We spend most of our free time on one adventure or another. Whether it is checking out a new vacation destination and marking another state off our list, or trying out something new, there is never a dull moment-and we wouldn't have it any other way.
OK, I know we all say, "time flies" or "it passes so quickly." I agree with both statements, but when I look back and realize that it has now been (just a little over, Feb 11 isn't that long ago, right???) two years since Sam entered our lives, I find it hard to believe. I really don't remember life without our little guy. It seems like forever since he was my little bitty baby. (OK 8 1/2 lbs isn't really itty bitty, but you get the point)
His first day on earth
Bundled up to meet the ESU 13 staff at inservice day...2 weeks old
Now that he is two, our world is a different sort of noisy. Now instead of cries when he is tired, hungry, cold, etc. It is jabbering about anything and everything. He has taken on his brother's musical talents and will sing along with us. Right now his favorites are Carolina by Eric Church and Some Nights by Fun. Someday I will get a video of those and post them. It is quite cute. Here are some pictures from his birthday party to show off how big he has gotten:
Today marked the end of soccer season. Mason had a great time. I never thought I'd find myself saying this, but the season wasn't long enough. They were finally getting it figured out these last couple of weeks and then, it's over. Oh well. It was fun to watch while it lasted! Here are some pictures of our futbol star:
Are you ready for this???
So fast he's a blur
Buddies together for soccer
Mason's fan section. It was so fun that his cousins came to watch him play.
Man, I wish we could go join them!
Another great season at the Y. It is nice to have such fun programs for the kids to enjoy. Now that soccer season is over, what will we do on weekends? I'm sure we will find something!!
For Christmas this year, we had a family photo shoot with Bryan's family. Sara from ShutterBee Photography took the pictures and as with every time she has taken our pictures, we loved them. Here are some of the favorites. There are lots of pictures, so brace yourself.
The boys and their parents
6 1/2 years old and so handsome...even without his two front teeth.
Sam was not up for taking individual pictures, but loved playing around on the ladder to the loft of the barn.
Bryan's oldest brother Craig and his family
Showing some sibling love
Bryan's other brother and his sweet ladies
Such sweet girls!
One more of us
Cousins! Sam was done with pictures by this point in the morning.
To take full advantage of our 2-week Christmas Vacation (OK 3/4 of us had a 2 week vacation, but who's counting...) we planned a trip down to Phoenix to spend some time with family and relax. We were able to do both. We even had some fun...
This is a (not-so-good) picture of the beautiful sunset that greeted us in Denver on our way to the hotel.
Getting some reading in before bed and an early flight...Sam thought that since Mason was reading a Magic Tree house book that he needed to as well.
Grandpa Steve has his horses down in Phoenix right now.
Mason helped feed them
On the first visit, Sam didn't want to get closer than 10 feet. After that, he thought we needed to be out with them ALL the time when we were home.
We took advantage of some down time to go see a couple of movies. The boys stayed with Grandpa and Grandma and we had a wild New Year's Eve out with dinner and a movie. We went to the Yard House. Some of you might have been there before, but if you haven't been to one, we would recommend it to you. The food was great and the drink menu was unbelievable!
Just one of the 3 page menu of microbrews-on-tap
It was about 50 degrees most of the time while we were there, so of course, we had to roast S'mores to keep warm.
They had plastic clubs for the little ones...brilliant!
Dinner and Ice Cream at the Sugar Bowl. Ironically, we ate here the night of the actual Sugar Bowl game.
Hmm...maybe he should cut back on sugar with the two missing teeth...
We decided to head off to the PHX ZOO for some Zoo Lights. They were awesome! We even were the recipient of a Random Act of Kindness when someone gave us a free ticket to get in. There are over 3.2 million lights that 4 people put up starting in July! There are full-time year-round jobs that deal specifically with this production. Sounds like fun to me!!
The K-State band was there to play, and the boys loved it! The video is very dark, but you can get a small picture of how much fun they had.
The picture doesn't do this justice, but these are a bunch of saguaros covered in lights. Beautiful!
Lights around the lake
Here is a video of the light show.
One of our other stops was to the Musical Instrument Museum. It was not the cheapest museum, but it was so cool!! There were instruments from all over the world, and many were very old. It was fun to look around, but even more fun when we got to the "experience room" where we could play some of the new and old instruments.
One of the two rooms dedicated to guitars
Experience room
Bryan found some of the instruments that he saw locals use when he was in the Baltic States.
We got to spend some time with the boys' Great-Grandma and Grandpa Hanson (Laura's Dad's parents) while we were down there. Mason loved their putting green and Sam couldn't get enough of them.
Books with Great-Grandpa Max
Tickles from Great-Grandma Loraine
After a wonderful week, we packed up our bags and headed home. It is back to reality. We will get by on great memories of one of our favorite places to visit.
