How We Roll

When you're on vacation with 2 little ones and Daddy needs to sleep because of a late night at work - this is how we roll. The hotel gym filled in as an awesome play space for the boys. 

Room to move and be loud and silly!

Look at my not so little baby multitasking!

Before long our silent ambition was abandoned and the boys were excited to have their Daddy time.

We loved the famous Christmas display at the Bellagio.

The Coke polar bears (made entirely of white roses) reminded us of Auntie Joanne. 

Ryder preferred the train that ran around the whole display though.

We are enjoying the sights and sounds of the city. 

And the occasional dinosaur ride makes up for all of the extra shopping Ryder has had to put up with this last week. 

Hiking the Red Rocks

One of the fun perks of military life is getting to travel and explore places we would not otherwise visit. This last weekend was just one such occasion.

On Sunday, after visiting a local church with a few friends, we headed up to the Red Rock Canyon Conservation area  just west of the city. 

The colour of the rocks was stark agains the backdrop of the desert. 

We climbed onto the rocks for a few photos.

This guy climbed the rocks just because he's cool and tough. <3

It sure was beautiful!

Oh how I love hanging out with these boys!

And on our own, we most certainly wouldn't have visited Las Vegas just for fun - it's not really our scene. But, we saw a beautiful aspect of God's creation and enjoyed such a great day of family time and activity out and about. 

December in Las Vegas

We're here and enjoying the easy life while it lasts.

Heading out to do some Christmas shopping.

Taking a break from shopping to play.

That tongue...

 There's nothing quite like a dead battery with two littles to get your day off to a good start. 

Thankful for USAA and a quick jump to get us on our way again.  

Enjoying this laid back life while it lasts. 

Shells and butter for Lynden in a classy wine glass - why not?

It think our view is technically not the best at the hotel, but being right next to the airport and having planes taking off and flying by every few minutes has been heaven for Ryder.

Life with Sickies

Well, just about everything shuts down here when my little guys are sick. Thankfully, they're just about back their old silly selves again - and just in time - we're on a mini vacation!

Thanksgiving was a great time spent as a family and then with friends for dinner. Great except for the fact that I totally forgot to make the mashed potatoes. Yes, you heard me. Our friends had arrived and I was just whisking up the gravy and I realized I hadn't even put the potatoes on to boil! No wonder I had felt like I had so much time.

Life Lesson: When you're hosting Thanksgiving Dinner and feeling super confident and relaxed - you've forgotten something.

Thankfully our friends came bearing tons of delicious sides and no one went home hungry. They did go home with the boys' cold though. :/

One of the things we love about living in a small town is the sense of community.
Last weekend our local high school football team was playing in the state championship! We went with and met up with a few other families from our church to cheer on the local boys.

And what a game it was!
They played well and it was pretty close the whole way through.

Ryder loved it.
Poor Lynden had a fever and just snuggled close.

We WON!

And we checked one more fun fall activity off of our to do list. 

Love having family time with my boys!

Operation Christmas Child

This last week, our local MOPS group filled shoe boxes for Operation Christmas Child.

This week is their national collection week, but there are still lots of opportunities to get involved, and probably a local collection centre in your area that you can get a shoebox to, if you're interested in participating.

I didn't get any pictures of the individual boxes we packed at our table, but our MOPS meeting place is also the local collection centre and here are just some of the boxes packed and waiting to be shipped overseas.

Now that I have little ones, I treasure opportunities like these, when I can teach them to look beyond themselves and encourage generosity. I could see the wheels turning in Ryder's head when he realized that the colourful airplane gliders he helped choose weren't going to be for him.

As we look forward to Thanksgiving next week, I am reminded to be thankful for our life here in America and all of the blessings God has given!

The Everyday

I haven't been great about posting much more than once a week lately. 

This everyday life keeps us busy! 

I've been making a concerted effort to not spend a lot of time on my computer and iPhone - I have boys to love and a home to run!

Here are some highlights from the last few weeks...

Everyone is as crazy about Starbucks coffee as I am!

Our MOPS table had a midweek playdate. 

Look 10 children are sitting together and not one of them is crying!!

On our way to the gym in the mornings we drive by an old bridge that was demolished last week. Ryder has loved seeing and pointing out the red digger as we drive by each time. 

One morning we stopped to get a closer look at the digger in motion.

One of our other favourite things is the garbage truck. 

Every week we watch it come down the street one way and then back up the other way.

Ryder has become quite the helper and always asks if he can put the garbage can away. 

And then yesterday a big box arrived in the mail. 

Ryder gets so excited over packages in the mail and delivered by the present truck (UPS or FedEx).

This one was no disappointment. Ryder pulled out all kinds of fun and super cute winter clothes for himself and Lynden - thanks to Mimi!

I'm not sure if he was more excited or if I was!

This morning we made pumpkin pancakes for breakfast and Lynden had his first taste of pancake. 

Actually, I think he may have eaten more than all of the rest of us. 

Viva la Vagrancy!

Another fun dinner party!

This time we were celebrating a friend's last day of work - with a soup kitchen themed party. 

It was my husband's idea - Ha!

I traded my beloved Fiesta dishes for paper and styrofoam products.

The table was covered in plastic with an industrial size garbage bag taped to the end. 

Another friend made that super fun banner - Viva la Vagrancy!

We drank root beer from paper bags and served saran wrapped rice krispie treats for dessert.

What a fun evening celebrating the end of an era of work and enjoying great fellowship with friends.

Our party favour included those items a soon to be soup kitchen frequenter might find themselves in need of - plus a gospel tract. ;)

Viva la Vagrancy!