Family Fun!

We decided we needed a fun day trip this weekend so our first thought was to take the kids to one of our favorite places, Idaho Springs! We took Bronwyn and Hayden to play on the "Locomotive 60" train that sits on a piece of track there. Then we walked down to the Waterwheel and watched below as lots of river rafters drifted by. We realized when we got to Idaho Springs it seemed like it was the place to be for everyone in Colorado! So instead of merging in with the crowds we headed back down towards Golden.
We stopped at the Buffalo Herd overlook (which I have passed a hundred times and never stopped at) and watched all the Bison and their calves. Then we decided to drive up the hill to Buffalo Bill's Grave. We walked through the museum where the kids got to rope a calf! Bronwyn loved getting to dress up as a cowgirl and Hayden loves any chance to get out of the stroller.
Click below for Bronwyn trying to imitate the Buffalo

There was a tee pee outside that Bronwyn liked running out of pretending she was bear. Next, we walked up the path to the actual grave. Bronwyn had a hard time seeing Buffalo Bill. She just couldn't figure out why he was in the ground and was not coming out. I tried explaining it but we are just not there yet! On our way out out we stopped for some Root Beer Float and Fudge snacks. We even took a very scenic-off-highway-cause-mommy-missed-the-exit drive home and went through some areas that we have not been around at all in the last couple of years. It was a fun day and I'm glad we took a little time to do some random family fun!

mommy graphics

Hayden and a haircut...

No, not a haircut for Hayden... not quite yet, although he is a little fuzzy on the sides and in the back. I want to clipper him but I am afraid he won't look like my baby if I do! Danny says to do it... hmmm... maybe next week!
Hayden did go in for his 15 month appointment yesterday. He was totally showing of for Dr. Healey. He waved, he chatted, and showed off his set of lungs when he got his Chicken Pox shot! The Dr. says that his ear infection is completely cleared up and that everything else with him looks perfect!

Hayden's Favorites right now include...
* opening the back sliding door and letting himself outside to play whenever he chooses...
* watering flowers with mommy
* watching movies with Bronwyn, Toy Story 2 is the new favorite
* playing in the water table
* figuring out how to let us know what he wants!

After that we headed out to get Bronwyn's hair cut! Since it wasn't long enough to put into a ponytail we decided to take it up shorter and keep it off her neck for the summer. She has a style similar to my own, an a-line and it's super cute on her! I couldn't get a side shot of the new cut but it's not like we don't take pictures around here, so you will see it soon enough. She likes it though, she wanted to just wear her down this morning, "like a rainbow", she told me. ?... ?... ?... ♥ her!
Here's a picture of two weeks ago to show how long it was... and then the super cutie new do!

Happy Father's Day!

Happy Father's Day to our favorite Daddy and to all the Dad's we love! We spent the day with our dads, 1st at a BBQ with Jim and then to my parents house for dinner with my dad. Bronwyn loved wishing "Happy Father's Day" to Danny and Uncle James who had stayed over at our house the night before. She seemed so thrilled to have remembered what day it was!

We made up some yummy S'more Cups and brought them to both celebrations. Everyone seemed to really like them! We definitaly had a busy day and Hayden is miserably teething and also is working to fight another ear infection. So it was rough! We were happy to get back home and just relax where the kids can just hang out and be their happy-selves!

You wanna make them, don't you?!?!
S'more Cups
7 whole graham crackers (1 cup/250 mL finely crushed)
1/4 cup (50 mL) powdered sugar
6 tbsp (90 mL) butter, melted
4 bars (1.55 oz or 43 g each) milk chocolate candy, divided
12 large marshmallows

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 350°F (180°C). Place graham crackers into a large resealable plastic bag. Finely crush into crumbs using Baker's Roller®;. Combine graham cracker crumbs, powdered sugar and butter in Small Batter Bowl. Using Small Scoop, place scant scoop of crumb mixture in each cup of Deluxe Mini-Muffin Pan. Press crumbs to form shallow cups with Mini-Tart Shaper. Bake 4-5 minutes or until edges are bubbling. Meanwhile, break two of the candy bars into rectangles. Remove pan from oven; place one rectangle into each cup.

2. Cut marshmallows in half crosswise using Professional Shears dipped in cold water. Place one marshmallow half, cut-side down, into each cup. Return to oven 1-2 minutes or until marshmallows are just slightly softened. Remove from oven to Stackable Cooling Rack; cool 15 minutes. Carefully remove cups from pan. Cool completely.

3. Break remaining candy bars and place in (1-cup/250 mL) Prep Bowl. Microwave on HIGH 1 minute-11/2 minutes or until melted and smooth, stirring every 20 seconds. Dip the top of each marshmallow in melted chocolate. Turn top-side up and let stand 40 minutes-1 hour or until set.

Yield: 24 cups

Nutrients per serving: (1 cup) Calories 100, Total Fat 6 g, Saturated Fat 3.5 g, Cholesterol 10 mg, Carbohydrate 11 g, Protein 1 g, Sodium 60 mg, Fiber 0 g

SICK is the new PINK!

After spending the good part of 3 weeks of May with Bronwyn and Hayden being sick... here we are again! Bronwyn came down with a crazy fever out of the blue Tuesday night. The following morning her fever kept up and she actually threw up. She spent the day just laying down and napping. And by Thursday morning she was back to her little self again. Although, apparently Thursday was Hayden's turn! He woke up like normal and had his morning milk. Then when I sat him down for breakfast a couple hours later he threw up all over! I know, *yuck* but man, we cannot catch a break! Then his fever started. After drinking a cup of Gatorade he threw up again a couple hours after that. (But the boy must have been thinking of his mommy, he managed to keep it on the kitchen floor and didn't even get it on himself!) He's just been sleeping the afternoon away, but when he is awake he seems pretty miserable. I'm hoping his take of it will last as long as Bronwyn's and he can be back to normal tomorrow morning!

"YOu kiSSeD a wHaT?!?!"

There we were at the Carter's Outlet store checking out the new clothes. Hayden is stroller-bound and waiting patiently to get done with all the boring shopping. Bronwyn found the lego table and is playing very nicely with 3 other kids. Suddenly she runs over to me and says, "I kissed that boy!" I was stunned... shocked... completely caught off gaurd! I asked who, and she points to where she was. This boy, who looked to be about 6 years old, peeks out from behind a clothing rack (looking super proud I might add) and says, "she kissed me!" Again, stunned... shocked... completely caught off gaurd!!! I think I pretended I didn't hear it for a minute. I had to explain to her that we don't go around kissing boys, or anyone for that matter. She looked at me so innocently and said, "But I can kiss my Hayden." Later that night after I told Danny about it we had to talk about who is okay to kiss, and who is not. She seemed like she understood... but don't worry, I'm already looking in to ordering a chastity belt!

If you give a boy a cookie...

...be ready for a mess!!!

~Bronwyn's Dance Recital~

This past weekend Bronwyn starred in her 2nd dance recital from the Mommy and Me class that we took a few weeks back. She loves to perform for all of us so I knew she would love the chance to be on stage again. She was too young to be in the preschool class, so I took the class again with her that we did last year. This year the theme of the recital was all about food. Her class did a dance called "Popcorn Pop".
Because they were the youngest group they got to start off the recital and then we were all able to leave. And they were able to wear whatever we chose, it just had to be yellow and white, since they were supposed to be popcorn. Bronwyn, of course, was amazing! She had the entire dance memorized and loved being on stage to dance. She did such a great job and it was so fun to see her up there. We're all so proud of her. We had everyone back over to our house afterwards so that the rest of the day could just be about Bronwyn. So we had lots of family at the house for pizza and JamieCakes (homemade with love of course)!
Bronwyn performed her dance at least 3 more times for everyone at home. Hayden and Drew even joined in since they have it down too from all the times they watched her practice! We really appreciated everyone wanting to be a part of such a special day for Bronwyn. Thanks to you all who wanted to be there for her!!!

Here's a video of the recital that Aunt Jamie got! Thanks so much Aunt Jamie!

Hayden and the fan...

This kid is just the funniest to watch. He is 110% boy, all the time... always looking for trouble, getting rough and making mommy laugh!

When Bronwyn Takes Over the Camera...

This morning Bronwyn got a hold of my camera. Something she keeps trying to do lately and I let her of course. Today though, she was too funny. She took the camera and off she went! When she came back to show me everything she thought "photoworthy" I laughed so hard I started crying! She's too funny and so creative. I swear to you that no one knows the true personality of this little girl besides Danny, Hayden, and I. I'm laughing as I type about the things she does and says that I simply cannot put into words! After I sorted through all the pictures and kept a small sample, I decided it's more worth it to get her her own real working camera. So off I went to amazon.com to order her a pretty little pink camera. She'll be so excited to have her very own!















































































































I have my fair share of crazy mommy moments, but when this girl makes me smile, it is truly unmeasurable! Where would I be without her?

Memorial Day 2010!

We celebrated Memorial Day this year, like always, bbq-ing with my family. I spent part of the morning making a super yummy trifle dessert, called Twisted Strawberry Shortcake. We went over to my parents house to enjoy the afternoon with them and my brother Danny, Rachael and Drew. Most years the weather for the Memorial Day weekend is pretty terrible. But this year it was perfect. Lots of sun and not too hot!











My dad grilled a brisket, but after losing pound #10 I didn't want to over eat! So I ate a little of this and a little of that and still filled myself up. The kids got to play outside... until they started a war in the sand box!
Everyone loved my dessert, which always makes me happy! Even Danny (and Bronwyn) ate the leftover once we got home, and he is not big on desserts! It was a great way to end the weekend!

Territory Days!

Down in Colorado Springs during Memorial Day weekend is what is known as Territory Days. This year Danny had to go in to work so I decided that the kids and I should join his family for some fun! The weather was perfect for spending the morning in the sun. We walked through the main street of Old Colorado City and checked out all the booths of food and fun. Check out some pictures from the day!
All the cousins! Alex, TJ, Kaylie, Kaitlin, Hayden, Taylor, Bronwyn, Alyssa and Logan