Thanksgiving in Colorado

Aaaand just like that, two weeks have passed again. Wow! We had a big trip to Colorado over Thanksgiving with lots of pictures to share. We left mid day on Tuesday and started the ridiculous process of getting two adults, two kids, two large suitcases, three backpacks, a camera case, a carseat, and two strollers to our final destination. Bryan and I were both trying so hard to stay positive during all the travel but it was tough! We made it but by the time we got to the rental car in Denver, we were done and promising each other that we wouldn't travel like that again for a LONG time! We, and both kids, were exhausted and we still had a two hour drive to Granby.

Also, you might notice that Charley isn't wearing her helmet.  It's because she GRADUATED!!!  I'll share that whole story in another post shortly.

 

Our seating arrangements on the plane.

David and Monica's house in Granby

The view from the back door.

 

We arrived Tuesday evening and had dinner and chatted a bit before bed.  Charley slept in the corner on the floor since we didn't have a pack n play for her yet.  She slept great!  8pm-6am with one quick paci replacement.  Wednesday we hung around the house and enjoyed chatting.  They were making snow at the lodge in their neighborhood so we went up to sled.  It was short-lived as the pile of snow you can see was in the process of being moved.  Jackson wasn't excited about it anyway.

We made sure to take advantage of our time with Baw Baw too!  We had to get some photos of her meeting her great grand daughter.

 

JJ enjoyed an applesauce snack.  He's getting so big!

 

There are kids who visit frequently so there were some toys for Jackson to enjoy too!  It was so warm!

 

Jackson taught Baw Baw how to use the iPad!

 

We had a great  Thanksgiving dinner on Thursday and lounged around.  Some of us blew raspberries.

Others watched a lot of sports.

 

And the ladies cooked!

 

Charley took LOTS of naps all over the house.  She only slept about 30 minutes at a time though. :(

I caught this small pow-pow just in time for a picture.



 

Thursday evening we went into Winter Park to pick up our ski equipment we had rented.  This was a great plan because it allowed us to spend as much time as possible skiing on Friday!  Once we got home, we had a helmet fashion show.  When we skied ten plus years ago, very few people wore helmets.  I was surprised to see about 99% of people with them this trip.  It makes sense!  And they're so comfortable and warm!

 

We also realized that night how many iPhones there were in the house.  Everyone but Baw Baw had one.  Crazy.

 

Friday was our skiing day!  We got everyone to the lodge, including Baw Baw, and dropped Jackson off at the Child Care center.  It was expensive but Bryan and I both agreed that we would have paid double.  We were so ready for a Jackson break and he had a great time!  He even got to ride the gondola.  He took an hour and a half nap for them too!  No fair.  He rarely does that for me!  Charley stayed in the lodge and we rotated taking care of her.  Sharon had the bulk of the job and we were so grateful!  She took a couple cat naps. :)



It was really warm and there wasn't much snow but because of those two factors, it wasn't too crowded and there were only two runs that came to the bottom.  We were able to text Sharon at the top of this run and let her know we were coming so she could get a couple pictures.  Bryan picked up right where he left off.  He was really nervous as there was a big jump between these green slopes and the greens in Wisconsin.  He did great, though!

It was beautiful and we can't wait until the kids are old enough to enjoy the mountains with us!  We decided we would take advantage of the ski options in Wisconsin as the kids are learning but then we plan to hit up the Colorado slopes again!  So so fun!

We knew going into this trip that it was going to be tough.  And it was!  There's nothing easy about traveling with a toddler and an infant.  We talked on the way home and decided there was more good than bad so we considered the trip a success! 

 

Thanks for the hospitality, David and Monica!!!

Christmas Photos

I took Charley and Jackson to have some Christmas pictures taken.  We went to JC Penney because it's the cheapest place I have found.  This way I could afford to have Christmas pictures AND Charley's six month pictures.

 

I found the bloomer set that Charley is wearing and instantly fell in love with it. Baw Baw sent Jackson's shirt last year after Christmas and I was so excited for him to wear it this year. Unfortunately you can't see it very well. Taking good pictures of a 4 month old and a two year old is darn near impossible. I decided that as long as both of them were looking and at least one was smiling, it was a success.

Sweet Baby Face

 JJ's best smile of the day

 Both look at the camera, neither smile, but I was shocked Jackson actually posed like this.  A millisecond later, he was nowhere near her.

In love with the rolls and the ruffle butt. 

 

And the cheesy Santa hands photo.

We're Still Alive

It really wasn't my intention to neglect the blog for two weeks.  Has it really been two weeks since I last posted?  It turns out that having two kids is hard!  It's a daily juggling act.  I have been losing weight with Weight Watchers and I stopped tracking my food points a couple months ago.  I was surprised that I kept losing but last week I forgot to eat lunch TWO TIMES!  I don't forget eating.  It's one of my favorite parts of life.  Anyway, we're busy.  And I'm struggling to stay on top of it all.

 

 

Charley is expressing my feelings exactly.  No one is sleeping well in the house right now and it's a huge energy zapper.  We are traveling for Thangsgiving but as soon as we come back, sleep training will begin.  She is waking up around 5 times a night!  I'm so pooped.  And done.

 

I don't think I ever posted pictures of my new hair!  I was getting so tired of having to keep it colored so I decided to get back to my natural color.  I have almost completely adjusted to it and no longer freak out when I catch a glimpse of myself in the mirror.

 

Charley had her first cereal which is funny since I said I wasn't going to give her cereal until she was six months.  I'm not sure why I had that in my head but I just decided one day that I wanted to try it.  She did pretty well.  She's still quite the togue thruster but we've got time. :)  It didn't help her sleep any longer at night, by the way. :(

 

 

She'll sleep in my arms like a champ though.  She's huge!  I can't get enough of her cheeks and how big the helmet makes them look.  She really looks much more normal when the helmet is off.  Speaking of helmets, she only has three or four more weeks with it!  Yay!

 

Mimi visited the week and weekend after Halloween!  We had so much fun and it was great to have an extra set of hands.

 Bryan had a panel he had to sit on on Saturday morning so we met him there to see his new office and go to the Childrens's Museum on Navy Pier.  Jackson loved sitting at Daddy's desk.

 

 The museum was fun but I am so glad we have one we like just as much that is a lot closer.  Jackson can really only stand to be there about an hour or an hour and a half and then he's just done!  He had fun though.

 

 

 

 We have taken several trips to the park to get some fresh air.  Jackson doesn't do two well.  The thought that three could be worse is so overwhelming! 

 

 Luckily Charley is easy to tote around with us.

 I had a Shutterfly More Merry House Party while my parents were in town last weekend so I wanted to have my whole house decorated for Christmas.  I did it but I hope I don't get sick of it too soon.  I added some gold mesh to my kitchen tree this year.

 I made JJ a tree too.  It's felt so he can decorate it how he wants.  It was up for two days and then he ripped it down.  I haven't figured out a good way to stick it to the wall.  I was using command strips but the felt fibers stay on the strip and rest of it falls.  I would just use tape but I don't want it to leave a residue.  We'll keep working on that solution because he really liked it!

 We have been crafting too.  JJ was helping me paint the background of our Winter Fun checklist.

 These are water beads.  They are supposed to go in a vase of flowers but JJ loves moving them from one dish to another.  I just wish I knew if they were toxic or not (Great mom, huh?)  I would like to know that it wouldn't hurt him or Claire if one was eaten.  He loves them though.

 Nana and Papa were here last weekend and he loved the extra attention!

 We went to the Dupage Children's Museum with Nana and Papa too.

 

 On Tuesday we had our weekly Momma gathering.  This week we brought new recipes we wanted to try before we took them to family gatherings.  It was yummy and we gave each other honest feedback and suggestions. I set Charley on the couch while I changed JJ's diaper and when I came back, she had fallen asleep!  Don't let her fool you into thinking she's a good sleeper.  She's not!

 And neither is he.  I'm so scared that we may be done with naps very soon.  He cries in his room for an hour if he doesn't want to sleep.  I tell him every day that he can get up and play with puzzles or read books but he just cries.  And eats an apple.  Hey, whatever it takes to get him upstairs is what I do.  Apple in bed not excluded.

Bryan is out of town now so it's just me and the kids.  We're ready for daddy to come home.  Then we're off to Colorado on Tuesday.  It will be our first flight as a family of four.  Hold me. :/

Halloween!

Oh my goodness, did JJ LOVE Halloween!  We started the morning at music and he wore his costume.  He was Yoda this year because the three kids from small group were all Star Wars characters.  He has no idea who Yoda is so I got him in his costume by telling him he had to put on his new coat and hat to go to music.  It worked like a submission collar on him because he just stood and stared for most of music when he usually dances all over the place. 

 

After music we came home and the kids napped while I got ready for our Halloween party!  I really enjoy hosting all the small group couples and their kids so we can enjoy trick-or-treating together.

 

Fall Mantle

Water tastes better with themed labels.

Bat Bait. MMMM!

Bones



Hot drinks to take trick-or-treating.  In a dirty crock pot.  I'll get on that. :)

SPIDERS!

 JJ wasn't very excited about putting on his costume in the evening.  He was quite ornery and only wanted to dig in the candy bowl all night.  We had to tell him that he had to put on his "coat and hat" if he wanted to go get some candy.

JJ, Emma, and Jacob ready for candy!

 Charley was an elephant because she's huge:)  The girl is 4 months old and is currently sleeping in a 9 month sleeper.  She didn't mind her costume and she loved taking a break from her helmet for the night.  She did a great job tagging along with the big kids in her stroller.

Trick-or-treating with Mimi.

 Because of what we told him earlier in the night trying to get him in his costume, he walked up to every door and said "Get some candy!"  After a reminder he said "trick-or-treat" and "thank you."

Once he realized he got candy at each house, he RAN to the next house.

Sometimes elephants get tired.

 

Bryan and I dressed up too!  I was a witch and Bryan was a Fire Man.  The Chicago Fire soccer team played their first (and last :( ) playoff game last night so Bryan was showing his team spirit in the form of a Halloween costume.

After walking around the neighborhood we came back to our house and hung out with our friends.  It was another great night in the Clark house!