Sun Valley Getaway

Conner finished school on Friday and our summer got kicked off with a family road trip to Sun Valley! Victor and I were talking recently about all of the fun memories I have of my family and our trips to Sun Valley we took every summer. So, we decided to start doing the same summer trip with our kids.

We had a great room at the Sun Valley Lodge (the only place you would want to stay if you ask me!) and enjoyed a lot of fun activities. We also discovered a scrumptious deli called the Big Belly Deli in Hailey. If you ever go you must hit this place!

We got checked into the Lodge and explored the grounds and little shops. I made sure we stopped at the grocery store on our way out of town so we could pick up some crackers to feed the ducks and swans. There was a pair of parent swans that were EXTREMELY protective of their babies that were really fun to see.

Killer swans.

Mason pointing and so excited to see all the ducks and swans.

Every kid's heaven, Zack in the candy store.

They have a famous outdoor staking rink that we had a blast on! The office didn't have skates a size small enough for Zack but we knew if we didn't get him a pair he would throw a fit. We got him a pair that were 2 sizes too big but we are so glad we did! Zackie loved every second of it! In fact, our room looked out over the skating rink and up into the beautiful mountains and Zack kept looking out of window later saying over and over, "Ice skate fun! Ice skate fun hugh Ma!"

So cute and just melts my heart!

Zackie kept saying, "ZaZa try!" Although I think he did pretty awesome for being 2 and this was his first time. A fall on his butt is what happens when ZaZa tries it on his own!

It was Conner and Victor's first time ice skating and they both picked it up like pros. It was funny when we were putting our skates on I could totally tell that Victor was nervous! He is such a kid!

Kenny Logins was there to do a concert and sat at the table next to us at dinner! His wife (maybe girlfriend?) kept telling us how cute our kids were. Although I am not exactly quite sure who he is, I know he is famous! :) We also saw Arnold Schwartzenager (not sure how to spell his last name!) driving around in his big yellow HumV.

The Lodge has an underground bowling alley too. The boys did great! Zack loved it and didn't want to give anyone else a turn. Victor and I hadn't bowled in forever so it was fun for us too!

Zack would shake his hands up and down and say, "Go ball go!" when it was his turn to bowl.

Mason got hold of Conner's candy. He scarfed it down quicker than than you can say "Done!" I know he was afraid it was going to get taken away like it always does.

They also have a heated outdoor pool that Conner just had to jump into. I was a little worried that although it was heated we would still freeze! However, the water was great. Mason was a little unsure at first but then he wouldn't stop slashing and laughing!

Little fish.

Mason the splash king!

Time seems to fly when you are having fun and the next thing we knew it was time for us to head home. We made some great memories with the kids and will be looking forward to our trip again next summer!

What do you think the odds are of me convincing Vic that he should hire someone to turn down our beds and put a mint on our pillow every night? ha ha :)

Memorial Day Weekend

I would like to send a thanks to all of those who have made sacrifices to serve our country and for me and my family to enjoy our freedoms because of their sacrifices.

My family had a great Memorial Day weekend. My parents came up and spent the weekend with us. I am so thankful to have such great parents who are active and play such a big role in my kid's lives. My boys adore their Gram and Poppa (as do Victor and I)! Zack calls my mom "Beya". We have no idea where that comes from, but it sure is cute.

They played lots of games and read books with Gram and enjoyed wrestling, building fires, and going to the outdoor stores with Poppa. One of the great advantages of sticking around for the Memorial Day weekend is getting in on the great sales!

Getting ready to roast some marshmallows and makes smores in the firepit.

My mom and I shopped and shopped and we all filled up at some of my favorite restaurants, yum! On Sunday we took a ride to Cascade. It was so green and pretty and it was nice to get out and see what was going on with Mother Nature. We also took a walk on the greenbelt and the kids loved every minute of it. We got lucky and had great weather this weekend.

Conner and Zack in Cascade.

The boys drawing me pictures with their sidewalk chalk.

Mace and his best bud, Bear.

Thanks for such a nice fun weekend Gram and Poppa! We love you!

Happy Birthday Mason!

Mason 1 week old.

Mason's baby blessing, 3 months old.

7 months old.

Mason just turned 1! This is going to be a loooooong post, sorry! The story of Mason's arrival is actually quite funny, or at least we look back at it and laugh, and I want Mason to be able to read about it someday. Since the blog is more like our family journal and scrapbook, what better than here to document it?

Mason was due on the 28th of May and Victor was graduating college at the first of the month. Victor didn't want to "walk" so I wanted to make sure we had a nice party for him. The dilemma. . . Conner was 3 weeks early and Zack was 2, so I was hopeful Mason would be early as well. So how could I plan and have a party for Vic if we had a new born? I went ahead and scheduled the party for May 9th. I had a lot of fun planning it. We had 50 or so of our best buds come over for a BBQ and celebrate Victor's big accomplishment with us. As the date of the party approached I was having a lot of contractions but just wanted to make it past the 9th!

My wonderful parents came up to join in on the fun and ended up being the biggest helpers along with my sister Camille (thanks again guys!). I made it past the BBQ yeah! The next night we went out to eat with the family and when we got back my poor dad got really sick. We thought he had been food poisoned from the restaurant. My mom took him home the next day and made a full recovery.

A few days later guess who got sick? Yep, that would be me. I have never really thought I was die when I have been sick before, but this time was the exception. I was almost positive that I was either going to die or have Mason the unconventional way by throwing him up! Then Conner came in and started right along the same sick path. To top it off, I started having contractions. They were light, but steady none the less.

I called my mom and begged her to come up. I just knew Mason would be here soon and didn't want to take kids over to some one's house to watch them while I was in the hospital after we had all been sick. My mom packed her bags and was here late that night.

Victor and I checked into the hospital the next day. I was determined to not be in labor over 24 hours like I was with the other two. Word quickly spread as to who Victor was and we received top notch care (not that we wouldn't have anyway). While the were getting my room ready I told Victor we needed to walk some laps to keep this thing going. As we were walking Victor stopped and sort of bent over, I asked him if he was OK and thinking "Great now he is sick too at the worst possible moment!" He told me he felt awful and needed a minute. I said, "Oh just stay there and I will go get one of those wheel chairs I saw up front and push you back to our room." Suddenly his eyes got big and he sat up and started walking again and said to me, "Are you kidding?!?! They know who I am and could you imagine seeing a pregnant lady in labor pushing her husband in wheel chair?!?!" heee heee Victor gets so excited when I am in labor that he can hardly stand it. It is so cute and cracks me up.

Vic and Mason just a few hours old.

We were only in the hospital for 12 short hours before Mace made his entrance to this world. A perfect healthy little 7 lb 2 oz 19 inches little boy! Zack and Conner were so excited to get there and see us. Zack didn't know what to think of Mason at first but he just knew he loved him and gave him little kisses on the forehead.

Mason getting loves from big brother Zack.

My mom usually stays a week or so after we have a baby and helps us out. Isn't she wonderful? When we got home from the hospital VaLoy got sick! We tried to take care of her but she just kept saying, "Here I come up to help you and you are the ones taking care of me!" Needless to say it was a bit of circus for a while but it was just preparing us for what was to come. We were also really worried to take Mace home to a house of sick people. Luckily neither Mason or Zack got sick.

Mason, still a little puffy and in his newborn clothes that were way to big, all ready to go home from the hospital.

For Mason's first birthday we planned a very low key weekend hanging out with my mom and dad. However, my mom called me the day they were supposed to get here and she was really sick. So we spent the weekend celebrating with just our family. We have had so many big elaborate parties that we have definitely come to appreciate the small quiet ones. It was fun and relaxing and I think Mason knew it was his special day.

Zackie helping Mason open his presents.

The birthday kid in his new big boy car seat.

Dad and big brothers showing Mace how to blow out his candles.

Yum Yum Cake! Much easier to clean up outside! We also had delicious homemade berry icecream.

We also took the boys to the zoo. They love the animals and we bought a family pass so we are excited for many more trips to the zoo this year.

Conner and Zack.

Dad and the little ones.

Mace admiring the Komoto Dragon.
Conner and Mace.

And an update on the rest of us. Conner is so excited to be done with school in a couple of weeks. Zack is officially in underwear! Well Victor asked him if he wanted to put on his underoos the other day and Zack said, "No, they ZaZaRoos!"

Victor is thrilled to death the weather is nice enough to pull out the motorcycle. And we also got the fire pit out of storage and all set up and tested it out the other night! Victor had to hone back in on his fire making skills, which were a bit rusty at first, but we ended up staying nice and toasty later! We spend lots of spring/summer/fall nights hanging out with friends at the fire pit but we also just got a patio heater I am excited about. For the nights we are too lazy to chop wood!

Yes, this little monster in his PJ's was supposed to be in bed! But he kept knocking on his window and watching us so I went in and brought him out with us. He was one happy boy!

Conner, Zack, and Conner's best neighbor bud (snuggled up with Zack) Kyle.

Me happy that Vic finally got the fire going to keep warm!

Sorry this was so long! We are so lucky to have three beautiful fun little boys. They are each so different it is crazy they came from the same mold! We love you boys and happy birthday Mason! Oh and thanks to everyone who sent gifts, calls, cards, and texts! You are so sweet and thoughtful!

Red Letter Day

I really didn't plan on blogging about this. However, I joked with Victor about it and he got so excited with the thought I really was going to do it, I thought I had better. Are you ready to read what the RED Letter Day is all about?

Two years ago today, Victor was actually right about something! :) Yea, all you hubbys know what a miracle it is if you are ever right and Victor is proud with the fact I actually admitted it. When I graduated from college two years ago my wonderful hubby got me a brand new car! We test drove every SUV known to man. Before we even started looking I was pretty sure I already knew what I wanted. I had narrowed it down between a Toyota Sequoia or the Land Rover LR3.

Lets face it, size does matter. I loved the LR3 but it was just to small for our family and huge dogs and I loved the Sequoia too but Victor talked me into test driving a Yukon and I knew instantly it was what I wanted! I liked the XM and OnStar and million other features it offered. After I decided on the Yukon, Victor said we should test drive the Yukon XL just to see what we thought. The XL is just like a Suburban and Victor was dead set on the idea that we needed the XL.

At that time we only had Conner and Zackie and had no plans of any more. I wondered why in the heck we would need all that room for just the 2 kids and I felt like I was driving a bus. But Victor kept insisting and I shot him down and stuck with the Yukon.

A beautiful Yukon.

A few days later we were packing for a road trip. I swear the saying of when you have kids that you pack everything but the kitchen sink is so true! The car was loaded to the max! I looked at Victor and said, "Hun, I think you just may have been right. We should have gotten the XL." I think Victor about had a heart attack. He asked me 6 times, "What did you just say?"

There it is, the running joke between us about the miracle day that Vic was actually right about something. We have to document it because it doesn't happen often. :) I am sure I would have gotten used to driving the XL, but I sure do love my Yukon and would recommend it anyone! Thanks for the great gift babe!

What we should have gotten. . the XL.