Spring break

Another amazing week in Mexico... all sand, sun, shore, sea, shells, shrimp and sunsets. (no sunburns!)

 

I could get used to these sunsets....

... and being with these people all the time!

Such a great, relaxing week - I wasn't quite ready to leave.
Until next time!

my favorite season

As long as there is snow we are trying to play in it!

2 of our favorite ways are:

1) snowshoeing up the Marvine trail (road!) with friends to the winter yurt

And while gloriously clear sunny days are the best to hike in, this year we finally got to go on a night hike during February's full moon! SO cool....

 

 

 

2) ski days at Sunlight Mountain!!!

And while gloriously clear sunny days are the best to ski in, we had a few days this month where Sunlight did not live up to its name.

 

 

Of course, the very best part of ski Sundays is skiing with friends!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Family

For a long weekend we were able to get away to Southern California to visit family - including the newest member of the Etheridge clan:

Jenavieve Marie
(born February 8th)

It was so good to all be together. We only had three days... but it was just enough to spend a day at my brother's home playing games and visiting and hugging on my nephews and new niece!

 

 

 

 

And it was just enough to spend a day watching the four boys have a grand time at Legoland, building and laughing and riding rollercoasters!

 

 

 

 

And it was just enough to spend a whole day digging in the sand, jumping (cold) waves, playing on the beach and relaxing in the sun!

 

 

 

Most importantly, it was barely enough to spend time as a family.
And while our extended family is precious and fulfilling, it was pretty special to have a brief moment where my original family had time for a sunset selfie!

 

Three long days went by quickly, but we savored every moment cuddling sweet, new Jena; hugging and playing with cousins and Aunt & Uncle and grandparents; good, long conversations that simply don't happen over the phone; and for me, morning coffee & crossword in the San Diego sunshine!

 

Celebrating Hamp

We finally got a day to fulfill Hamp's birthday wish = a day at The Barn at Woodward in Copper Mountain. He had been talking about this indoor skate park and training center for months, but I still had no idea what to expect. Well wasn't I pleasantly surprised at just how awesome this place was indeed! I was also impressed with how excellently these four boys shredded the whole park!
(picked up a little lingo as the chaperone... shred = skate well)

 

Even better than the "shredding" was the fun that we all had that day - and everyday with Hamp in our lives. Now that he is officially a teenager, I try to respect his burgeoning maturity and allow him to be his true self. It's an incredibly blurry and wild space for us both - him as a 13-year old boy and me as his mother! But we are figuring out how to grow together and I am learning to love our relationship. He is still not much of a talker (definitely doesn't take after his father on that one!) but when he does I try to really listen. He still loves sports and skiing and friends and being outside - but as his time with Playmobil and Legos wanes, I find his time spent on the Xbox or on Instagram or Youtube fills the void. He has become particularly adept at binge-watching on Netflix! But when he's not 'on a screen' he is still funny and clever and sweet. And a little silly:

January

 

Ahhhh..... we have been playing in the snow!

We have skied every weekend and we have experienced some real excellent days on the mountain. Sometimes there are a bunch of fun friends to take runs with, and sometimes it's just the three of us. Either way, it's good times. 

 

 

 

 

 

We have also spent a little time on the local sledding hill!

Between the cardboard sledding derby (check out the stellar creation below.... it didn't do too well on the hill but it sure looked interesting!) and getting new sleds for their birthdays, there have been plenty of good times there too!

 

 

 

  And of course there are the boys' birthdays!

Celebrations were limited this year to balloons, cake for breakfast, sweet cards and well-wishes from friends & family and a few really cool gifts.

I have managed to put off any major birthday event (skatepark? bowling? sleepover???) for now.... we'll see what February brings though!