Good Friends = Good Times

Even though we spent almost as much time driving in the car as we did hanging out with our good friends the G's from Colorado, it was totally worth it to hang out with great people who just get us and visa verse.

It is a very rare thing indeed to find a couple where both the husband and wife get along with both of us and it's an even better bonus when your kids all get along and in fact look forward to the time we can all spend together. In fact our kids get along so well, we have to wait to tell them we are getting together or there is not a moments peace from the questions of when we are going to get together.

It was our 3rd annual trip to Santa's Village in Colorado Springs, where there are more than enough nausea inducing spinning rides to last you for a life time. The kids went on everything from Santa's train, the aerial sky cabs, rocket ships, motorcycles and automobiles, a reindeer carousel to a giant peppermint slide.

They could not get enough and BB1 could not get to the next ride fast enough. In fact she was so fast she got onto the Tilt-A-Whirl all by herself before we knew she had even gotten off the previous ride.

Sometimes, she is just too independent for her own good. Darn assertive and independent "I can do it myself" gene passed on by both her parents!

After spending the day watching the simple joy on both my kids faces, I have decided that for as long as BB1 and now BB2 get enjoyment from their time at Santa's Village, then we will keep going. I know that the time will come when they will think the village is cheesy, so for now I will embrace their childlike enthusiasm for carnival type rides, I will let them think that hot chocolate, nachos and funnel cakes are a satisfactory lunch and I will provide an outlet for them to indulge in their whirly cup and Ferris wheel passions for as long as I can.

As the day wound to a close, the girls both got to pick out a special treat from the little candy factory in the Boys Toy Shop (and as to why it's not in the Girls Toy Shop, I will never know) and of course they both loved their little sugary treats. Papa Bear and I got to indulge in some pretty delicious fudge and I just have to say it's a good thing I don't know how to make the stuff because it's dangerous. Not that I couldn't make it, it's just that me (and my backside) would just prefer not to have that little bit of knowledge in my culinary repertoire.

This is also the 2nd time we have had a surprise run in with friends from our old neighborhood and it was great to catch up and just see how they are all doing. M&D - Congrats on Baby #3 and please keep me posted once she makes her grand debut!!

There was just no time this trip for a visit to the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, which was a hard blow for BB1 to take when we told her we wouldn't be going, but we were able to take in the Sunday Brunch at the Broadmoor. I highly recommend going if you are ever in the area.

Also, I have to note that the kids were awesome in terms of their behavior. I guess all those little talks of being on their best behavior, because we were in a really nice place, must have sunk in. Of course there comes a time when it has to end as I have yet to find a way to make it last forever, but at least they were on their best manners when it really counted and for that I am grateful.

But back to the buffet - I have never seen so much food in all my life and in proper brunch fashion started with the dessert table, even though it was 9:00 am. Creme brulee, Black Forest Truffle, and a chocolate fountain - need I say more. I stayed away from all the things I would normally eat (like omelets and other simple breakfast foods) and indulged in fabulous cheeses, pastries and other breakfast delicacies. The cheese blintzes with strawberry sauce, fillet of beef tenderloin, honey baked ham were delicious. Also, for the first time ever I tried Eggs Benedict and it turns out they are a pretty tasty item. One of Papa Bears favorite items was the Bananas Foster (I tried a bite and it was delicious). I truly believe he tried everything there just to make sure he got his money's worth. Even BB1 got into the spirit of things and had everything from waffles to an ice cream sundae.

So after eating for about 2 1/2 hours (and realizing with our aching tummys why we do not eat at buffets very often) we walked around and got a few family photos to capture the moment. Of course they are all on N&B's camera, so until I get them, you'll have to wait on pins and needles for the latest family photo. I know I am horrible about taking family picture with any kind of consistency, so I can only anticipate the excitement you must all be feeling of finally getting an updated picture. Just hang in there for a few more days.

Learning to Dance

"Life isn’t about waiting for the storm to pass…
It’s about learning to dance in the rain."

I pulled this from an email sent to me and I guess it hit me given what I have been feeling, and so I will try and take from it the lesson that I need in this specific moment - I guess I need to learn to dance in the rain!

Anyone care to join me? :o)

What I want . . .

or more to the point, what I don't want... in this moment I don't want to be mom anymore.
I don't want to cook, I don't want to clean up the same mess over and over again, I don't want to be the referee, I don't want to have to be the disciplinarian, rule maker or rule enforcer.

I don't want to be in charge, I don't want to break up arguments between BB1 and BB2 over the same toy or blanket, I don't want to have to say "No" for the hundredth time when BB1 asks to go out and play at her friends (where she has spent every day for the last few weeks) ... basically I don't want to me mom right now.

Big Sigh, plus a little bit of crying...at least tomorrow is another day - hopefully one in which I am better able to handle things.

Happy Halloween!

Some people love Halloween, some don't. I think I am one who likes Halloween, at least the dressing up and decorating aspects of the day. I hope that at some point in my life I can attend one of those really pulled together Masquerade/ Halloween Parties were everyone is in super detailed costumes. It might be the only way I can get Papa Bear to put on a costume. Plus, it just sounds like something really fun to do. I have to give some serious props to the adults that are comfortable enough to walk around in a full on Spiderman costume (thanks to Boo at the Zoo) and would like to say that in my opinion, if you are going to wear a costume, go big or go home.


As for the things I don't like about Halloween, I don't like anything that oozes or looks like wrinkled prunes hanging from a string and even though on most days you would not find me within a foot of a huge ugly spider, this year they were hanging all over the place. They were dangling from our balcony and all over the spider web that was strung along every available surface of our house (roof line included). I thought the overall affect was pretty cool. Plus this year we added a couple of tombstones and little Halloween signs that I strung purple & orange along and all in all it made for a pretty festive looking house.

I would also have to add that after walking around the neighborhood in the freezing cold, I am not a huge fan of the candy gathering aspect, nor do I like the kids that show up at your front door, not wearing a costume and holding out a baseball hat looking for their little treat. But that is just me.


BB1 (aka the cutest witch ever!) had a BLAST running around the neighborhood with all her little friends and of course wanted to eat everything the moment she got it. We decided that she could pick out 10 pieces of candy that would be just hers - and mom and dad couldn't touch them - and everything else went back into the candy bowl. All the gross stuff (seriously - why do people still hand out those orange and black wrapped peanut butter flavored taffys?) was given back out to the trick or treaters that came to our house, and we were left with only the good stuff (ummm -chocolate!)


BB2 got to help hand out the candy and was really good about it until she decided she didn't want to put the Lollipop she had pulled out of our candy bowl into another kids pumpkin. She also did really good with everyone being in different costumes and especially liked the other "animals" she saw throughout the night.


Both kids were so tuckered out at the end of the night, they almost went to bed in thier costumes. Actually to be honest, BB2 did sleep in her costume becuse it was so super soft and snuggly, I thought why not. Huge thanks to CA GMa for doing such an awesome job on the kitty costume and BB1's Cape.

The leaves have almost all fallen off of the trees and what autumn scene would be complete without two of the silliest little kids sitting in the middle of a huge pile of leaves. I have some pretty special memories when I was a kid of helping my dad rake leaves and especially helping to smoosh them down in the garbage pail. So here's to giving them some fun memories (and me not thinking about all the creepy crawlies that can be found amoung the leaves.)


Finally, I am including the picture of BB2 with this post just to share how big my little baby is getting. If anyone knows a way to slow down the process of growing up - Send it my way!!

Also, we would love to hear (and see) what your little one's dressed up for this Halloween. Let the comments and picture exchange commence!!

Boo Who? Boo You!

This little priceless moment is brought to you just because it's too cute not to share.

This time of year always brings around so many different and fun activities to participate in, how do you choose which ones to go to. Luckily the choice is always made easier by who gets to come with you. Saturday was Boo at the Zoo with CeeCee, Ry, F & B.

(isn't B the Happiest and Cutest Owl you have ever seen - and F is an awesome robot!!)

And even though the thought of standing in one long continuous line just to get air heads and tootsie rolls, isn't high on my list of entertainment (I don't even think it's an option on Papa Bears), BB1 was having a ball and BB2 really like the tortilla chips and people handing out string cheese. And that my friends is all the really matters.

I think we left at just the right time, and lunch at Shivers was a great end to a good morning.

Next year (if I can convince Papa Bear to come with me again) I am bringing my own bag of candy and I'll just set it up with the kids that for each animal they see, they get a treat. Then we avoid standing in silly lines, we see the animals (isn't that what we pay admission for) the kids get their candy and everyone goes home happy.

We have also done The Haunted Train Ride on the Heber Creeper. BB1 and BB2 thought the train was pretty cool along with all the things you can look at outside of the train. BB1 was not sure of what she thought once the creatures and spooky people got on the train.

She DID NOT like the Werewolf and surprise, surprise, BB2 thought it was a kitty. Next year though - we will ditch the costumes and just dress super warm. Then we will be able to sit outside and really take in the ambiance of the canyon train ride.

BB1 had a Harvest Festival at her school and it was a madhouse of kids, all running around with tickets in hand to the various games and jumping castles and mega slides. The favorite of the night was the fishing booth. BB2 did not want to give back the fishing rod.

and yet there is still more to come - the pumpkin patch, trick or treating, playing in the huge pile of leaves it took me 2 days to rake up. . . may the fun never end!!!

Up & Down

Up and Down, Up and Down . . .
the people on the bus go
Up and Down, Up and Down
all through the town.

This is BB2's newest word/phrase. All day long it has been nothing but Up and Down, Up and Down, Up and Down, Up and Down.

Did I mention the totally cute actions of her bending down and popping up, while saying for the hundredth time, Up and Down, Up and Down, Up and Down....

I am loving every minute of it!!

Good 'ol Fashion FUN

Before our weather decided to take a turn for winter, we got outside for some good 'ol fashion fun with chalk. You won't be able to tell from the pics, but BB2 is COVERED in chalk. She is all shades of yellow, purple and blue. I guess she was thinking, what's the point of making a picture, if you can't scoot right through it afterwards? And I am pretty sure at on point she decided to see if the stick of chalk tasted any good.

The girls cooperated very nicely for me when I decided I wanted to make chalk outlines of them. They looked a little funny at first, but BB1 helped get them "dressed" and accessorized both pictures very nicely. The addition of hair really added to the overall effect.

We also took the girls to their very first Circus. Barnum & Bailey's was in town and we were able to make the last show on the very last day. Before the show started they let everyone go down on the floor for a little pre-show action (which is how we got to be so close) and the girls got to try on capes and clothes that the circus performers get to wear.

BB1 thought the pre show was pretty cool although BB2 was far from impressed until the puppies came out. Then she got really excited. I think she thought the elephant was pretty cool too.

BB1 was pretty proud of her White Tiger Snow Cone Souvenir cup (and no - you do not want to know how much the silly thing cost) but the smile on her face was worth any price. BB2 was pretty happy with the big bucket of popcorn we got the kids to snack on.

Papa Bear and I just sat back and took in all the energy and excitement of the place. Oh, how I love to people watch. It's been ages since I have been to the circus, and I have to say it was a pretty good show. By the end of the night we had 2 very tired little ones. I think they were both asleep within minutes of getting back to the car and heading home. All in all a very fun night!