marathon Memorial Day Weekend!

We came back to Nebraska for my Grandmother's birthday/Hoffman family reunion.  And it was a wirlwind, but also SO darn amazing to get some really good quality time with the Hoffman's!  We were able to sneak a peek with Pappa and Grant (Grammy/Aunt!) Barb!  And then we headed up to Norfolk for the party.  As soon as we walked in the door my Grandpa asked to take Ryker.  It was so sweet!  He held him forever, and my appetite got the best of me because I did not take a SINGLE picture of this.  Sadness:(  It is etched in my head for what it's worth.

This was a really an important visit as my Grandparents had yet to meet Aylen or Ryker!  

THE BEST part of this trip was going to the Missouri River.  It was one of those moments that makes you feel older-and amazingly blessed at the same time.  It's the moment when you  simultaneously go back in time to when you were a child and spent countless hours playing in the sand-and then with lightening speeds whizzes to the current time while you watch your children do the same thing.  Wicked.  Insane.  Full circle.

Loved every second of it,

Momma

192

That is exactly how many days Della stayed with us to help out.  That is how many days Della was away from her home and her hubby.

Della did countless things for us.... watching boys, teaching Ryker how to situp, collecting Ryker's first laugh, watching Aylen speak, watching boys for date nights and tennis lessons, helping finish a bathroom, painting lots and lots of things, cooking, organizing, doing our laundry, cleaning and keeping our house organized, coolest of all keeping Ryker out of daycare for 6 MONTHS and the list goes on.

Della pretty much rocked her time here.  She became friends with our neighbors and was immediately asked to become a regular Bunco member.  She because a well known face at the Rec Center attending all the water aerobics classes she could.  And was going out to dinner and walks with other friends and family all the time. 

For 192 days, Della got to hear Aylen John say "GRANDMA!" and come running with his little feet to her in the morning.  Made my heart happy every time to know that Aylen knew his Grandma so well.

And I have to give her kudos because she really did an excellent job helping, but also devoting time to herself and her friends and health.  It didn't feel like we had Grandma in our house alot of the time because she was so busy doing her thing!

So thank you Grandma for the love you showed the boys and to Russ and I.  Thank you for giving up a little of your New Jersey life to be here.  Thank you Grandpa for letting Grandma do that too.

I'm so happy you two are reunited and can go to the city and watch your wildlife together-Facetime is awesome, but still not the real thing.

Thank you Grandma.
Momma

29.

Not to be confused with the cute, 6 month 29 that's almost crawling around.  But 29.  as in 29 years old.  My birthday.  A big deal-always.  I don't care, don't feel bad about it as a friend would say...thankyouverymuch.  I love celebrating birthdays.  I'm pretty sure I do a post on this every year!  HECK yes I'm alive.  Let's celebrate!  There were several celebrations!

So Russ was pretty much awesome this year!!
First there was a surprise FRIEND night to go see Ingrid.  It required babysitters, coordination with friends, and keeping quiet:)  He did well.

Then there was a some awesome Gifts, gift card and running paraphernalia. 

And the last awesome gift was to a FREAKIN NBA game.  My FIRST NBA game with the boys.  Suddenly it made me feel a little old because I hardly knew any of the NBA players....I did know the coaches though!  But there was something really cool seeing the Magic play.. I kept thing Penny Hardaway (one of my fave players) used to wear those jerseys.  How wicked!

And another perk of having your Della be with you at your house was that she surprised me with a celebration when my Dad was visiting!  It was very awesome-cake, balloons, presents!!!

My school surprised me with an ice cream cake!  I was reminded of how lucky I was to have such a great job!

And lastly, there was a GIRL Dancing NIGHT in Denver that was pretty much amazing!  It had been a long time for some of us and Denver did not disappoint.  And I have to mention that Della camped out around Denver to be our DD (yea we are lucky!)

Great times.  Love my family.  Love my friends.  Love my life!



<3


Momma

Swinging.

<3 Momma

Happy Mothers Day to Me.

i'm behind in my posts.  severely behind.  but whatever.  I'm busy being awesome:)  So I'm obsessed with seagulls.  Thanks Momma for inspiring me tremendously with JLS.  Awhile ago I got my first seagull to represent my mom.  I told myself that when I added to my own flock (family) that I would get a tattoo to represent this addition.  But then I had a miscarriage, then a child...and thought yes let's get a tattoo.  But for some reason I couldn't justify paying that much money for such small tattoos.  I then had another child.  Soon I realized that it didn't matter about the actual size of these tattoos, because they might be small in size BUT their importance was HUGE to me.

With Russell's blessing, he said PLEASE GO. DO. IT.  

The Friday before Mother's Day I took off a little early from work and just did it.  The place I went was a little interesting and very BOULDERISH.  Hah.  But it awesome and I LOVE my seagulls and I cannot wait to put a tree on my back to have the gulls fly though.  And then maybe someday soon I'll add a quarter sleeve perhaps.  

I love tattoos.  And I love how they are such a talking piece.  There are so many people that are afraid to get one, or could never imagine wanting one.  "They're forever you know..." "But what about work..."  To point #1- I love this one.  FOREVER? Really?  You do know that life isn't forever.  You will die.. So why not do what you want?  Artify your body if you want.  Be symbolic.  Because really we aren't here forever, in fact it can go by pretty quicky.  #2-Thank GOODNESS i'm in a state that for the most part accepts this wickedly crazy (GASP) art form.  I love it.  I just cringe at how this is such an issue for some employment agencies.  Because something that is on my body means that I will be less of a worker, not taken seriously, my professionalism questioned...OH it drives me insane.  Good thing I don't have to worry about it.

Wow-rant.  Didn't see that coming completely.  Anyways. I <3 my SEAGULLS.  I am so proud to wear them and love what they represent.

Hah.  Happy Mother's Day to ME.

Love,

Momma 

Hair Cuts

Welp. He still hates haircuts.  And due to this it required me to quickly snip in the bath.  The next day I realized how horrible I cut his hair.  It was bad.  So I got out the clippers and clipped away.  Little did I know I would be snipping his childhood looks and transforming him into a little man....if I would have known that I don't know if I would do it again.

Love,

Momma

Dadcliner moment#545678

;)

Love,
M

Growing up!

Who told this kid to grow up...eat bananas, sit-up..., geesh.

Love
M

A New Chapter...

Ladies and gentlemen, AJ has reached a new chapter in life... Legos! For me, Legos were the source of years of entertainment, a gigantic impetus for problem solving skills, and provided a huge outlet for creativity...

This is one happy Daddy.

All it takes.

So after 4 days with my family that included: hiking, late nights, his birthday party, swimming, Legos, water guns, only 30 minute naps, missing bedtime by a minimum of 2 hours....Aylen finally slept through the night. I think this has happened maybe 1-2 times since Ryker was born. :) wowzers. Thanks family for finally wearing this boy out!

<3
M

A full...

Van is a happy van;)

<3
Momma

Random summer story! #1

RSS: these are my summer feeds! Never in a million years could I predict that I would be reading my 2nd grade stories to My two sons! And good news for them I've got a ton of them!!;)

Love,
M

Grow up, stay little!

As I sit here rocking Aylen to sleep after he woke up from his nap a little early, I feel conflicted. So many times we want the boys to grow up and be more independent. Ugh. I can't imagine when he is too cool for rocking :(

Love
Momma