Picture Perfect Vacation

BRECKENRIDGE ROCKS.

We had barely arrived and my little man just had to make his very first snowman, whom we appropriately named "Slumpy"

(and yes, I knit both of those hats, thank you very much!)

The view from our deck was awesome, and so were the slopes!

To say Jaden loved the snow is an understatement.

Jaden was a natural on skis, and pretty independent. I only had to dig him out of the trees once...

We had an amazing time, and have already mades plans to go back next year.  

Can't wait.

Grape Stompin'

Today we went with some friends and visited our favorite local vineyard's Annual Grape Stomp. It's a fun time - we've gone every year for the past 3 years and always enjoy it. The Vineyard is beautiful and the wines are pretty good; if the weather had been a bit cooler I'd say it was a perfect day.

Our boys stompin' grapes and wandering through lavender fields

How to have a happy weekend

• Get in car, drive to Austin.
• Visit my favorite yarn shop and purchase fabulous yarn to make another baby blanket.
• Stop here for the best cupcake I've ever had (a Vanilla Dream Whipper Snapper, to be exact).

• Devour above mentioned treat, get frosting on my shirt, cupcake in my hair and a smile on my face.
• Make homemade pizza with dad and step mom, sit on their deck and watch the wonderful rain while drinking some dang good zin.
• The next morning, take child for chocolate chip pancakes and see the smile on his face.
• Drive home, stopping here along the way.

• Treasure their "honor system" set up - be thankful things like this still exist.
• Buy some gorgeous flowers, fall squashes and tiny eggplants. Get another smile on my face.

• Be welcomed home by the sight and sound of more rain (and a husband and dog who missed us).
• Put child to bed, hear him say he loves me "more than the whole wide world."
• Climb into bed with a smile on my face and a tear in my eye. Be thankful for a happy weekend!

The sweet days of summer

It was a great trip to our new beach "house" and the weather was divine. We spent our days lounging in the sand and frolicking in the waves, doing everything but really nothing at all. This trip a discovery was made by my sweet bean, and I got one sweet memory to boot. We were all sitting in our beach chairs one afternoon, enjoying our surroundings when I heard it: the jingly, slightly static but funky little melody from my past. Could it be? Was it really THE ICE CREAM TRUCK? (I can't help but think back to that Eddie Murphy comedy bit about the ice cream truck - 'member that one? "I got my ice cream, and you can't have none.")

I jumped out of my chair and turned to see the truck approaching. Until this moment, my soon to be five-year old son didn't even know ice cream trucks existed. Yet somehow, by that jangled-up tune, he knew exactly what was headed his way. His face lit up and he looked at me with the biggest of eyes. I barely got the words "ice cream" out of my mouth and he was off, joining the hoards of other kids dashing toward the truck. Great White Hunter and I gave each other a quick look, then he dashed to the car for some $$ and I started throwing things out of my beach bag in search of something to take pictures with.


I emerged with our video camera, which thankfully takes still pictures, just in time to see child o'mine hand his money over to the ice cream man and receive his treat. He chose a seriously gross alien looking lovely green/blue turtle-shaped concoction, returned to his beach chair and savored this moment. As did I, sweet boy, as did I.

Beach Therapy

Life is just better at the beach; at least it is for me. There is something so relaxing about vacationing near the water, with mother nature as your theme park. Having just spent the last four days at the beach, and despite four kids under the age of 5 surrounding us at all times, things didn't seem hectic or chaotic or stressful. The beach brought peace to us all. Kids played happily in the sand and sea for hours, then rested their tired heads in the shade of our beach umbrella, the sound of the waves lulling them to sleep. Moms and Dads selflessly took turns entertaining the kids to give each other a break, being grateful that the beach did most of the entertaining.

I am so thankful for the beach; the beautiful grass and flower-covered dunes, the soft sand under my toes, the sound of the waves, the cool ocean breeze that makes even the hottest days tolerable, and the look of wonder and amazement on my child's face as he finds treasures from the sea. It is the combination of all these things that create an incredible sense of peace and calm for me.

As Monday hits me like a ton of bricks and I'm thrown back into reality, I hope I find a moment to close my eyes and recapture the gifts of the beach.

Every good and perfect gift comes from above.
James 1:17