San Juan Historical Museum

On our last camping trip to Ouray we drove over to the small old touristy town Silverton and stopped by their Historic Museum. It had a cool old mine and jail that the boys really got into!

Dad’s Dad 2012

We were lucky enough to have my Daddy here for Dad’s day this year! It was so special to have him with me and the boys!

Spring Break 2012

While most everyone I knew was off enjoying the thrills of early Spring, the Allbrittons decided to stay put and finish the enormous project of the laundry room. Walls, floor, ceiling, it all had to be done. Tyler worked sun-up to sun-down ALL WEEK. While it was torturous work, it was worth it. The laundry room is beautiful and just a joy to go into now! Thank you my hubby, you always go above and beyond for me and your family. Here Tyler is in his hip tiling outfit and after a day of tiling, his hair was completely plastered into place (picture 2).

Indoor Snowshoeing

It really is a workout!

January Birthdays

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)!!

Christmas Blowout!

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 VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL

Apple Infiltration!

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. 

Meet Chloe the Cub

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

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.

Tyler’s Big Day

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!