Us3

Us3

Tuesday, December 24, 2013

AJ's First Limo Ride!

Our family was so fortunate to be invited to go in a LIMO with friends to dinner and see Christmas lights! AJ has never been in one before (Why would he? He's 5!), and was so excited! He knew what a limo was, but never seen the inside or anything.

Our friends, The Farrells invited us and another family, The Merrills to ride together to dinner and then drive around town and look at lights. It was pretty neat to see AJ's face when the limo arrived at our house to pick us up!

The kids had such a fun time, laughing, singing and chatting away in the limo. Juliana was so sweet and made each kid their own plastic cup with their names on it and brought them hot chocolate. She also made cute wine glasses for the gals. It was so fun!

Here's some pics:





Monday, December 23, 2013

Visit From Grandma!

A few weeks ago we had a really fun visit from Grandma! I have to say, I was very happy to see her and spend time with her, but I was also very excited to get some adult time while she got to spend quality time with AJ!

For Jason's birthday (in October), I got him a night away in Denver. We had to plan it for December when my mom was in town, so she could watch AJ. It worked out perfectly!

Mom flew in on Thursday night, and on Friday AJ was off school so they got to hang all day. Then, Saturday we hung around during the day and that afternoon Jason and I took off for a whirlwind 30 hour date! We checked in at the Grand Hyatt in Denver. Had a few drinks and then met up with some friends from Jason's work. It was the COLDEST weekend we've had so far this year- in the negatives for some of it- so we bundled up and went to the Parade of Lights. Then, we all went to this amazing restaurant in Denver called Ocean Prime. Oh. My. Goodness. The food was amazing! Our dinner reservation wasnt' until 8:15 so it was a late night, but amazing! Lot's of laughs and good conversation. The next day we woke up (at 9am!!!) and ordered room service, then got ready for the Bronco's game. We met up with some other friends at the stadium and had lunch and some more cocktails (we had to get our bodies warm!). The game was SO fun and we won!

After the game, around 6pm, we got home and found out that AJ and mom had a wonderful time together too. They made a gingerbread house, went to see Frozen and AJ "taught" my mom how to play Ipad for hours... ha! I am so thankful that my mom was here to hang with AJ and that she allowed us to have this wonderful adult time together. It was SO fun!

Here are some pics:

All bundled up!

Parade of Lights!

The view from our room... DARN COLD!

Go Broncos!


Grandma and AJ!

Monday, December 16, 2013

First Ski Day of the 2013/1014 Season!

We all headed up to Loveland the day after Thanksgiving for our first day on the slopes. It was SO FUN! The snow was great (as opposed to last year this time when it was terrible). AJ took a 90 minute private lesson with Jungle Jim and Jason took an all day lesson. They both loved it! I was sooo impressed with how quickly AJ picked it right back up. He rocked it! And I was THRILLED to hear that Jason loved his lesson and wants to go back. YEAH!
 
 

I LOVE this face!








Friday, November 1, 2013

Happy Birthday Daddy & Halloween!

Wednesday was Jason's 38th birthday! He had a really good day and loved hearing from all his friends and family. That night, I organized all of our neighbors to go out to dinner. In all, there were 16 of us. It was fun!
 
Opening presents

Happy birthday Bronco cake!


Here are some Halloween pictures. What a FUN day! AJ got to wear his costume to school all day. He was an army man! They had a parade and party and I was so happy to be able to surprise him and go. He asked me in the morning if I could go, and I told him honestly, no. I thought I wouldn't be able to leave work. But I got lucky!
That night, we had all our neighbors over for dinner- and set up a table in the garage with 4 houses full of candy. We had the house to go to! Jason and I took turns taking AJ out trick or treating. This year he was REALLY into it. Running with his buddies from house to house, with no fear at all. I loved watching him :)

My Army Man!

This is AJ's WONDERFUL teacher, Mrs. Hayden. She is amazing! We love her :)

AJ with his buddies

With his adorable friend, Bella

One of his best buddies, Tyler

And this is Paige.. His current "girlfriend". She's adorable and so sweet

That night, he decided to change out of his Army costume and into Spiderman

Love these two :)


Friday, October 25, 2013

Anderson Farms! 2013

We had another fun time at Anderson Farms last weekend! I think this may have been our 4th year? I'm not sure, but I am sure that if you want to go back thru this blog you'll be able to figure it out! I should do that, huh?
 
Anyway- it was a cold day, as you can see! It was fun tho!
 
 
 
Barrel Car rides are always fun!

This was FUN!!! And a great workout too!

This is his "scared" face.. haha!

Love that smile

Hay ride with Dad!

Warming up with hot chocolate while searching for the perfect pumpkin!

 

We found 4...





Thursday, October 24, 2013

California October 2013

AJ and I took a week long trip to California to visit family. We had a REALLY good time! Before I get into the trip, I have to start by saying that AJ's Papa passed away from cancer about a week before we got there. Papa was such a wonderful, caring and thoughtful man. He and AJ had such a special relationship and I know AJ will miss him terribly. Dave had been battling cancer for about 4 years and we knew it would eventually take him, but it wasn't until a few weeks before he passed that my mom realized it would be so soon. We had planned to spend time with Papa in California, knowing it would likely be the last time AJ got to spend time with him. A few days before we left, my mom said he may or may not be alive. Selfishly, I did not want AJ to see him laying on his death bed. At the same time I didn't want to go to California and AJ not see him. It ended up that Dave passed and obviously we didn't have a choice.
 
I explained to AJ what happened. I tried my very best to be honest, but not too graphic. I think it's important that I don't lie to him or make up words that he may not understand. He knew that Papa had a bad back and so I explained that he had cancer (he had heard of that before and asked if Papa lost his hair) and that the cancer bugs had taken over his body and shut down his organs. I told him that now Papa was in Heaven and was no longer in pain. That he was up in Heaven with Buster and other family members and looking down us and smiling. (My mom told me that he asked her if when he died "did he just go up?" Her answer, which I thought was perfect, was "I think so") AJ was sad. He was and still is very sad, but he understands it. Over the past few weeks he has brought it up and he told me that he missed Papa a lot but was happy he wasn't hurting anymore. That he knew he will see him again. I have told AJ that I want him to continue to talk to us, ask questions and tell stories about Papa. We will miss him so much. Papa was very good to us.
 
Here is one of my favorite pics of AJ and Papa
 
 
This picture was this past June, for AJ's birthday. The last time they got to hang out.
 
 
 
OK... so, our California trip.....................


Matt, Kristin, Mom, AJ and I rented a Duffy boat and drove around Newport Beach.


My mom kept Papa's office the same so AJ could play in it. He and Papa used to play in here a lot. They both loved it!


AJ and Lexi. They seriously love each other!

 
 

On Monday, we went to Disneyland! It was great because the lines were short and the weather was great! 
AJ and Grandma on the tram

AJ's good friend from Preschool, Kelan, and his mom were there too so we spent most the day with them. It was such fun for AJ to have a buddy there!

Star Tours! (AJ hated it, Kelan LOVED it- kind of a theme for the day)


He did the Materhorn!!! He wasn't thrilled to do it, but I was proud of him!

Autopia!

Sword in the Stone! He tried so hard!







Parade time!
 After our trip to see Southern California, we headed up to the Central Coast where my Dad and Cory live. Matt drove us up there and we had lunch as this AMAZING fish house called Brophys. YUM!

 
 

It didn't take long for AJ to want a wheelbarrow ride! Think this may be his last one as he is getting HEAVY! (and Pop isn't getting any younger... )

These sneaky guys... eating cake!

Of course, we went to the Avila barn and fed animals

Love these people!

We also got ice cream. I told AJ about how when I was a kid I would get Bubble Gum ice cream and spit the gum into a cup while I ate the ice cream. Then, I'd eat all the gum. Of course, he tried it too :)

Love

Pop and AJ love working in the garage. This time they made a cool car.

They cut, drilled, sanded..

The final project!

AJ and Grammy Cory worked really hard making adorable Despicable Me pumpkins


Check them out!

Pop busted out the drills and saw to carve a pumpkin with AJ. They had a blast getting messy!
 
 







 
 




The last night we had the family next door come over for dinner. These kids are always so kind to AJ. They've become friends!