Ireland

Well we did something rather exciting.... and booked ourselves a little trip to IRELAND in June!  We are so excited!  We have never been and looking for plenty of suggestions to help fill our trip and allow us to see as much as possible! 

We had been talking about this trip for a long time, and two things were holding us back: 

 #1. Money- why are all the fun things this expensive things?  

#2. Getting people to watch our kids.  We NEVER underestimate how hard it is to watch 2 boys with everlasting energy and this trip was even more of a challenge because it is a little longer than previous ones as we have to travel so far.  Our parents graciously are splitting the time and we know it is a lot to ask. 

But... We lost a co-worker last month, a young one at 28 and it was sad and unfair and all of those feelings.  It was also a HUGE slap in the face that life is short and unpredictable and meant to be lived.  I think we both found the urgency to start working on our bucket lists right now, as much as time and money and the generosity of others would allow!  

So we are going to Ireland! 

Have you been before?  Anything we must do? 

Things I Did Over Fall Break

I think most moms feel like they don't have enough time.  The things on my never ending list are items such as painting, which you need a good chunk of time to complete AND you do not need (or want) little hands helping you with this chore.  

We use breaks from school to really cram in a bunch of stuff.  I always try to balance the fun with the no so fun and still try to carve out some hours to sit on the couch and watch DVR.  

Here is what we were able to accomplish over fall break: 

1. Went to California. 

2. Touched up my baseboards.  My children LOVE to run their trucks, bikes, cars, who knows what else, into the wall.  It was looking trashy.  Then 30 seconds after I cleaned everything up, Charlie rammed a toy directly into the baseboard.  Someday we will have nice things again. 

3. Cleaned the playroom.  I got rid of SO MUCH stuff.  And yet we still have so much stuff?  Paul and I have different breaks, so I did this little task while he was at school.  Winning.  He of course came home and didn't notice one thing was gone.  

4.  Took Paul to the dentist to fill the 2nd cavity.  Actually Ryan did this because I could not handle it.  And it went just as bad the 2nd time as the first.  And the next day the dentist called and said Paul had somehow won the raffle from the waiting room for a big stuffed lion.  Obviously this win was rigged because they probably felt bad for us and Paul that he screamed his head off for 30 minutes. But he was excited about the lion so maybe he won't hate the dentist for the rest of his life??

5. Carved pumpkins.  I thought this would be a fun activity.  It was for Ryan and I.  Charlie lost interested in about 23 seconds and Paul thought the seeds and guts were disgusting.  

6. Celebrated Halloween.  Lots of candy around here.  Even Charlie tries to sneak some when I'm not looking! 

7. Went to the museum of Nature and Science.  We met up with other friends to get the wiggles of fall break out.  There is so much to to see and the boys LOVE it, I even asked for a membership for Christmas! 

8. Binged watched Madam Secretary.  After the first episode I wasn't so sure, but after I watched 4 in a row I really like it! Thank you DVR.  

9. Had dinner with a friend.  Fall break is great opportunity to go OUT to dinner, catch up with friends, have a beer and enjoy the fact you don't have to wake up at the crack of dawn the next day.  Even though your children won't get the message. 

10. Enjoyed my boys.  I love the snuggles on the couch, the building of towers, listening to Paul's 45 minute stories,  the slower mornings and just being with my family.  

Painting bathroom is on my list for Winter Break (yes, Ryan I am serious).  Anything on your house list?

Traveling With Kids

Since I have travelled on an airplane with children TWICE now, I am not an expert.  Actually three times, but the first time was when Paul was only 2 months old, so that probably doesn't count. However, I have learned a few things that have helped us.  

#1) Bring a stroller for the little guy.  Paul is fine walking, prefers to walk, and it wears him out.  Win, win.  Charlie would also prefer to walk (or run) to keep up with Paul.  However, the kid is slow.  And the Denver airport is huge so it is a lot easier to just plop him in the umbrella stroller, take it all the way to the gate and then pick it up when you get off the plane!  We never used it once when we were in California but it was nice to have as an option. 

#2) Drink Beer.  Before you get on a flight with children you might feel nervous.  What if they scream?  Or fight?  Or won't sit still?  What if they lick the floor and get Ebola?  Beer will help simmer down these fears.  

#3) Pray for sleep.  No matter what time the flight is or what good intentions you have about scheduling around naptime, this is a hit or miss situation.  It is better to just pray or cross your fingers or bargain to give your left arm if your baby will just sleep for one hour of the flight. 

#4) Bring Toys.  Paul is in school now so is all about a backpack.  We let him fill his pack up with the toys of this choosing and he could entertain himself on the plane.  This is also nice because if the older one is preoccupied then you have two hands to deal with the younger one or drink another beer on the plane.  

#5) Technology is the shit.  We let Paul pick a movie, put it on the ipad and got ourselves some earphones.  DONE.  My friend mentioned this summer that the earphones are key because the plane gets really loud and they can't hear the beloved Disney movie and then everyone is pissed.  The earphones help with this scenario.  

#6) Food, food and more food.  This is especially true with child #2.  His attention span is a whopping 1-3 minutes.  So you have to be ready.  I brought suckers, cookies, crackers, bananas, applesauce, and more.  I would bring an entire apple pie if I thought it would help.  The sucker kept him occupied for about 6 minutes.  That was huge. 

There you are!  My very informative list about travelling with children.  Any tips you would like to share?

Fall Break California Style Part 2

I think I love Santa Barbara so much because it reminds me of my childhood.  Of spending plenty of hours at the beach, playing in the ocean, building intricate sandcastles and feeling that California sun on my back!  

Sunday morning we woke up and had breakfast.  My grandma came to the hotel to join.  It was this morning that Paul declared to me, "Mom?  The truth is, I have to poop."  Well isn't that nice.  After we got all our bathroom problems worked out, we headed to the beach! 

Charlie hated it.  

This one LOVED to be chased by the waves! 

And throw rocks.  Duh

Charlie had a layer of sand on his scalp when we returned.  Beach baby. 

Beautiful weather in Santa Barbara this time of year! 

Sweet Gaz

Gaz and my crew- couldn't convince Paul to stop playing.  Fair enough.

The "kids."  Why am I so short???

My sweet Ry Guy.  Someday I am going to realize that taking a shower before these photo shoots is a good idea.  

Yep.

Oh and I held handstand on the beach for literally POINT 8 seconds.  Ryan would like everyone to know he should actually get credit for this because he was such an advanced photographer.  

After the beach, we swam around in the hotel pool and had some lunch.  We put the boys down for a MUCH needed nap and my mom and I went on a little driving adventure.  We went to my Grandma Elaine's old house and my Gaz's old house and stopped by the cemetery.  

Ryan called and said we needed to make a beer run so we stopped by Trader Joes and with my beer I accidentally picked up these gems.  TROUBLE.  

After naps we got ourselves together so we could EAT more (is it possible to gain 23 pounds in 48 hours?)!  We went to Beach Side because Ryan LOVES their halibut.  The setting was beautiful

As was this little guy! 

We woke up Monday and had a lazy morning! 

And then had a little more beach time! 

Our flight didn't leave until 4 but we thought the boys would do better if they had a little nap, so we strapped them in and drove around for .4 seconds before they fell asleep. 

I put them in their pjs thinking they could fall asleep on the plane or on the way home since it was very close to bedtime.  Wishful thinking.  We arrived at the airport and had a little movie time and stuffing a banana down our throat time.  

We arrived home and went straight to bed.  Everyone slept in until 8 which is a downright miracle.  A whirlwind of a trip but so fun!!  

It's almost Friday y'all!  I would be happy about that but I am still on fall break so that is mostly sad for this lady! 

Fall Break California Style Part One

I am not sure Ryan and I travelled anywhere for fall break?  Usually we are at home doing lots of projects or a whole bunch of nothing, which is always nice and important.  But this year my mom found some really cheap tickets to Santa Barbara, CA (where her and my dad grew up and where plenty of my extended family lives) and we decided to do a very small trip over break.  We only travelled Saturday to Monday but it was so nice to get out of dodge and play at the beach with my favorite little dudes!  

Our flight didn't leave until Saturday afternoon so I went to yoga and we had plenty of time to pack, write the instructions for the dog sitter and get ready!  

Paul insisted on bringing his hat.  This is the only time he wore it. #ofcourse

We arrived just a touch early, so Ryan and I indulged in some red beer (it's healthy because it involved tomato juice, yes?) 

The kids were excited to be at the airport and were being super cute: 

Luckily the plane ride was uneventful.  Charlie fell asleep.  Paul looked out the window, played with his cars, and watched a show on the ipad.  

We arrived and were only a few minutes away from our hotel. The boys ran around like crazy people and checked everything out.  

We then had a dinner with all our aunts/uncles/cousins and grandparents that were in town.  It was crazy and loud but fun to see people we haven't seen in awhile.  I realized I had not been to Santa Barabra since Paul was 2 months old.  He is now 4 1/2.  Oops.  

All the grandkids and great grandkids that were in town!

I love how Paul is looking at Grandma Zena! 

We came back to the hotel and had some more wine with Buck and Kascie!  The kids did great in the hotel room and were PUMPED for the beach the next day!  Come back tomorrow for LOTS more pictures! 

Today for fall break adventures I am going to clean out our playroom and THROW some stuff away!!  

Hola Mexico 2014

I miss you sweet ocean! 

At the end of July we were able to take a CHILD FREE vacation to an all inclusive resort in Mexico. I KNOW!!!  My requirements for the trip were a swim up bar.  Seriously, that is all I cared about. And just so you know, I frequented that bar many, many, many times.  My itinerary read as: read, eat, drink, repeat.  Well, we were very successful on all accounts.  We came home tan, a little fatter, and 100% hungover.  Oops.

The swim up bar: Where many of my troubles occurred.  

We mostly stayed on the resort but one day we did venture out for a Catamaran boat ride that included  snorkeling and the boys doing synchronized dives off the side of the boat.

Does this bikini top look like lingerie?  I think so too but then I thought, hell it's Mexico.  Anything goes. 

See that man in the middle?  We learned that he lives in Mexico and at Christmas time dresses up as Santa and gives presents to all the little kids.  Which is nice and he really did look like Santa Claus.  But ole Santa had a few drinks on the boat ride and became a little creepy.  When we were disembarking the boat, Santa fell down (apparently he just had hip surgery) on the cement.  He wanted NO ONE to help him get up and it was a strange situation.  So obviously instead of being compassionate, Ryan reenacted the scene a million times.

"My hip."

It was so nice to spend a little one-on-one time with Ry guy.  It was actually hard to appreciate the freedom of NO time restraints.  Plenty of times the first day I was reaching for my phone wondering what time it was.  Finally I had to tell myself, "it doesn't matter what time it is.  There is nothing to do." That realization was magical.

This getaway also included our friends Kathy and Ryan which was nice because the boys could do "boy" things like play ping-pong and the girls could do "girl" things like drink 32 margaritas.

You can also thank Kathy for every single one of these pictures because as usually I took none.

My Ryan continued to tell us we were WILD.  We took it as a compliment.  I don't know if he meant it as one.  

This Ryan decided to create his own signature drink.  It was served it the tiniest cup I have ever seen in my life.  

Me with a drink.  This is what I looked liked for 4 days straight.  

We had a great time and it only took me two weeks to fully recover at home.  Thank you to both set of grandparents for watching the boys.  They also had a "vacation" of a lifetime.  Mexico seems like a lifetime ago, as Ryan's alarm went off super early this morning and he hit the road for his first day of work.  Mine is tomorrow.  I will mourn at the pool with the boys today.