Weekend Mountain Getaway

Friday afternoon we drove up to Keystone for a weekend getaway with the Doogans and Startzels! We were expecting to be welcomed with lots of snow, but to our surprise it was only a dusting. The kids were awesome! They absolutely loved playing together and spending so much time together. They were really flexible sleeping in bedrooms with parents and sleeping through our loud, intense game nights.

Saturday morning they decided to be monkeys jumping on the bed! After breakfast we thought we'd brave the cold weather and try sledding. Luckily the ski runs weren't open and were perfect trails for us! We didn't last too long because of the cold, but the kids had a good time nonetheless. I think we spent more time bundling them up than actually sledding!

Trekking our way up the mountain

Hazel is ready to go!

Steve & Brooklynn ready to take off!

Chandler enjoyed being pulled around

Sisterly love!

(And no we did not send them down like that, but maybe next time)

With all the excitement the kids were ready to nap and the ladies ready to shop! After naps on Saturday we took a dip in the pool before dinner. The boys did all the swimming with the kids - the moms were wusses! Brooklynn & Chandler got to show off those swimming lessons skills!

Guncle love and their noodles!

Saturday night after the kiddos went to bed another intense game night ensued! We broke out the Apples to Apples (which I had never played before - great game). Then the Startzels brought the "T-Shirt Game", which is similar to Apples to Apples but even better! If you're looking for an entertaining, comical game....buy it! Then came Balderdash (after some drinks in) it became pretty hilarious with Steve topping the night off with his definition.

Sunday we were on the road fairly early to make sure we'd be home in time for the Broncos game. Hazel & Brooklynn had to get in one last hoorah before we left and had some fun in the Pack 'n Play.

What a fabulous relaxing weekend! It's always great to get away (and it helps having Joan & Doug's sweet condo) and just hang out with friends. We feel so lucky to have such great friends for us and our kiddos. Can't wait for next year's trip - hopefully more incriminating pics!

*On a side note, Chandler did take her first steps this weekend - how could she not with 3 kids constantly running circles around her? YEAH CHANDLER! I'll post the video (if it's decent) soon, so stay tuned!

More Shots....Ouch!

Today was Chandler's one year check-up. We picked up Steve from work, so he could help me with the girls. Him and Brooklynn were going to wait in the lobby for us, but Brooklynn just couldn't be without her sister. Chandler is healthy, developing wonderfully, and is getting big! She weighs 22 1/2 lb (73%) and is 30 inches long
(77%). She didn't enjoy the 6 shots, but fell asleep after we got home. Brooklynn had to get her flu shot too, and did amazing ( no crying at all)!

The only issue we've had this week is Chandler adjusting to the time change - she wants to go to bed at 7 at night and then wakes at 6:30 each morning. Hopefully we'll get her adjusted soon!

Chandler's Birthday Party

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The Big Day

Thursday was Chandler's big day! Poor girl was still sick, so we stayed home to rest. She had a runny nose (with boogers glued to her pacifier) and a cough at night. We were just worried we would have to cancel the big party on Saturday. So dad came over in the morning to spend some time with his favorite birthday girl and we had a little mini-party. Here she is getting ready to dig in. It was our rehearsal for the big cake day. Totally indulging herself!

After dinner on Thursday we had another little party for her. This time it was a cookie! It was so cute to watch Brooklynn sing "Happy Birthday" and how excited she was for Chandler's birthday. She wanted to be involved in everything!

Chandler going straight for the candle - must be a Wesling girl thing but luckily I grabbed it before she could pull a "Brooklynn"

Brooklynn loving all the birthday sweets

Happy Birthday my sweet baby girl! This last year has been amazing to watch you grow. You have gone from a high-maintenance mommy's girl to a fun-loving laid-back cuddlebug! The best part of this year has been watching your relationship with Brooklynn blossom. You are so lucky to have the best sister that loves you so much! We love you so much and now understand the saying "Everything in life happens for a reason", because you are our little blessing!

Halloween Weekend Fun

We had such a great time this Halloween - there's so much to do with the kids at this age! Saturday morning we braved the crowds to take on our annual Boo at the Zoo trip. We met our fantastic friends (and their parents) for a day of fun in the sun - it was almost 80 degrees. Whew! Because it was so hot Chandler couldn't wear the ladybug costume, so we had to improvise with the ballerina, which actually turned out really cute. Here's some cute pics from the day:

Princess Brooklynn meeting her conductor - she likes a man in uniform! Sibling rivalry - Chandler was sneaking in on Brooklynn's man and wooing him with the candy
The cutest lioness ever - Gabby!

Weird Jurassic Park guy who made the dinosaur Julian (a.k.a. baby daddy)

Minnie loving on her Joauntie!

So this was probably the most fun they had all day - no candy, no animals even in the exhibit, just a glass wall and something to stand on.

Saturday evening we went to the Startzels for more Halloween fun - dinner and more cookie decorating. Again, kids gave up quickly so we were left to decorate.

Favorite toy - being pushed around by daddy in an empty beer box. We're working on patenting it as we speak!

Sunday was the big trick-or-treating night. We headed out pretty early, before it got too chilly (although it was good weather which never happens on Colorado Halloweens). We kept it pretty low-key, because the last thing Brooklynn needs is tons of sugar! She did a great job - always saying "Trick or Treat" and never forgetting her "Thank you"s. I stayed home and handed out candy to the trick or treaters and was amazed at how many cute kids we had this year. Usually we seem to get the teenagers who don't even dress up - but none of those this year! Yeah! Of course that meant we had lots of leftover candy.

When Brooklynn got home from trick-or-treating she was even more excited to hand out candy to the other trick-or-treaters. She kept asking where the kids were and loved putting the candy in their bags herself.

Brooklynn & J.D. (neighbor friend)

They were both excited to see each other but didn't know what to do once they finally did.

Brooklynn & Grandma trick-or-treating

Chandler just wants to crawl around and get some candy!

After trick-or-treating we decided we'd better carve our last pumpkin. Every year Steve tries to do a "pimpin" pumpkin. A couple years ago it was the Rams, last year the Broncos, so this year he thought he'd take on the Nuggets logo. It came out great and hopefully will send good vibes their way. It's going to be hard to root for Melo and all his drama though!

Overall, a great Halloween! Now it's on to preparing for the big birthday bash on Saturday. I can't believe Chandler is already a year old. More on that later.......

Back to the Halloween Festivities

After we got back from Florida it was right back to the Halloween fun. Thursday evening we made some cookies to decorate on Friday. The girls had a good time with the cookie cutters - Brooklynn did the cutting while Chandler ate the cookie dough. After cookie making we started with the pumpkin carving. Here's Brooklynn cleaning out the guts - she refused to stick her hands inside the pumpkin. She was excited about the pumpkin for a few minutes before she was side-tracked.

Daddy doing all the work while the girls check it out

Pumpkin #1 done!

Friday morning the Hepp girls and J.D. and Steph came over to decorate the cookies we made. First the girls cut out more cookies.

Then onto the decorating! Too bad their attention span is about 2 cookies at this age. That left us adults with lots to decorate.

Friday night we went to grandpa's house for dinner and to carve another pumpkin. This time it was mommy who did all the work (although the pics show otherwise).

Pumpkin #2 done! (It's a cat - mom is definitely not the pro like dad)

Chandler checking it out while Brooklynn guards our work of art

More Florida

We arrived in Clearwater on Saturday and stayed with my grandparents for a night. We decided we'd try the beach on Sunday for a couple hours, which turned into many hours of fun. The girls loved it. Chandler loved eating the sand and seashells, and Brooklynn enjoyed swimming, building lakes and sandcastles, and burying daddy. We ended up going back to the beach the next day since we had such a good time. You really have to soak up as much of the beach as possible when you live in Colorado!

The girls actually playing togetherBeach Bum (you can actually see the sand on her face - by the end of the day she was covered in sand)

After 2 full days of sun and the beach we decided we needed to take a break. I don't know whether it was Chandler's bleeding booty (I guess that's what happens when you're pooping sand) or our back sunburns. We spent Tuesday hanging out at the pool at our condo and then had a yummy dinner with great grandma & grandpa.

Chandler sitting in my great great great grandmother's chair

Group shot

Wednesday our flight didn't leave until late afternoon, so we thought we'd break up the drive from Tampa to Orlando with a day at SeaWorld. We survived the 90 degree with 90% humidity. We had a good time and felt right in with the rest of the tourists.

The girls watching the dolphins underwater

Checking out Shamu

The girls seemed to like SeaWorld, but the heat really took its toll on them. When we got home Brooklynn was obsessed with her stuffed whales and put on "shows" for us that were hilarious.

The flight home was long and a little strange. We really thought tiring the girls out all day would be a sure bet for an airplane nap, but nope. No naps at all! Someone once told me, "Don't worry...you'll never see those people again." So thanks Aunt Peg - I thought of that through the entire flight.

Overall we had a great trip - lots of quality time with great grandparents! The girls did such a good job being flexible with all the outings and different beds. Now I feel more confident in planning more trips in the future but am looking forward to those no-kid trips!