The Girls

This is what we found last night when we went to check on the kids. Izzy isn't used to her toddler bed yet, so Anna told her to snuggle into her bed and close her eyes and breathe deep. Anna told me this morning, "Mom, I have the touch." I believe she does.

Colorado Territory

Last weekend we visited the Colorado Territory with some old friends from college (and when I say old, I mean YOU Mountain Momma! :) Some of you will know exactly what I mean, when I say it was a shpadoinkle day, or few days as it were.

The men got all geeked out in pads and safety equipment (when we really know that Big Red was the only one said equipment might be required for) and they hit the mountain trails. Luckily they/Brett made it through the day without incident and avoided any need to visit the emergency room before returning that evening.

While they were out, what was there for us girls to do? Shopping. Outlet shopping. Oh, and caramel apples...I'm still thinking about caramel apples...and the killer 50% off clearance sales at Old Navy...and caramel apples...

And see this stunning stunning lady? Uh huh, I'm sporting the required Easy Cheese on the face, a "water UNO" type rule applied during our late night card games...

And this equally stunning creature? Yeah, don't put it past me to include a shot of the one who MADE the stinkin' stinky cheese rule. I'll never look at a can of cheese the same.

Stinky cheese covered "Mountain Momma" and "Adolf" at 2 a.m.

Mmmm...and what is the best thing to wake up to in the morning? Bacon. What's better than THAT? Having three men makin' it sizzle for ya!

We had an afternoon picnic and hike here. I don't think that John Denver was full of !/#$ after all, this place was beautiful!

You guys know that Max's twin was only on loan for the picture right? I'd like this sweet baby returned to me at your earliest convenience. Thank you.

Oh, ain't this the sweetest shot? I think this lil' pumpkin was pooped from all the shopping the day before. She had terrific shopping stamina never before seen in a toddler, excellent training there Karissa! Seriously, what a little trooper-such a mellow happy baby!

Oh, and the show stopper-check out these two! Max, Sarah Jane, if you two hook up in the future I'd be glad to dig this shot out to put in your wedding video.

Thanks for the fun weekend gang. Thank you also Nana Judy and Papa John for caring for the other lil' squirts while we got away. I know I'm pretty much never going to eat Easy Cheese again in my life, but I'd definately visit the Colorado Territory again, and I'll certainly remember the fun we all had together.

And now, I must go eat a vanilla Zinger.

Things that make me smile...

Max slept through the night the other night. He has been getting up once a night, but a whole night of sleep, yep, that makes me smile.

We camped out for the first time with all four kids last weekend and had a great time. Max is sick of the camera, but notice me? Yep, smiling.

Izzy is in love with her Daddy. Absolutely, without a doubt, hands down, he is her very favorite person in the entire world. THAT makes me smile.

And this picture. Doesn't it make YOU smile? Nothin' like loungin' in your Sponge Bob jam jams enjoying a morning cup of cocoa and some coffee talk.

Ah...and Quinn's excitement for preschool. . . If we could bottle his enthusiasm for school and I could condense it into pills and take one every morning-then I'd have the energy to get everything done by noon with time to spare! Really, I'm just glad that he has something special just for him. But his excitement makes me smile. Nothin' like joy bubbling right out of your kid!

Anna found this empty bird's nest while camping and insisted on bringing it home. I love to see kids so interested in nature. One time when Brett and I went backpacking I found a similar nest on the trail. He laughed at me, but I carried that thing in my hands for a couple more miles out with me to save because I thought it was so cool. My daughter and I share a love for nature. This makes me smile.

Uncle Dave, aka Tom Selleck, (or Superman in this picture-look at that curl!) came to visit last weekend and was forced to hold baby Max while I cut Brett's hair. He says he doesn't hold babies but it was that, or listen to him cry on the couch. Dave opted to hold the baby. Not bad eh? We can't force him to commit to a girlfriend, but we CAN make him hold babies!

Hearing my kids giggle and giggle while they wrestle an uncle always makes me smile.

Oh, and watching my brother being tender with my lil' ones...Dave walked with me to bring the kids to school last Friday and when I looked over at him, Quinn had reached up and was holding his hand. They held hands all the way down the road. Seeing Dave's tender side, and a look revealing Quinn's affection for his big tough uncle...priceless. THAT made me smile. We sure love you Davey!