Gingerbread house: Success!

This year's gingerbread house was a success. Not only did it not collapse on us but the little ones did an awesome job decorating!

The directions instructed you to wait 3-4 hours after assembling before decorating. That may have been our crucial mistake last year. I guess sometimes it does pay to read the instructions! Although it was a buzzkill on Tuesday afternoon, luckily, the kiddos were patient enough to wait until after school and lunch yesterday to decorate.

My job was chief frosting put-er on-er. The kids were chief decorators. They shared the candy both in decorating and in eating.

Camera 1.

Camera 2.

"Look at me and say 'Gingerbread house!'" All around success and two happy kiddos.

And...an Elf named Skippy who thought he might help himself to it today. Oh, Skippy.

14 days to Christmas!

Holy birthday, Batman. He's 3!

Happy birthday to you.

Happy birthday to you.

Happy birthday, dear Sawyer.

Happy birthday to you!

Sawyer is officially three years old. Now I no longer have to respond, "He's just shy of three," or "He's three," only to be corrected by the boy who was just shy of three that he is in fact NOT three.

Last year it was fire trucks. This year, he's all about superheroes. So, we had a superhero party. In spite of the rain that tried to stop our fun, we still had a great time. Along with family and friends, there were games, snacks, birthday cake, and bubbles. Most importantly, there was a happy birthday boy.

The dining room table with our Metropolis sky scene.

And, superhero capes for all the superheroes in attendance.

Captain America fruit tray. America...heck, yeah!

#3 birthday cake. Chocolate bundt cakes with vanilla frosting and sprinkles.

Team Anderson aka Super Friends.

Our sweet friend, Adam, and the birthday boy.

Both proudly rocking their capes!

Happy birthday, dear Sawyer...

Leah, Sawyer, and Madelyn.

Notice all the doting grandparents in the background?

Cousins.

Thank you to everyone who came and celebrated three years with this handsome little dude. And, to everyone who couldn't make it, we missed you and hope to see you soon.

Arizona 2014

We spent Spring Break 2014 in Scottsdale, Arizona. Honey and Poppie came with us this year, too! Our trip lasted three nights -- Friday through Monday -- and we stayed at the Westin Kierland. The weather was terrific this year. No rain! And, once again, the Kierland proved to be an outstanding, accommodating, family friendly resort.

Notable memories include:

* Kids First Class on the airplane.

* Friday and Saturday evening s'mores. Somehow, there was confusion when s'mores weren't available on Sunday. I'm not sure who was more upset - Griff and Poppie or Madelyn and Sawyer.

* Boy bed and girl bed in our hotel room. Madelyn wanted to continue this after our return home but Griff and I vetoed.

* Family breakfast in the club room.

* Trying to sneak up on Honey and Poppie's room only to have our plan foiled by the time we made it down the hall. We don't travel quietly especially when someone has to be first and someone else doesn't agree.

* Pool time. (See post to follow.)

* Child sized Candy Crush throughout the hotel. Or, so Sawyer thought.

* Rockies game. (See post to follow.)

* In N Out. Enough said.

* Cruising around Phoenix six passengers deep in a rented Dodge Caravan. Sooo cool.

Thanks, Griff, for very fun Spring break trip. And, thank you, Honey and Poppie for coming along. We had a great time and made lots of memories that I know the kids will fondly remember.

Easter egg hunt (Part II)

Part II of this year's Easter egg hunt was a success. Two fields were prepared at Honey and Poppie's house - an outdoor one for walkers/runners and an indoor one for crawlers. Each participant collected all their respective eggs and then gathered together to examine their haul. By the way, Madelyn was an excellent big sister helping point Sawyer to his eggs if he didn't see them right away.

I was unsuccessful in getting a "good" picture of Madelyn and Sawyer. My hopes were to get one with them both looking and smiling. But, it turns out I still captured them quite well.

Hope you all had an enjoyable Easter! Many thanks to Kate and Trish for travelling to Colorado and spending the weekend with us. And, thanks to Honey for hosting such a wonderful Easter brunch. Good thing the Easter bunny came to your house!

Fall Fun

With no football games this past weekend, it was a good weekend to partake in some Fall fun.

We visited the Denver Botanic Gardens at Chatfield [http://www.botanicgardens.org/content/our-gardens-chatfield-location] pumpkin patch.  Chatfield State Park is just a short drive from our house and nestled right up against the foothills.  It's a pretty cool place and we plan on returning again some time.

Headed out to the pumpkin patch.

The all important debate over which pumpkin(s) are the best.

Sawyer in his pumpkin cart pondering whether he wants a round or oval, big or small pumpkin.

A girl, a boy, a pumpkin cart, and three pumpkins.

I thought this was cool just because it showed the grandness of the patch.

"I'll do it."

The pumpkin probably weighs half of her weight and is as large as her torso.

Our house is mostly ready for the great Halloween holiday.  All that's left is to pick up our candy and get out for some trick or treating.

1 Month Old

Well, our little brother is officially one month old.  I'm not sure how it happened.  The month of June seems like a blur but, if I recall correctly, that seems to be the norm with newborns.  At any rate, here we are!  Below are our noteworthy "milestones" to date -

* Eats and sleeps like a champ.  At 3-1/2 weeks, he weighed 10 lb 1 oz and he sleeps approximately 18-20 hours a day.

* Eyes appear to be turning blue.

* Loves bath time.

* Loves his big sister.  She loves him, too.  In fact, she always want him to sit next to her (in his bouncy chair on the floor) at dinner time.

* Is getting some good head control.

I'm sure I'll think of more things as soon I hit Publish Post but oh well.  I can include them next time.

Happy one month birthday, little man!