Venture to Colorado

My ten year reunion was a couple of weeks ago and I decided I might as well try to go and see a couple of people I have seen since I graduated high school.  We didn't end up making it in time for the reunion but a trip to Colorado is ALWAYS a good idea and we had a wonderful time with my parents.

The kids did a wonderful job in the Bushmobile  car (yay for DVD players!) and the girls didn't make a peep until it was time to stop and eat.  We made pretty good time!

My dad met the girls for the first time and they got plenty of snuggles from Grandpa and Mimi.  Jonah got to go fishing with Grandpa on the boat and the kids loved being at the lake.  Mimi spoiled the kids, as usual, with various prizes. 

Eloise (left) and Pearl (right) with Grandpa Green

We enjoy the symmetry of two babies!

Thanksgiving in Colorado

It was our year to travel to Colorado for Thanksgiving which we were all very excited about.  The one thing that  put a damper on the fun was the miserable drive there.  The first 2 hours were through blizzards and over icy highways, and all the while we had Jonah throwing up in the back seat.  Jonah woke up sick the morning we were supposed to leave but we decided to go anyway, as he'd be throwing up no matter where we were and at least we could contain it in the car (thanks to the salad bowl and plenty of grocery bags--all fully inspected and hole-free).  He was a really good sport and made sure we were notified before each episode. Poor kid.

On Wednesday, we celebrated Sophie's birthday with the family.  I made my first batch of fondant which was even more difficult to work with than I suspected.  Those people on Ace of Cakes make it look so easy!  I was pleased with the final product despite all it's flaws.

Sophie loved her birthday presents which provided hours of entertainment through the week.  She loves baby dolls and feeding them, putting them to sleep, and even disciplining them!  I just hope her means of discipline will change before she's a real mom because I'm pretty sure DCFS won't let you keep your child after you throw it across the room or bang it on the table.

In spite of the frigid temperatures on Thanksgiving morning, we gathered the entire family for the Fort Collins Thanksgiving Day Run.  It was a 4 mile run which we all did eight years ago (before most spouses and any children came to the family).  This time we had three baby-joggers, 2 strollers, and twice as many people.  It was a great event and Jonah even got to run his first solo race.  He started out strong but tripped and skinned his nose on the asphalt so it took a little encouragement on my side to get him to finish.  It was about 1/3 mile and by the end, he was spent but so excited that he finished. (pictures to come)

Following the delicious meal, we broke out the karaoke machine and I opened the ceremonies with "Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire" and then forced the other adults to take part (no one was too willing).  The kids loved it, though.

Friday and Saturday were relaxing with just a little shopping, pedicures for the ladies, and the BYU vs Utah game for the boys (I'm glad I didn't watch that one).  Then we got the girls all dolled up in their Christmas outfits for some pictures (talk about break-down central).  We got a few good ones and mostly bad ones with someone crying and someone with their eyes closed.

This one just makes me laugh every time!  Can we say, "I'm tired and can't smile any more."

Beautiful girl.

The drive home was uneventful, thank goodness, and we were glad to settle back in to our usual habits.

How blessed I am to have such a wonderful family.  I have awesome brothers and a sister whom I love dearly and sisters-in-law that are basically blood.  My parents would do anything for us and often do.  I truly have much to be grateful for.

Santa Fe 2010

Our annual girls' trip to Santa Fe ended just last night when I flew into SLC after a long day of travel.  I have to say it was a most successful trip!

I had so much fun with my sisters, Mom, and friends.  None of us were really ready to leave!

Last Wednesday my sister and I flew into Denver to stay the night with my parents.  We got pedicures and prepared for our trip in all the necessary ways--buying candy, picking out outfits, and discussing which treasures we were each hoping to find. 

Getting ready for our flight. Olive was so good!

B

Breakfast in the airport

Pedicures before the drive down to Santa Fe

We packed the car and left early (5am) Thursday morning to pick up Audra in Denver and then head down to Santa Fe.

We arrived just in time for lunch at one of our favorite New Mexican restaurants called Tomasita's.  The food was delicious and the green chili was HOT (good).

Posole--oh, my wonderful posole.

Stuffed Sopapilla at Tomasita's

Fries.  Laura's usual.

Dessert.  Butter, honey, mmm.

We spent the day walking the Plaza and then retired early to rest for the next day.

Friday we headed to Albequerque to visit a favorite jewelry store called Gertrude's and to pick up Annie at the airport.  We took the scenic route back to Santa Fe along the "Turquoise Trail".  We stopped in Madrid for lunch and some shopping.  We ate at The Hollar--a little hole in the wall place with FANTASTIC food.  We were all so hungry and had to wait a bit but the food was worth it!

Lunch

The Green Chili Burger

 Pretty, huh?

 

We got back to town and hit the Plaza again for a bit to check out the Georgia O'keefe museum store and to get some Haagen Dazs.

Saturday morning was Indian Market so we left the hotel bright and early to beat the heat and crowds and to secure parking.  The show didn't disappoint and we all found prizes.  We headed to Tomasita's again for lunch and then headed to the mall for some shoe shopping (unsuccessful).

We retired fairly early for naps in preparation for the opera we were to see that night.  When we woke, I was feeling a bit sick and we decided to skip the opera, get some pizza and have a relaxing night in the hotel.

Olive's bath time.  Isn't she so cute?!

 

Sunday we packed up and drove to "The Flea" (a flea market) in search for last minute treasures.  This was a new flea market and we were a bit skeptical but it didn't disappoint.  Mom found a sweet, vintage Paris bracelet for me (Thanks, Mom!!) and we all found a few other things worth taking home.

We dropped Annie off to catch her shuttle back to the airport and hit the road to make sure we got back to Denver in time for Laura and I to catch our flight back to Salt Lake.  It was a long day of travel but we were all still sad to leave each other.

A Second Chance

I love my Nikon D70.  But when I have to also carry a diaper bag, push a stroller, and worry about holding/securing the kids, it's my worst enemy.

Right after we got married, I bought Jon his first digital camera.  It's a little Nikon Coolpix.  It was at the top of its class back then (only 5 years ago, grr) but after the last couple of trips where I relied on this little thing to capture our moments, I was sorely disappointed in its ability.

As we packed up for our Memorial Day at Lagoon, I had the camera problem again.  I did NOT want to carry my big camera around a busy amusement park when I knew my hands would be full.  So I put some new batteries in the little Nikon and was prepared to have to throw away all our pictures if they didn't turn out.

Thank goodness it worked pretty well under the circumstances and I was able to get a few good shots of our day.

Waiting in line

I still want a new point and shoot.

St. George Marathon

I can't believe the marathon has come and gone.  To be honest, I've been dreading it all summer.  I didn't train the way I should have and I wasn't confident in my ability to have a good race.  But we saddled up last weekend and drove down to stay with Jake and Annie for the weekend.

I got about 3 hours (a generous estimate) of sleep the night before the race.  Thank goodness it doesn't really matter how much sleep you get the night before, but rather the few days leading up to the race.

I felt really good during the race and wasn't surprised with any weird pains or cramps even at mile 20.  Once I looked at my watch at mile 22, I knew I was going to get a PR.

I waited at the finish line for a while thinking Jon and the kids would be there momentarily to claim their runner.  I ended up using a nice man's cell phone to call Jon and he had no idea I had finished.  He was moving spectator positions just as I went by!  Oh well, the guy pushing a wheelchair in front of me produced wild cheering from the crowd, which I conveniently used to propel myself to the finish.

Anyway, I'm thrilled with how I did and contrary to what I was saying before the race, I'm looking for more marathons in the near future.

We had a great time with Jake and Annie and the girls.  We left exhausted and enjoyed the rest of the weekend listening to General Conference and snuggling in sweats and blankets.

Post-race snow cones

 

The Ball Pit: The source of much fun

 

Story Time

Shop 'til you drop

My dear friend, Bethany, got married over Labor Day weekend in the Newport Beach Temple.  I had been long awaiting this day (less than she had, I'm sure) and decided that I had to make the trip no matter what.  I'm still nursing Sophie so the only way I could make the trip was to have someone come with me to watch her during the wedding.  I sent a few emails and only a couple of days later, it was made into a girl's trip.  My mom, Linda, and Laura all came with me.

We stayed in Santa Ana and traveled all around LA and even down to Carlsbad for some serious shopping.  Let me tell you, a shopping trip with the Green girls is not for the faint-hearted.  Sophie was such a trooper and behaved extremely well for not having any formal naps.

I took my Baby Bjorn but didn't take a stroller.  As we walked around the Fashion District in LA in the 100 degree heat, I realized that was a big mistake.  Luckily, the vendors are experienced in what people will pay money for and we were able to find a little umbrella stroller which definitely paid for itself by the end of the trip.

Bethany in the middle: Bride's Night Out

Beautiful Newport Beach Temple

Happy Bride and Groom

Me and Bethany

 

Momma and Sophie on the beach in Carlsbad

Sophie's first time walking on the beach.  She was thrilled!

Vivians in Santa Fe

A few weeks ago, Sophie and I took a trip to Santa Fe for our annual Indian Market gathering with the girls.  It was Sophie's first time going and she did wonderfully.  She slept in the closet in our hotel room (don't report me to DCFS...it was dark, quiet, and she loved it).

Indian Market is full of beautiful artwork, jewelry, and culture.  Other than walking around the plaza and seeing the artists and their work, we like to visit the Georgia O'Keefe museum, eat at Tomassitas (among other delicious New Mexican restaurants), make several trips to Trader Joe's, and relax in our hotel room.

Each year we like to have a "Vivian Project" where we use our creative juices to make something for one of the other ladies in our group.  If you're wondering about the meaning of "Vivian", well...that's a whole other post which probably wouldn't make much sense until you came on one of our trips.  This year we made tiaras for each other and I got to make one for my mom.  I opted not to go too cheesy with it.  I was pretty happy with how it turned out.

The Vivians

 

Audra, Me, Laura, Mom, and Sophie Sue

 

Tiara made by Joan

 

Mom's Tiara

Plane ride home

Thank you, to my dear Vivians, for a wonderful trip! Many more to come!