Boxes at my back door...

...make me happy!

I love finding boxes that the mailman leaves at my back door, and this one was extra fun. It was for me!!

We spent the day in the City at Macy's with the kids so they could see Santa, and when we got home, I had a surprise waiting for me at my back door!

Tomorrow is my bday, and I love getting packages!!! Thank you thank you thank you Erin!!! I love my new coasters!!!!! And the card?? Priceless!!! Love you!

Cutting down our christmas tree...

...makes me happy. VERY happy!!

There is nothing like cutting down your own tree and having your house smell of fresh pine. We used to have an artificial tree, but a few years ago we started cutting down our tree the Saturday after Thanksgiving. It gets a little tricky with kids...especially in Colorado when you have to wander the National Forest a while to find your PERFECT tree, but we've found a great place here that works great for our family.

Jones Family Farm.

I have vivid memories of cutting down our tree in the mountains of Colorado growing up, and I remember one particular year Dad leading us into the forest with snow thigh deep and I believe our little Jeep got stuck more than once. Very Griswold-esque. Ever had one of those experiences??!!!

The nice thing about Jones is that you don't have to wander very far to find a tree, since it is a tree farm, and for a pregnant lady with two young kids?? Heaven!

Mom and Emma flew in yesterday from Phoenix for their NYC Gran/Grandaughter week, so we had two more helping hands. I'm sorry, but Christmas in Phoenix just doesn't sound appealing! Luckily my sister and her family will be in Colorado for Christmas.

The property had candy canes scattered all around, and Tyson just had to have his picture at every one. "Nother picture, Gran?" Just look at this cousin love Emma is giving him!


I just love Mom's face in this one. Pure delight. Tyson was a big boy this year and helped Daddy cut it down. Meanwhile, Ava stood back with me and took pictures with her camera. Like Mother like daughter!






The farm binds your tree for you, then we all enjoyed lunch in the van while Wade mounted our White Pine beauty to the roof.



Then off to the barn for some play time...








...and a letter to Santa. Ava's letter said, "Santa, Barbie please. Ava."


Yummy homemade oatmeal chocolate chip cookies at the Christmas canteen...


...and checking out the fresh garland and cones for sale.





We got the tree home no problem, and we picked out such a PERFECT tree that it needed NO trimming!! It was the perfect height, and I LOVE white pine. The needles are so soft it's like touching velvet! Mom and the kids made construction paper chains while we listened to Christmas music and decorated the whole house.

I LOVE CHRISTMAS!!!

VW's...

...make me happy.

Not all VW's, mind you, and I am no VW fanatic by any means. If you ask me what year, engine type and size, you're asking the wrong person.

I've always loved cars that are unique, and yes, old. I think I got that from my Dad. I always preferred to be tinkering with him in the garage than in the kitchen. Funny how some things don't change. I'm still trying to get used to being in the kitchen.

Most people know that I drive a VW van. Not an old bus, although Wade and I almost bought an orange pop up 1978 one a number of years back...but we already had 4 cars. I drive a 2003 VW Eurovan. With 2 kids and a big dog, I needed more space. But a Honda Odyssey just wasn't going to cut it. I needed (ok, wanted) something more unique, so my 6 month quest for a Eurovan with low miles finally ended with "our van" that we found in Boulder the day after Christmas in 2007. And it's been love ever since.

I guess that's when I became a VW fan. But mostly I just love old vintage cars, and certain VW's happen to be in the category.

Our fabulous mechanic in Greenwich, CT has been in business since the 1920's and they are third generation VW people. Why would I take my van to the brand new VW dealer just NEXT DOOR (also next to the Ferrari, BMW, Mercedes, and Bentley dealerships) when I could take it to Freccia brothers and their lot full of previously-loved-old-VW's that now have weeds growing through the windows?

Exactly.

So when I picked up the van last week from her 50,000 mile massage, I took along my camera and had some fun. I'm just showing you one image, because someday when I get my little (but continuing to grow thanks to baby Gus) tushy in gear and get my new website up and running, I will also have a stock photography site where my full collection of vintage cars and trucks can be seen.

Happy driving!

Fleeting summer afternoons...

...make me happy.

What could be better than a Friday afternoon, Pediatrician Barbie, glorious afternoon sun, a rocky beach and bait?

Last week the kids and I, along with Pediatrician Barbie, headed out the beach after naps to see what we could find. Ava wore her hand-me-down orange fleece skirt that has a convenient front zip pocket which is perfect for collecting shells.

We watch guys fishing and checked out their tub full of little fish (no idea what kind) and we watched a father-son team turn over rocks and catch a whole lot of little crabs for bait.

Barbie got her feet all sandy as Ava buried her in the sand, and Tyson dug holes. That's what he does. Dig holes. "Mommy, will you dig a big big big hole for me?" All he wants is a hole so he can jump in it. Sigh....it's the little things....



This is my attempt at shooting flair. I am really very poor at it. Anyone got any tips???





Has anyone ever seen these before? It's a bunch of snails that have attached themselves to each other. Safety in numbers?? I found one that had like 7 shells, but I showed it to Tyson and he threw it and I lost it in the rocks.




Enjoy the last fleeting summer afternoons. Unless of course you are in Denver and you enjoyed the chance of snow yesterday with cold cold rain.

Routine

...makes me happy.

I haven't been in a routine since we moved here 10 months ago. Don't get me wrong, I have loved it, but it is nice to have something going on that is routine!

Ava started preschool on Tuesday and goes 3 mornings a week, with a long 4 day weekend break (I purposely did that just in case Wade could take a long weekend off).

We started out the morning at Starbucks for a special treat for both of them....their OWN kid's hot chocolate. They usually have to share, but today was a special day.





Of course the "spark-eh-ly" shoes had to make on appearance on the special first day!


Much to my surprise, she ran right into school and almost didn't look back. Is this really MY Ava?


The tears were starting to come when we got inside, but luckily one of her teachers, Miss Bobbie, came to our rescue and took Ava to the big blue rug for singing time. LOVE Miss Bobbie.

Jelly Bellys

...make me happy.

And I don't think I realized it until we went to Dylan's Candy Bar after our morning at Alice's Tea Cup.

Dylan Lauren (daughter of Ralph Lauren) opened up the Candy Bar in 2001 to bring her love affair with candy and art to life. It's a pretty cool story, and you can read it on their website.

Dylan's was ABSOLUTELY POSITIVELY UNDOUBTEDLY Audrey's #1 choice on her NYC to do list. She has been talking about it for weeks and been saving her spending money for a candy spree at Dylan's. I don't think it disappointed.

So if you like candy, want to walk on candy covered floors, and pay a visit to your dentist, go to Dylan's!!













P.S. I really should have used a flash or changed my white balance or something because the lighting was really not great! So sorry for the yellowish tinted images.