My Boys

Tonight we went on a family walk for FHE to the field behind our place. We wanted to explore the views and enjoy this beautiful weather!

This picture makes me so happy. I love my boys. I love the green hills of Colorado this time of year. So happy. Smile.

Snow fun

"Are we really going to go out there?"

"What is this stuff?"

Rain, Snow, Shine, a FREAKING BLIZZARD...won't stop us from going to the PARK! haha

Look how funky she's dressed. Hot mama.

Uncovering the car...one of my favorite activities.

Slushing in the snow runoff...yuck.

Running to the Mailbox

Playing by the street...great. The parking lot was so full of snow that not even a Hummer would have made it in the parking lot. Most people stay inside during a Storm...NOT the Avery Family!

More park pictures...ignoring the sign next to the park that says NOT to play when wet. Ah...whateva.

The kids LOVE the snow. I guess I'm OK with it. I love that they Love it. Lexi calls the snow, "snowman!" ... even tho we've never made a snowman. Whateva. Currently the snow is gone...knock on wood.

Me...silly faces as usual

my snow shoes...jk...i was SICK of boots.

"Seriously, I have to drive in this crap"

Headed to get a Diet Coke...I'm a happy mommy.

Jacob

Sleeping Jacob...my favorite. Napping...even with all that sunshine in his room. Sweet boy.

Helping Jacob...Peeling a carrot. Thanks!

Growing Jacob...he actually ate his food BEFORE he played on the toys at McDonalds today...wow...he' getting so big.

Silly Jacob...pretending to sleep in the car!

Winking Jacob...he said he was winking at Chelsey and told me to take a picture! ha!

Something I don't quite understand Jacob. haha. Dorky.

Our Day-to-Day

Handsome Jacob sitting in the front seat (while the car is off...) while I get my shopping list together.

Lexi's purse between her teeth...practicing to be a mommy...

Jacob is in charge of the trunk...he's the only one allowed to open and close it. Helpful.

He likes to climb on the car to close the trunk...our poor car might not make it past Jacob's 4th year.

More pictures later that day...Lexi on outfit #2

Walking to get the mail...BIG HELPER!

Going for a Walk

Saying Goodbye...and THE DRIVE to Colorado...

These pics aren't in order...sorry! Enjoy the ride!

Here's a picture of my friend's door when I went to say goodbye my last day in AZ. tear. This picture really sums up the love I felt for so many of my friends in AZ....Stephanie was an amazing friend to me and I really miss her! She's off to new adventures in another state too! Yay!

The treacherous drive to Colorado...following the moving truck for 2 days. Boring! But my sister Chelsey made the trip VERY entertaining for me. Thanks :)

Jacob was riding in the moving truck with heath. He LOOOOVED it. That bonding time with dad was what made this long drive all worth it for me. Smiling heart.

Packing the moving truck...um...next time IF we move to another state I'm INSISTING we hire movers.

I know I know...dumb...BUT...this is a picture of the last time Lexi and I walked to get the mail...she loved that walk. boo hoo.

Haha...Heath jumping in the dumpster at my friend Ashley's house...she let us stuff our crap in there after we cleaned out the house...its crazy how much trash, donation stuff, and junk you accumulate!

Saying goodbye. Tear. This is one of my good friends Holly. Look how cute she is!

From AZ to CO...fun fun.

Pics of Princess Lexi

Don't mess with me mom. ..this is a pic of Lexi after being caught writing all over my desk with a highlighter...gotta LOVE my 2 year old.

All these pics are with my crappy cell phone camera...sorry folks....

At the Post Office mailing a package to Aunt Courtney...Lexi LOOOVED it. Sandals, shorts, jacket, and 50 degrees weather. We wear sandals ANY chance we get! We're California Girls!

Look at her cute curly hair...she loves to have me put cute ribbons in her hair...and I think she loves EVEN MORE to rip them out in the middle of church or as soon as we get into the car.

Headed out for a walk...Lexi dressed herself. Gotta love her style. Jacob is thinking..."do I really have to walk next to her?" She's carrying binoculars so she can look for planes. She loves planes and we live next to a little airport so we see little planes and helicopters often.

There's the ever-present binoculars...and her awesome 80's leg warmer and $1 walmart sandal. Love it.

Headed out to the snow...she thinks she's ready. Yes, her hat its backwards.

Playing "naptime" with her dolls.

Say cheese! She had just done her hair and wanted me to take a picture of her...so she took a pic of me while I took a pic with my camera to send to aunt Kacie. Fun times.

Pantry Dilemma...solved!

I have a pantry dilemma...my last pantry was HUGE and this one is...well...a closet. And that closet is right up next to the double doors to the laundry room and the double doors to the fridge....they literally share the same 3 feet of space in an effort to make my life miserable. Yes, m.i.s.e.r.a.b.l.e.

So here was my solution. Baskets! I have a ton of wasted space above my cabinets in the kitchen...so I added baskets! Not really for decoration....tho they do look kinda cute I think...but for food! Is it totally practical...well...I guess a bigger kitchen and pantry would be more practical but ya work with what ya got right?! We're living in a temporary place...so I'm off to a new pantry every year or so...so I make do with what I have!

I do wish I could come up with some way to make them look more cute. I thought about greenery...buy green just isn't my color...I think I've looked all over the freakin blog world and have just settled on a plant shelf with just baskets. PLUS decor would just get in the way of functionality...right?! Simple. Works for me.

I purchased the baskets from Target when they were on sale. I had to run to 3 different super targets in my area...(kill me) but I love them! I wanted the fabric liner so I could wash it if needed and cause I wanted something to help break up all the BROWN ... I love the linen looking liners and they totally match my chairs in the dining room. Why didn't I just buy them with a coupon at Michaels, Joann's, HobLob? Cause I wanted to spend a fortune at Target. No really...Cause that would have been like 100 transactions, they don't have very many "sets" of baskets that all match, and I just loooved the ones I spotted at target...blah blah. Just cause ok?!! ;)

I labeled some of the baskets just for fun. Not really for any function. I'm sure my sweet husband would appreciate it it I actually labeled them correctly....like 'tomatoes' 'soups' 'pasta' ... but that would just not be cute! ;D So my labels currently say "1" "2" ... 'Faith' 'Hope' 'Love' 'Charity'..... and will probably change again and again.

I also purchased a step ladder on clearance at target to help me actually reach the baskets. Also...for the not so heavy baskets I just use my rolling pin and stick it through the hole of the basket to help lower it down...rocket science. My 4 year old loooves when I let him climb on the counter to grab the mac&cheese from the basket. Fun stuff.

So...what if my next home (March 2011) doesn't have a large plant shelf? I'll die. Just kidding...I have a few ideas. If I have an available wall near the kitchen either in the eat in dining area (not the formal dining area for sure!) then I'll buy 2 cute bookshelves and just fill them with baskets. OR I could just use them in a closet I guess. I dunno.

dinner at my house...

Yesterday was a bitter-sweet day...I was grocery shopping and cooking literally all day...

I was having a little dinner at my house and chose some of my favorite recipes...all from people I love...so I was thinking about my friends and family all day and I have to admit...I was sad and lonely. (yes...I said it). But on a happy note: I had lots of calls and texts yesterday from friends and family ... like everyone somehow knew I was having a hard day. happy.

some of my cooking/baking highlights...

my grandma's recipe of strawberry jam coupled with rhodes rolls---as homemade as it gets in my casa.

my aunt sheri's chinese chicken salad

my buddy stephanie's rainbow jello, Bunko Salad, and...Buttermilk Brownies. (yum!!!)

my mother's zucchini casserole. tear.

missing my family and friends. so...while I was making candied almonds, toasting roman noodles, watching rolls rise, crushing strawberries, chopping a zillion veggies, shaking up salad dressings, and making brownies from scratch (lots of firsts for me) ... it was nice to reflect on fun times all in the past. ALRIGHTY getting to poetic for me. haha. lets just sum it up...I was in a tiny, hot, kitchen...my kiddos were amazing at entertaining themselves yesterday and I enjoyed my day of cooking and reflection. haha.

i can still be sad and lonely but happy here...right?!! good days and bad days can co-exist in my happy world. busy being happy happy being busy...that's my motto and I'm sticking to it.