Manic Monday

The castle is still here...seriously! But I moved to a new location, outside! I just can't find it in my heart to toss it yet, it still provides hours of enjoyment. It is starting to look a little pathetic, though.
This is how Colby unpacks from his weekend fishing trip. Bag in laundry room, check. Done unpacking!

How's your Monday going?

Easter Bunny at Fashion Island

Raif waiting patiently in line
The professional one is better, but they don't sell you the images on a CD at Fashion Island!

A quick stop at the fountain to make a wish.

A beautiful, sunny, Southern California day!

Raif trying to throw his penny in backwards.

Doesn't this look like it ends in disaster, luckily it didn't!

Impish grins all around.

Grandma got to join us.

Very rare for us to all take a picture together, but a nice passerby asked us if we wanted one.

We went to the Grove last year for Easter, and I think we will be back next year. This year, however, time was passing by so I asked my mom to join me for a quick trip to Fashion Island tonight (Colby is on a fishing trip). The evening was very pleasant, we even got to enjoy a glass of wine and about an hour long, peaceful meal at Yard House. But, let me say, The Grove does such a BEAUTIFUL job of landscaping the bunny house, you just can't help but get in that spring happiness mood. We even took picutes of the landscaping last year because it was that gorgeous.
Thank you Fashion Island for a wonderful evening, but well see you at The Grove next spring!

Daddy Night at Preschool

Tonight was Daddy night at preschool. The theme was space and Bailey and Colby created a fun space mobile. They also got to drink root beer floats! I absolutely love Bailey's preschool and think they do such a wonderful job of teaching while letting kids be kids. Kindergarten has become such an academic year, so it is so wonderful for Bailey's preschool to let her explore, develop, and grow in a fun and nurturing atmosphere. Colby attended this same preschool over 30 years ago, what a special thing for Bailey and Raif to attend the same school!

Happy St. Patrick's Day

Bailey started the morning with a little green milk!
Raif with his blankie

Trying to get a picture taken of the two of them this morning proved to be quite tricky, I think they were taking the whole "tricky leprechaun" thing to heart.

Raif and I picked up Bailey from preschool and headed over to E.J. Malloy's to join the Irelands and Jacobs.

Kate, Bailey and Reagan causing a little mischief!

St. Patrick's Day is always so much fun. Everyone seems to be in such good spirits! We started the day off with green milk, a trip to get our corned beef, picked up Bailey and headed over to an Irish pub. We ended the day with my mom and dad coming over for corned beef and cabbage and a little Irish soda bread. Colby's dad joined us late in the evening and so did our good friend Curtis. Another fun filled St. Patrick's Day.

Sun Valley, Idaho Day 3

Bailey and her daddy at Dollar Mountain ready to tackle the "Half-Dollar" lift
Bailey ready to go!

Half-Dollar Lift

Preparing to load

"Hello" from the lift

We made it on the lift (Out of order, I know)

Here we come down the mountain

Bailey, doing so much better than the first day

I wish I was a sound editor, Raif's screaming gets in the way of the video, but still great! Raif was in a mood, but it didn't stop us from having a great day on the mountain!

We had a great last day of our trip. We took the kids over to Dollar Mountain, a super

kid-friendly place, fun for beginners to learn. Bailey had a great time, her Daddy's back can attest to that! She went up the mountain at least 15 times, and she was ready for more! We can't wait until next winter when she can try out more skiing, and maybe even get Raif on skis, or at least touch the snow!!!

Sun Valley, Idaho Day 2

Woke up on the 2nd day to 6 inches of snow. Our snowman we built the day before.
Taken from the french doors at the house.

Other side of house.

Raif checking out the snow from the night before.

Skiing in the afternoon. Colby on the lift.

Taken from the lift.

Me on the lift.

We got to go skiing in the morning, then sledding through the area around the house in the afternoon.

Our sled dog.

Bailey and Colby by the "fairy hideout" Colby built during the summer.

Raif and me waiting for our "sled dog" to take a break!

Mommy and her snow bunnies.

Daddy and his snow bunnies.

Raif does not like to be put down in the snow!

Bailey loves it, though!

Raif did love snow ball fights and watching the snow splatter on the ground.

Bailey in the snowball fight.

Raif after the snowball fight.

Bailey making her snow angels!

Raif showing you he does not want to touch the snow!

Our second day on our trip was wonderful. We woke up to 6 inches of snow. Colby and his dad got to ski in the morning, then his mom and dad dropped me off to ski with Colby in the afternoon. We were both exhausted when we got home, but rallied for a little toboggan (which my mom and dad got for us about 4 Christmas's ago and we finally got to use it!) ride through the property around the house. Our afternoon ended with a fun snowball fight, snow angels, and tons of fun!

Bailey's 1st Day of Skiing

Bailey's First Skiing Experience

Playing in the snow outside the house
Waiting on the magic carpet

Skiing with Daddy

It's kind of far away, but that is a smile!

Hot chocolate (margarita for me!) to celebrate a successful first day!

We are up in Sun Valley, Idaho with Colby's parents for a little spring skiing (I know, Spring isn't for a few more days). Bailey was geared up and ready to go skiing, so we thought, why not give it a try! She got on her boots (Step 1), got on the skis (Step 2) and made it up the magic carpet (like a conveyor belt) and down the hill between her Daddy's legs (Step 3). She did this about 15 times and loved it. We'll see what tomorrow brings!

Raif Discovers Markers

Bathtime after the marker ordeal
He drank water from the bathtub, probably to wash down the marker

The Accused

I love to color. I think it is so much fun and know kids love to do it to. However, some kids do not understand that you are not supposed to eat crayons, nor are you supposed to pull the ink part out of th marker. Raif is one of those kids. In 10.2 seconds, yes that's seconds, he managed to get Bailey's markers, start to eat them, and pull out the ink part of the marker. He got it all over himself and thankfully that was it!