New Years Eve

Kimbro Visit

It was SO great to have R, R, E & T in town for a New Year's visit. See below for a few photos that were not included in the NYE post. See their blog for more photos of our primary activity.

We continue to be so blessed by how well our children play together! I screwed up on the last night and didn't tell Carter that Eleanor and Thomas would be leaving before he woke up. When he awoke to find them gone, he was devastated! That's a mistake I won't make again.

New Year's Eve

In which no one has to go to the hospital.

After you watch this, I think you'll agree that was a pretty big feat.


If you notice Thomas missing from the festivities, it's because he was in NYC for the Times Square spectacle (for work). He promises to post about that. Perhaps you should nudge him.

Weekend Getaway to Estes Park

The final piece of Thomas' birthday surprise was a weekend trip to Estes Park where we celebrated Thomas, Marc and Rob's 40ths together. Okay, it was early for Marc and Rob, but they didn't seem to mind. We managed to mostly keep the trip a surprise from all of the guys. Details here. 

We chose Colorado because it was vaguely centrally located, when considering couples from Atlanta, Houston and San Diego. We also liked it because of the beautiful views, hiking, breweries, and some of the features of the house we rented, including the hot tub and wood burning fireplace. 

The boys

View from one of our four decks (plus, mimosas!)

On our hike to Cub Lake in Rocky Mountain National Park

Cub Lake (did I mention about the beauty?!)

After our hike, we drove to Lyon, CO to the Oskar Blues Brewpub, where they happened to be having Octoberfest, complete with a polka band

Shannon, Rachel and I might have been a little lost in the polka music, had we not had our husbands to share their (apparently vast) knowledge of polka with us. Case in point, before the polka band even started to play, there was a prediction that this particular song would be 4th on the set list. And they were right.

The guy in the band is playing a washboard tie

After Octoberfest polka fun, the serendipitous fun kept coming!  Just around the corner we found this amazing place.

It was so great to spend the weekend together. Our children were well cared for by a hugely appreciated group of family, friends and babysitters. They seemed to have a really terrific weekend, too!

Philly Trip

The week after Carter got out of school, I took both boys for a trip to Philadelphia to visit Patrick, Kirstin and Eavan. We played inside, played outside, visited the Franklin Institute, and (as always) ate very well!

We also took a side trip to NYC to visit Joo. Carter decided that Joo is his #1 BFF, and I don't think that it was totally due to the fact that she got him a cookie cake for a belated birthday treat. At first, Carter seemed a bit overwhelmed by the city of his birth, but he warmed up to it quickly. He walked a couple of miles the first day, and he definitely walked over a mile and a half without stopping or complaint the next morning.

Traveling with both boys on my own was tiring, but fun. It would have been a little more fun and a little less tiring if I hadn't gotten sick part way through.

I couldn't decide on just a few shots to share, so here's a slideshow of our week.



And here's a video of bubble-making in Central Park.

He Makes Me Laugh

A couple of recent funnies from Carter...

A few weeks ago, we were eating ice cream and I told him about "brain freeze". After dinner tonight, he was eating one of our homemade strawberry popsicles when he gripped his head and said "Oh no! Mental cold!"

This evening, Carter was telling me that a friend in his class has broken his finger. I ask "How did he break it?" and Carter responds by bending his finger back, "Well, someone said it was like this." Next he bends his finger to the side, "But someone else said he did it like this." Okay, I asked the wrong question. So then I ask, "What was he doing when he broke his finger?" Carter says, "Hmm. I think it hurt really bad. He probably had to go to the clinic!" Silly me. Always asking the wrong questions.

Carter sees me writing this, asks what it is about, and asks me to add, "I hope that he gets better soon."

Guest Treatment

This is how we (Carter) treat guests at our house. You do have to bring us dinner, but we'll tuck you in. So come on over!

New Years Eve

We had a house full of Texans on new years eve! In addition to the Kimbro family, Ben, Rebecca and Miranda joined us for the festivities. It was great to be together on NYE again after so many years! It seems that I only took photos of the kids...

Joo's Visit

Joo came to visit us earlier this month! She got to meet John and she helped us decorate our Christmas tree. The day she arrived was also the same day her sister gave birth to her second nephew (congrats!). Though, we like to think of our boys as pseudo-nephews, too.

Recent pics

Rachel Visit

Rachel came to visit us last weekend! We cooked, we ate, we walked, we shopped, we relaxed, we held baby, we drank coffee, we wore pajamas, we worked on our laptops, we had mimosas, we played Legos -- it was lovely to have her here.

She noted that it was nice to visit on her own, because she actually got to spend time with Carter and be "Aunt Rachel" for a while. When we all get together, the kids are so involved with each other that we don't get to enjoy each others' kids (not that we're complaining that they get along so well!).

Easter

Finally getting around to posting from Easter. Carter didn't get much candy, instead, he got a much needed new bicycle helmet in his Easter box (which he made). 

He also got his first game for the Wii. A dancing game, of course!

This year we dyed and tattooed our eggs...

Friends came over to hunt for eggs in the afternoon. Silvie shared her Easter treats, including nail polish, which was a big hit with all the kids.

Fastnacht Day

On Fat Tuesday, while Thomas was in Orlando, Carter and I spent the evening at friends Kirsten and Al's house celebrating Fastnacht Day. 

According to my good friend Wikipedia:

A Fasnacht, sometimes spelled Fastnacht or Faschnacht, is a fatty doughnut treat served traditionally on Fastnacht Day (Shrove Tuesday), the day before Lent starts. Fasnachts were made as a way to empty the pantry of lard, sugar, fat, and butter, which were traditionally fasted from during Lent....Basel, Switzerland conducts an annual fasnacht festival. The Pennsylvania Deutsch territory surrounding Lancaster, Pennsylvania, celebrates the custom as well.

Kirsten & Al are from PA, and it has always been a big tradition in her house. Kirsten's mom was even there to help with the Fastnacht making and eating!

Carter observes how to shake on the sugar coating. Moments later, he became the most vigorous sugar shaker that anyone has ever seen. We had to quadruple bag the sugar lest he shake the bottom out of it!

By the time Carter and I left, we had the record for most Fastnachts consumed!

Thanksgiving

Just getting around to posting pics from our great thanksgiving!

Arkansas Trip - Riverfront Park

On Sunday, while Mom worked and the men played golf, Carter and I took a trip to Little Rock. After lunch with Mimi, we met up with Jyll and Caleb to play. We went to the playground on the riverfront, which is now one of my favorite playgrounds of all time. It has lots of tunnels built into the ground, and lots of places for kids to climb. It's a bit difficult to keep up with your kid, since you can't always predict where he'll pop up, but otherwise, it's a great play area.

Me & Silvie

Post by Carter:

My chairs are up on the parent's chairs. My parents are inside.