Easter with Aunt Stosh

We ditched the neighborhood egg hunt and ran to my sister's for Easter this year.  We found an even bigger egg - at Costco and clearly it was irresistible!

These are more my style - kudos to my mom for knocking out this craft with the Riley Maddy and Jackson!

Saturday was a beautiful day for a hike.  Stacie and Jason have some great exploration ideas.  This was a rocky one - hehehe

Love this photo - almost captured them all

We had Easter dinner on Saturday with a FULL table - how I did not capture it is beyond me!  We had Stacies family to include mary and Jimmy, Michelle and Woody, my folks and us - Roger Coaches too!  If you do the math that is 17 - yikes!

We got to settle in for a little basketball watching - Uconn lost but look who won!

The Easter bunny didn't disappoint!

Kudos to my sis for finding a church for Sunday morning and making it all work.  She is at a constant ugh speed and hosting this crew is no easy task - but thankfully she loves it and we truly enjoy being able to have this time all together and make these memories - 

Closing it down at Ski Sundown

All good things must come to an end.  

While sometimes the mountain just shuts the doors, this year they gave us a few days notice - so we could soak this one up - beautiful day and all.  Managed to capture a photo of this good looking snowboarder too.

Good thing he is taken - 

Look at this beautiful crew

boarders rock the park!

they drank ALL the hot chocolate.

Its a rap folks!  

St. Patty's Day at the Zoo

A little re-grandopening St. Patty's day style.

Full of festivities and a chain breaking via our fearless leader

Recorder Concert - can you hear me now??

Shane was so excited and honestly practiced quite a bit - we all enjoyed every bit of it.  

They made it pretty hip playing songs like can't stop the feeling.

Surely you want a video recording right?  

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rlgahj3TXwk

 

Until than I will treasure this adorable photo

This girl gets me

Chelcy I love you!

It was so awesome that we HAD to go right back

Yes, that weekend we had to show the rest of them the big time MT. Snow - 

So we got up REALLY early and hit the road.

We were NOT the only ones there.

but we managed to find our way OUT of the crowds and fall in love with the snow - and get some snacks in too.

Oh the choices to make.

Snuggled up with these 2

This was exactly where they wanted to be 

I believe someone got stuck - I was just pretending not to hear him.

Packed all our food and skied until we were REALLY hungry

The BEST day all together.

Amazed by Drew at 8 it is NO problem rocking any slope together.  No doubt they are more daring than myself.

A little video I put together too

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X3hEZzsbJP0

An escape for Nick

This is one memory that I am truly thankful to be a part of.  5th graders ski free in VT - they get a little passport filled with some great ski areas.  MT. Snow holds a special place in my heart from the times I got to go up my senior year in high school.  Its a 'quick' 2 hour drive.  Yet with this crummy winter and me getting a new job, our time became more limited.

So I finally put a date on the calendar and decided it was time to just go for it.  I told Nick Monday afternoon, he rocked his concert and Tuesday morning we were up at 5:30 - no one heard us!  On the road at 6 - on the slopes at 9AM first chair,  According to Chris, Shane and Drew didn't even ask where we were.

Here we are stopping for gas and a little breakfast.

About to make some fresh tracks

We ventured over to the snow board park (even though Nick was still on skies - he got to bring options)  I shutter at the day my kids want to do this.

Seriously, no thank you! (thankfully NOT open today)

Nick's photo request - He was literally beaming all day.  To say he appreciated a treat like this is a HUGE understatement.

Tree skiing - yes please - He was leading the way.

Can you see the smile through the turtle fur?  I mean the conditions were AMAZING!  BEAUTIFUL day.

Nick I always want to remember this day with you!

WE did this run SEVERAL times and he loved every one.  After the last one, he did ask if I wanted to do a mogul run - thoughtful guy.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hT97BuOPOXY&feature=youtu.be 

We now name MT Snow - the place where the snow always glitters - 

This is the snow board run from the lift.  Its literally jump after jump after jump.

The rails were made of real wood - coolest park for this kid!

Loved a photo like this with the solar wind farm on the top of the far mountain.

I spent the entire day being so thankful to have this day.  What a true privilege.  We headed home by 3:30, tired and a bit hungry - and ready for a snow storm!!!

Thank you Nick for being that kid I WANT to spend the day with.  Love the kid you are turning into.

My Birthday

How do you really want to spend your birthday?  

Being surrounded by friends and family with some really beautiful moments in there.  While surprises can be beautiful - I am really a fan of being able to enjoy and plan for the time together.  (and ask for a visit from a cleaning lady as my gift - thank you mom and dad!  Amazingly appreciated gift!)  

I love the anticipation.  

Thank you Farrah AND Brian for making the time and effort in all you guys do to come out and stay with us.  

Friday we had a VERY unexpected RAIN DAY - While i wasn't surprised with their arrival, my boys were - but the snow day was throwing a wrench in my schedule.  They went to the Zoo with me for the better part of the morning and than home to chill while I finished up work.  The McCullouch met me there to check out my new digs.

Nothing like a good workout after a long car ride and stop at the lego office.

On this rainy day, Macy and tate just strolled into some lounging Leadbetters who were more than happy to move over nd make room for their best buddies to pal around with.  A quick moment that we catch them all together and not in a million directions

Now this is what right looks like.

Only for the cameras folks - Love Macy's expression - I mean really, what are they doing??

My mom was Fidelco training 12 week old Gracey and I BEGGED her for some time on Friday.  My mom was about at her whits end (puppies are a HANDFUL!) so grace joined right in with our full house

Somehow the kids are on the OTHER side of that door and she will wait here for them to return

I LOVE having a girl scout in the house!!  DELICIOUS - Happy Birthday!

It seemed EVERY visit from the McCulloughs brought massive snow - this time, they brought massive rain.  If only it were 5 degrees colder.  Didn't seem to stop the kids from making ramps and jumps.

 

Saturday morning was filled with sports (and thankfully NOT body pump although I know Farrah would have joined me - ok. - maybe after a mimosa or 2 - ) instead we had basketball games to include a championship one for Nick - it was a bit of a crushing game for him and Tate was a good buddy and watched til the end - 

I must mention Farrah and I rocked a 10 minute nap before the game - impressive right?!?!?

WE came back via a consignment store I have been meaning to pop into for MONTHS - its little errands like that with friends are SO much more enjoyable.  Than of course a coffee shop that served ICE CREAM and fabulous European cheese.

Then we gave the McCulloughs some good home town local bar band playing.  Filled with slow beer delivery and slurred speech singing - best part as always are the people there!

Look we got a bud light!

Anyone need a napkin?  I think he missed a spot.

Yes, the troll makes the blog and her cute little bum made Farrah laugh uncontrollably

 

And than she (the troll, not Farrah) jumped out of the window - equally as funny and photo worthy.

Simply sweet.

We settled into a rocking game of Scategories - my favorite game!  at right at midnight Brian scattered off to get his gift that he MADE - something in the beauty of gift giving when the giver os so excited.  The bottles of wine present the first time we ever traveled with them (I was pregnant and really considered the nanny and the second a beer from our pretty fabulous Belgium trip.

 

selected and prepped for tomorrow's birthday

Here comes Sunday and what should we do?!?!  Lets hit the slopes!  It might be a little mushy, but it will be white

Got any gear in the back of that truck?

March the 4th be with you - yes, I made that up - 

Chris did a great job offering tips and tricks on the snow board

But sometimes you really are a skier at heart - 

Everyone loves a good Hot chocolate and Hamburger

Who smoothed Nick??

Adore the full and active photo - exactly what 42 should look like.

Time to feed this crew - how many cooks in the kitchen??  My folks were slaving over a true act of love.  Chicken Paprikas.  My favorite meal that I could eat for days and WAY too much of it.  The BEST birthday gift ever!

Happy hearts

I absolutely LOVE it when we get to FILL this table

Now its time to FILL those bellies - who needs a salad with this meal?

Dessert anyone.  Love how we each get a sample of a few different kinds.  Cake Gypsy for the win!

Pretty certain I cannot think of a better way to end my birthday evening than curled up on the couch with this lady - #happyplace

Cheers and thank you ALL for making this birthday NOT just one more year.