Broncos

Broncos are in the playoffs and much to our excitement, our neighbors invited us to watch the game in their suite.  We were SO Excited!!  GO BRONCOS!!!

Ready for the game!!

Fan Fare United in Orange.

A sea of orange and blue ready for the game.

Mid way through the game, celebrating with a Cold Coors Light.

Broncos going for the Touchdown.

TOUCHDOWN BRONCOS!!

SO MUCH FUN!!

Best Broncos Game date, ever.

HUGE Thanks to our Hosts with the Most; Pete, Danae and many friends!!! 

Broncos Win!!!!

Only one game with the Patriots between us and the Super Bowl!!

Winter Park Ski School - Week 1

Way back when it was sunny and hot, we signed the boys up for five weeks of ski school.  They have never really been in ski school.  Oliver went one day when he was three and we were in Steamboat.  It wasn't a great experience and he said he never wanted to go back.  We actually had to call this ski camp because he is still traumatized by the name "ski school".  The difference this time is that we signed up with friends and he has three years of skiing with him Mama under his belt.  Kellan has never been on ski's, so that was a bit nerve racking, but again, he was going to be with a friend.  Everything is more fun with friends.

After driving two hours in a blinding snow storm, we arrived in Winter Park in time for dinner.  We walked across the street to the Winter Park village for pizza and some great ski videos (hence the staring eyes).

It was such a good video that Oliver couldn't peel his eyes away while he sipped his Sprite.  Maybe he was dreaming of skiing like that one day.

Kellan was interested but his furrowed brow makes me wonder if he was doubting the idea that skiing was a good idea.

Mommy and Daddy were excited to be there safe and sound while avoiding the morning I-70 rush.

Eventually, the boys lost interest in the ski video and turned their attention to iPhone videos.  It was a Friday night and everyone was beat from the week, so some video time was A-Ok.

The hand tossed pizza that we watched being prepped just behind us finally came out and it was quite delish.

Mommy and her boys.

How can you resist those pouty lips?

There are some all-around smiles.

Kellan loves taking photos and his first target of the night was Daddy.

After a nice and relaxing dinner, it was time to walk back to the condo through the blowing snowing storm.  Oliver was a trooper and posed next to this tree for a photo op.

Kellan wanted in too.  If this photo doesn't demonstrate the blowing snow, I don't know what would.  Don't fret, there were two smiles in this photo as well.

The next morning, we were all excited for a Colorado Blue Sky day, but not before some snuggles with my boys and photos by Kellan.

Kellan is suited up and ready for his first day on skis.

Shortly behind him, Oliver was suited up and ready to ride.

Outside, by the tree that we paused in front of the night before, we met up with the Martin boys for a group photo.

Cole, Kellan, Oliver and Owen are ready for day one of ski lessons!

After a very chaotic drop off, the boys were finally off with their classes.  Next up, the parent hit the slopes as the sun was peeking out from behind the clouds.

Keith, Kristi, Patrick and Carrie

It was a perfect day.  Fresh snow and sunshine as far as the eye could see!

Yes, I felt a bit (OK, a lot) guilty that I shipped Kellan off to ski school for his first day on skis.  I wasn't there to take photos of his first time on skis.  I wasn't there to hold the harness to make sure that he didn't fall. I had to have a lot of self talk that and personal forgiveness.  I promised myself (and the boys) that we would take them out after lessons the next week.

Of course, guilt of not, we still enjoyed our Apres Ski. Why would we want to miss a chance to tease Patrick with his margarita on the ski slopes?

We picked up the boys and they were beat. Kellan said that he didn't want to go back to ski school and Oliver had some serious leg cramps.  Jin was in lessons too and she was happy to hang with the boys while they warmed up inside.  She loved ski school.

Eventually, the sun went down and day one of skis school was in the books.  Daddy won Daddy of the year by carrying both boys down to our equipment. By the time we got to the car, he was carrying Oliver on his shoulders and ALL of our equipment.  Me... well.. I was carrying Kellan.  Hey, I was doing my part.

Social Saturday

Finally, we were all back to normal.  As far as we could tell, all illnesses had passed and we were ready to cram in as much social stuff as possible.  We woke up Saturday to several inches of snow.  As much as it would seem that a it was a good day to stay home in cozy pajamas, we had banked enough of those days to last a while so we ventured out.

We met the Martin's at Hacienda Colorado for lunch and then headed back to their house where the boys played in snow that was knee deep.

Kellan took some time to evaluate the situation.

He soon realized that playing in the snow sounded like a mighty fine idea.

As the snow continued to fall, so did the boys, right into the snow to have a snack.

Our Angels were busy leaving their mark.

With any good snow fall and a bunch of boys comes a snowball fight.

The backyard may have been covered in snow, but Kellan still wanted to take the big wheel for a spin.  Even with clearing snow around the front tire, he didn't make it very far.

Cole was content taking in a snow snack.

As the snow continued to fall and fly, the Mom's and Dad's went inside to stay warm and dry with a football game on TV.

That night, we went to have dinner with the Heinemans.  Eric hosted an absolutely amazing Prime Rib dinner that was melt-in-your-mouth good.  The kids devoured some super scrumptious meat ball sandwiches.  Thank you Eric and Jennie was inviting us to enjoy your amazing dinner.  We loved it!!

It was SO good to get out with friends and catch up on some much needed social time.  Bring on January!!  We're ready for the busy calendar that awaits us!!

Days of Christmas and New Year Blur

Then... there was the eight day of Christmas.  That's when it took a turn.

Kellan sick.... Check

Keith sick... Check

Oliver sick... Check

Mommy sick... well... I guess we all get a turn.

On Saturday (day 8), Mommy had a sore throat and just didn't feel well.  She thought that she was taking her turn with the bug that the boys had.

On Sunday (day 9), Mommy couldn't eat or drink anything and she could barely talk.

On Monday (day 10), Mommy went to the doctor, convinced that hospitalization may be inevitable and they diagnosed her with a serious case of Step Throat.

On Tuesday / New Years Eve (day 11), Mommy waited for the antibiotics to kick in.

On Wednesday / New Years Day (day 12), the antibiotics had started delivering relief and a slight ability to finally eat/drink something.  Mommy was starving, thirsty, tired (from not sleeping well) and 7 pounds lighter.  It was NOT the diet plan that this Mommy would recommend, but at least there was an up side to being SO sick.

It was a huge bummer that the second half of our holiday vacation was dampered by Mommy getting Strep Throat.  The silver lining is that we had time off of work and school and so did most everyone else.  This meant that we could stay home and recuperate without the stress of work working on to only deliver a huge to-do list at the end.  After a week of antibiotics, Mommy began to feel better.  Hospitalization never came to fruition (and maybe it wasn't inevitable) and we are getting back to normal, slowly but surely.

Speaking of surely, even though Mommy was down and out, that didn't mean that all of the fun seized to exist.  Lets rewind to some of the in-between fun times.

On Sunday, we got a bit of snow so Keith took the boys out for some sledding.  We haven't had much snow this year, so even a few inches is enough to bust out the sled.

Keith loaded up the boys and headed out in search of a wide open sledding hill.

Looking at the photos, I see that they found a hill and then he sent our two bundles of joy sailing out into the great blue yonder!!  HA!

Seriously, they had a blast!

There were also snow angels to be made.

As well as snow to be eaten.

It looks like someone was talked into pulling Daddy on the sled.

The boys had a great time and it was so good that they were able to get out into the fresh air while Mommy was at home getting some much needed rest. 

Fast forward a few days to New Years Eve.  The Martin family had invited us over to ring in the New Year.  We were so excited to celebrate with them, and then, Mommy got sick.  So, Daddy and the boys headed over to the Martin house while Mommy spent hour upon hour on the couch in recovery mode.  In all reality, it was just what the Doctor ordered for everyone.  Well, maybe everyone except Kristi.  I hear that there was a testosterone overload at the Martin house between the two Dad's and four boys.  Thanks to the Martin's for hosting our Ham Fam boys to ring in the New Year.

The camera was sent along with Daddy but from what I heard, the boys were having so much fun playing that photos didn't happen.  He did know that he couldn't come home with an empty memory card so here we have a photo of the boys on their way home.  I would be willing to bet that they all had an excellent time!!

Happy New Year!!

On New Years Day Day, Kellan found it necessary to lay like lettuce on the back of the couch.  The boys always get the stink eye from Mommy and told to get down when they do this.  When I asked Kellan what he was doing, he said that he needed a massage.  How can you give that response a stink eye?

From stage left, in comes Daddy delivering a massage to Kellan.  You can almost hear him giggling just by looking at this photo.

Mid-Day on New Years, Keith got a call from our neighbor, Mark.  He invited Keith and the boys to join him and his daughters in the hot tub.  The boys were in their swim shorts before you could say hot tub and ready to take a dip.  There may have been snow on the ground, but there were chicken legs streaking the culd-a-sac.  I would have LOVED to have been there to take photos of the Dad's and kids in the hot tub, but alas, I took full advantage to stay on the couch and recover.  At this point, I was still unable to eat or drink much, but it was getting better.

On New Years night, we had tickets in the 9th row for the Nuggets game.  We were debating on going given the fact that Carrie was recovering from being quite sick.  After Keith served the Ham Fam a traditional Hoppin'  Johns dinner for health, wealth and luck in the new Year, we decided to give it a shot.  We cancelled dinner plans, asked the babysitter to come later than originally planned and then went straight to the game.  It was SO nice to be out of the house and to be together.  Conversation was sparse (due to Carrie being unable to talk much) and we passed on all of the stadium goodies (due to Carrie not being able to eat/drink much) but we had a great time being together.  

Photo is proof that a shower and good beauty products can pass you off like you're not walking around on heavy antibiotics.

The next day was Thursday.  The twelve days of Christmas and New Year was over and it was time to go back to work.  We had all had our own turn of being sick in one way or another.  We were surrounded by amazing friends that are our Colorado family.  We got to spend every day sleeping in and lounging in our pajamas until late in the day.  Our cups floweth over with snuggles and love.  We truly had a blessed Christmas and New Year, even if we had to search for the silver lining on the back half.

To you and yours... Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

2014 is going to be BIG!