What gives, Phil?!

So... I'm starting to think that Groundhog Day is a big wive's tale!

Supposedly, Punxsutawney Phil called for 6 more weeks of winter back on February 2nd.

But apparently Meeker did not get that memo, because somewhere around mid February, spring showed up - and left all our winter gear waiting woefully on the front porch for a little snow action:

Now don't get me wrong - we did have some really fabulous ski days in January!!!

And the snow-shoeing has been great, too!

Gabe & I took a nice hike with our friends in January on a gorgeous winter day:

And then mid-February, I finally drug Hamp & Sam (and their dad!) up to the trail to hike, too!

I had envisioned one of those Hallmark family moments, where the kids and the dog are joyfully playing in the snow and happily hiking in front of mom & dad as we walk hand-in-hand along the trail...

Silly me.

Should have known it was going be a bit of a trial!

Hamp alternated between whining and complaining - I think he even said "I hate this hike!" - but yet managed to keep a good pace.

Sam, on the other hand decided to pout about being forced to enjoy the great outdoors and stayed a significant (but always in view!) distance behind.

Our other boy thoroughly enjoyed himself, though.

Especially when he found a little treat hiding in the woods:

Once we made the 2 mile trek into the forest where we found our destination - a yurt! - the boys warmed up to the idea and thought snacking in the yurt in the middle of the woods with the family and the dog wasn't such a bad idea after all!

So the hike back to the car was much more pleasant... in fact, I think Hamp even said, "I love this hike!"

I'm just a little disappointed that the weather hasn't been any better (aka snowy and cold!) since then to allow us more opportunities to play in the snow!

New digs!!!

We love our house...

photo courtesy of ali harper photography

But as the boys continued to grow (geesh - don't they ever slow down?!) we started to realize that it was time to make a little change. Though we tried the whole selling-the-house idea, it just never felt right and wasn't very productive anyways! So we went the other route: remodel!

It wasn't that we didn't like the layout of the house - it had worked for almost 12 years after all! - it was just that all four of us (5 if you count the dog... which we usually do.) were sharing the upstairs. That's a bedroom for us, a bedroom for the boys, and one bathroom for everyone!

Oh, but the downstairs! Yes, our basement was beautifully appointed with a large bedroom and bathroom - that were hardly ever used because they were "for guests"!

So we took inventory of our space and decided it was time for us, the parents to move downstairs! (sorry "guests"... we're taking over!) Thinking it would be relatively easy - take out half a wall, finish a small closet, move a door, how hard can that be?! - we figured it would be done in a week. Well, that wasn't exactly the case... but the longer wait made the finished product all the sweeter!

So... with no further ado:

The only good "before" picture of our former guest room:

And here's the new, upstairs guestroom!

Comes with an armoire full of playmobil (!) and one cozy, giant dog.

(yes, Gabe sleeps on the bed. Please don't judge...)

And now, when you descend the beautifully, newly carpeted stairs you find in place of a long, narrow hallway - a door:

which leads to what I am now referring to as "the sanctuary":

replete with newly created his & hers closets:

and best of all, an en suite bathroom!!!

I have to admit, the real downfall of this transition is that for the past 10 years I have been literally in the next room from my babies! Of course, when they actually were babies it was convenient to hear them cry at night for feedings or comfort. But I realize now that even as little boys I loved that they knew I was so physically close - it promoted many morning snuggles in "momma's bed" and made bedtime family readings very comfortable and easy... and in the past week that Jason & I have spent getting used to our "sanctuary" I have found myself a little sad that we have unintentionally ushered in a new era:
one where mom & dad have their own space that is distinctly separate from our kids.

I suppose, though... that that is actually both the beauty and the beast of this change!

whirlwind week and weekend - all good!

It all started with Bingo...

More specifically, we had a spaghetti dinner & benefit bingo last Wednesday to support the Meeker Education Foundation and the boys had a great time! Especially when Hamp won a round!!!!

Then Thursday night was Hamp's 4th grade music show - they have been working on the history of Rock & Roll and had a blast sharing songs by Elvis, the Beach Boys, and the Beatles!

Check out a snippet of the program - the highlight is Hamp's "Little Richard" impersonation at the beginning... and his awesome air guitar impersonation at the end!

Saturday's adventures started with a basketball game out of town... oh, they played a heck of a game! They lost 17-21 but learned a lot and are ready to practice a little harder this week to get back on top...

Then we hit the sledding hill Saturday afternoon for some outdoor fun - and to celebrate a friend's 10th birthday! They boys had fun throwing snowballs and being silly!

Sunday was pretty typical - in that we loaded up the car and headed down to the ski hill. 

But the fun part was that we brought some friends with us this time! 

Sam & Skylar tore up the bottom half of the mountain and skied their little hearts out all day! I love the independence and confidence they gain skiing together. 

Hamp & Zagar spent the day on the bottom half of the mountain, too:

they were learning how to snowboard!!!

They started with a lesson and then went back up to practice. Don't know if we have a future Olympic Slopestyle competitor on our hands... but he said he wants to keep trying!

Loving all our adventures...

Snow day!

Well, it's no "snowpocalypse" (and I am truly sympathetic for the South East and the trouble they have when weather hits... but have also loved seeing pictures of friends & family enjoying a little snow!!!) but for Colorado it was a good snow storm that left us in an interesting situation:

For the first time in recent history (at least 60 years some say!) school was cancelled!!!!!

Living in a mountain climate, we aren't shocked when it snows from November to April. But when 18 inches fall in one afternoon it can make driving a little challenging (know what I mean, ATL?!) So for the safety of kids, Friday was officially a snow day and no one was as happy as Hamp! (Sam was a little disappointed to miss school... but happy enough to spend the day playing in the snow!)

A few pictures of how we spent the better part of our day off:

Well, there might have been one "someone" that was happier than Hamp about the snow....!

Birthday boys!

When I woke up Saturday morning and saw this half frosted, nibbled on cake sitting under our birthday banner I had a thought: is that representative of the boys' birthday celebrations? Half done, noncommittal, not fully celebrated?! (don't you hate when the "insecure momma" seeps through the subconscious and questions how well you're parenting?!!?!)

But sitting down this weekend to document and share our birthday week made me realize that we did in fact celebrate fully... and best of all the boys felt honored and special with all that we did! And even though Friday night's birthday cake looked a little pitiful, one must realize that it was the last in a long week of cupcakes, desserts, sweet treats, cake and more cupcakes!

With the boys' birthdays only 6 days apart we do tend to spread the celebrations out over a whole week's time...

What we did do to celebrate Hamp turning 10 and Sam turning 7 was take advantage of a no-school Monday and stay in Glenwood Springs overnight.

We skied Sunday in beautiful weather with great friends - and even got to celebrate Carter turning 11! (Seems like everyone thinks a ski weekend is a good way to have a birthday!)

the birthday boys: Hamp on the 18th, Carter on the 22nd, and Sam on the 24th
** note the cupcakes!

Hamp & Sam were most excited to get off the mountain so they could do what they really came for - swimming in the hotel pool! We stayed specifically at the hotel with the cool water features - a slide, basketball hoop, fountains, and hot tub. They swam for an hour after skiing, and for another hour after dinner!

Lest you think the aforementioned cake was all the boys had by way of birthday treats - don't worry! 

Dinner at the Glenwood Brewery was not only delicious, and not only did they get a frisbee with their kid's meal, but dessert was a delectable chocolate cake and a hand crafted root beer float!

A second day of skiing could not have been better - beautiful, sunny day and again: friends to ski with!

Although the ski/swim weekend was really the boys' celebration in lieu of a party - they also got a little bit of special treatment on their actual birthdays:

Hamp opened some wonderful gifts from family on the morning of his birthday, then played his first 2 basketball games of the season where his team pulled out wins in both! Then his favorite babysitter let both boys make and decorate cupcakes and stay up late playing video games.

Sam got to bring cupcakes to school, then went swimming with friends after school and had more cupcakes, then opened some really great gifts from family before a nice family dinner at home.

(so you see, the sweet treats really did play a big part all week long! We're going to have a sugar detox this week...)

Oh, and though Hamp really likes his new sled, the big birthday surprise was a new desk for Sam!

And for the record, that cake made for a great breakfast on Saturday morning! ☺

# 4!

... and one more !

This morning he was singing "all I want for my birthday is my two front teeth!"

# 3!

Sammy came home from school last week with big surprise - he had lost another tooth during reading! (who knew reading was such a physical activity!) So, another day another dollar... from the tooth fairy that is!