G-bread House Party

We hosted our second annual Gingerbread House Decorating Party. It's a great opportunity for Addie to hang out with her old daycare pals, and Cap and I to catch up with this group of parents who have really enjoy. Plus the Mom's like to get crafty ourselves on the houses once the kids have run off to play. After Addie left I went peppermint crazy on the back of her house and now she likes to come up to it and like the candy. Gross.




Yes, the Dads were in attendance too but they migrated out the backyard.

My mom arrived last night and the sun came out. Should be a most wonderful Christmas!

A Colorado Thanksgiving

Yes, I finally got around to downloading and then uploading my photos from our fabulous trip to Colorado over Thanksgiving. Our trip was filled with wonderful friends and lots of snow.


Addie and Arden enjoying the hammock at our rental house in Salida where we showered our high school friend Dara with baby gifts.


Eliza trying out life with her snow hat.


Feeding the ducks


Sawyer, Arden and Addie on the run


Drive-by photos of fuzzy cows. Eliza was enamored of course.


Plenty of static electricity


Sunrise and moonset behind Reid's house in Grandby


The big kids doing a lap on the nordic ski trail.


So proud of our little California girl.


Donut time. Addie and Eliza loved getting to play with Sawyer and Arden at their house for a whole week.


Eliza's new best friend, Duncan.


Two girls in a sled


Snow angel Addie


a true ice pop


Reid and I. We got to talk and talk and talk and talk. Poor Cap.


Street sledding


Addie being Addie


The Godlings


Eliza and Cap take on the sledding hill


Taking a moment to relax.

You can check out all of our Colorado photos here. And a HUGE thanks to Reid for opening up her home and heart to us. Love you!

Addie Sings

You may remember Addie's first holiday recital followed by the spring recital. But this year all parents were in attendance, in the second row not the first and Addie was all smiles. There is nothing like 40 kids singing about peace to make you all warm and cozy inside. It was really adorable and she was next to her friend Danika.



Addie was invited to her first sleepover party for Danika's 5th birthday on Saturday night. 15+ kids in PJs attended the "pretend sleepover party" and a few close friends, Addie included, were invited to an actual sleepover. I dropped Addie off at 6 and went back at 9 to check-in and make sure she was still okay with the idea. When she saw me she got all teary and said "But you said I could stay all night!" Of course you can my little independent sprite. Mommy just came to give you a hug and a kiss goodnight. And that was that.

Out of the 5 girls invited to spend the night, two decided they weren't ready before their parents left and one had to have her parents pick up her at 10 pm. It was just Addie, Emi and Danika which was probably the best for Danika's parents! Those three girls take swim lessons together on Saturday and are good friends. Bonus - we like their parents too! Sadly, all three girls will be heading to three separate kindergartens next September. Just when we start to make close friends we get to start all over again. My new year's resolution is going to be to proactively spend more time with friends; invite people over for dinner, guitar hero, playdates and adventures.

15 Months

After coming home from Colorado, I've been neglecting my poor blog. Neglectoblog. The Christmas season has hit me over the heat with a frying pan after returning from an amazing, lovely week visiting wonderful friends over Thanksgiving. Eliza's 15 month birthday though has motivated me get back on the wagon.

Friday was the girls' holiday recital at school. This was the first one for Eliza. She melted my heart in her little cat ears. During the entire recital she sat quiet as a lamb not moving an inch, looking a little like someone had hit her with a Stupify! charm. Afterwards, several parents told me what a hugger Eliza is. I guess she hugs all the parents. She still seems to gravitate towards men but no, I was told she hugged the Moms too. She really is super cuddly and has really gotten into books lately, coming over with an animal book and plopping down in my lap ready to read. She continues to love animals, especially dogs, and was in heaven in Colorado getting to be around first two dogs who would rather she went back where she came from and then Reid's dog Duncan who was such a sweetheart and let Eliza follow him around. Eliza is such a joyous child that she oozes life. I'm feeling pretty darn lucky to have two amazing girls. Gooshy enough?