Quick Five Year Re-cap: "What was that all about?!"

I thought it would be good to get caught up. What's gone on these past five years?

Sometimes it feels like this

Since we last met:

We sold the Gypsy Cafe in Bailey, CO.

We sold our house in the mountains. My parents moved to Denver and we bought a house in Littleton, CO.

We re-homed Luke (our boarder collie) because of health issues, cried our eyes out and went and picked him up first thing the next morning.

We decided to travel on the road full-time and sold everything.

We traveled the United States (and a bit of Canada) for 6 months. It was an amazing experience and one we still crave from time to time.

We survived a major accident at the end of our 6 months on the road and moved to Oregon, the town Erik and I grew up in. We re-bought everything we sold.

We've built a successful business.

We've moved five times.

I worked on a few personal photography projects.

We went through therapy to overcome the trauma of the accident (we were a mess), which ended up helping me overcome a lot of hidden crap. Life changer! It's too much to mention here, but I see a future blog post going into more detail.

Erik and I have both gone through topical steroid withdrawal (I might go into my personal journey in a later post, but for those interested now, here is what it is: http://itsan.org/).

The kids have all become pre-teen/teenagers.

We've brushed our teeth approximately 4380 times.

We've spent a collective 7110 hrs eating.

We've vacationed, made life-long new friends, re-connected with old friends, grown closer as a couple and a family and have defined even more what's important to us in life. We've laughed a ton, cried a ton, failed, succeeded, experienced and dreamed.

Oregon has been a great experience, but a new chapter is in front of us...

Where are we heading next?

Resurrected

It's been almost five years since I posted. I can't believe it, time is such a crazy thing.

A lot has happened in five years.

I decided to resurrect this blog and document our lives again. I keep getting Facebook notices of past blog posts and I realized how much I treasure those posts. I don't have a great memory (maybe I'll get into that in a later post) so I truly treasure being able to read back over those precious days with my babies, that are now teenagers... what! I want to remember these days too. In less than five years they are going to start leaving the nest. Accckkkk!! I can't process that right now...

So even though reading back over my past blogs makes me cringe at times, because of bad grammar, poor spelling and a ton of run on sentences. I don't care. I'm older now and I'm caring a whole lot less about what people think, gosh that's freeing! If you don't mind dealing with those flaws, I'd love for you to join me in digging this blog out of the grave and putting some life back into it. Fitting that it's right before Halloween (oh yeah, and you'll also have to put up with my cheesy references and jokes that won't always make sense!)

What you can expect from me:
- Sporadic posting (can't commit to a schedule right now).
- Guest posts from the hubby (I haven't told him yet but he encouraged me to start this blog again, so...).
- Transparency, it's my thing.
- A fun time, because that's what we do best!

And photos...

California Adventure: Part II Disneyland

We came up with this plan somewhere in Utah, we were going to get as many pictures with status as we could. It all started with Bud and Mom. We didn't do as well as we had planned, but here are a few. 

I guess we have a thing for bears. Can you spot Britty?

The Jedi training academy was definitely a highlight. They all got picked to be padawans, so it couldn't of worked out more perfectly. 

The boys patiently waiting, hoping they will be chosen.

This guy was so amazing. He even wiped Matty's nose, I'm not kidding. 

Learning to fight like a Jedi.

Matty was so hilarious. They brought him back up to fight a second time because he was so funny.

They all walked away with a certificate. Officially they are all Jedi Knights!

Another highlight was seeing the kids meet all the characters and filling up their signature books. All the characters are so skilled in getting the signatures just perfect, and through a tiny little whole.  They are in perfect character the whole time, so impressive. 

Matty checking to make sure Cinderella wasn't a phony. 

Okay, he's smitten.

Way too much fun!

Disney is seriously the cleanest park I've ever been to.

A trip we will never forget! 

I can't wait to go back!

California Adventure On A Whim: Part l

It was around 6:00. The kids had eaten and gone downstairs for their movie. We had decided it was the perfect night for a quiet, adult-only dinner. We indulged in our slow-cooked pork ribs and, in between our moaning over the goodness, we had uninterrupted grown-up talk... it was wonderful. 

We found ourselves talking about that trip to California we said we would take once the kids were older.  Our conversation when something like this.

Nana: "We need to do Disneyland."

Me: "Totally!"

Nana: "Gosh it would be so great to go before the bus opens."

Erik: "I wonder when Disneyland's busy season really starts?"

A little research took place.

Me: "It starts to get busy June 1st."

Looked at the calendar.

Me: "We should go now, as in like right now."

Papa: "Let's do it."

Nana: "I wonder how much it would cost to rent an RV?"

Me: "Na, we'll just hook-up the pop-up."

A call to Aunt Becky finalized the plans and we were off and running like chickens without heads. And then our conversation went then something like this.

Nana: "We need to clean-up the rib mess before we leave!" 

Me: "Don't forget the sun-screen and toilet paper!"

Nana: "I don't have any clothes, there all in the bus!" 

Us: "Well stop at the bus on our way out of town in the morning so you can get your underwear!"

Erik and Dad: "The Suburban really needs new tires."

All of us agreed: "Well do that on the way out of town too!" (Never got done, we just prayed the whole time).

The kids: Oblivious.

Papa: "I'm going to make that meatloaf!" (Yes, because what is a road trip without meatloaf sandwiches! And they were yummy!)

We pulled out at 8:00 the next morning!

The huge meatloaf and the view off our deck the morning before we left. Goodbye snow and hello beautiful warm sunshine!

Utah is so beautiful. We took our time and stopped to enjoy the view.

Eight seats and eight people makes for a cozy ride! We had so much fun and the kids did amazing, especially since all they thought was that we were going camping.  It was one long trip to find the perfect camping spot. 

"We just haven't found it yet kids, lets keep looking! Who wants another meatloaf sandwich?"

It is really hard to keep a secret that long. Oh. My. Goodness. We all slipped at times and said the D-word. We all failed, but thankfully no one caught on. Not even the eight year old. 

When we reached the California sign we asked the kids, "Hey since we are this far do you want to just go the rest of the way and camp at the beach?"

"Yeah!!!"

We had the best set-up! I would take this over a nice hotel any day!

The view from the camper.

Uncle James and cutie pie Walker hanging with us!

Shaving on the beach. Erik and I also took advantage of the showers on the beach. Don't worry we wore our suits. Shivering cold, but free!! It's so fun watching people look at you funny, haha!!

Aunt Becky revealed the big secret!!!! 

She gave each kid a note. 

The notes read 

Matty: "WE." 

Jon: "ARE." 

Ella: "GOING TO." 

Abby: "DISNEYLAND!!!!!!!"

And as if that wasn't enough she spoiled them even more with ears, toys and candy!  

Thank you Aunt Becky!

I'll post all our Disneyland fun next time!