We started off last week with a fun trip to the cold and snowy sand dunes where we hiked to the top of dunes and ran down until our faces froze. Then the kids got sick, and I don't have photos to remember the throwing up, sleepless nights, fevers, and sad little faces. Gabriel had a rash from his head to his toes and Ilon couldn't hold down water for more than half a second. Today they are appropriately picking on each other so I think we're on the mend.

For much more interesting news, my little sister is ENGAGED! To a fabulous fellow and we are so excited. Congratulations Mere and Clint!!

Happy Valentine's Day!

Our whole family likes any day that you can justify special treats. So much so that Gabriel asks for one when he wakes up every day...Me : "What do you want for breakfast Gabers?" Gabe : "I want spesal tweat" (loudly and with a little jump to emphasize 'tweat'). So I just stopped asking him. But we do love special treats and Valentine's day is no exception. We had little balloons, a beautiful rose, and a fun breakfast. I made my first homemade apple pie which turned out wonderfully, and we had a salmon dinner for Aaron. Ilon played at the park and got a bag of candy from her class party that she is working away at, very slowly much to her dismay. We talked about what it means to tell people that they are special and that you should do it more than once a year, this is just a good excuse and a good reminder. So Happy Valentine's to you!

Durango!

We went to Durango with Andrew, Michelle, Addie, and Treven. It was a much needed time out of the valley in this gorgeous mountain town. Our kids were a little under the weather but enjoyed the trip very much. We stayed on the river, ate lovely food, and celebrated Addie's 3rd birthday! It was fun and the weather was great.

The awesome Puppy Dog cake

Out to dinner for Addie's Birthday! It took awhile to find a spot to celebrate, but we found a great little Mexican restaurant with good food, beer, and college kids. A great place to eat out with 4 noisy kids in tow!

Cheesy Addie!

Hard at work

Gabe being Gabe

Addie the doctor fixing Ilon up.

The kids went swimming, took walks, screamed, laughed, and enjoyed each other. Cousins are so much fun. How did Treven not make it in my pictures???? He is darling and growing way too fast.

My little Helper

Ilon has become much more independent lately, she is my little helper. And she actually helps. She packs the diaper bag, hunts down missing water cups, gets Gabe's toothbrush ready, makes her bed. She has been helping in the kitchen lately and to her delight is now the official salad maker. Aside from chopping of course. It's fun to watch her learn how to do new things! She has a Valentine's Day party at school tomorrow and made 24 Valentine's cards herself and signed them all.

The Real Thing

It started snowing early this morning and Alamosa is now a winter wonderland. Gabe and I ventured out to the gym and picked Ilon up from school on the way home. We decided it was a good day for an adventure in the snow! We bundled up and the kids climbed into the sled. We whisked around campus, down sidewalks and empty streets and ended up at Starbucks. Gabe did well until he threw off his gloves and his hands froze. He cried all the way home and crawled into bed. Ilon snuggled up with her cider and made daisy chains. Now I'm watching people outside my window jump-starting their cars, shoveling snow, and venturing out.

Today I woke up to dance, dance party playing on my iTunes which my kids have both figured out, found poop (yes POOP) on my kids rug, dragged myself and 2 kids out the door with an air compressor in my trunk and vague instructions from Aaron about hooking something to something if I come out and have 4 flat tires, in below zero weather, to MOPS where I watched 16 4 year-olds for 2 hours, spilt coffee down my hair, and on Gabers (2 separate occasions), made lunch and locked myself in a room. Luckily Aaron is home for a 17 minute lunch break. Sometimes 17 minutes is all you need.

Snow Day

It's not officially a snow day, because nothing closes around here, but we made it one. 30 degrees below deserves a bit of a break from routine! For our snow day Ilon and Gabes braved the walk to school and back, we went to the doctor, listened to Skippy jon Jones, made lemon bars, and had home-made soup, ice cream and Fat Tire, Aaron braved the cold for that.