Moms Weekend Away

A couple of years ago when we moved to Colorado I had high expectations of all the friends I would reunite with. It turned out that Colorado Springs was a lot more isolating than I imagined and driving to Denver everyday for friendship was not going to cut it. After just 10 days of living here Russ was off to Korea and I was left to fend for myself with the 3 kiddos. One of the first things I did was look up the Mops in my area. I started at one church and they were meeting every other Thursday, I tried it out and just didn't feel like I fit in. Then after Winter break came and went I tried another Mops, I was excited about this one because it was ONCE A WEEK! Socialization with other moms?! Yes please!

Turns out, it was the greatest thing that ever happened to me. I made a huge community of friends who are all amazing people. I have never in my life had this big of a support system filled with so many great friends. I am so glad I went to mops, even better moms weekend away!

Every year we go off to the Hideaway, a bed and breakfast tucked away in the woods, we have a speaker and FREE TIME, plus hot tubs, plus those aforementioned women, and it turns into quite a weekend of fun!

This is Ruth, she was my mentor mom last year in Mops and again this year, and probably for always. I cherish her dearly!

 We spent time frolicking in the woods without a care in the world!

 and found a weapons shack just in case of apocalypse? maybe?

 We stared and stared at the beauty of Pikes peak.

 Created a table in the hot tub to trap the escaping heat. Pivot!

 Spent a lot of time here...

 our hideaway.

 We brought along a friend who couldn't make it this year.

 She had a fun weekend!

 and so did I with my loves. If you are a lonely mom, I highly recommend finding yourself a Mops group and building a community. Every one should have a net.

P.S. If you read my blogs, leave me some love in the blog comments so I know you're out there! No one likes to talk to themselves :)

40 bags in 40 days

Last year I was inspired by my friend Melissa. She started a project she had found on another blog called 40 bags in 40 days. Every year for lent, you are supposed to give something up, I usually "give up" going to Target, or drinking soda or Starbucks.

40 bags in 40 days is a great lent project!
The idea is that during the 40 days of lent you rid your house of 40 bags of "stuff." All those extras we hold onto and dont need and fill our cabinets and closets, that watch you as you walk by! okay not really but I feel overtaken by my house sometimes. Especially in the days right after Christmas where all the new stuff comes in to join all the rest of the stuff! Its time to take action and de clutter.

I am so excited to get started, I am a tad OCD (CDO) and love organizing. I have come up with my list of areas I want to attack and I have already started. I know its not lent yet, but Easter is on my oldest sons birthday this year so I wanted to get started early. I also know I will end up with way more than 40 bags!

Here is my list:

The one areas I am most afraid of are the corners of the basement. We seem to save everything! Why?! Is there a child apocalypse we are preparing for? Blankets and toys and clothes, from 3 children I have saved! When we first moved into this house we wanted the basement to be a play area, but instead it has become a storage unit. 

I got started this morning with the upstairs hall closet. Here is the before...

 and here is the after!

So much "stuff" taking over our lives.

I am so excited to be finished and know that I will feel less stressed with less stuff over taking our home.

I plan to blog about my progress, and hope that others will join in too! I know Melissa is doing it again this year.

Join me wont you!?

Interview with a SIX year old.

To my girl,

You are six now, I say it every year but I can't believe it. My little baby girl is growing up. You still have the most amazing zest for life. You are creative and funny and spontaneous, you are loving and emotional and fabulous. You remind me so much of myself and I think thats why we get along so perfectly. I am so glad to have the opportunity to be your mommy, and know you. You have blessed my life with Pink, and american girl dolls, ponies , butterflies and scrunchy nose smiles. 

You are doing so well in school, you are reading tons of books already! I hope you always have this love of books. I love listening to you sound out a word......wuh uh eeeerrrrd, WORD! Your uncanny ability to crack me up at any moment is my favorite. Tonight you named your new boy doll "Johnifer" I love it, and I love you. Thank you for being such a joy to our family. I love You Hailey bear!! 

and now for your yearly interview :)

What is your favorite number?

6

 Favorite color?

PINK

Favorite food?

Grilled cheese sandwiches

 Favorite shape?

Heart

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Favorite Animal

Panda bear

 Favorite show?

Doc McStuffins

 Favorite desert?

Waffles with nutella and snow (aka powdered sugar)

 Favorite thing to do at home?

Play with my American Girls
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Favorite place to go?

American Girl Store

 Favorite book?

Rapunzel

 Favorite movie?

Tangled

 Best friend?

Jacob, Caleb, Lauren, Molly and Owen.

Favorite thing to do at school?

Learn until my brain is full

 What makes you super happy?

Getting a new american girl doll.

   What makes you sad?

When my mom goes to Boston

Your favorite thing about being SIX?

having FUN! Dance Parties with mom, and eating chocolate.

Two peas in a pod

These two love bath time.

10 on 10

Happy  ten on ten!

{Document a snapshot of your life & find beauty among the ordinary things in your day!}

This edition is brought to you from Boston! I am here by myself visiting my best friend  for my birthday weekend, wahoo! :)

We started our day lounging around. This is Kiah she is my favorite.

We took Kiah to the Aboreatum from Hahvahd. I notice when there are not kids around a lot of pictures of the dog.

 ON a walk in the snow!

 I love this one lone red bush.

 Then we went to the grocery story, Roche Bros!. This is where I learned its not customary to say hi to people like it is on the west coast.

  We came home and made Granola bars and Kiah helped.

 yum yum.

Cars help warm blooded and cold blooded people get along better. 

 Mumford and sons helped me get a terrible song out of my head, Thank you Mumford!

 To end the tenth we went out and played Trivia. Our team LA Faces and Oakland booties won! A 25$ gift certificate to the restaurant. Nailed it!

It was a good day! Until next month :)

Haileys Tangled up in fun party!

Haileys 6th birthday celebration began the day before in her class. The class does a celebration once a month for each January kid. Ironically Hailey was the only January birthday! Which baffles me because I know at least 40 people with a January birthday.

We passed out cupcakes and sang to her

she got to take the first bite, and as soon as she did her 3rd tooth fell out! She has lost 3 teeth in about 10 days. I think shes saving up for a car.

  The next day was her party. We invited a lot of kids! The new rule at school is you cant just invite a few you have to invite the entire class...so with fear in my hands I did, but luckily only about 15 kids showed up haha.

 I made her invitation on photoshop and I really love it!

Hailey dressed like Rapunzel and insisted on carrying Pascal around in a frying pan the whole time. No one was hit over the head though! Promise!

 I made her headband with yarn, a bow we already had and glued them to a headband we already owned.

We played "All tangled up"

 We also played Catch Pascal in the frying pan, Pin the crown on Rapunzel, and had a pinata! I spent most my time wrangling children so I didnt get any photos of all the games :)

I managed to get a group picture of all of Haileys friends! I love the happiness bursting from this photo.

Then we set them loose for awhile while we waited for cake.

 Out comes the Birthday Cake!

 Then It was the anticipated Present time! I always crack up how all the kids get as close as they can to the one opening presents. I get really nervous when people watch me open gifts but Hailey LOVES the attention.

 Then we set the kids off to run all the sugar off in the backyard while they waited for their parents. At one point all we could hear was high pitched screaming and they had all crammed themselves in this tiny house! I apologize to my neighbors for that one.

  We had a lot of fun and I think the party went really well. We really did get tangled up in fun!!

  and my mom finally made it on my blog, she will be so happy.

 Stay tuned for the interview with a 6 year old!