About Town

you know how many towns that have been around a long time (say 100 plus years or so) have these down towns that are dead and lifeless?  there are beautiful old buildings and some shops, but no one goes there.  well, our old down town isn't like that.  "old town" fort collins is amazing.  it's alive and vibrant and full of funness that all fort collinsites love to hang at.

our clan is no different.  we are in love with old town and get there as often as possible.  most often by bike through the old town neighborhoods.  if you've ever come to visit us you've been to old town.

you'll likely find us there friday evenings having sushi at jeju or saturday mornings in line at lucile's for our weekly dates, christmas eve strolling under the lights and through the snow as a family after church, having a family dinner on the back patio of the rio or sipping some coffee from mugs and eating cinnamon rolls from the silver grill watching the boys play in the fountains.

another favorite of mine is to take the boys in the mornings after we drop jack off at school.  few stores are open and commuters are still picking up coffee at their favorite cafe.  we stroll slowly, checking out the murals and playing the painted pianos.  yesterday, we popped into the little bird bakeshop to visit our friend brett who works there and munch a croissant before the candy store opened.  after the boys had chosen their candy we visited the toy store, just missing story hour, and played until lunch time.  we also scored a pretty cool dragon mobile by djeco for the boys room.

First Day of Winter Vaca

thursday was jack's first day of winter break.  boy are we glad to have him home for awhile :) i like that kid.  our days are so different with him home.  jon has taken a bit of time off too.  heaven.  we woke up that morning to....



"snoooooooooooooooooooooooow!" finn was so happy.  what a perfect start.  jon and i had sneaky plans for the boys that day.  we handed them a box, and they all ripped into it.  we got them a new set of jams and told them that it was "pajama day" (wahooooooo!) so they quickly switched into cowboy jammies for the day.  now lets all eat breakfast out shall we.  hop in the car boys.  we're having dooooooonnnnuuuuuuuttttsss!!!!



lamar's.  the donut shop in town.  as in the only donut shop in town.  once again, we're not in texas anymore where there's a donut shop on every corner.  at least they're really good and have seasonally appropriate sprinkles.



we made quite a statement entering the shop, as we usually do, but it quickly subsided with donuts and a view of a bobcat clearing snow.





now let's go bowling cowboys.  we were definitely the only people there at 9 am that snowy morning.











yeah, that was a really fun $4.



back to the car fellas.



we've gotta go "test drive" some cars at the toy store.  party.



we headed back home to make the long awaited ginger bread house.  finn was dyyyyiiing to make it.  i have the sneaking suspicion it had to do with the candy.



not everything is picture perfect.  we had a roofing incident possibly do to weight issues.



jon and i really needed to run some errands, but that's no fun on "pajama day" so we hooked the boys up with kettle corn and the polar express on the laptop.



now, what should you have for dinner on "first day of winter break/pajama day"?  why breakfast of course!





not a bad end to a really fun day.

Bowl-O-Rama

let's just start by saying all of these pics are off my iphone.  this one uploaded and i couldn't resist throwing it in.



my word.



a little while back i took the boys bowling with a couple of friends for a birthday.   we had 7 kids under 4 bumper bowling.  let's just say the guy working wasn't super excited about it or nice to us.



but the kids had fun, and that's what counts...



he did give us this rockin' bowling ball launcher thing.  after which he no longer had to walk up and down the lanes rescuing stuck balls.



finn LOVED it and figured it our right away.  he and phillip were machines.  their little bitty bowling shoes were to die for adorable.



launch it!



happy dancin'



jack was bummed to miss it.  we've never bowled before.  it's a weird new thing to not make sure he has new experiences with us.  kinda stinks, but i'm sure he'll get a chance to bowl some day ;)

Out and About

i have every intention of writing a house update post.  but that would require time, and i don't have much of that right now.  it's my goal.  i will achieve it.  sigh.

while the dad's been away, the little mice have been playing.  we've hit the spray park.  many parks really.  everyday.

little chubs.

cracker snack.

my friend gwyn and i braved the drive-in together with my two oldest, her three kids, and a friend.

the kids and blankets were deposited in her truck bed, while she and i sat in the buick with a window down.  genius if i may say so myself.

kung fu panda 2. i don't think anyone saw much of the movie.  i, for one, have no idea what it's about.

next drive-in will be cars 2.  i think we need a count down chain for it.