Christmas Day finally made it!!

Who-ho..Santa really is magic!! We awoke from a great nights rest all 4 of us in the bed with Cedar whispering.."I think Santa came, lets see if the reindeer at the carrots." So at 6:15 am the festivities had begun! Santa filled there wishes and families gave them so much excitement for the day! The biggies the wooden Kitchen set, which Cedar immediately said " A kitchen set without a microwave!" Yes, he had high hopes of that microwave but being that we just said goodbye to ours in place of a toaster oven Santa must have known to go without!! So there it it..and the gifts just kept coming and coming...until i believe the boys were truly exhausted!! A day filled with candy, cake, great seafood and bed times that couldn't have come earlier...and I sit here now in peace and quiet enjoying the memories of a great holiday yet again..Tomorrow we hop a flight to Minneapolis for a week of fun with family and friends..The snow, cold temps, sledding, hopefully a trip up north to see Lake Superior, and plenty of time to relax! (right)

Peace to all and sweet dreams!!! See you all in MN and 2008......

On the Eve of the Eve..and the Eve!

Well here it is traditions in motion..to get to Christmas means baking cookies, baking more cookies, wrapping presents, holiday cheesy photos of the boys, cards, all those things that just become normal in December! And then it is here...Christmas Eve..the day we always go see Santa. Yup, no reason to wait hours to see the "real" guy white bearded and all. So we head to the mall of all places, get that last chance to tell Santa just exactly what is is we are hoping he has ready in his sleigh and get that photo of the brothers!! And then...we always head to Japango for the BEST Sushi in Boulder..for that matter Colorado!! YUM YUM...and then it is off to put on those brand new holiday PJ's (another tradition) tuck ourselves into bed and wait for St. Nick!!! shhhhhhhh..we are waiting patiently!!!

Santa Comes to Town!!

A beautiful Saturday full of fresh new snow..and we were off to see SANTA! With chains on the car we cruised down the mountain road in a true winter wonderland!! Something about the chaining and seeing families at top and bottom preparing for the ventures on the mountain. Gives me this sense of a neat little community all loving the snow and mountain lifestyle..now ask me again in March and i might think differently of chains!!!!!

Well we made it to town. Already the 4th year to visit Jolly old St.Nick and Mrs. Clause at the Old American Legion...Now the best is that in years past it wasn't a smoke free place so we would walk in and just stink of smoke and laughed that is where the community would gather to see Santa! Fast forward to 2007..fresh, balloons covering the ceilings, Elves preparing photos and Kids in love with Santa..well some kids! Cedar was excited to sit on S. lap and tell of his wants a "kitchen Set" was his only toy!! Then Orien entered...ohh in terror...before I could even get me on his lap the crying and repetition of the word "done, done, done ..." began...the mom i am plopped him on Santa sat back for a quick photo of upset Orien (must have for the scrapbook)...Ended with lollipops and stuffed animals...Orien did leave saying "bye Santa" from the other side of the room! Bighorn sheep around our car for a drive home in the canyon...and sleeping Orien just in time for naps!!

little boys cure all

so I will have to admit I have been in a funk..can't pinpoint it exactly..if i had to guess it would be that i am so blessed with endless hormone changes due the the little babe growing in the belly!! But let me tell you it has not been fun!! Everything seems to just errrrrk me the wrong way...from endless nights of jod getting home late, to sitting around the house a bit too much.(TV ON).to the house completely being trashed in 3.2 seconds with my distructor cedar around...I am annoyed..can you tell...oh and the best..those fatty feelings as my body takes on complete control and leaves me in the dust, waiting for the comments to start...How big..when are you due..you poor thing...(note all things never to say to me or any other pregnant women) Oh pregnancy..the joys...the excitement..the emotional roller coasters! But all in all when my little boys say "i love you" with hugs and kisses there just isn't a better cure for the blues!

Sittin Round the table

Women, chatter, wine, (water for me!!), dinner, laughter, silence, chill in the air, live music in the background..the ladies night out. The women in my circle gather..from time to time to leave the little ones and just be in adult time...Always an interesting group..a bit of a hodgepodge..from such random backgrounds all somehow families in this little town in the mountains. The one thing in common kids..the second thing in common the need for other women and conversation..the stores usually go from births, to marriage to the crazy days with the kids..and then it changes on this night.
It became a bit more serious..yeah...HUMAN RIGHTS....wow...how far we are all from what this looks like..main conversation i brought up the depressing health care drama in our own backyard. how can our neighbors be without, without the choice to seek help..and at times how can they be denied even with "insurance" Now it all got interesting as the chatter began..some clueless that this truly happens..clueless that we continue to forget our people...what is more important then that??? Then the comment "it will all change for the better soon.." HOW I ASK???i guess i start to feel like the pessimist..i don't see it...come on Corporate world how will it change..and that is where i am stuck. Sick of hearing about countries able to find there people more important then oil, more important then being at the top technically..but damn straight the people are cared for regardless of race, age, illness, history.. simply because they care for others....I want to be the optimist..I want to be changing not waiting..where do I go from here? In between running the boys to "school, " playtime, changing diapers, catching up on rest and starting all over again. Where do you go..where is your voice heard? It is time for change and I want to be apart of it NOW.
The dinner ends, the laughter picks up with conversation of the randoms, the night grows late and another night at the table comes to an end. We drive in quiet cars, and go back to the "real" world at home! AHHHH, the round tables

ohh Christmas Tree, oh Christmas Tree

we have our tree...our Christmas tree! Yes, we are one of those families that loves to put the tree up shortly after Thanksgiving...The stockings are hung by the chimney, little Santa and snow people all around the house. And the tree adventure is once again behind us! This year it was nice. Considering last year we cruised up the mountain on a cold winter day, Jody pulled out the chainsaw..pointed to one from afar the car where I stayed with sleeping boys, chopped it and that was that!! This year with fresh snow on the ground we wandered up the mountain (shhh) we went on the hunt! We parked the car, pulled the kids by sled and found our tree! The boys loved the sled ride, seemed impartial to the tree, but loved seeing it hang over the car..A BIG tree 12ft tall or so...just fits up the vaulted ceilings!! Now it is decorated and every night when the lights go on Cedar runs around the house turning off all the lights to stare in glory at the beautiful tree!!

Thankgoodness for Thanksgiving!!!

Another Thanksgiving come and gone...another year of over cooking, over stuffing our bodies, and relaxing for an entire day with friends and family!! Makes me think back to all the years of thanksgiving..from growing up with the road trip to Iowa where it was always snowy and long!! Eating Grandmas sloppy yummy dressing and over cooked by days turkey and laughing with my cousins..to traveling and living in Hawaii eating ahi tuna at Dukes by the ocean in Oahu with Jody (our first thanksgiving together). Fast forward to now...Colorado for the past 3 years we have spent with another family our good friends Kelly, Tom, and Marley(cedars girl friend)..each year a trip for sure!!! This year we spiced up thanksgiving..we actually bought the turkey Organic (for us non-meat eaters) and decided to FRY it! you can see the excitement on there faces frying it away while the kiddos cruised on sleds.

Dinner ready our other friend and there kiddos joined us,.Lina, Dave and 3 kids...poor chase with a nasty cold..so the dinner was good but quick and before we knew it families were cruising home to get little ones to bed!

And that is where the fridge still is full of leftovers..full of turkey..(which I did try a bite of that good ol' leg) the turkey was the best I have ever had because Jody seasoned it up just right and is definitely had the flavor of Thanksgiving!! (can you tell Jody got on my unfinished blog!!!)

New Snow, New Fort

Here you have it...the first real snow of the season! I awoke to Cedar explaining that there was snow everywhere, the car, house, road, bush, (how crazy when it snows it lands everywhere!!) And the big question can I go out and play..of course after breakfast..and not a minute after we were bundling up to head for the fort. It turns out Orien could have done without the whole snow thing. From the minute he entered snow land..the difficult steps, falling in the snow, he was upset..so it was a quick play. A slide down itno snow...a couple photos snapped in attepmt to get one of both boys happy. You can see that wasn't too easy!! Happy Thanksgiving Eve....

No more hair in the eyes!!

So here it is...Cedars first hair cut..not necessarily by our choice, but Cedar was sick of the dangling hair is his eyes!!! So what to do..when it took him just shy of 3 and a half years to grow this little sprout. So we went for the first trim of just the front..but then we had a REDNECK on our hands..with that nice mullet in the back. Though it brought back fond memories of our life in North Carolina it just couldn't stay! So with another trim to the back there you have it a haircut!!! Something new to get used to but he seems happy!! Photos of before and after!!!

Changing Seasons..Changing lives

I can't believe it is almost winter. Hot cups of cocoa, snow falling under a full moon, families gathering for campfires and kids more excited to build the snow forts and sled down our road!!! And with all of these season changes also comes so new changes to the Eamonn family! So yes it is out of the bag....we are pregnant! We have waited a while, as you know we usually do to announce a babe is coming....in another season..spring, May!! We are so excited to have a new little one to add to the endless craziness around our house! And thanks for all the funny comments along they way family and friends. I think a couple favorites have been, "Is this the last one?" or " Better you then me Cheers to you all!" "oh, god not me couldn't be pregnant again!" and cedar "do you have 5 babies in your belly?" Do i already look that big???? So with that we are crazy, excited, nuts, and ready to do it again!!

As for other changes we have come to the conclusion..that out house on 77 Wolf is ours!! No move planned, no more building watching..it seems only right that we gave it a shot, ventured to the other side..to the "City" and then did a 180 and are now staying in the mountains. It simply feels right. We love the mountains, love the small town feel of Estes, love the freedom of our front door for the kids to tromp and play on, so the fort is under construction as well!!! So the next topic ANOTHER addition!! This time well do it right,with permits and all!!! So come on out west if you are up for a building project we would love all the help! (kitchen cabinets matt?)

So with a feeling so good..well probably get an offer tomorrow as it is still technically on the market...then what???
And that seems to sum up the news on the mountain! Happy fall happy winter.

Trick or Treat

Ya, Halloween night..what a dreamy evening filled with silly, scary, cute children wandering estes with one plan..FILL THE CANDY BAGS!! This year we headed out with Cedars good friend Benjamin (Mr.Incredible) and his sister Annalise (bunny). Cedar as (John Deere Tractor), yes Cedar chose what he wanted a while back and it was up to us to make something work! He was bummed that the wheels were not working for him...darn cardboard!! Orien was dresses as the cuddly(Roo)!!! It was a cool night, a bit of a breeze the perfect chill for the holiday! The kids in love with the candy being dropped in the bags...but the big one the Carmel apple kept Cedar on an agenda! He began skipping all candy stops in hopes of that sweet apple! We made it..in time to chew away at the Carmel..do a little people watching and eventually crash out on the car ride home..Halloween a success..now what to do with all the candy,,,of course sneak it while the kiddos nap!!!!!

Halloween Mornin'

Of course..it snowed! It just wouldn't be Halloween in Colorado without a beautiful white covering!! And for the boys is couldn't be a better day...snow to play in and candy to collect! By the big age of 3 Cedar has the whole thing figured out....his love, CANDY..so with a nap in the midst soon enough it will be time to bundle up the ole' costume and head for the town. Estes Park closes down the main streets and thousands of kiddos come rushing in for their fix! YA, I do admit I am ready for a little snacking myself!!!! Peanut Butter Cups i hope.

ohhhh pumpkin patch

oh pumpkin patch,,,the annual festival! Yes, unbelievably it is already mid-October which in Colorado means..we have already done our first hike in snow..and I mean snow. We cruised up our Mt, with friends last week to find ourselves in over 6inches of snow! Unprepared mother I am Cedar ended up with bags over his feet to protect him from the snow!! The boys loved it...pics to come soon!!

It also means time for PUMPKINS! No apple orchards here...so every town and farm has there own pumpkin fest! Our kids love the fest with all the rides ( the farthest thing from the farmland of course)..and the pumpkins in a patch debatable! The come in by the truckloads and are stacked for the kiddos to pick through! But none the less the look on Cedars eyes this year when we pulled up says it all! This year Mimi and Grandpa were in town. So with plenty of rides, pony rides, plenty of Carmel apples, candy, homemade bread, apple cider,,you would say we had a great time! And where does that leave us. Well waiting for the Big Snow of Halloween! With one week to go I have lots to prepare for as we are making Cedars costume.

where did my little guy go?

WOW, Cedar...where did you go growing up and all! Not so much in the physical way but he is so not a toddler/little guy. I know he hasn't toddled in years(did I a say years how is he over 3?)..unless you count the endless falls that still occur from moment to time jumping off of everything! But cedar is growing up! It truly hit me when Mimi and Grandpa were in town and Cedar could have had nothing to do with me for days!! Yes, he looked back to see if i am around, or to ask a quick question to which he already know the answer simply out of comfort..but while the grandparents were here is was Mr. Independent! He wanted to only ride in their car, sit by them, sleep in their hotel (much to his disappointment fell asleep before getting the the hotel and crashed at home) oh but by 4am he would say, "lets go see Mimi!" Cedar just starting to get true emotions..tell amazing stories and has a memory of a lifetime. While Mimi and grandpa were her we hit the pumpkin patch fest..he rode the BIG Dragon Roller Coaster! Looked incredibly nervous, asked if I would come, nope too big..and went anyway! Yesterday as we were driving he brought up the ride. Out of nowhere he said " I was scared on the roller coaster..so I laid near the boy next to me, he wasn't scared." Cedar has also become quite the theatrical one..he tells the Little Miss Muffet story with silly tones..and sings hokey poky for hours! The little tales of Cedar!!!!!

My handymen!!

Just loves these pics of my hard workin' boys!!! Mimi and Grandpa Rick sent a package recently with fun tool aprons..and things to build! And build we are...a tool box and helicopter..not to mention all of daddies work that needs the boys help!!!! Funny, the minute Cedar has his on Orien is screaming in the background for his to be put on!!!!

Busy week with the Boys!!!

playing, dance, soccer, school.. oh my!! Yes the fall brings with it lots of activities!!! Cedar has begun 2 new ways of playing!!! He is one of 2 boys who are dancing away amongst tutus and silly girls. He really seems to like it. I think tap a bit more because it is "loud!" Though I believe he really loves the ending which is the balance beam and a sucker! He is more of a watcher then doer!! But with grin on his face he stays close to the teacher and all week we hear stories of dance!! Soccer is our new Saturday ritual.....again he loves to run and kick..especially likes kicking it to the goal...and again the Hot Chocolate is his favorite..I see a trend here!!!! we are off to more play!!!!! books to be read, forts to be built!

How do you measure Success?

The question of the day. I sit here contemplating what success really is. And more importantly how is it measured from person to person. Is it the American dream? A white picket fence, a gated community, the new house, the "old" house with every addition, a PRIUS for the long commute, the right EVERYTHING. Is it the raise in the job, the "climbing" the ladder of positions? Is it the one who can say they worked the most hours in a day? The family who has to take vacations to truly see each other a few times a year? Are you only successful in the work environment. The one who keep there laptop on until 2am and gets back to work by 5am? Are we successful by how many kids we have? Is it just enough to have children and not raise them a minute? Is it success to have others parent so again the money will flow? Cause if this is it count me out. Count me out of endless dinners left cold on the stove. Children asking where daddy is. Count me out of competition for the best gear etc... for the kids. Count me out for the bed cold and lonely. Count me out of this dream...if this is success I hope to FAIL. I hear too many people say that when they look back at there upbringings they we always alone. Easy mac and TV was there welcoming home after a long day. Funny enough now the parents of these adults say they regret it all. I was one of the fortunate, always had a parent to cheer me on or help make the fall less painful. Then why do we continue to go this direction as a culture? Why is work more important then family? Why is there no such thing as a long-term paid maternity leave in our country. Why is there not even enough money for the underpaid to have health care? I would need to at least head up north to get respect mothers and babies bonding time. Why don't we care about these simple parts of life???

I hope to have too much time with my children. Too much time with my family. Too much time wandering the mountains, listening to little ones stories, eating snacks and laughing. I want to fail in the competition of material goods and how many scheduled things my family is in. I want time to eat dinner as a family, read stories as a family, I want time......for living. Will I have to fail to be successful. This is my revolution. To take back time. To find our roots. To be a family in constant motion....together.

Were Dreaming Fairies

With so many days spent wandering through the woods we have begun a new tradition. We are building fairy houses and fairy boats. It only seems right to give back as we use there magical human/spirits home. I hear they love reason for celebrations so we assist in there gatherings. Truly I am waiting for the day I see my first fairy. Nope, can't say that I have ever laid eyes on such a mystical creature..and am envious off all that have. I am stuck with the visions of Tinkerbell (funny enough my trail name while on the AT), the Fairy Godmother in Cinderella, and oh yes the dwarfs with Snow White. What I love most, Cedar hasn't even seen a picture of a fairy...and has yet to ask what a fairy is...but is persistent that we build them wonderful shelters.

I wonder what Cedar thinks every time we begin another Fairy home. What does he see, maybe he truly sees fairies all around. Today he said that they must love bathing in the river. That the river heats up and is a hot tub for all the fairies. So when we end each hike, and say farewell to the fairies i just love the magic in Cedars eyes when he says " Goodbye Fairies!!!"

(ohh dear,,little cedar and his cheesy smile!!)

Come One Come All

So recently Cedar has started his own little imiginative festival. Yes, right up here in Drake! He is in love with the idea of money..great! So he passes out the tickets, in fact it is such a great deal as he pays Orien and Ito come to his parties! He usually announces his partys line up while riding on the green bike. It usualy goes something like this

"Come on mommy, come to my party, umm there will be juice, water, wine, beer (so nice to think of the adults!), snacks, treats, smores, cake, bike riding, sandbox playing..." And the list truly goes on forever! In fact sometimes I forget we were playing party and hours later he is back mumbling about his party!! So the next time you find yourselves in Colorado....don't bother with your own cash just make it up the day daily, 3pm party..where are you favorite goodies will be dancing through your imagination!

Beginnings and Ends

We have decided to move.

Yes, it took a little time but as usual we came to a quick agreement to get ready for a move. I am not sure exactly why this was the summer but it just was. And so it goes a house on the market and one to find.

That is where is gets complicated for our hearts. In the mumbo jumbo of house hunting we came across a new neighborhood. And again quite quickly decided that building in Prairie Village would be our new home. I guess we just are a go with your gut kind of family. It all feels a little out of body for us. Is this the right decision? Are we truly ready for suburban? To build and not recycle and existing home? Are we ready to have neighbors who practically live in our yard? Should we listen to that other voice that still brings up a Bus transformed into an RV and a looooong trip to Alaska? Or when we dream of acres and acre of land to do as we choose???? Can I still share my passion of the wilderness with my kids? Is this simply our many EGOS coming out to make us think. YES YES YES....but in the end I question ...does it make a better place for us as a family. The kids could care less where we live. What does Cedar ask "will my toys be there? And my bed?" Really it is will mommy and daddy be there. Yes, I value my time with Jody and the kids. To have more time for the boys to jump on daddy and eat as a family. It seems only right to live near the work world, near the places we want to play, and to be able to leave the car behind. In the mean time we keep living. Like so many other decisions, along the way many possibilities will greet us. It is exciting to witness a plan become a reality.

So with a FOR SALE on one house, a digger on the other lot we wait..as it is a true lesson of patience.

Yellow autumn

Change,
It is officially fall.

The farmers market will end this week. No more bike rides for fresh produce and sweet baked goods, and to die for goat cheese spread.

The weather has turned cool, snow is back on Longs Peak, the wind and rain have returned, the first night with our woodburning stove, and the Aspens are in full force of bold yellows and oranges.

And of course comes the leaf hunt Sunday!!

We have just returned from our annual cruise up Peak to Peak to wander in the aspen leaves. This year Cedar was so excited to witness the leaves falling. Throughout the ride we were reminded of our little ones existence with a voice " Are we going to see leaves fall yet? Is it fall today? Where are the falling?"

Yes they were falling. Well with a little help from mommy shaking the tree. Just happened to be one of those unusualy calm days. We wandered down an old dirt road, boys both dragging sticks to get that perfect photo! Funny how hard we try sometime to get Cedar and Orien in 1 picture!! In the end they all seem too right.

The rains came in to end our little hike. We ate yummy indian food in Ned and had a peaceful ride with 2 sleeping boys.

It just doesn't get much better then this. Little ones always keeping our lives fresh and new.
Well see what tomorrow brings.