Monday, January 30, 2012

fun in the snow

Sunday we spent the morning on the ski mountain - the boys did great and are becoming better and braver skiers every time we go!
Since we left early, we got home to Meeker in time for more snow fun - sledding!
Now, it's pretty pathetic since we haven't gotten more than about 6 inches of snow ALL YEAR so far... but the boys didn't seem to mind. As long as they could fly down the hill!

Friday, January 27, 2012

powder day

Last weekend we finally got a little snow to play in!
So of course, we hit the slopes...

It was an amazing day for a couple of reasons:

1) there was a foot of new snow... and for powder hounds like Jason that means some really fun snowboarding! But for powder hounds like Hamp & Sam that means some really fun snowball fights!!!
2) many of our friends from Meeker were on the hill, too! It is always more fun to spend a day playing the snow and skiing the mountain when your buddies are there to play. 
(that definitely goes for adults as well as kiddos!)
Here's to hoping for not only more snow, but for many more fun, friend-filled ski days this season!

Tuesday, January 24, 2012

Sam is 5!

Sam's movie party was still fun, but a little different!

We meant to head down to the new theater again for another great viewing of Alvin & the Chipmunks! But we forgot that movies don't last in the theater forever... oops!

No problem... we made our own little theater in the playroom downstairs!

Just right for Sam and 5 of his favorite friends.
They still got a movie, popcorn and soda - and didn't bother anyone in the theater with their incessant chatter and discussion on who the bad guy was and whether or not the good guy died or was just pretending! ☺

the gang
Thoughts on Sam upon turning 5 years old:

He is an absolute sponge. Last night at the dinner table he explained to me what a synonym was. How did he remember that?! I kind of recall explaining it a long time ago, but I wasn't even talking to him - I was talking to his brother. Scares me how much he listens... and retains!

He is groovy. And interested in music! He loves dancing, singing, listening to music - and he tells me he wants to learn how to play the piano, the violin and the flute. Sign him up!

He is still not a conformer. His love for dance and music is strong, but his dislike of being the same as everyone else on stage (i.e. the same costumes and the same choreographed moves) is stronger. So now he's in tumbling.

He is independent, strong-willed, patient, focused, thoughtful, peaceful, generous and very loving.
He loves his brother best of all - he still reserves his best belly-laugh for only Hamp. Nothing brings me more pleasure than to hear it!

I have loved every minute with this boy - and can't wait to see what he will do as a 5-year-old!

Monday, January 23, 2012

it's great to be eight

Hamp celebrated wonderfully last week... 

it's a blur because of Hamp's super speed!
... his movie party was fun and easy. Then he had a full day of school on his actual birthday and his mean ol' momma even made him do some homework! (OK, so maybe that's not the best part of being 8!) It's ok though because it was all in preparation for a fun evening of basketball, cake and presents!


That evening Hamp participated in the Denver Nuggets Skills Challenge - he had fun and got to play basketball with a bunch of his friends!

Then we celebrated with dinner out, chocolate cake (of course!) at home and gifts and cards from our very thoughtful and generous family!

they're easier to scoop when they're frozen!




But perhaps the best part of Hamp turning 8 is that he is working on growing into a responsible member of the household. And what better household job for a little boy with a new puppy than "pooper-scooper"? Yes, with a little assistance and gentle instruction from Dad this weekend Hamp took on the new and monumental (have you seen our dog?!) task of cleaning out the yard once a week... 

Ahhh, what a big boy! I'm so proud of him... now I just have to figure out which undesirable task I can pawn off on him when he turns nine!

Wednesday, January 18, 2012

Hamp is 8!

For Hamp's birthday, Jason took him and some friends to the brand new "local" movie theater to see the Chipmunks movie... they listened to kids radio in the car, sat in the front row at the theater, and snacked on popcorn and soda! I think it was the perfect (low-key) celebration:
front row at the theater - taken with Jason's iphone!
thoughts on Hamp upon turning 8 years old:

He continues to always be concerned with the battle between good and evil - and recreates it in every imaginative way using playmobil, legos, nerf guns, hotwheels, football guys, and of course friends!

He says he hates school - but I know (and he knows!) he is lying. He loves his 2nd grade teacher, his classmates, and most of all - recess. Although it is often a horrible battle of wills to get him to read a chapter in a book every night, he can do it and when he puts his mind to things he can do them well.

He is like his father: social, charming, cute (!), caring and competitive.
He is like his mother: social, impatient, fun-loving, compassionate and forgetful!
He is not really musical, though he enjoys dance parties and every now and then I catch him singing.
He is athletic and coordinated and will probably always participate in whatever sport he can.
He loves his dog, his brother, his friends and unfortunately he loves all things electronic - video games, computer games, tv, etc. As long as I can keep him outside and motivate him with either chocolate or playdates, we're going to be just fine!

My favorite time of day: first thing in the morning when he comes in my bed to snuggle before waking up. Sometimes we chat, sometimes we just cuddle. Always, I soak up every sweet moment I can with my darling, funny and growing baby boy!
this morning with breakfast and balloons!



Friday, January 6, 2012

A New Year Celebration

Thanks to my dear friend Carly for hosting and for posting our New Year's Eve celebration! 
Check out the extravagant dinner we had, the fun kids who were there, the sweet baby we all held, and the good friends we hung out with.
Oh, and yeah - that's my hand in the last photo!


HAPPY 2012!