Breckenridge 2010

I know--this post is about a month past due!!  Sorry for those of you anticipating ;)

So off we went to Breckenridge-I have to say, I was mainly concerned about the travel (initially)--we are talking about a 4 hour flight plus about an hour and a half drive to Breckenridge from the airport!  I knew Camden would be good--he would be restless, but good.  Evan on the other hand, well Evan I knew would be restless and EVERYONE would know!!  He's not a child that likes to be sitting in a lap or confined to a small area for hours on end, by the way, if you know one I'd like to meet said child because I'm pretty sure they don't exist!  Anyway, we get to the airport grab lunch to take on the plane, change a poopy diaper and board--shew I'm already exhausted and we've lost a shoe.  .  .
We did have one passenger request to move, he claimed he was too big for the seat they put him in, but when he boarded and saw us his eyes bulged a bit and he said he "remembered traveling with his 2 when they were "their" ages. . ."  the plane takes off and other than a few cries of protest from Evan everything went off without a hitch!!!  In fact, when we were unloading I heard people say: "wow, I didn't even know those kids were on the plane"  My heart swelled!! I was so proud of my boys, they made it with no problems and people thought they were good AND cute! :)  woo hoo!!

Okay--so now to the good stuff!!  Camden was signed up for 3 days of ski school (which, by the way, is longer than his actual school day 9-3:30), and I was signed up for 1 day.  I have to say, I'm no skier--to say it scares me is an understatement--but I really really wanted to not be scared so I went to ski school and gave it my all!  I've been skiing once before in NC and the ski school in Breckenridge blew it away!  My instructor was great, it was an all day thing, and truly everyone there was a beginner!  I would recommend it to anyone who is nervous about skiing.  I have to say I really didn't embrace the skiing like I thought i would, but I did leave knowing that the next time I wouldn't be as scared.  I only fell once, and of course I was getting off the ski lift and they had to stop it.  .  .GREAT, but you know--I'm not the only one that happened to b/c they stop that ski lift A LOT!
Camden also did really well in his ski school, although he would definitely have to go through it again if we went back!  He seemed to enjoy it, and he walked around like a CHAMP in those ski boots.  Wednesday, our third day of skiing, was intended to be an "off day"--but Camden was ready to hit the slopes so he and Daddy, Papa, and Grandma all went out.  I figured they would make it down once and be back, but I think they went up 3 or 4 times!  I was so proud of Camden!!

Camden talking to his new friend in ski school
 

Camden riding the "magic carpet"

Learning to wedge

So the other thing we wanted to do on our off day was go tubing--but that was a little complicated with Evan and also a little pricey for my taste!!  So we talked to our concierge and she handed us some sleds and directed us to the sledding hill at a local park (maybe 2 blocks from us)--"oh what fun it is to ride.  .  ."

We had so much fun with this, and even though it wore us out walking up that hill (usually with one of us carrying a child) it was so much fun!!

Our last day Camden wanted to go skiing with Mommy.  .  .this was it, my big moment.  I couldn't be scared, I had to be brave and show him how it's done.  .  .his experience wasn't so great with me, although it wasn't because of me!  It was the most relaxed I'd been with it the whole time!!  Personally, I think he was just worn out.  It had been a long week, and he came home from ski school with more energy than I think is possible for a little boy who's been walking around in ski boots all day!!  So Daddy took him home and Grandma, and a little later Papa, hit the slopes for a couple of hours!  I'm so glad that Camden asked me to go that day because if he hadn't I probably would've sat out and then I wouldn't have realized that maybe skiing isn't as scary as I thought it was!!

All in all we had such a wonderful trip!!  Breckenridge is such a beautiful place!!  I would've loved a little more time to explore it all!!  The place we stayed was very nice, it was called Main Street Station.  We were in walking distance from most of the restaurants and shopping.  In fact, other than sledding and a grocery run, I don't think we drove at all!  Thank you so much Grandma & Papa for taking us!!

Grandma & Evan taking a walk in the snow!

Evan all bundled up and ready to explore with Mommy!

**Please note: sorry for the poor quality of these pics!!  I pulled them off of Facebook b/c Jason never syncs up our iPhoto!  If I get some better ones I'll post!!

And Away we GOOOOOOOOOO!!!

Well, we are off to Breckenridge for some skiing!  I can't believe we are taking this on, but everyone seems to think it will be a great time!!  I know once I get there I will relax and enjoy--but do you KNOW how much you have to pack for 2 kids and 2 adults? :)

Catch you on the flip side!!

I'm having a bad day. . .

don't you just hate those?  especially when the day previous was so delightful??  ugh
woke up with a killer sinus headache--figures (however, we slept until 8--the whole house, even Jason; this is me trying to focus on the positive), I had the windows open all day, and we were outside all afternoon yesterday.  I got camden off to school and decided I was not going to workout yet.  .  .it was too cold to walk (my original plan) so I plopped--I don't feel well, remember??  I started feeling a little better and planned to workout, but Jason called and forgot his computer at home--so I took it to him.  This didn't make my day bad, it just messed with my schedule--but I'm a domestic engineer, I can be flexible and make it work!!!  I knew that probably I wouldn't be working out so I went ahead and stopped for milk and then picked Camden up from school--so far so good.  .  .while I was there I also bought some of those black elastic hair band thingies for my hair--they don't work, they just pop off. .  .DANG IT!!!!!@!!
We get home and Evan and I haven't eaten, I tell Camden that I'm going to make us some lunch and then they can play--guess what: Camden is hungry too--this is weird b/c he's NEVER hungry. .  .(hahaha)--so I split up last night's homemade pizza between the 3 of us, divvy up the strawberries and give myself a salad.  Evan is a bit of a whiner, and learning some words would be good so he can stop pointing at things that I don't see and crying b/c he wants them.  .  .Camden tries to be helpful, but sometimes he perpetuates the situation.  PLUS, he often ignores when I'm telling him not to do something and does it anyway.  Sometimes I can deal--but today, not so much--I'm having a bad one.  ANYWAY, the boys go upstairs to play and of course about 5 minutes in Camden decides he's done.  I ask him to give me 15 minutes to get my clothes put away (a task that is VERY difficult when Evan is downstairs b/c he is into EVERYTHING) and then I'll let them come down.  I get done, let him know, but he has decided playing is fun and he wants to do it a little longer.  I do my routine 5 minute check and Camden has dumped every bin out into the FLOOR and the bins are stacked nicely up on his train table.  He tells me this is because his friend Lauren doesn't like to have to go back and forth to get things out. .  .LAUREN IS NOT HERE!!  ugh.  It wouldn't be so bad if it wasn't a fight (a blood pressure raising, mommy yelling fight) EVERY TIME it was time to clean up.  .  .but it is, and I'm just not up for it.  I very calmly let him know that he was to pick every toy up and put them back in the bins--he would do nothing until that was done, and this was the only time I would tell him.  .  .

I wonder if it will work???

I guess it's good to have bad days sometimes, because otherwise how would I know when I'm having a good one??  :)

Yea yea yea--so your kid eats vegetables. . .

BLAH, BLAH, BLAH-and seriously--I'm so J-E-A-L-O-U-S!!!!  My kids are picky--picky--picky!  Now, we knew Camden was picky, but Evan is getting pickier and pickier every day!  Tonight on the menu: Chef Boyardee (which I try to limit to a few times a month), and mandarin oranges--he ate the oranges-that's IT!!  He will eat grilled chicken, and last week he ate some beef that had been cooked in the crock pot--so in that aspect he's a better eater than Camden, but still--there's NO VEGGIE that either of my children will eat on a consistent basis!!  Don't think I haven't tried--I have.  I guess some kids are just picky.  I hate it, I really do.  I'm good, I don't make a "kids meal" and an "adult meal"--NOW, I will sometimes "modify" but I try to make sure we are all eating basically the same thing.  If I'm making something that I just KNOW they won't eat, or if it's the weekend--I'll throw a hot dog or some nuggets at them, but other than that I work hard to put good nutritious food in front of them on a daily basis.

I also don't believe in cutting out all snacks!!  Camden has gotten very good about choosing "healthy snacks", in fact when he asks for one he will always say "can I have a HEALTHY snack?" :)  I've been hitting up the grocery store at least 3 times a week for fresh fruit--it's washed and kept where he can get to it in the fridge so when he does snack he can grab that!  So, the question is, does fruit replace veggies?  If my kids eat healthy snacks (a reasonable amount of snacks--b/c remember 5 small meals is better than 3 large ones) does that make up for their lack of healthy dinner?  I can't just starve them--I know they say kids will eat when they get hungry--but guess what people--I DIDN'T!!  I guess the thing to do is just relax, let my kids be who they are and ignore all those people who's kids eat anything you put in front of them?

I guess now I know how my parents felt.  .  .

:)

It's not as if you asked, but I'm sure you wanted to know!!!

So, it's no secret to my friends and family that I really struggled with my decision to be a stay-at-home mom.  I've always worked, ever since I was 16-and the idea of being home ALL day and ALL night just totally freaked me out!!  In the beginning it was very much a necessary evil, there was truly no way I could work (and bring home any money) while Jason was gone.  WAIT WAIT--let me retract, as I have learned a lot about myself over the past year, I could've worked and taken care of the children as a "single mom" as I know women do it EVERY day!  However, it wouldn't have made sense financially to do so b/c once I paid for gas and daycare I wouldn't have any take home left.  Hence, I decided to stay home, and have since decided to stay home for all practical purposes.  When Jason was gone staying home was pretty difficult.  Very much like the movie Groundhog Day--Sunday thru Saturday was literally the same--and I am a person that needs to get out and be busy.  I did everything I could think of, started going to church, signed Camden up for sports, went to the gym--it worked for the most part, but I always felt like I was just constantly searching for the next thing we could do to get out of the house!!  Once Jason came home it was a whole different ball game--I actually felt pressure to make sure the house was completely picked up when he arrived home, and to have a delicious healthy hot meal on the table, and be showered with my hair done and make up on.  .  .Then I discovered he really could care less if the beds were made, or the laundry was put away, or if I laid down and caught a 15 minute nap.  . .he did prefer that I shower (though he never mentioned it, I just assume he likes me showered better than not showered due to the smell and all-hehe)!  I found myself (and from time to time still do) wondering: what is my purpose?  I need approval, recognition, something. .  .maybe that's why I enjoyed working, maybe you weren't constantly praised, but at least you brought home a pay check every so often!  Lately, I've found that I'm actually enjoying my role at home (as much as you can enjoy being a domestic engineer).  I just want to share with you some of the things that make it easier for me, in case you too are struggling with the decision to stay home!!

#1--don't pressure yourself to cook fancy meals or do elaborate crafts.  just b/c you are a stay at home mom doesn't mean that you will instantly become crafty or a good cook!!!  the cooking I was okay at before, and I do enjoy having more time to explore new things and prep healthier dinners for us.  the crafty--well, I'm still working on that one!!  I was not born with the talent and I have pretty much given up on it!  don't expect homemade Christmas gifts from this family, or homemade wrapping paper on your birthday gifts, sorry--it's just not in me!  I've accepted it and moved on!!

#2--make a list.  I have lists EVERYWHERE, you know what they are good for???  CROSSING THINGS OFF!  I have often found myself looking around wondering what on earth did I do all day?  I never get anything done--ENTER LIST.  .  .ahhh--that's what I've done, I can see it b/c I've crossed items off.  I have lists on paper, on my dry erase board, on the back of receipts, on my iPhone.  .  .EVERYWHERE!

#3--challenge yourself to work for one hour a day on the chores you hate.  do you hate cleaning like I do?  are you sad that you feel like your only purpose in life is to clean every day??  here's what I've started and it's really working.  my house in general is clean, not so much tidy, but clean.  I've started challenging myself every day to clean just for an hour.  it's usually the hour between working out and lunch when Evan is sleeping!  I can usually finish the task I have chosen (bathroom) and then some before the hour is up.  and you know what--then it's just DONE.  you have accomplished what you needed to get done, and have not spent your WHOLE day cleaning!  there is nothing worse than spending all day cleaning just to find by noon the next day it all needs to be done again!  you will DRIVE YOURSELF CRAZY!

#4--find a good group with children in your child's age group.  this one is very important!  I have been lucky enough to become friends with a group of women who all have children who are either Camden's age, or Evan's age--or very close.  When we all get together, everyone has a playmate and it works.  It's also nice b/c, even though they don't all go to the same school, it seems they all have the same vacation calendar!  That makes for playdates, picnics, field trips, etc all together!

#5--pursue something you wouldn't be able to do if you were working.  take advantage of this time, if you can.  it doesn't have to be anything HUGE.  just think back to when you were working at a desk, what did you daydream about or think--"if i didn't have this job, I would do _____ "?????  i chose exercise.  I found it an impossible thing to do when I was working.  By the time I got home around 6:30, rushed around getting dinner ready, then getting Camden ready for bed and sitting down for a few minutes--there was just no time to workout!

#6--have an idea of what you are going to do every day.  every morning when I wake up I usually know what needs to be done, and when I'm going to do it.  I don't know why, but it helps make the day run smoother.  if I know I'm going to need to do some dusting or laundry AFTER I pick Camden up from school I let him know.  "Mommy has a few things that i need to get done, and after that we can play" it usually works, and often he asks if he can help!

#7--sometimes throw it all out the window and go to the park!!  it really doesn't matter if you have worked out, gotten your hour of cleaning in, or have dinner ready to go at 5:30-what really matters is if you had a good day with your kids!!  I don't do it every day, but quite often I will throw it all out the window and play!  it won't be long until my kids are telling me to go away, or I'm embarrassing them--so i need to take advantage of this time with them!!  these days are the best days!!

#8--don't be embarrassed to remind your husband, that you need time for yourself or you need a night on the town.  I don't think they realize sometimes how daunting it can be to be in the house 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.  until you've done it, you couldn't have any idea!!  sometimes, a night out without kids, or just a few hours shopping by yourself can mean THE WORLD!!  (it's also nice if you don't have to plan the date, babysitter, etc.  .  .)

#9--try to not have a routine on the weekends.  this also helps when your hubby is deployed, I just wish I had picked up on it sooner!  weekend nights we might get to stay up a little late, play a little Wii, watch a movie.  maybe in the morning we eat our dry cereal on the couch and watch some cartoons--try to throw some of the structure out on the weekends, or as much as you are comfortable with anyway!!

#10--take advantage of the freedoms that a domestic engineer has.  I may take off mid week and go visit my grandmother, meet friends for dinner around 6 on a Monday, or hit up Toddler storytime at 10:15 on a Friday.  these are all things I never would've been able to do with a regular 9-5 job!

I know as soon as I hit post I will come up with more, but for now this is it!!  I'm certainly no expert, but I also know it's totally normal to have second thoughts about giving up that job and staying home (which is a 24 hour 7 day a week job)!  It's a huge change and adjustment (I know, as I'm still adjusting everyday)!!