Allbritton Happenings

January Birthdays

2012-01-27T11:43:00.001-07:00

We have been celebrating all month! Tyler had a great birthday and received his requested fleece jacket and milk frother. Of course, Daddy had to wear the birthday hat and birthday boy pin! This is the fake smile that is saying “hurry up woman, I am HUNGRY!” Also, once you turn 37, birthdays really aren’t all that exciting anymore…

Chase was overjoyed about this birthday and because he just understands more of how it all works, he started asking about the big day a few months ahead and probably every other day after that. Chase’s big present was an ipod. I know, I know. It is crazy! I have heard people talk and write about nutty parents like us getting a 4 YEAR OLD a ipod touch!! I have only told a few people and I have felt like I must justify our decision with about 6 points each time just to not feel like “one of those parents.” SO here are our points, just case I need to justify it again:

1. We considered a gaming unit (like Leapster, which is very cool) but you have to buy special just-for-Leapster games and he would out grow it eventually.

2. We are no longer a PC family and it was a pain to convert all the boy’s music and stories to work with his little non-Apple unit for his nap and nighttime listening pleasure.

3. There are SO many apps (many of them free) that are actually educational.

4. He will have it for a REALLY long time!

5. He and Tate can have their own personal movie selections, stories and games for long car rides.

6. He thought it was the coolest thing ever to have an ipod like his brother!

So there you have it. That is why we decided what we did and I have to say, I don’t regret it one bit! Did I want to be one of those families who sang songs like Kumbayah and Amazing Grace on long car rides and played funny car games - yes . Or entertain the kids with a few little never-see-before non-electrontic trinkets. YES!!! But alas, that is not us (for now anyway).

On Chase’s birthday, he opened his ipod first and knew EXACTLY what is was the VERY second he opened it! Oh our techy boys. Seriously, they know more than me about ipoding, thankfully Tyler will always be a step ahead. The ipod doc and part of the ipod came from Grandm and Papa, who were there to celebrate with us this year! He got a fun little adventure set from Grandm and Grandpa in AZ (hence the bicnoulars) and a cool fishing game from Konda and Jim. Grandma and Tate are looking at the VERY cool 3-D cloth book Grandmommy made Chase for his birthday – totally AMAZING! Finally is Chase’s requested elephant cake (it actually looks almost grey in the picture, but it was pretty green….when you aren’t willing to use food coloring, it is a challenge to find that perfect color mix!).

This last picture says it all – Chase is a happy, funny, occasionally pouty, bodacious 4 year old boy who loves to run wherever he is going. If there is a race involved, he is in…unfortunately we are probably creating some ego complex because he always seems to win (although he is actually getting pretty dang fast)!!

7 years old and clean bill of health!

2012-01-19T09:30:00.001-07:00

Tate turned 7 a number of months ago, but I recently took him in for his 7 year wellness exam. All is well. He was 47 lbs heavy (which is in the 25th percentile) and a whopping 50 inches (bringing him to the 75th percentile). Tate is a very tall, slender, handsome, loud, leader with fantastic potential and who teaches me many things every day! And look at the lovely hats Carmen gave the boys for Christmas! THANKS FRIEND!

2012 Wills and Won’ts

2012-01-12T08:08:00.001-07:00

A friend forwarded me an email snip-it from the book Bittersweet: Thoughts on Change, Grace, and Learning the Hard Way by Shauna Niequist. Shauna – a fellow perfectionist, high-achiever - basically created boundaries for herself, making a list of her will dos and won’t dos for what she defines as a fulfilled, yet not overly self-critical or too high of expectations Christ-centered life. It inspired me. The idea flows nicely with my 2012 mantra: less rushing, more rest. My big goals for 2012 include getting my hormones back to normal (and with that better stress management, more emotional stability and better “times of the month”) and finding the sweet spot each day of just doing my tasks without that underlying hurried, anxious feeling. I want to clean my bathrooms because I have time, not because I am “squeezing it in” or enjoy the hum of my washing machine while I sip a cup of tea and read the latest book on my to-read list. So below is my first draft of my will and won’t list:

I WILL	I WON’T
Commit to having a quiet time each morning – Jesus Calling and The Story of the Bible	Feel obligated to attend things that are miss-able if I feel rushed and overwhelmed
Focus on my relationship with Tyler, time together and more dates	Sign up for anything else (weekly commitment) to fill my schedule
Dedicate more time to thinking up creative family fun (camping kick-off party, themed dinners, Spring picnic during a blizzard)	Forget cooking needs to be set into my schedule, my idea of cooking takes too much time to assume it will get done
Seek ways to serve others – and keep days open to allow it to happen	Start dinner until my counters are clear
Walk with good friends every week
Commit fully to our home church to fix problems instead of leave problems (no complaining)

School Pictures 2011

2012-01-07T19:37:00.001-07:00

Tate’s school picture this year was just not all that great, so I was waiting for re-take day. It never came (not yet anyway). But then a Mom of one of Tate’s classmates offered to take pictures of all the kiddos in the classroom and took these wonderful pictures! I was thrilled!

Chase took some schools pictures this year too…so cute! He looks like such a little man.

Little Fish

2012-01-07T19:28:00.001-07:00

Chase started his very first swim class last Monday and loved it! He has always enjoyed the water, baths mostly. He would fuss a bit in pools or lakes. But after watching his brother in swim lessons and having his own set of goggles, his attitude has turned a corner! And the other day, Chase had an epiphany, to keep the soap out of his eyes he could wear his goggles in the bathtub! Worked like a charm!

Christmas Blowout!

2012-01-07T19:22:00.001-07:00

Every year I tell myself I am not going to let Christmas get too over-the-top and every year somehow it does! The kids had a ball and loved everyone of their gifts. Grandma and Papa were with us this year, which made the day extra special! Here are a few pics from Christmas morning.

Christmas Blowout 2011

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Side of the Pool

2011-12-17T09:52:00.001-07:00

Is climbing through the bleachers safe? Probably not. Is it fun? You bet!

Santa and Mrs. Claus

2011-12-05T09:55:00.001-07:00

We had our very first Santa experience! About a week ago we watched the movie Polar Express. It got Tate jazzed about Santa and his “Christmas List.” The very next morning I walk in to find his very own list (exhibit A). Then we decided to bring it to Santa with us (doesn’t he look SO authentic!). So Friday night we went down to our little downtown of Evergreen and it truly was a scene from a Hallmark movie. There was a band playing Christmas music, a horse-drawn carriage and a big da-to with Santa and Mrs. Claus. We stayed just for the pictures and left pretty quick, but I look forward to future years were we can enjoy the rest of the festivities (when little boys don’t get so cranky with staying up too late!).

Holy Weight Loss!

2011-11-16T10:14:00.001-07:00

My Daddy came to visit this past weekend as well! We had a grand time spending time just being together and talking face to face! The biggest news is he lost 35 pounds! He surprised me! He looks fantastic and it warms my heart to know he is taking such good care of himself!! LOVE YOU DAD!

Catie, Jesse and Mary Visit!

2011-11-16T10:09:00.001-07:00

Tate’s birth-family came last Sunday for a lovely visit! We were very excited to finally spend some time with Jesse, Catie’s new hubby! They make such an adorable couple!

Birthday Pic

2011-11-16T10:06:00.001-07:00

It took us a while, but here are the tie pictures for Tate’s birthday, such a handsome lad!

Birthday Pic

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Brothers Gotta Hug

2011-11-02T09:15:00.001-06:00

Despite their pretty regular nudging, they really do love each other!

SUPER HEROES!

2011-11-02T09:12:00.001-06:00

My Super Heroes attend school last Friday and Monday in full garb! They had a ball and without much candy (so I had a ball too!)

I made felt eye masks, but then found out they were not allowed in school (uggg). Of course, they didn’t give the same rules to Chase’s class so he wore his felt mask, but after I painted Tate’s face, he wanted the same thing….hence the raccoon eyes without the cape.

Tate’s 2010/2011 Year

2011-10-17T15:36:00.001-06:00

Tate had quite the year from 6 to 7, I would say we could call it Tate’s year of Big-Boyness.

Here are some details from Tate’s journey over this last year:

1. He prayed the salvation prayer!

2. He learned to ride a bike.

3. He learned to swim.

4. He learned to read.

5. He learned how to add.

6. He learned to play basketball

Apple Infiltration!

2011-10-17T15:20:00.001-06:00

Tyler put up a good fight for many many years, but could hold firm no longer. His PC-convictions were worn thin by failed products, poor customer service and a lack of innovation. And as conflicted as Tyler is/was about the purchase, he finally succumbed to an iPhone. You can see his turmoil over the matter.

Tate’s Party!

2011-10-17T14:59:00.001-06:00

We didn’t take pictures of any adults, unfortunately, but here are the kiddos having a ball at Tate’s bash last night. We opened presents before food because we figured the stress of not knowing was too much for him to handle! So after presents we moved on to our waffle, egg and bacon dinner. Then the super-cool Star Wars cake was served…and it was a hit! I made a really simple fudgy-chocolate cake with chocolate frosting and trimmed it with Tate’s favorite chocolate chip cookies. Tyler melted candles on the top of seven Star Wars figures I found on-line to give that extra something. We all had a blast and Tate was thrilled! Jordan, Tate’s neighbor friend, was a surprise guest to the party, but it worked out well. Tate loved having a friend and it felt very “birthday-ish” with family around instead of a slew of kids that I am attempting to keep entertained.

yummy shirt!

2011-10-17T14:41:00.001-06:00

This is one of my favorite shirts and I fear this is the last time Chase will wear it with the colder weather coming, so I wanted to document its cuteness! It has a picture of a crazy looking piece of broccoli with a wide, toothy grin and it says “I’m Delicious, I Promise!!!” Not to mention I just want to eat up the little boy that is wearing this piece of clothing too!

2011-10-16T13:04:00.002-06:00

It is hard to believe that Tate is already 7 years old! We got an early start to the birthday weekend by letting Tate open one present on Saturday morning. Dad did some eBay shopping and got a great deal on a bunch of track! Here's the first setup... Pretty cool.

Dance your pants off!

2011-10-11T16:32:00.001-06:00

It has been a while, but I think I took the camera out to officially document Chase’s wardrobe. And it is not like he wants to choose what he wears, this is all me! I actually think he looks cute all dressed in ultra-mismatched clothes. But when it comes right down to it, we have either lost pants to certain sets (knee holes and boys, need I say more) or I just don’t keep the PJ drawer organized enough for easy access to the matching pieces. So after I started taking pictures of Chase’s mismatched outfit because I never want to forget when these little people were prancing around in these fun outfits, Tate started in on a funky dance….very Saturday Night Fever!

Crazy boys!

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First snow of the season!

2011-10-11T16:08:00.001-06:00

We had our first snow last week, it was beautiful! Tate was cold, but Chase wanted to go out any chance possible, he was mesmerized!

First snow Winter 2011

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Dragon Tattoo

2011-10-11T14:12:00.001-06:00

While on a fieldtrip with school, Chase went to Luke’s Farm. There were games to play, animals to pet, and faces to paint! He had a ball!

SUPERHEROS!

2011-09-10T17:50:00.001-06:00

Weeks ago the boys asked me for capes. Of course, I am quick to agree to projects such as these, but actually doing them is trouble for me. My confidence is pretty low when it comes to creating a usable end product and I think I prefer sewing with others actually. Hence my long distance sewing coach – my MIL. We have now clocked around 8 hours just on two small, simple little projects. I send the pattern and she talked me through. It is fun and so much more rewarding than coming up with a dud that must be trashed and never to be tried again.

So today I promised the boys I would start their capes. It was actually a heart moment for me. I sat down at the counter for breakfast and Tate asked, “what are we going to do today?” I said, “well I want to make your capes but I have all these jobs I need to get done around the house!” Tate asked which jobs those where and I started down the list and he was so quick to offer his assistance, it was quite adorable and gentlemanly. Chase jumped on the help-wagon and we all worked our tails off for about 45 minutes. Tate and Chase even made their own lunch!

After five hours of hard work, eager anticipation and one-on-one instruction, here is the finished capes.

Its Quiet……Too Quiet

2011-08-23T11:29:00.001-06:00

Tyler and I dropped both boys off at school today, so I am filled with a mix of emotions. Mostly my heart is sad that my boys are growing up so fast and heading off to spend so much time with people other than Tyler and myself. I only cried once though!! On the other hand, I have been craving some quiet. Having the boys home 24/7 can get crazy and loud. I try not to compare, but I have friends who homeschool and they work with it, become used to the craziness and noise. So then I start thinking how much I love my boys and want to be with them and that I could surly get used to it, right? But then in my mind I go through all the pros and cons Tyler and I have hashed out so many times over the last few years regarding homeschool and come back to the same conclusion – we are making the right choice for our family.

Chase is ready, but so little still in my mind. He could use the stimulation of school and he feels like it is his turn, just like his big brother. So here I sit, on my boys’ first day of school thinking “it is too quiet” and “wasn’t I just thinking how nice quiet would be!” It is exhausting being me!! As other first days of school, my post is mostly a therapy session for myself! Luckily, a friend from church invited me over for a little sewing/margarita party to pass the day with some fellowship and fun!

Tate woke up before 6:30, came out to find me and decided to do his jobs in 4 minutes!

Some highlights from this morning, oh my sweet boys…..

(things were moving so fast this AM in Tate’s class I had one chance to take one picture and Tate wasn’t ready…but at least you get to see the teacher, Ms. Riedlin!)

Tate’s 1st Day of 1st Grade

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Chase’s 1st Day of Preschool

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USA Table

2011-08-16T06:24:00.002-06:00

Many moons ago I ran into the idea in a book to find map cloth to make into a table cloth for teaching and fun discussion during meal times. Well, little ol’ impatient me found and bought the material years and years ago, way before it would have been useful as any type of teaching tool. Just recently I got re-motivated to pull out my lovely sewing machine so graciously given to me by my one and only MIL and to my surprise, found my map material tucked away in my sewing box! I decided to hem the edges and put it in place. Interestingly enough, it is perfect timing! Tate has been asking many questions about different states and enjoys maps. Here is the finished product (and MIL, see how clean my table is!! )!

It’s Official!

2011-08-15T13:11:00.003-06:00

Last Tuesday, August 19th to be exact, the boys and I were reading at darling little book titled A Heart for Jesus. It is a story about a Mom who gave her heart to Jesus, but the little girl still hears her heart beating so doesn’t understand what it means to give your heart to Jesus. The Mom explains it very well in kideez and at the end of the cute book, the Mom walks the kids through the salvation prayer. When I finished reading the prayer in the book, Tate turned to me and said “I want to pray that!” So I read each line and he repeated them after me, genuinely from his heart. It was very exciting!

I always expected the experience to be monumental, the clouds parting with song and rays of sunshine beaming from the heavens. However, it wasn’t that way. I figure Tate really already knew what he was saying about believing Jesus died on the cross for his sins and that he is sorry for all his wrongs and that he wanted a new heart. He actually even said that he had said those things before. But I told him, the difference is, he is now old enough to really, truly understand. So Tate is officially saved, YAHOOO!!!!!

We bought him a new Bible to commemorate the event, he has been flipping through the pages lovingly.

Summer Update

2011-08-10T13:35:00.001-06:00

Blogging has been put on the back burner, summer is whizzing by so fast I can hardly keep up! Here are a few highlights from the last couple of weeks.

The boys and I enjoying a lovely afternoon down by our creek, the wild daisies are fantastic!

Every time we hit King Soopers for some food, Chase has to ride the 1 cent horse, he thinks it is a hoot!

Mr. Big-Boy Tate spent three nights away at camp Id-Ra-Ha-Je (I’d Rather Have Jesus) – he loved it and wants to go back a week next year!

We also made it to the pirates exhibit at the Denver History Museum. The boys liked the hates at the end the best, oh and maybe the treasure ran a close second.

Only God Keeps You Going

2011-08-04T07:01:00.001-06:00

What a great poem, not sure who wrote it.

Happiness Keeps you Sweet
Trials keep you Strong
Sorrows keep you Human
Failures keep you Humble
Success keeps you Glowing
But Only GOD keeps you Going!!

Summer Moments

2011-07-26T21:04:00.001-06:00

Pool at Grandmommy’s and Grandaddy’s.

Sleepy Tate napping at Grandmommy’s.

Horse Painting

2011-07-26T20:50:00.001-06:00

During our last camping trip, the boys joined a group of kids at a local Estes Park equestrian center in painting with a horse as their canvas.

Mexico

2011-07-26T20:42:00.001-06:00

Finally, pictures. There isn’t much to say about Mexico, except that it was muy relaxing and beautiful. Our activities included, which occurred in no particular order: walking the beach, reading, sleeping, napping, eating, chatting, swimming, watching movies, boogie boarding.

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Two Quotes

2011-07-26T20:15:00.001-06:00

Mark Consuelos and Kelly Rippa have three kids and Mark was interviewed in Parenting magazine (August 2011). The question was “If you wrote a parenting manual, what would the title be?” His response is priceless - “The First Kid is Like the First Pancake: Burnt on the Outside and Raw in the Middle. But the Rest Are Really Good.”

This second quote is a bit more deep, but really hit a cord. Ginny Owen’s is my most favorite singing artist, hands down. Her bluesy lyrics are real, raw and strum my heart strings. On her blog, Ginny explains that due to some tumultuous times, it took her five years to finish her newest song, Before You Fly. She said, “As time passes, I understand that wisdom comes only from placing one foot in front of the other, moment after moment, day after day, seeking the face of God. I fall; I fly; and as God’s truth grows bigger in my life, the highs and lows of the journey take on deeper meaning. Life is full of joys and tragedies, and holding on tightly to the hand of our Heavenly Father is the only way to get through.”

Camping Trip #2

2011-06-05T16:41:00.001-06:00

The Allbritton family had another fun-filled camping trip with Chloe the Cub over the weekend. Friday afternoon we headed past Buena Vista to Nathrop Colorado, then headed West to Chalk Lake campground (just around 2 hours away). So far, it is our favorite location. Not only was the scenery gorgeous, but there was a fantastic .5 mile hike leading up to a waterfall, Agnes Vaille Falls right across the road from our camping spot. The campground also had a roaring creek and lake (hence Chalk Creek Lake). Both boys made it up the hike just fine, despite the fact that the top got a little rocky and steep. After naps on Saturday, we headed over to Mt. Princeton Hot Springs, which was a fun, and warm, way to bathe off from our earlier hike.

Several observations: campfire cooking is more challenging than I thought it would be & having our own private bathroom is priceless!

We were welcomed to our site by two mountain goats. They really are not very attractive close up.

Here is the view from our camping spot. Tyler and I had a total of about 5 1/2 minutes to sit down and peacefully enjoy it.

Napping Chase…it’s hot in the camper, so naked is the only way to go!

Our trip to Agnes Vaille Falls.

Our Kindergarten Grad

2011-05-26T05:37:00.001-06:00

On Wednesday May 25th, Tate’s class had their graduation ceremony. They started out with a few songs, then each child came up to the front, said what they want to be when they grow up and received their awards and diploma. Tate said he wanted to be an engineer. Every child’s awards were different and Tate received the “The Penmanship and Neatnick Award because Tate has wonderful handwriting and takes great care to do neat work.” He also received the Holy Cow Award for turning in his homework all year and always turning it in on time. It was cute and fun!

Kindergarten Graduation

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More Lightsaber Action

2011-05-26T05:29:00.001-06:00

Like I said, they boys play lightsabers a LOT!

Camping–First Trip

2011-05-26T05:27:00.001-06:00

Saturday May 14th we headed out for the very first time in Chloe the Cub. With high hopes and a touch of trepidation, we started West towards Loveland Pass and the great Eisenhower Tunnel. The F150 had no problems with the East-facing slopes. After going through the tunnel, we went down and up again to Vail Pass and proceeded down through Vail Valley and on to beautiful Glenwood Canyon. Then turned south toward Aspen, halfway there turned East to the cute little town of Basalt to our destination and Ruidy Reservoir. It was fun time, we got a little rain, a little sun and got our feet wet with camping. The boys ventured out several times to explore the area and found some interesting things to see. All together it was a fun time!

Catching Up

2011-05-22T15:44:00.001-06:00

Due to technical difficulties, I have gotten a little backed up with blogging, so this entry is to catch up on the Allbritton happenings and top news.

Chase loves to adorn his noggin with anything, not just hats!

Chase really enjoys holding the chickens, which are now surprisingly large!

Chase’s room is complete, it looks so fantastic! And Chase loves, loves, loves his new big boy bed!

For about 3 straight weeks Chase said, “Look Mom, I growed again!!” every time I would him from nap or in the morning. Almost like his big boy bed was helping him grow.

Tate learned all about different cultures this year at school and made some fun crafts to go along with them.

Probably the greatest thrill of the boys from this past few weeks is their acquisition of their very own lightsabers. Tyler introduced Tate to Star Wars a few months back and because of the genetic coding in boys, he thought it was the coolest thing ever and couldn’t stop talking about lightsabers for days after watching. So both Tate and Chase had their goal incentives set before them to earn their prized treasures and finally got their rewards. They play-fight several times a day and try to get Daddy in on the fun, which he does willingly (guess what Daddy is getting of his very own for Daddy’s day!)

This meant to be Chase’s “fighting face.”

9 New Family Members

2011-04-27T09:18:00.001-06:00

A friend called yesterday wanting to unload 9 chickens they had raised as baby chics. I quickly said YES! We are down to 5 chickens ourselves and I wanted to get more, but was dreading the chic process. As I was dragging my feet, I was casually looking for an opportunity to pop up where I could get older girls right from the start. Not only do I have the sole responsibility for baby chic care, but the feather dust in the house is terrible! So my friend and her family had done all the hard work, yet, from what I hear, they enjoyed every minute. I understand they were cuddled frequently and carried around in shirt pockets.

So in addition to our Roadhouse Reds and Barred Rocks, we now have 4 new Barred Rock, those are the black and white speckled, 3 Light Brahmas, which have feathers on their feet (and have been appropriately named Fuzzy Feet) and the 2 beautiful Speckled Sussex, which are black and brown with a hit of white. YEAHH!! More eggs to nourish the Allbritton clan! THANKS Bentons!

Mister Goof-ball

2011-04-18T16:55:00.001-06:00

Tate has a goof-ballness about him that definitely keeps us in stitches!

Basket Madness

2011-04-18T16:51:00.001-06:00

Last Saturday the boys attended their very first egg race. It was advertised as an egg hunt in our neighborhood. However, when we arrived, the baseball field was divided into age groups and they eggs were laid out for the kids to just race for and grab. Don’t get me wrong, they had fun. I am not sure it was worth the candy-negotiating that ensued at home immediately following (they mad out like bandits…2 movies, a batch of yummy, but healthy, cookies and 2 lollipops), but at least it brought them 5 minutes of smiles. But ever since then, the excitement of Easter has been in the air! We decorated with our stuffed Easter animals and pulled out our resurrection eggs. But best of all, the basket!

Out with the old, in with the new

2011-04-18T16:46:00.001-06:00

Guess it is time Chase gets a big boy bed, this is how I found him after nap today. Yes, he is sitting on the side railing, happy as a clam! He said “Mom look, I am sitting!!” Good thing Daddy went out to buy him a big boy bed on Sunday!

Grand-riffic Visit!

2011-04-10T14:16:00.001-06:00

My Daddy was here for a visit and we had a lovely, quiet time. Saturday we all went to the rec center pool and watched Tyler, Tate and Chase play. Saturday night we ventured out for a movie. Other than that it was keeping up with the craziness of life. Here are some fun pics from our visit.

Chase adorned his goggles about 2 hours before we left for the pool!

New Chum Lilly

2011-04-05T05:39:00.001-06:00

Tate likes the ladies, plane and simple. I love that he loves to play with girls! It actually softens him a bit. I hear him asking, “what would you like to do?” Or “let me help you with that” more often than if he is playing with a boy. I know right now it is cute that Tate and Lilly were holding hands while watching a show on TV yesterday during their play date, in 5 years (or maybe less?) I will have to be a little more suspicious. Tate and Lilly played for almost 2 hours in the fort, a new record! I love it! They were out there soaking up the sun, breathing in fresh air, eating green popcorn, writing/drawing in their journals and exploring. With boys, Tate is back in about 10 minutes. I am not sure what that is all about??

Meet Chloe the Cub

2011-03-22T10:38:00.001-06:00

The trip was a success! Tate did fantastic on the way out to Missouri. The boys got to the hotel, ate some grub and hit the indoor pool (which was not heated enough). Then settled in for the night. The next day Tate had quite a bit of pent up energy. They picked up the camper and headed back for home. To make it bearable, Tate watched movies pretty much the entire way home. It worked I suppose, but that pre-parent voice keeps talking in my head about how I am disappointed that we have fallen victim to the TV-sitter syndrome in the car. Oh well!

The boys played in Chloe for a long time on Sunday, touching, looking, opening and finding. They even ate lunch out there. This weekend the boys may camp out just in the drive way! Very exciting!

22 Hour Tour

2011-03-18T06:36:00.001-06:00

6:18 AM and my boys are off to go get Chloe the Cub, our new trailer. We found Chloe on craigslist, the only hybrid trailer that had all our desired features. The only bad thing is that the family who is selling the gently used trailer lives on the very very southeast tip of Kansas, so far so that they are actually in Missouri. But we decided it was worth the effort, so Tyler and Tate are off for a 22 hour tour. They will make it to Kansas City tonight, sleep in a hotel and then pick up the trailer bright and early Saturday AM. I would be lying if I said Tyler wasn’t a wee bit nervous about the drive. Tate is not one to sit still for too long, but he wanted to go, he actually woke up at “4 something” because he is just beside himself with excitement about this special trip with his out-of-this-world Daddy. I think (hope?) that the bonding and fun will outweigh any unpleasantness of boredom! Here are the boys at this early hour and as you can see, Chase’s attachment to his “Patty Hat” is still going strong. We said our goodbyes and then the boys got into the truck, one psyching himself up for the long long drive and the other who will soon learn what it actually means to drive 11 hour straight.

“Patty Hat”

2011-03-18T06:23:00.001-06:00

St. Patty’s Day was yesterday and there was a lot of celebrating. We started the day with green eggs and green milk while wearing our sparkly green hats. Since Chase loves hats, he wanted to wear his all day and everyone we ran into on our errands thought it was adorable (which was absolutely correct!). If he had to take off his hat for any reason he would say, “where’s my Patty hat?”

Tough guy

2011-03-13T09:26:00.001-06:00

Tate earned a dinosaur stamp set by collecting “good behavior tickets” and he went a little crazy on his arms. Tyler thought the collection of tats looked a little “bikerish”, hence the tough guy face.

They’re back!!

2011-03-13T09:14:00.001-06:00

Mom and Jerry decided to come back to the States earlier than expected! And we are thrilled! So they came for a nice long visit and it was wonderful. Besides just keeping up with our daily schedule, we got in a little extra shopping and fun. Here are some highlights.

Chase kept Grandma reading half the time and we celebrated Papa’s birthday, which was back in February. Tyler and I got in a date, where we saw the animated movie Tangled (which was fantastic) and ate some yummy sushi. We even snuck out one night and went shopping for TYLER! Yes, I talked Tyler into going for his bi-yearly shopping spree.

Fun with Grandma and Papa

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The day is here!

2011-03-12T06:29:00.001-07:00

Our little kiddos are early birds, always have been. I suppose because we are morning people, it was to be expected. And I suppose since we need to get up at 6:30 to get to school on time, that sealed the deal. This Saturday I woke up ready to have some “me time” before the family started puttering around. But I wasn’t quiet enough and Chase woke up yelling, “get me up….wake me up!” See, Chase is still in his crib, for how much longer you ask? Until he either tries to climb out or he gets too long I suppose. He is happy in his crib and Mommy is happy she can contain him for just a little bit longer. I don’t think there will be any psychological damage! I am guessing maybe a good time to transition him to a “big boy” bed would be when he goes to preschool and we emphasize his “bigness.” Anyhooo, so Tyler peeked his head into Chase room and whispered “it is still too early Baby, it isn’t time to get up.” But since I have Chase’s darkening shades cracked up to allow some light into his room at nap to play with his toys, he knew without a doubt that it was not too early and pointed up to the light steaming through the crack in this darkening shades and stated “but the day is here!” Alas, Daddy won and explained it was still too early and indeed he would have to wait just a few more minutes, but how cute! “The day is here!” He is ready to start his sweet little day.

Preschool for my Baby

2011-03-09T13:40:00.001-07:00

The idea of preschool has been on my mind lately. After many extensive, pro-and-con discussions with Tyler, we decided it was best to keep Chase home next fall. But anyone who knows me well knows even after a “decision” has been made, I keep thinking about it. Chase enjoys being home, we are busy with activities and he is easy going so I can still get my jobs done around the house usually fairly easily. However, lately he seems to want more and more interaction and he just loves playing with his friends instead of just his ol’ Mom. He also wants to be like his big brother and go to school. Another plus for preschool is it will warm him up for PreK the following year when he really should start preparing for Kindergarten. Unfortunately, Chase has lost his motivation for potty training, but we still have 5 months to get there before school starts, I think it will happen. So I officially signed him up today for two half days at Our House, the Christian preschool Tate went to many moons ago. My baby!!!!!

Naps have been morphing into play-time/sleep-if-needed times. He has toys in his crib and has stories on his Zune to listen to. So every once in a while Chase will try to play and stay awake as long as he can muster and then fall asleep around 2 and then when I go get him to drive and pick up Tate, he is sound asleep! So I snapped a few shots of him sleeping because I know nap time in general is on its way out.

My big, hat-loving boy!

2011-02-08T19:48:00.002-07:00

Tate became interested in swords after listening to an episode of Magic Tree House. Wheels started turning and the plan was generated for Daddy to create wooden versions. Tate choose a King Author broad sword and Chase a Pirate Blade. Staying with Tyler’s MO, they are perfectly shaped, spray-painted silver, and have perfect child-friendly handles to boot. Funny thing, Tyler thought he could keep the boys from sword fighting!! That lasted all of 2 milliseconds. Here the boys are displaying their wares. And as you can see, each has a waist carrier for their sword that Tyler fashioned with his own hand using tarp, wire to make them stiff for the sword to fit into and thread and needle…yes, you read correctly, Tyler sewed on his own accord…anything for his boys!

2011-02-08T19:27:00.002-07:00

Tate has always liked the ladies. He met Sophie way back in his preschool days, although their “relationship” blossomed this year. In fact, Sophie had a birthday party last month and all girls were invited, except Tate! He loved it! Then today he came home with a gift for Sophie I felt I needed to document 75% because it is so cute and maybe %25 for blackmail when he is a teen. It is a nice rainbow picture with “I love Sophie, Love Tate" on the bottom. Our little Lady's Man!

Thankfulness

2011-02-08T10:47:00.001-07:00

I just started reading Ann Voskamp’s One Thousand Gifts. It is a poetical, raw, heartfelt look at the transforming power of gratitude, or eucharisteo in Greek, as she so beautifully describes. There are books I certainly look forward to reading, but this book is different, it is like I am trying to savor this one. Of my three books on my nightstand, I will try to get through some pages of the others before I “treat” myself to reading this book. There have been many quotable pieces, but one that keeps rummaging through my mind is a quote by C.S. Lewis, who said to a man looking for fullest life: “If you think of this world as a place intended simply for our happiness, you will find it quite intolerable: think of it as a place of training and correction and it’s not so bad.”

I have always been an optimist, always favoring happy over grumpy. But I dare say, as days go by at the speed of light, life happens. And the way it happens is usually not how I planned or expected. This is not bad, just something I continue to learn to make adjustments for, learn to go with the flow. We are told in 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 to Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. And as the saying goes, if you want to hear God laugh, make plans, right? So even in the crazy, unplanned, unexpected hiccups of life in this fallen, yet beautiful world, I am to be thankful. That is my goal for this year, thankfulness in each and every momentary circumstance! I have a feeling I will need a heaping dose of grace as well, as I am surely in training, as C.S. Lewis suggested.

Laugh Out Loud Visit

2011-01-30T20:08:00.001-07:00

Jordan, Jim and Konda came for a wonderful visit this evening. Chase took about 3 1/2 minutes to warm up and he was off and running with his usual antics.

OK – these pictures aren’t our normal birth-family visit fare, but Konda is the true photographer and I will wait patiently for her disc of 548 pictures to arrive and re-post then! We had a lovely visit with lots of hugs and tons of laughs. Chase’s birthday loot was full of bubble making supplies and a cool play-do set. Big brother also came away with a bubble maker. After some bubble-making on the deck, we enjoyed dinner and then some crazy fun with the boys. We love you guys!!!

Using the Potty…sometimes

2011-01-26T20:18:00.000-07:00

Potty training with Tate was pretty easy (never mind the fact he was 4!), so with Chase it is a little more interesting. More reminding, a little bit more bribing and a touch more stress racing to the commode.

Chase’s little hiney looks SO adorable in undies. And, of course, the first poo-poo in the potty was rewarded with a yummy sucker and a cool Buzz Light-Year tee!!!

Big Big Boy!

2011-01-23T14:40:00.002-07:00

Hard to believe Chase turned 3 this past week! Officially, he turned 3 on Thursday, but we waited to celebrate on Saturday when we could have more time to make the cake and celebrate without the busyness of the week. He was so thrilled to wear his birthday crown from sun up to sun down (taking it off only for nap). Saturday morning we woke up bright and early and gave him a mini-celebration during breakfast with a fried egg and cookie with a candle and just a couple of presents. He played all day and watched a movie, then we ate dinner and had the big celebration with a dinosaur cake, loads of presents and many birthday wishes! Hard to believe….

Dino Cake – a cake artist I am not, but the boys thought it was pretty scary! Carrot cake underneath, cream cheese frosting colored green with liquid chlorophyll, carrot rounds for dots, cut carrots for the spikes and teeth and dark chocolate for the horn.

The toy trumpet was the clear winner of birthday gifts, Chase just loves music, singing and instruments.

Tyler’s Big Day

2011-01-19T08:15:00.001-07:00

Well, my wonderful, supportive, loving hubby has now passed the mid-thirty mark. And once again, we are the same age, if only for 6 months.

The boys were so excited to celebrate Daddy and of course, they wanted to bestow all the same “regulars” that they get for their big day, namely the Birthday Boy pin and birthday crown.

We started off the day with breakfast that included a cookie with a candle and a few homemade gifts (some pictures and a special scepter). The birthday boy then got his choice of activities for the day and for dinner had a man-meal with his requested lemon bars adorned with more candles (no not 36) and a few more presents. He said it was a pretty good birthday!

Chase the lion

2011-01-14T12:22:00.001-07:00

Chase has taken to randomly wearing a lion costume we own, it is ADORABLE!!!!

2011-01-07T20:24:00.002-07:00

Excuses, excuses! I have them, but bottom line, I haven’t blogged in a long time and now I am back. So here you go my three followers!

January fun

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Grandmommy and Grandaddy came out for a visit over the end of December and into the New Year. Fun was had by all! Both Tate and Chase have been adorning themselves in very unique outfits as of late. Chase’s favorite is his workshop goggles, Whinny the Pooh hat and backpack. Tate’s is his superhero shirt with Cars pants.

The New Year is off and running, with school, activities and fun!

More coming soon!

Superman!

2010-10-30T13:46:00.001-06:00

Chase fit perfectly into the Superman costume Susan made Tate so many years ago. SO cute! We went to Fall Family Fun Night at our church for about an hour and then headed home. The boys did some star-gazing and then off to bed. Fun night!

Tate St.

2010-10-29T13:38:00.001-06:00

Tate has never really asked to be anything specific for Halloween. So I ran into this idea and decided for him this year, he is dressed up as a road, Tate St. to be exact! We attached cars to a black shirt and pants with yellow duck tape and a road sign. It turned out pretty cute!

Tyler’s Masterpiece

2010-10-17T14:13:00.001-06:00

The fort is about 99% done! Tyler is finishing up the staining today, then the only pieces left are the doors and window coverings, which can be put on later. Tyler and Tate already have a list of items they want to make for the fort, like a chest for toys, shelves and chairs.

PARTY!

2010-10-17T14:09:00.001-06:00

Saturday Tate turned 6! He invited 5 of his little chums over and we had a ball! We started with party hats that the kids decorated. Then we played pin the tire on Lightening McQueen. The weather was unusually warm, so we stepped outside for some egg races and had a lovely lunch of pigs in a blanket, banana and apple slices. Chocolate iced cupcakes followed with a loud Happy Birthday song. On the deck, the kids spied the fort and begged for a tour, so after opening some presents, we headed down to show them the kids Tyler’s masterpiece.

Longhorn hats

2010-10-17T13:59:00.001-06:00

Granddaddy bought the boys winter Texas hats, THANKS GRANDADDY! We can never have enough Texas stuff!

Wonderful visit!

2010-10-09T14:49:00.001-06:00

Catie, Tate’s birthmom, came up for a visit with her Mom Mary this morning. It was so lovely to see them both. What a blessing to have Catie and her family in our lives. Catie came bearing gifts of course, one for Tate and Chase. Tate’s mechanical dump truck was an instant hit and Chase’s alphabet book with the flippy letters will bring many hours of fun! We caught up on each other’s family and then Tate gave Catie a tour of his fort and little maze of bushes in the back yard. What a treat! We love you all!!

Buzzing with Activity

2010-10-03T13:50:00.001-06:00

No doubt about it, as the kids get older the more active we are. To some degree, I guess busyness just changes. When the boys were babies, I was busy making formula, feeding, changing and playing peek-a-boo. Now, we are busy driving to and from school, getting Tate’s taekwondo uniform ready for after school, playing board games and helping with doing homework. It is all good busyness, but busyness nonetheless. Finding the balance - the calm amidst the storm I suppose - is something I am striving to find. It will come; a tweak here, a new perspective there. I say all that to give myself an excuse for my long blogging breaks. I do still take pictures and video, just a a bit fewer than during the summer. So here is a brief preview of life at the Allbritton’s since I last posted.

The Sleeping Giant

2010-09-18T13:57:00.001-06:00

Chase loves playing the “sleeping game,” he just giggles and giggles!

Donuts? Really!?

2010-09-11T09:57:00.001-06:00

Every once in a while, a special breakfast treat is in order and that means something fun, yet still somewhat healthful. Today I tried my hand at mini GF donuts made with coconut flour, eggs, and honey. Everyone gave them an enthusiastic thumbs up. Tyler was so excited he took the time to even make some chocolate glaze. Watch out Dunkin’ Donuts!

Ladybugs

2010-09-11T09:47:00.001-06:00

Tate’s class made ladybug hats for a birthday celebration on Friday. So today, Tate decided he wanted to make Chase a ladybug hat too! So sweet!

Toothless Tate

2010-09-08T19:38:00.001-06:00

Today, Tate lost his first tooth at school….he was VERY excited. A friend at school told him the tooth fairy brought her $10! Tyler told him that the going rate is $1 and her parents must have add $9.

Uncle Blake and Aunt Melissa Visit

2010-08-30T12:43:00.001-06:00

Tyler’s younger brother Blake and his wife Melissa came out for a visit this last week. They spent the first part of their visit hiking the CO trails and then hung out with us over the weekend. The kids took to them like butter on bread. We fed the giraffes at the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo in CO Springs. The boys also got the chance to ride a pony at the zoo, which was less of a hit than expected. Then on Sunday, all except Chase and I visited Mt. Evans to check out the views. Great fun was had by all!

My Big Kindergartener!

2010-08-24T10:10:00.001-06:00

This drizzly, cold day of August 24th is Tate’s first day of kindergarten! He woke up at 6:30 AM to the sound of birds chirping from his alarm, got up, did his jobs and came out ready to rock and roll! He looks so handsome in his little uniform!

We got to school early to get a parking spot so we could walk him into his classroom. He will just jump out of the MV from now on in the round-about at the school (teachers are there ready and waiting to direct the kiddies). Then he stands in the kindergarten line until it is time to enter into the classroom. Here Tate is standing in line ready to go in!

No tears this year for either of us, we were prepared from preschool. Tate loves school and enjoys the stimulation. Here he is with his new teacher, Mrs. Cox. I hear she runs a tight ship, it should be great for Tate!

Now the fun begins….

FL Run

2010-08-16T21:04:00.001-06:00

One of Chase’s favorite activities at the beach was to run up, down and around everyone. He would run in circles around the sand castle and high-five me every time he passed…very cute!

FL Family Photo

2010-08-16T20:37:00.001-06:00

Here we are bidding farewell to the ocean on our last day in FL.

Visiting the GREAT-Grandparents

2010-08-16T20:26:00.001-06:00

We were able to visit with Tyler’s grandparents three times while we were in FL. We went to their home a few times and they visited us in our villa. It was great to see them again and have time to chat! The boys thought they were super cool!

Last Days of FL Fun

2010-08-16T20:13:00.001-06:00

More and more sand castle building!

Nice chats with just Tyler after the kids hit the sack.

We rented a boat and had fun zooming around the intercostal waterways. We saw a few dolphins, but mostly had fun racing around at high speeds!

FL Villa

2010-08-11T07:08:00.001-06:00

Family vacation in FL is relaxing and fun! The villa is clean, comfortable and as close to the water as you can get. It is pretty much a little house, nobody is above, to the side or below like in all the high-rises surrounding us. It reminds me of the book The Little House by Virginia Lee Burton, a sweet story about a little house that lived in the country, but eventually the city begins to encroach in on its surroundings little by little.

Despite the heavy rains, we have still found plenty of time to enjoy the beach. For the first three days, we spent the entire morning out at the water…Chase running around, touching the water and running back while Tyler and Tate construct some impressive sand structure. Every 45 minutes or so we all get into the water and float for a while on a little raft the villa has for their guests. After several hours of hard play, we head in for nourishment and much needed nap. Then we start the drill over again (unless rain brings us back in or we are visiting GD and GM).

Getting Tate ready for playing in the water is a process. Granddaddy gave us a roll of duct tape and Tyler bought some heavy-duty plastic. There is a lot of wrapping and tapping before heading out. Although it doesn’t keep all the water out, at least there is no sand that would scratch and irritate Tate’s foot.

Chase has gotten more and more comfortable in the water. The first day he was pretty apprehensive, then yesterday Daddy forced him out on a little baby-tube and he protested for a bit but then realized it was pretty fun!

More to come!

Strawberries and Bees

2010-08-06T10:26:00.001-06:00

An adventure is not as memorable without some catastrophe, right? Julia, her 3 boys, Tate, Chase and I all headed out about 10:30 Thursday morning for Berry Patch Farms, which is a small farm out in Brighton, CO where you can pick your own veggies and strawberries. We get there, see the fantastically large pet big in the yard, sword-like sticks, feather-footed chickens…great stuff! Then someone disturbs a group of bees and the fun begins! The boys were so loud with excitement about just being there and together that it took me a few seconds to realize the excitement had turned to shrieks of pain! Bees were swarming and stinging them all (except Chase, who was casually observing from the sidelines).

We finally get away from the buzzing creatures and the farm owners come running out to help…”aftersting” medicine and ice packs in hand. Luckily the bees were honey bees, which apparently don’t sting quite as bad as other varieties. The boys howled and whined and then the owners gave them each a treat from their store (freeze-dried fruit) and they were miraculously healed! Not another word was said about the bees.

So we started picking our strawberries at noon (AKA eatin’ time), so no one really lasted that long. That is OK, there weren’t too many strawberries to pick anyway. We ate our lunch with the ready-for-bacon-makin’ pig and chickens hanging around the benches and then drove home…a little tired and sun-beaten, but happy nonetheless. Ahhhaaa….adventures with the boys!

Tough Kid!

2010-08-03T20:05:00.001-06:00

Sunday before last, a plank of wood fell on Tate’s foot, not from very high, but apparently high enough. He started limping right away, however, never complained enough to make us worry. However, after a week of limping we decided to take him in to the doc, who ordered an x-ray, which promptly displayed a broken bone! The 3rd metatarsal to be exact, with a possible crack in the 2nd. Tate must have a higher pain threshold than I thought! Glad we were able to talk the doc into a boot instead of a cast, since we leave for a water-filled vacation in FL on Saturday!

Train trap

2010-08-02T14:20:00.001-06:00

Tyler goes a little crazy sometimes with building trains with the boys….

Mother-in-law suite or fort for boys?

2010-08-02T12:58:00.002-06:00

Tyler finished the roof and the first floor deck this last weekend. The trap door and ladder have also been added, so we are ready for customers! Minus plumbing and electricity, this could pass as a Mother-in-law suite!

We had a few fort-injuries the weekend before last. A board feel on Tate’s foot (we are actually going for an x-ray today to make sure it isn’t fractured since he keeps limping) and Tyler sawed his thumb…but just a little! :)

Once Chase saw that Tate was hurt and needed ice, he had sympathy pains and needed ice too!

Chase at 2 1/2

2010-07-26T08:50:00.001-06:00

Here are many of the fantastic things about Chase at 2 1/2.

1. You give me a “baby kiss” every time I ask!

2. You still like your crib and have no inclination to climb out – amazing!

3. Whenever you wake up, either from night or nap, your first question is “wheres Taattee?” You just love him to pieces!

4. You still suck your fingers, just to fall asleep and cuddle the green blanky I crocheted you right before you were born.

5. You love hanging out with Tate and his older friends, you rarely fuss or whine and just hang out on the sidelines and try to participate when you can.

6. You are loving books more and more. You still like the pictures more than the words, but you are great at sitting through a longer book. You often ask, “what’s that!”

7. Yesterday you walked down to the creek to meet up with your Dad and brother after nap all by yourself….

8. You still don’t know what soda, boxed cereal or candy are and you don’t care! Fruit and dates are a completely satisfying treat. I know things will change, but no need to jump the gun!

9. Tate still sings you a song either before nap or night-night and your favorite part is the kiss he gives you at the end. You sit there and wait patiently and then flop yourself down on the crib after the kiss, ready and willing to take your 2 hour nap or sleeping through the night.

10. Your favorite word as of late is “no,” but you most often say it with a smile and don’t really mean it. :) Although, when you are trying to win the battle, you give in pretty quickly and do what was asked.

Inaugural Tractor Ride

2010-07-25T19:33:00.001-06:00

Chase got his first thrill-ride on the tractor with Daddy…he was ecstatic!

Great Tipi…but

2010-07-25T19:12:00.001-06:00

A friend and I went on a walk the other morning and ran into a garage sale. In my fervent efforts to de-clutter and organize, I figured I was not going to purchase anything….but….we found a great authentic canvas tipi that my friend Angie said I really should buy for the boys (only $20!). Imaginative play is so fantastic, so I did it! Now, Tate just needs to have some boys over that will help him learn how to play cowboys and Indians!

Visit, Fort and More

2010-07-22T16:41:00.001-06:00

Summer is whizzing by, but tons of fun! We have visited Bear Creek Lake beach numerous times, played with friends, watched movies, worked hard in the sandbox, learned lots in gymnastics class and kept up with taekwondo. Now we are looking forward to my Dad and Kathleen’s arrival on Sunday, who will stay with the boys while Tyler and I get out of Dodge for a few nights.

Tyler continues to work his tail off on the fort (AKA backyard castle)! My friend Raney came by the other day and said “it looks like something Rapunzel would live in!”

One last picture of my Mom before she left.

Ribbon crowns the boys made this morning and requested a picture to show off their creativity…and just a random picture that turned out pretty cute.

Fort & Extras

2010-07-13T20:48:00.001-06:00

All walls are framed for the first story of the fort. Tyler decided to take off Wednesday to make some more headway on the project…I think he is more excited than Tate! Although, I think now that it is becoming more of a structure, Tate is getting pretty jazzed!

The past week or so, Chase is quick to ask for a picture…I never, ever refuse pictures!

Susan sent a care package with some handmade goodies. I have gotten into cloth napkins lately for dinner and Susan wiped me up a couple of sets with some material we purchased during her last visit. And the pillows to match the new ottoman cover….THANKS MIL!

Weekend Happenings

2010-07-11T20:02:00.001-06:00

In about 10 years these types of pictures will make fantastic blackmail! :) Out of the blue, Chase decided he wanted to hangout on Tate’s big boy toilet. He kept asking for more and more books.

Tyler made quite a bit of headway on the fort!

Before Tate left, he made me an impromptu note he left on my nightstand.

Sunday AM, we drove up to Breckenridge to hang with Mom and Jerry and pick up Tate. Chase was chillin’ in his babyseat eating his snack on the way up.

We walked around Breck for a while before heading home.

New Deck Furniture

2010-07-09T19:18:00.001-06:00

My Mom and Jerry are in the throws of simplifying their life and getting ready to leave for Turkey in a handful of weeks. We scored their outdoor furniture, as they are selling everything they own. They arrived yesterday with the Uhaul full for us and their few worldly possessions packed in suitcases in the trunk. While exciting, this life change is major! We didn’t get any pictures with them yet, as they took off pretty early this morning with Tate for their special getaway in Breckenridge. The house is quite…..too quite.

Here is the beautiful furniture and, unbeknownst to us, it matches perfectly with the few deck chairs we already own! The chairs around the new table are ours, but the lounge chair, the swivel chairs and lattice chairs (which we put out front) are all new. THANKS YOU GUYS!!

Fort Making has Commenced

2010-07-08T06:44:00.001-06:00

Tyler started on the boy’s fort last Saturday. First order of business was the base foundation tubes of cement, to build the fort up out of the floodplain just in case the creek overflows. It is only in the beginning stages, but Tyler says this is the toughest part, from here he can build the fort fairly quickly. Of course, this summer Tyler’s goal is merely “phase 1” of the project, which involves three levels of the base building. Then he has exciting plans for next summer; a drawbridge, a zip line, a wrap around deck, all sorts of cool things. Its gonna be awesome! Tyler says when the boys are done with it, we can add on a Jacuzzi and make it ours! :)

Lazy Saturday Mornings

2010-07-08T06:35:00.001-06:00

Weekend mornings have become a little lazy lately. It is strange not being woken up at 6 AM sharp to a baby yelling out for us or a 4 year old thumping around the house. So lazy Saturday mornings is a new experience. Chase loves coming into our bed, Tate lasts only for a few minutes and then starts to wrestle Daddy. Chase will often go grab a book or two and ask us to read. Here Daddy and Chase just finished reading…..awwww….lazy Saturday mornings.

Happy Birthday Grandmommy

2010-07-04T18:12:00.001-06:00

We sent a birthday e-card to Grandmommy for her birthday tomorrow (July 5th), similar to what many of our Grandparents have received. But the videos were so cute, I thought I would post them here too!

Happy Birthday Grandmommy!

Tate’s Stats

2010-07-03T14:24:00.001-06:00

Today I placed an order for Tate’s school uniform clothing. Uniform sounds more formal that it really is, it is any collard shirt – red, forest green or navy blue – with khakis or blue slacks. Since I do as much shopping on-line as possible, I got everything from Land’s End and had to take measurements…I thought it would be fun to come back some day and remember the cuteness of Tate’s little slender body:

Waist = 20

Hips = 23

Inseam = 19

Height = 46

Mt. Evans

2010-07-03T14:04:00.001-06:00

Tyler and the boys drove up to Mt. Evans Friday morning. They had a ball! First stop was Echo Lake, then up to the summit, which included a short, steep hike up to the tippy top. They found a group of mountain goats and got to touch the geological survey marker at 14,258 feet.

Update on Summer

2010-06-30T20:09:00.001-06:00

Summer has been so totally fantastic! The boys are having a blast playing and hanging out with a less hurried schedule. Although we have still been busy! Today ad had some time at the playground before going to Toy Story 3 (which was terrific by the way). The remodeling project is done, so even that has lightened out load a bit. I noticed I had quite a collection of pictures that hadn’t been posted. Here is a quick update on some of the happenings as of late.

We took some pictures to remember the signed we used to welcome Daddy back from India.

Another dress-up day and just hangin’.

I picked up some water pistils and the boys are loving them!

We had a outstanding rainbow right in the in the backyard a few days back.

Chase is enjoying books more and more; here we are after finishing number 9 for the day. I love it because it is my best chance for a decently long cuddle.

Tyler has had time to get to some of the little things around the house that were put off with the big remodel. Here is the lovely gate he made going out to my garden boxes, which incidentally are not producing much this year….:(

Tyler loves to wrap the boys in their bath towels and watch them wiggle around the house. Here Chase is working it, but can’t keep it going for long!

Cutie Pies

2010-06-21T20:21:00.001-06:00

Just some cool pics from the last few days.

Our first popsicles of the summer (Chase and I shared buy the way)!

Chase requested this picture to show off his little car…

The boys decided to dress up..boots, hats and big-brother shoes.

Tate tested for his next level belt in taekwondo last week, which is still an orange belt, but now he has a headband and a patch on his belt. He was excited and is doing really well in his class!

Amazing Dad!

2010-06-20T20:19:00.001-06:00

Today was Dad’s day! We started with breakfast in bed and presents! Tate made something new to add to his stock of goods almost every day…a crown, a card, a painted picture of dinosaurs….he loved it all! The best gift was a picture for Tyler’s office with a large mat where the kids put their handprints and decorated with their artistic talents. Tate wrote “we love you” and “superstar.” He loves it!

We have the BEST Daddy in the WORLD!!!

India gifts

2010-06-08T11:24:00.001-06:00

Daddy came home from India bearing gifts. He bought me this lovely blue, purple and grey cashmere shawl. The boys got little Kurtas, some rupees (Indian money) and a toy auto-rickshaw Chase is holding which is a common taxi-like vehicle used in India with two wheels in back and one in front.

Video Galore

2010-06-07T20:52:00.001-06:00

We have some fantastic “habits” right now. Chase hasn’t quite got his Ls and Ys down yet and when he says “I love you” it comes out as “I looobbb boooo” Too cute!

Even though Chase has his own way of saying tons of words, he tries to repeat most anything….even “naked body”!! I love little naked bodies and the boys know it, I chase them all around the house before bath-time and try to pinch a hiney or kiss a belly.

Finally, for the past several months, Tate has been singing to Chase before bed. He usually says how much he loves him and wishes him sweet dreams, but other times he really gets creative and sings about the next day (….we will eat lunch, then go to nap-nap….). I caught this evenings serenade on video and the grand finally, a kiss through the crib bars….no kidding, EVERY NIGHT! They both love it!