Carefree Fun

I grew up on the ski hill. Every year my family would get season passes to the little ski resort that put our tiny town on the map. I learned how to ski when I was 4 years old and took up snowboarding when I started high school. I spent every winter weekend on the slopes.

Fast forward to adulthood. As of just the other weekend, I hadn't been snowboarding since before Leila was born. Pregnancies and breastfeeding and figuring out daycare plus the spendy cost of skiing these days just put a damper on it all. I didn't realize how much I missed it until Andy and I went night skiing the other weekend and up once again on Saturday. The fresh air, the thrill, and the sheer beauty of it all gave me a fresh, carefree perspective on life and reminded me of all the joy skiing/snowboarding brought me growing up.

It doesn't get much better than this view...


My love and I...


Yes, I have one glove on...


Sittin' on top of the world...


It was a balmy 10 degrees on Saturday. (Ha!) We layered up and huddled together on the chair lifts, praying the sun would give us some relief from the bitter cold. It was seriously the most beautiful day. And it was so nice to be able to spend a FULL day alone with my hubby, out in nature doing something that we love. The best part? Andy and I had NEVER been skiing together until this winter. He wasn't much of a skier growing up, but he's now discovered a new found love for it and I am beyond excited! We plan on getting Leila up on the hill with us before the season is through and hopefully buy some season passes for next year. I can't wait to build a family tradition like the one I enjoyed with my parents and brothers. :-)

A rainbow of skiers and snowboarders...


Go Andy, go!


The beauty of it all seriously took my breath away.


There's just something about the quiet and the cold and the fresh air in my lungs. Up on the mountain I forget all about "real" life. There's no job, no house, no to-to list. It's just simple, carefree fun.

AND, we saw some moose down the street from Andy's parents' house this weekend! CrAzY!


Did anyone else do something extra FUN this past weekend?

Away

It's amazing what even just a couple of days away can do for you. On Friday, I took the day off work to enjoy a long weekend getaway to Seattle to celebrate my hubby's 28th birthday and my nephew's 3rd. (Of course the PNW blogger meet-up just happened to be taking place in Portland this weekend when I actually could have made it for once if it had been in Seattle! Oh, life!)

Our weekend consisted of a one-night splurge in a fancy downtown hotel, the Cheesecake Factory, overcast Seattle skies, Pike's Place Market, laughter with old and new friends, happy kiddos, lots of good food and wine, screaming & squeeling 3-year-olds, cake, love, and rest. My little family of four soaked up our time together as if our life depended on it. And it felt SO good.







One night on our little trip I experienced something I haven't done in a long time. We were at the hotel and I had just gotten the kids to fall asleep. Andy was out with some friends (I urged him to go... at least one of us should be able to go have some fun). I was trapped 25 floors above a bustling city in a quiet, dark room with nothing to do. I didn't have a book to read and I didn't want to turn on the TV since Leila is such a light sleeper. So, it was just me and my thoughts. Sure, I could have played on my phone, but for once I didn't feel like it. I literally laid in the dark on the bed for a good hour just letting my mind drift. What's funny is that I kept getting waves of guilt - surely I should be doing something! But then I would remind myself that I'm on vacation, that I deserve this time, that there is NOTHING wrong with doing NOTHING every once in a while. And then I fell asleep. A little after 9pm.











Long story short, we had a wonderful time with some much needed relaxation and reconnecting with family and friends. And now a bitter taste is in my mouth from returning to reality. It's fun to run away every once in a while, even if it's just for a couple of days. :-)

The Patch

The pumpkin patch, that is. You didn't think I wasn't going to join the 500 bazillion other mommy bloggers with the infamous pumpkin patch post, did you? Ha! Get ready for photo overload (but, at least they're good photos).







I took today off work to enjoy an extended birthday-boy weekend with my family. We decided to venture off to the pumpkin patch since it was a week day and hopefully wouldn't be too crowded. We were right, there was hardly anyone there.

As we were strolling through the fields of pumpkins I had the best warm-and-fuzzy feeling inside. And then I realized that I've had this feeling ever since summer started changing to fall. I've actually never been a huge fan of fall since I love summer and the warm weather it brings so much. So, what made me have a change of heart? My little Lando. This time of year will forever remind me of when he entered the world and how much love and joy he has brought into our family.











I love being able to spend a little extra time as a family of four. Usually we only get four full days together each month, so any additional moments we can steal feel so good and we totally make the most of it. I am so blessed to be able to share my life with these people.



Ready for some funny ones? ... Earth to Leila!


"What the heck is he doing?"


Head stand in the dirt! Such a boy...


Landon was lovin' life!




My only regret about today was not bringing the tripod to take a family photo! Oh well. Some day we'll get a good shot of the four of us together.

Okay, I'm off to enjoy an action packed birthday celebration weekend! Next time I'm on here, I'll have a ONE year old! :-)

Fair Fun

Last night after I got off work, Andy & I packed up the kiddos in the car and headed off to the county fair for some family time, fair-food and fun.

Leila loved the car ride - she went on it twice...




She also loved the carousel which I had the pleasure of accompanying her on (daddy did last year)...




Whoa, I can totally see how we look alike in this pic!


My dinner of choice... hand-dipped corn dog! Classy, I know.


But, I was tempted to try this... NOT!


Lando enjoyed the fair food, too...


There's something magical about it all...


And we ended the night with some cotton candy and an amazing sunset...




Okay, I think I got my fair fix for the year. And my belly is telling me to go easy on the greasy food next time. :-)

Don't forget about YOU!

There's one thing about parenthood that's super easy - forgetting to make time for yourself.  When your first child comes into the world your perspective instantly shifts. Instead of living life for yourself, you are now living for someone else. Selfishness gives way to selflessness as their needs come before yours.

It really is an amazing thing.

However...  It is crucial to make time for yourself. Between mouths to feed, diapers to change, a career, rooms to clean, laundry to fold, and a partner to make time for, it is usually YOU that comes in last. Am I right? This is all fine and dandy until momma gets burned out.... until you have a nervous breakdown or at least until your hair hasn't been cut in a year and your toenails still display remnants of last mother's day pedicure polish.

I'm a big proponent of mom's NOT giving up their lives just because they have kids. YES, your children and spouse should come first. YES, you have a lot to take care of and very little time to do it all. BUT, your happiness and zest for life is what your children and significant other will thrive on. And your happiness is crucial to your day-to-day success.

Why am I thinking about all of this? Well, today I played hooky from work. I treated myself to a little spa day (facial, pedicure, hair treatment). And then I spent the rest of the day with my family - another neighborhood walk and a trip to the farmer's market. And ya know what? I feel completely refreshed and happy and ready to take on the world again.











PS - I bought my spa day through Yollar for like $50 ($150 value)... Yollar, Groupon, Living Social, and other group couponing sites often have awesome deals like this, so next time you see one snatch up a little something for yourself. And don't feel guilty about it!

Wise Words Wednesday: Wonder

"If we experienced life through the eyes of a child, everything would be magical and extraordinary. Let our curiosity, adventure and wonder of life never end…" ~ Akiane Kramarik

Watching my kiddos enjoy the summertime brings me back to memories of my own childhood, when I had not a care in the world. Days spent at the lake splashing in cool water. Popsicles dripping down my chin and onto my clothes without a care. Listening to the chirping of crickets outside my bedroom window as I fell asleep at night. Man oh man, those really were the good ole days.

Now, instead of as many carefree days, I get to spend the bulk of my time closed up in an office at work or trying to maintain my sanity with chores at home. Despite this sad fact, I can easily say that I'm enjoying the summer just as much as I did when I was a kid, just in a different way. I'm experiencing it through my little ones - living vicariously through them. And seeing them experience things like putting their feet in the sand for the first time, napping under an umbrella on the beach, or sliding down a slip 'n slide with their cousins, is about 500 times sweeter than experiencing it myself.

I hope I never forget to seize the wonder.