Thanksgiving Recap!

My family has been going to Estes Park since I was in elementary school.  We usually go over Labor Day, but that has been more complicated in the past few years because of school starting and being busy and all of that.  So we went for Thanksgiving.  We did nothing except lay around, watch football, drink, eat A LOT, and read books!   

On our way up, we saw the largest herd of elk.  Paul was fascinated! 

We did a lot of lounging and relaxing! 

Ryan was in charge of the turkey and took his job VERY seriously.  

This is what happens when I tell the boys they have to change their clothes.  They are not a good influence on one another! :) 

I finally wrestled them into their collard shirts.  At first some people were happy and cute! 

And then they were REAL pissed. 

After Thanksgiving, Estes Park does a little parade with Santa.  To say Paul was excited to see Santa is a HUGE understatement.  So fun! 

Charlie was trying to flirt with the little girls sitting next to us!  He was doing a great job showing off his smile! 

All in all, a very low key, relaxing Thanksgiving which I think everyone needed and appreciated.  We came home and the kids were EXHAUSTED as was the dog! 

So thankful for this guy! 

Hope you had a great holiday too! 

34 Things About Me

To celebrate my 34th (gasp) birthday, here are 34 fun facts about me!! 

1) I drink coffee black like an 80 year old woman

2) I rather be on a beach then in snow

3) I plan my outfits on Sunday for the week

4) I wear my watch on my right wrist even though I am right handed

5) I wish I wore glasses because I think they look cool

6) I love paying bills

7) Putting books on hold at the library is one of my favorite past times

8) I love to organize things

9) I almost never wear heels anymore and that makes me sad

10) I don't really like marinara sauce or olives but I'll try anything

11) I love taking naps on the couch even for 20 minutes

12) Ryan stole my heart with Bud Light

13) I love going out to eat and somewhere fancy.  Even better when someone orders for me.

14) Chips and salsa are my JAM

15) I hate wire hangers

16) I LOVE my boys in sweater vests.  I have to take advantage before they have a serious opinion

17) Christmas is my favorite holiday

18) When I am home with my kids, showering and getting dressed seems like a huge task

19) I think I am 25 years old

20) I love being tan but feel guilty about it

21) I love being a mom

22) I would do college again in a heartbeat.  But my kids couldn't come with

23) I took piano lessons until I was a sophomore in college, mostly because the teacher was so sweet and gave my candy at every lesson.

24) I love the indulgence of getting a Starbucks and shopping around or doing errands

25) I love beer and wine depending on my mood but I don't really love mixed drinks.  But I'll drink them because I am that accommodating.

26) I have been doing yoga for 8 years and still can't do the splits.  Maybe in another 8.

27) I love any sort of paper products- stationary, journals, planners, etc

28) I am more of a morning person than night owl

29) Once I start something it is hard for me not to finish: books, TV series, movies, home improvement 

30) I love buying a new mascara 

31) If I won the lottery I would hire a chef and a driver.  

32) When we are older, Ryan and I already have plans to implement a 2:00 happy hour everyday,  Then we will go to bed around 6. 

33) Another fantasy I have when I get older is to live in a house with all my girlfriends.  Golden Girl style. 

34) I love candles burning around my house.  But my 4 year old thinks it is fun/hilarious/amusing to blow them out as soon as I light them.  I literally have to sneak the lighting of candles.  

There you have it!  I am excited to enjoy a sushi dinner with my sweet boys tonight with a side of swim lessons for Paul #keepitreal 

And I hope all of you have a wonderful Thanksgiving weekend.  I am grateful to slow down with my dudes and feel the gratitude I have for each one of them.  See you Monday! 

A Thankful Thursday!

Yesterday Paul had his Thanksgiving program at school and I played hooky from work to watch him perform!  Nothing makes me laugh more than preschoolers singing songs about fat turkeys!  Enjoy!

Thanksgiving and 31!

A little late on my updates, but we had a great Thanksgiving break off from work! We started our 5 day vacation by paying a ridiculous amount of money for Paul's first haircut! He doesn't have a lot of hair, but for some reason it grows faster on the sides and the back was starting to resemble a 1987 rat tail, so desperate measures had to be taken. The highlights were that Paul looked really cute in the grown-up chair, he had his first sucker (loved it), and it cost 20 dollars. I think I will cut his hair from now on. I mean we did half the work anyway by holding his head straight so the lady could cut the back. It truly was a 3 man operation, and I was wondering why no one tipped us at the end.

We had a nice Thanksgiving at Ryan's parent's house where we all ate too much (but isn't that what you are suppose to do?) and played basketball outside. All Paul ate was pumpkin pie so he was pretty happy. We basically just bombarded him with sugar this weekend.
The next day I turned 31 and for some reason this birthday was a little harder to wrap my head around than 30. 30 was fun and 31 felt like the hits just keep on coming. Oh well. My best pal Diz was in Denver for Thanksgiving so she planned a little birthday dinner celebration. There were 10 of us and we ate tons of sushi, drank wine, and even participated in a sake bomb. It was so nice to have all of us together (even though we were missing an important one) and made me feel so lucky for everyone willing to fit one more thing into their busy holiday weekends. This year has been a little rough due to what we fondly refer to as the situation and I know that I am not the easiest person to navigate through during these types of things. But I am so grateful for my girlfriends. So thankful that they are my people.

The rest of the night I would sum up like this:

I don't think we left the house Saturday and Sunday was back to basics of grocery shopping and laundry.

We have so much to be thankful for and I am now looking forward to my favorite holiday!!! Ryan is out putting up our lights and I am going to start decorating. I love the magic of this season and the way Paul "helped" me open my birthday presents, I think he is going to be a big hit at Christmas!!