Spring Break Part One | Estes Park!

I think Spring Break is my favorite break from school. It always gives me just the right amount of rejuvenation to finish out the school year strong (9 more weeks!) This year I was blessed to go on two adventures. I was actually lucky I was able to go on either because the Friday before break I came down with something terrible...fever, chills, aches. I laid in bed praying I would feel better by the time we left for the mountains on Sunday! 

We took it easy all weekend and took our time heading up to Estes Park Sunday afternoon to meet my parents and my older sister and her family. We found our cabin, which was pretty swanky with two levels, a gas fireplace, and several T.V.s. We spent the first day exploring outside, watching deer pass by, and getting settled in. The next day we woke up to the sun shining and the snow sparkling as it fell to the ground. It snowed the whole day and we watched the world turn white from our windows. There's just something so special about a family vacation...even with the chaos that little ones bring. It's fun to watch our own children partake in sacred family traditions and make new ones too. I hope our children always remember these times we shared together. 

And now for a little picture overload! 

A Valentine's Day Walk

We were so glad that Valentine's Day landed on a Sunday this year so we could spend it together as a family! :) We slept in and woke to our room being filled with the most beautiful, soft, pink light.  Everdeen opened some very coveted swimming goggles and a handmade sock monkey. My husband got me the biggest box of dark chocolate Junior Mints...and I may have already eaten half of them...maybe. In high school, Martin was late to orchestra practice almost everyday because he had to stop at the Snack Shack for his box of Junior Mints. I guess we still sort of love them in this household. 

Last year on Valentine's Day, we got to go on a beautiful hike...in the middle of February none the less. We thought we would make it a Valentine's Day tradition, as long as the weather holds out. We tried again today, but all of our favorite places were closed from our big snowstorm a couple weeks ago.  So we ventured to the Love capital of the country, Loveland, CO.  We walked around the Benson Sculpture Garden and then attempted to have a picnic amongst the wintery scene. Let's just say we were more than ready to get back into the warm car. We are aching for spring over here! 

Hope you all had a beautiful day surrounded with those you love the most! Happy Valentine's Day!

(she got a little nervous and suddenly ran back to the safety of the sidewalk ;)

Christmas {Numero Uno}

We have been soaking in our time together before I head back to work next week. It's been such a wonderful break, filled to the brim with family and friends! :) We got to celebrate Christmas twice this year.  My twin sister and her husband came at the beginning of December and we had our big family celebration then. That time together with my family is what I look forward to all year. We are all home and under one roof...just like old times, just the way it should be. I even gladly agreed to sleep on the couch if it meant my sisters and I were all sleeping down the hall from one another. We played games, went for walks, watched movies, and watched the kids play. It was simple, and that's okay. It was just what we all needed.