My last view for 2014

Life is good. Oh so good.

Momma

Christmas is awesome.

Getting our own tree in the woods, to Longmont's parade, to making Christmas cookies, to picking out presents for family, to decorating our house and our tree, to the traditional watching of The Polar Express on Christmas Eve, to looking at Christmas Lights, to Driving to Alexandria/Norfolk/Omaha/Lincoln, to seeing great family and friends, to meeting new babies!, to Grandmothers house we go....the van knows the way to carry us hey back To Home we Go! Hey!

Merry Christmas to all!

Love,

momma

Ryker is 5. Actually 3, but who is counting. ryker isn't,

Ok for real This Ryker big little boy!!

 I have had the honor to be his Mom for the past 3 years. It has been a trip. He was such a pain, faking his entrance into the world multiple times. Once he got here, he has been pretty easy peasy. Top 10 Reasons Why I Love This Boy:

1. He calls my bluffs constantly. Yes, I'll sleep in the car. Yes I'll sleep in the bathroom. Yes, I'll skip my birthday. Or my presents, yea I don't need them. Yup, I'll eat dinner in the dinning room/bathroom/front porch. 

2. His sweet little voice saying his sweet little lines "You forgot." "that's silly, right?" "That's crazy, right?"  "This is delicious."

3. His random, "Momma, I love chu."

4.  His laugh that is seriously contagious.

5.  How brave he is...he is now sleeping on the top bunk with no worries at all.  he will climb the highest slide. He has no fear.

6. Until he does have fear, like when trains are super loud and he clings to your leg like you're the best thing he has ever seen. ever. Or that one time that the fireworks were just too loud. Or in movies that are a little too scary, and trembles a bit.

7. Or the way he loves boots and wears them everywhere, and usually on the wrong feet.

8. The way he is an awesome middle brother. He follows his brother religiously, but isn't afraid to tackle him and hold him tight, very very tight. Or when he plays hide and seek with Dempsey.

9. How he loves FaceTimeing his grandparents and family. He takes them everywhere-in drawers, on the floor, up in the bed,

10.  I've said it before, and I'll say it again...this guy knows how to make a connection with anyone he comes into contact with. He is such a good, fun loving, sweet, awesome little dude.

Happy Birthday Ryker!!!

Love,

Momma

The Lego table

Russ is fantastic. I had been talking about creating a lego table in AJs room, when I noticed these awesome blue drawers on a local Facebook page for FREE!!! So all in about $50 for wood and hardware!

Yesterday made my vision come to life in just one day! Here was the inspiration...

And here's our table!

Super fun!

Momma

FaceTime rocks

FaceTime makes trips away so much better! Even I get to be a part of story time!!

Love my family and can't wait to see them soon!

Momma

Remember that one post...

About Ryker. When he was being so naughty I made him eat in bathroom. Yea well that night he proceeded to get the flu. That's right. Poor guy came in our room thrashing all night saying everything hurt from his finger, back, leg, stomach, and head. He then started running a high fever around 3am, and by 4am he puked. He told us that his "head was bonking". Aka he had a headache (isn't that the sweetest/saddest thing you've heard). I felt horrible! Sure wish the kid could have let me know he was feeling rough:( russ is awesome. He stayed home with him because he has way more flexibility with that. He spent the whole day attending to a very sick, particular little boy.  I'm so grateful.

Momma

It's finally happened....

Baby girl found some baby dolls.  Nature or nurture, who knows?  She likes this one doll a lot.  In fact, she keeps holding it, playing with its face, and taking what appear to be victory laps around our main floor....

And she's super duper cute (Even Megan thinks so).

Three is company....

No, not feeling crowded or stretched thin.  Rather, feeling quite appreciative of these little humans.  They are much fun these days.  And much frustration at times, but not much.  Here are some fun or endearing things going on right now with each....

AJ:  so grown up, more and more independent, so helpful with Dempsey and Ryker at times...also has discovered his strong will and opinion of things, at random... Gets really mad at Meg or I daily over silly things.  Yet still randomly gives us hugs and kisses and tells us he loves us while cuddling.  

Ryker:  starting to grow into his own little boy, when AJ lets him... AJ likes to tell Ryker what to say, what to do, and even how to play... Still has such a fun and wild spirit, LOVES to have fun and make people laugh.  Wakes up by 6am at the latest every day, yet is usually a pure delight in the mornings...has taken a new interest in baby girl, loves to play with her, be goofy, make her laugh... 

Dempsey:  so cute.  Walking faster every day.  Haven't crawled for a month now.  Loves to babble and say things like "Dohhh"...

They are all just great.  

R

I've seen better days.

Wow.  It was one of those nights tonight.  I didn't start out in a bad mood, in fact I was feeling pretty good.  I picked the kids up a bit later due to a meeting.  Russell was out at his weekly Happy Hour(s).  I was warming up leftovers.  NBD.  And then Ryker.  OH Ryker.  First of all he wouldn't stay put and just eat his dinner.  He was CRAWLING on the walls, literally.  I did my usual threat, "Ryker if you can't sit down and eat in here with us you will need to go into the dining room."  And per usual, Ryker said, "OK."  And he packed up and headed in there.  Once in there I told him that he needed to stay in the chair and eat.  If I caught him out of it, he would eat dinner in the bathroom.  (YES-I said this.  It wasn't my plan at all.  But I needed a location where he was secluded, and if he spilled I could clean it up.  So..um...the bathroom.  YEA you'll eat in the bathroom.)  No sooner than 2 minutes I hear this toy going off.  I go into the dining room and witness Ryker on the floor playing.  "RYKER.  I'm serious.  Last chance."  And 1 minute later, we are back where we started.  Ryker on the floor.  So I legit carried out my threat.  HE FOR REAL ATE in the bathroom.  I mean who does that to their kid.  The bathroom is probably disgusto.  And he ate on the floor.  That is so darn horrible.  BUT the flip side is that I gave the kid a chance, shoot, I gave him 4 chances and his behavior never got better.

Once he finished his food in there, he was greeted nicely and asked to come help make dessert.  While making dessert I asked him to put something down, and he didn't listen.  I asked him again, still didn't listen.  AND one more time, and HE DIDN'T LISTEN.  So I used my manliest-LOUDEST "RYKER" that I have ever attempted.  Oh my gosh.  The attention I got from my 3 kids for that 10 seconds was beautiful.  I don't think they knew I could make sounds like that.  BUT for the love Ryker-MAN.  YOU ARE LEGIT driving me bonkers.  Talk about a 3 year old, acting like a 3 year old.  Heavens.  So yea. Tonight wasn't one of my better nights.  And to be honest, this was definitely not one of Ryker's better nights.  So here's to better days, and nights, and Moms and almost 3 year olds.

Love,
Momma

Honeymoon#3

We got back into town and I didn't even post about our trip.  Shame. Shame.

It was awesome for these various reasons that are not possible with our children:
 
1.  Slept in until 11am
2.  Went to bed whenever we wanted, usually after midnight
3.  Randomly decided to a.  randomly go to a movie, b. at night, c. at 1030pm
4.  Wore high heels (me not Russell)
5.  Went on a random bike ride
6.  Crossed the crosswalk with 2 seconds to go on Walk Meter-thingy
7.  Took naps when we wanted to
8.  Drove a convertible with only 2 seats in the back.  AKA our family could not fit in there if they were all present.
9.  Did not FIX one meal EVER
10.  Did not prepare sippy bottles once
11.  Almost had the doors of the tram close on us because we RAN to the tram
12.  Enjoyed this liquor tasting event at the airport
13.  Watched a BIG KID movie on the plane
14.  Did not carry a diaper bag, in fact I didn't even carry a purse
15.  Went out ALL-NIGHT and danced our booties off
16.  Drank bottles of wine



 


AKA.  We had a blast.  The kids hardly ever wanted to talk with us,which actually was okay by me.  It made me miss them more when I could see their little sweet faces, and I imagine they felt the same.  It was sure nice to trust that we could be away and know that our kids were in super good hands.  When we arrived home it was naptime.  Dempsey was still awake and was so super excited to see us.  Ryker was probably the best, he legit QUIVERED when he saw us.  Nothing beats that greeting.

Ahhhh...another trip in the books.  So wonderful and beautiful and necessary.
Love,
Me

Ah Christmas!

We went to get our Christmas tree yesterday! It was An adventure! It involved mountain roads, trekking in snow, saws, hot chocolate, awesome friends, snowballs, and Kahlua! 

We got home and put the treat up! It was so sweet to hear AJ go through the ornaments saying "oh this one is my favorite!" "Oh! I remember this one!" ryker is in the phase of taking ornaments off to play with them. As frustrating as it is for AJ, he did a good job understanding that Ryker is at that age! 

Russ and I are thrilled with our ceilings, we actually got a tall tall Tree!

Man I love the holidays!

Momma

AJ

In the middle of the night AJ woke up with pain in his legs. Russ got the tylenol and I went into his room and rubbed his legs. So softly he told me, "Mom, I remember one time when my legs hurt. I stayed in here to see if they would stop and they didn't. You came in here and rubbed my legs and they felt better." I told him I was glad to hear that.  I then told him that he needed to tell me when his legs felt better and then I'd go back to my room. "Yeah, because you need your sleep Mom."  Amen. 

He's a sweet guy. He also let Russ and I know what tasted good and what tasted bad for Thanksgiving dinner. It looked like turkey, mashed potatoes, corn casserole, dinner rolls, and pumpkin pie made the cut.

Love,

momma

Soaking her up.

Dempsey is getting bigger by the second these days.  Maybe it was being away from her for 5 days, but something has just made me appreciate every cuddle that much more.

This girl's personality is just so amazing. She is fiercely independent, yet so so appreciative of snuggle time. The past couple days I've caught her awake in her crib just peacefully hanging out.  

Today Grammy told her to go give me my phone, and she wobbled all the way in the other room and gave it to me. The girl is a smarty!  I just love her so!

Love,

Momma

364 days.

Let the record show two things.

•until last night, it has been at least 364 days since we have experienced uninterrupted sleep at night. Last night all 3 children slept the entire night in their beds and are still sleeping. Wow.

•I have been with DSnow 364 consecutive evenings. This will be my first night away. Excited? Yes. Partially already missing my sweet girl? Completely.

Love,

Momma

Tomorrow. HoneyMoon #3.

You're going where? Oh without the kids. REALLY? BUT who is watching the kids?  Wow. I WISH I could do that..yea no time, no money, no way I could get away from the kids for that long.

Russ and I hear it all.  This is honeymoon #3 for us, starting tomorrow.  5 nights with NO KIDS, just US.  Now I know we are lucky.  Lucky to have grandparents that will be amazing and come hang with our kids.  Lucky that we have time to take off of works.  Lucky that we have money to afford to go.  I tell you what...we make this stuff a priority.

Why?  Because every couple needs to get away and be with their loves.  You get to remember what it's like when you first met.  You get to appreciate each other on FULL SLEEP.  And do some of things you did before you had jobs and kids and responsibilities.  It's a time to fall in love all over again.  And then there is the whole not cooking for anyone, not making beds (screw that we don't do that anyways), no laundry, no cleaning, no diapers, no sippy cups, no requests every 5 seconds, no bedtime routine, no zipping zippers, no kissing boo-boos or wiping tears, no buckling carseats, no hurrying or shushing, no giving tylenol for ouchy legs, no finding snacks, no cutting apples, no pouring more milk, no helping to wash hands, no reading books, no convincing them that they MUST GO TO BED...you get the point. Right?

Grammy is awesome.  I love my husband.  Forever body.  Let's do this Florida.
Love,
Megan

Dempsey Snow Baby.

Oh sweet Dempsey Snow.  My littlest big SURPRISE.  I am writing to you today in honor of your almost FIRST BIRTHDAY.    See...your Dad and I are headed out tomorrow to go on Honeymoon#3 and will be gone for your actual birthday.  Please don't be too mad.  I figure that you will appreciate how in love your Dad and I are for years and years because we go on these types of trips.  So thank you in advance for not being too cranky.  We went to the ice cream place to celebrate tonight, and I'm pretty sure you ate the most ice cream out of all of us. Dang girl you like your ice cream:)

I was rocking you tonight and thinking about your birth story.  I thought about how sometimes I'd give anything to go back to that day.  It was such a special day, so EMPOWERING, so joyful, so hard, so great, so SURPRISING.  The night you were born I could hardly sleep.  I kept staring at you.  You were A GIRL? a GIRL.  hah.  Still cracks me up how wrong I was.

Girl or not, you have been such a fantastic addition to our family.  You are loved by everyone you meet.  People often complement us on how you are so "chill".  You really are.  And just to prove how awesome you are, you GIGGLE when we put pink eye drops in your eyes.  Who laughs with eye drops??? You love to grab cars, trains, and legos and make the appropriate noises.  You LOVE climbing the stairs and today experienced your first head plant while trying to get down the stairs.  Oh adventurous one you are...

I love your name by the way.  I still think Dempsey is a rockin' name.  AND Snow.  Well that is mostly your Dad and I can't help but watch when snow falls down and remember the night you were born.  I'm so happy that you have Snow in your name.

Last week I was at the YMCA on the treadmill, and I could see into the gym.  There was a team of younger girls at basketball practice.  SQUEE.  I got really excited and pictured you out there on the court.  Who knows...basketball might not be your thing.  That's okay.  As long as you find something you love, I'm down with it.  I just can't wait to teach you and MOST OF ALL show you what a strong female looks like.  I'm learning all the time from the girls I work with in school.  I know I won't be perfect, but lady...I'm so so willing to be the best STRONG momma I can be for you.

So here's to us.  Mom and Daughter.  I love you so much little lady and I am just really digging you!

Love,

Momma

Ryker man

This guy.

Dad's weekend

Meg is at training this weekend, so she can make a horizontal move on the pay scale someday... So it's dad's weekend with the kids.

What exactly happens around here on a dad's weekend?  I'm glad you asked...

1.  Assemble a pirate ship kite...

I hope it survives until the next good breeze.  I want to see that thing 3 sheets to the wind mate, argghhh!

2.  Play-doh... 

3.  Climb a full flight of stairs - a first...

4.  Play date at Kenna and Owen's house.  Had to go blow out their sprinklers, a win-win.

Install a new cat6 network cable in our house.  Hey, I'm a geek.  

Fun times with the kids.

R

And then this happened. 2 Friday in a row where someone is puking.

Poor dude.

Love,

Momma

These kids.

They are entertaining to say the least.

Love, Momma