3 Tylenol and a Vodka Collins, PLEASE!

It all comes of taking an already clumsy person and putting them on skiis....in the snow....on a mountain....facing downhill. Or really, taking a clumsy person and directing them to a chairlift, which after reading my lift ticket, I understand is one of the more unnerving and potentially dangerous aspects of skiing.

I really had no expectations for this trip, and while nervous, expected to have a pretty good time considering this was a Mommy/Daddy trip...or Kellye and Chad sans kids trip. My wonderful parents kept the boys without hesitation and knowing that my parents could pretty much be stand-in parents for us, I had not a single worry; even leaving Seb the day after he spiked a fever and was diagnosed with a sinus and ear infection. Have I mentioned how AWESOME my parents are! I mean really, look up awesome in the dictionary and you'll find their photo next to the definition. Add to that the fact that the boys super seriously love their Grammy and Poppy and you have the makings of a fun fest to rival the nations.

We left Thursday, February 4th for a weekend trip to Breckenridge, Colorado. It was my first time skiing and first time seeing THAT MUCH snow. To be honest, I wasn't worried in the slightest about skiing, as I was more focused on the cold. I am not in any way shape form or fashion a cold weather gal. For serious, when the thermometer drops below 50, I can be found listening to Jimmy Buffett with a space heater cranked full tilt boogy. I just don't do cold. BUT, I am happy to report that Colorado's near zero temps didn't even phase me! It was actually quite pleasant! And I mean really, when you're participating in the incredibly laborious task of skiing, you need a little outdoor A/C.

I've got tons of pictures to show you, but first I'd like to share a bit of what I learned in my first go round of skiing. While these might seem rather elementary to those that grew up around snow or have any bit of sense when it comes to picking up sports that can kill you rather quickly, I wish someone had dumbed it down for me. Because for reals....I almost died.

1. Approach the chairlift as you would if you were alligator hunting. You gotta be ready, move quick on your feet, and sit on that thing as fast as you can. And whatever you do, do not fall once in the lane to get on the lift, otherwise, you can get injured. Take me for example. I lost my my footing once we got through the gate because I was all "I can't believe I'm about to ski down a blue! Oooohhh look at the pretty mountain". Next thing you know, I'm on the ground and if that's not cause for enough embarrassment, in my efforts to get back up, the chairlift totally slammed into my jaw and almost knocked me out cold like Mike Tyson's one-two punch. Luckily though, I was so bundled up that my neck cover took a bit of the blow and saved me from what I believe would have turned into a pretty nasty bruise. Thank the good Lord because I'm certain I'd rather tell people that my husband beat me than explain how one gets wailed in the face by a chairlift.

2. Learn how to wedge before you ever get out on the snow. Wedging occurs when you dig your heals into the snow while pointing the tip of your skis into a pizza formation. Wedging can come in handy when you're headed 80 mph down a mountain with no idea how to stop. If it's any consolation, you will eventually stop, but probably not in the way you'd like.

3. Stay focused. All that beautiful snow can really take your breath away and one false move and you will suddenly become one with the snow...as in you bust it in front of everyone and they all laugh at you while you cry like a baby.

4. You want your boots tight, but not too tight. Having your boots too tight will actually cause your knees to go numb which is bad because if your knees go numb your hips are soon to follow and that's even worse because you need to have sensation in your limbs to actually ski.

5. Watch out for the short ones. Kids have exactly ZERO FEAR when it comes to plummeting down a mountain. They think it's fun and while that's great for them, it's bad for you, because they will crash into you and then laugh hysterically because they ski better than you and caused you to fall.

6. Do not wear thong underwear while skiing. I don't have personal experience with this, but it would seem to me this could get uncomfortable.

PICTURE TIME!

The descent into Colorado Springs is beautiful! First glimpse of the Rockies!

Have I mentioned how crazy my brother-in-law, Austin, is? If not, let me begin. C-R-A-Z-Y!

Snowball fight!

The drive to Breckenridge from Colorado Springs isn't all that bad, about 3 hours if the conditions are good and most rental cars come with snow tires, which is helpful because of all the snow and stuff.

Our condo backed right up to what's known as the Four O'Clock Run and is a great place to be! Close to a free lift and at the end of the day you can ski this slope all the way back to your condo's balcony, which is great when you've been skiing all day and are TIRED!

Before we left, everyone warned me to be careful of trees. "Don't hit any trees, Kellye!" They'd say! But they didn't say anything about trees hitting us! I promise you, we tried to avoid this little guy while sledding our first night in town, but we couldn't get out of the way in time. Thank goodness we were all okay!

Be aware while in Breckenridge that foxes are not scared of you in the least. This little guy or gal ran right up to the lift and hung out for a bit. Nothing to be frightened of though. They do keep their distance.

This is proper use of the "wedge" as demonstrated by my lovely husband!

And this is propare use of the looking good while posing for a picture on top of a mountain technique.

If you bring snacks to eat while taking a break from the slopes, do be advised that they will freeze.

Look at this little guy! Just look at him! How adorable! Kids like this were all over the place and made me miss my boys terribly!

A must do if they have it wherever you ski, is tubing! Just take my word for it and go. By far, my favorite part of skiing! We went at night so none of my pictures turned out that were taken of the actual tubing process. Basically, you sit down in a large innertube and then an employee pushes you down this huge incline made of ice that's built sort of like a waterslide. One word: AWESOME!

Once you slide, you take this little ramp-like escalator to the top and do it all over again!

Snowball RIGHT TO THE FACE!

What a great trip! But boy am I glad to be home! I missed those babies of mine with a fierceness!!! Thanks for looking!

So small and so special

Don't you just feel like this sometimes?

Like you're running up the biggest hill of your life, as hard as you can, small and insignificant you, pushing with all of your might, just trying to make some headway and feeling like nobody at the top notices you.

Isn't it so easy to feel this way? We perceive we've got the biggest problems to combat and yet they're nothing but small change compared to others dealing with tragedy amidst catastrophe. It's easiest then, not to mention a relief, to think that what we've got ain't nothin and we're merely insignificant in that scheme of things. But then on a bigger spectrum, it's easy to just feel insignificant and that we don't matter. I know it's cynical to say, but really, the world isn't going to stop turning the day I die. Long after I've passed on someone else will figure out how to do the things I do and probably in a far better and more efficient way.

We feel like we don't matter.

But then we are pointed to scripture that says we are "fearfully and wonderfully made" (Psalm 139:14) and I am reminded that I'm not insignificant at all. I do matter and in fact, no one is insignificant because in the eyes of the Lord, He created us with painstaking precision and joyful caution. He crafted us from scratch into a beautiful masterpiece and then carefully laid us in our mother's wombs. Something so small and tiny that had a heartbeat even before notice was taken they were even there. This message is never so clear to me than after I have finished a sewing project. I step back, take a deep breath, and marvel at what I've made with my own two hands. I think on the time taken in everything from selecting that just perfect piece of fabric to sewing the final stitches. It all looks a mess at the beginning, but then at the end, a masterpiece. A masterpiece that someone, somewhere has been looking for all along!

So the next time you feel insignificant, take a deep breath and realize that the most powerful being of all notices and does not think of you as anything less than perfection, because He created you and that is awesome.

Flashback Fridays: Mr. & Mrs. Smith

I had no idea. No friggin clue just what it all meant. I knew I loved him and that I couldn't imagine spending my days with anyone else. He seemed nervous, or rather held back, but then calm and laid back all at the same time. That was my Chad.

"I'd rather spend the money on the honeymoon." I'd said matter of factly during a date one night with friends.

His eyes lit up and he laughed excited and knowing. Two years later and we stood on the steps of the Courthouse as newlyweds.

My heart was all aflutter as I stood beside my new husband in the sunshine of a Wednesday afternoon.

Mr. & Mrs. Smith

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Today I'm joining in on the fun over at Mylestones as Jo just kicked off a fun little blog party known as Flashback Friday. You should head on over by clicking here to see what other people are takin it back to the old school over.

Pocketfuls of rocks

No way the walls could contain us the day the sun broke through the clouds and the temperature crept into the sixties. Drying up enough of that common ground so that you could march headstrong into the horizon. Begging and pleading with you to slow down enough so that we could catch up and so your baby brother didn't tumble too far too fast. Your footsteps wouldn't hear of it and carried you faster and faster still till all that could be heard was your triumphant giggle upon discovery of what lay just beyond your grasp.

You never so much as glanced back as your counterpart demanded to "walk-uh" and then "hold me!" leaving your dear Mother exasperated and breathless. Up the hill and then down again you marveled at the newness of the day and reveled in the awesomeness of imagination. A leaf became the key we held to return home. You gave fair warning that if we lost it or dare we say, broke it, we'd never get out of there. Pine cones belonged in our pockets for safe-keeping just in case we came across a terrific monkey or even worse, a lion came near! You gasped for air as your barely big enough hands clawed at the Earth to gather just one more handful of stones to cast into the water.

Just one more handful.

And just like that we blinked and you were done. Returning to reality with a chuckle and smile as you said "Okay Momma. Let's just go home."
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Check out what everyone else is embracing over at Chatting at the Sky today. Are you fully embracing what today has to offer? I know I am.

Who's the baby now?

I am a total baby.

There, I admit it.

I am strong and I am capable of anything I set my mind to, but I am nothing more than a big baby when you get to the heart of the matter, that being my kids.

I've discussed at length throughout the past 4 years just how difficult it is for me when my children hit milestones, and I really have no good reason for all the tears. It's just so hard for me.

Saturday afternoon, Seb found a way to bust out of his crib. Chad found him in the hall while he was supposed to be napping and after putting him right back and him showing us just what he thought about all that, we scrapped the nap and took the front off of the crib. Much to my shagrin.

"It's just a crib!" I tell myself. "It doesn't mean he's leaving for college."

"But still!" I blubber back to myself. "Crib's are for babies and if he's not in a crib, he's not a baby anymore."

And damn, here come the tears again.

I just don't understand. Why does it have to happen so incredibly fast?! I mean you feel that way too right? Doesn't it feel like I was just posting pictures of my blossoming belly and then terrifying stories of preterm labor? How can it be that this baby is no longer qualified for crib life? How can it be that we are approaching his 2nd birthday in only a few months? Someone please explain it to me because I'm having a horrible time coping.

Saturday night, I sat at his bedside watching him sleep and cried my eyes out. I saw glimpses of him at 4 and then walking across the stage to accept his diploma. And you know what? It happened in the blink of an eye.

This is that bipolar part of parenting. You should feel happy when your kids grow and hit milestones. It means you're doing your job. But then again, it's all happening so fast.

I know we have a lot of awesome times to look forward to and for those I really do welcome them with open arms, but for now I just can't help but mourn the speedy passage of infancy.

And you know what else? Seb's using the potty. I know right! Took us by surprise too. I was just dead set on not even trying with Seb till he was closer to 3, but he's insistent and really who am I to get in the way of that?

Oh Sebastian...give your sweet mother a break and regress a little why don't you!

The introduction: When Love Collides

This is only the beginning, but it's a start for sure. The beginning of the book I've always wanted to write. From my heart to yours....I give you the makings of...

When Love Collides

There is a moment in the chaos of the day, my absolute favorite actually. It's the moment when you feel like you're about to pull your hair out, but you catch yourself laughing hysterically and then you think to yourself, "when did I get so lucky?"

Motherhood is so full of contradictions. It's not uncommon that as I have one child hanging off of me losing his religion over a toy he HAS to have RIGHT NOW or he'll simply just die, I have another giving me the giggly milky grin that suggests I just might be his most favorite person in the whole wide world. My brain goes into quiet mode and as I watch the scrunched up face of chaotic child against smiley face boy, my heart just starts to melt.

It would make no sense to the person on the outside that knows nothing of the blessings of motherhood both in the sarcastic and literal sense, but to the onlooking mother that "gets it", we just wink and sigh to ourselves.

These are the moments. Moments that were written in the noisy fall apart circumstances of life and the quiet bliss that I received the day boy number one found his way into my world. Written so that I can look back and remember myself what it was that drove me every day to get out of bed, but also so that others who don't yet "get it" might catch their breath so they can see the true beauty of the web of life they've weaved.

Stuck in the middle

I won't lie to you. Growing up with sisters sucked most of the time.

If you've ever witnessed a standoff between two blue birds vying for the nest and the attention of the prettiest female, then that's what it was like living with 2 sisters.

My older sister had the ability to smack you in the head faster than a ninja and you could FORGET about retaliating! Fighting back only meant a worse retaliation on her part much later. I can remember watching television, totally minding my own business when out of nowhere my older sister grabbed the back of my head and drug me across the floor delighting in the hair she'd managed to rip from my scalp.

If that wasn't enough, my younger sister didn't care all that much for me either. She moved at a much slower speed than me, someone who's energy level has been compared to that of Richard Simmons, so I'm sure it was incredibly annoying that I was always in her face. Plus, with my speed and brilliant activities set up, someone usually ended up getting hurt.

And then there was the clothes "borrowing", mainly between the older sister and me. I'd regularly sneak into her closet and take my pick of the litter. She'd sneak into mine and select of her choosing. Screw up and have on a shirt that the other had not yet worn when you were out in public at the same time and there was HELL TO PAY.

There was the time on the trampoline when my younger wouldn't stop touching me. "Touch me AGAIN and I swear I will TAKE. YOU. DOWN!" And just for kicks and giggles, she did touch me again and I did indeed TAKE. HER. DOWN. WWE RAW style.

Kacey, my younger, and I regularly laugh about the summer we we'd play "jungle" in our backyard pretending that Kirsten, our older, was an evil dictator trying to take our home away. Kirsten never quite understood why we'd run shrieking from her whenever she'd enter the backyard, but we thought it was the funniest thing EVER.

There were screaming matches to rival the nations, scratches from the clawmarks, and knives you surely needed a surgical tech to pull from your back.

I'm sure my parents could recall without hesitation the many times they've heard us scream "I HATE YOU!" at each other or "I'm not talking to you EVER again!" They've refereed more fights between the three of us than the WWE and are rejoicing today that we didn't actually kill each other at some point down the road.

But just as anything happens in life, time went by and we all grew up. Scars healed and the bad memories have faded and are overshadowed with the funny and happy memories. I used to resent being the middle child, but now I embrace it because it means I'm stuck right between two extra fabulous gals that I know have got my back. They've turned into phenomenal aunts and unfailing confidants.

And today, I am incredibly thankful to call them my sisters.

Reflections of a year in review

2010 will be here in T-minus 34 hours and before we go all sayonara on 2009, I think we should take a minute to reflect on everything that brought us to now. You gotta know where you've been in order to most efficiently move forward....or, err...something like that.

I hate to even attempt to define or sum up this past year in one word, but I'm going to in a hope that if I put this out to the universe, the exact opposite will hold true for 2010.

This was the year of SICK! OY VEY! It seems like from August on it was game on for germ warfare in our house. I hope and pray that for 2010, we see very little of the inside of a doctor's office and only wave happily as we pass on our way to bigger and better things!

2009 started off with a bang with an exclusive little party Hayden man and I had in our very own living room. We got a dog and then five months later got rid of said dog. Seb got teeth, learned to crawl, walk, and then crawl, walk, and finally run....away from us. We spent most of 2009 worrying about Seb's weight, the gain and loss thereof, and he finally mastered all sorts of food. He FINALLY got the hang of sleeping through the night in his own bed and most days waits till 7ish to wake up to get this party started. Hayden found a million and one new ways to make us giggle ourselves silly. (Click here to refresh your memory and see what else he's been saying to keep us in stitches.) We had the boys Dedicated. I ran a half-marathon and discovered that after the age of 25 you absolutely under NO circumstances should attempt to spend the night head-banging. The boys left the daycare they'd been at from infancy and began a new place, which we promptly discovered our disdain for and moved again in a matter of months (new daycare is super awesome and all of us are smitten with by the way!) I won our family a trip to Disney by shaking my money maker in front of 3,000 people at a Get Motivated Seminar for work and Sebby Pooh turned 1 and broke my heart into a thousand pieces. I opened Ellye-K Designs and embarked on a journey that is showing major signs of growing into something nothing short of fabulous. Hayden started talking about politics and convinced me that I absolutely HATE and LOATHE the age of three for multiple reasons that I discussed here making me never so happy to see Hayden turn 4. Kacey (my baby sister) and Austin got engaged and married. I fell in love with my children and prayed. A LOT. We went to the beach, caught glimpses of true happiness and unbridled joy, Hayden turned four, and we figured out that our home is rapidly turning into a nudist colony because we CANNOT keep clothes on our kids. Seb's hair grew and grew forcing me to at least see what it would look like in pigtails which we discovered he doesn't mind all that much and he also showed us he has NO interest whatsoever in large masked/unmasked people (Easter Bunny, Santa Clause, Mr. Incredible). We thought I had breast cancer, but it turned out to be nothing and I prayed again....A LOT. We all experienced the dreaded swine flu, Sebastian got it twice, and discovered that we'd rather have that than regular flu any day of the week. We welcomed another little boy, Chase, into our family and Zane turned 3. Hayden took karate lessons and used said karate lessons to torture his brother. We shared holidays, laughter, lots of candy, hugs, kisses, and I prayed many more times and fell in love with my children over and over and over again.

2009...it's been real and it's been fun, but it's time for us to say SAYONARA and see what your sibling has in store for us!

We're ready to take it on!

BRING IT!

Only...no more sickies. Please.

Yours truly,

Mango Shampoo

"Don't ever grow up!" I pleaded with Hayden.

"Okay. I won't grow up." He giggled back at my obviously ridiculous demand.

"Seriously buddy, stay like this forever."

"Okay" he responded in an amused but defeated tone "but I'm gonna grow up in the night-night time."

And if you held your breath long enough to quiet the noise from all around, you would have heard my heart breaking.

He's growing up. Faster than I can cope.

Just three months into the fourth year of life, his 4T clothes and pajamas that should still give us some wiggle room are getting smaller and smaller. He regularly reminds us that he's growing simply by doing things that he used to need our help with. Things like opening the refrigerator to retrieve whatever he's after and dressing himself in almost matching clothing show us that there is not an ounce of baby left in The Teenager.

He wants to hold his brother and then reminds Crash that "I'm the boss" while pointing to his chest that's all bowed out. He shows little to no interest in anything that doesn't concern Transformers, Spiderman, or any other superhero. He talks about his friends from school showing us that he's built social relationships all on his own and most of the kids, I've never met.

He's growing up.

But just as I start to close that chapter of our lives to open the next, my ears ignite and I wonder "Oh, but what's that?"

He's crying out in the night for "MOOOOMMMMMMMA!"

And I run down the dark hall to find him in his room with his arms outstretched waiting for me and needing my comfort.

So I climb into that almost too small bed and wrap him in my arms and breathe in the delicious aroma of mango shampoo.

And even if for tonight, despite the rapid growth, I realize that he's still got a lot of growing to do.

And praise Jesus.....

He needs my help to do it.

Come and gone

What a great Christmas.

This was the year that Hayden FINALLY caught onto the magic of Christmas.

He could BARELY find it within himself to go to bed, but eventually did.

Seb, on the other hand, had no quarrels.

And wouldn't you know....just like Mommy and Daddy said....Santa came!

And then at the magically unmagical hour of 5:20 a.m. the very excited Teenager made an appearance into our room and loudly whispered "Santa Claus came to our house and I think he brought me a train!"

And being the super mean parents we are, actually made him lay back down in our bed for a bit so as to give Crash more of an opportunity to catch a few more winks. Chad turned to me at about 5:45 and whispered "He's laying here with his eyes WIDE open and has a huge smile on his face. He isn't going back to sleep."

I can't help but laugh at the role reversal because it truly seems that just last year I was in his shoes too excited to sleep and so eager to see what Santa had brought us.

As I giggled to myself, I hopped out of bed and went to collect Seb who was still snoozing. Although, his little head popped right up when I said "Sebby Pooh....Santa came to see you!", it took him a bit to wake up and figure out that the toys all over the living room floor were not just a vision of toddler fancy, but a reality of the wonderful thing called Christmas.

I realize more and more that early mornings are not all that bad. Thanks to Hayden, the boys were able to spend enough time playing with their toys with ample time to slowly get dressed and head to my parents. We weren't rushed and we still made it to my parents by 10ish.

My Mom is the BDC (bomb dot com) when it comes to decorating.

And food prep and display.

Besides looking good, the food also tasted MARVELOUS!

And it's almost a crime to admit how great my parents are as a team when it comes to cooking. They both have some MAD skills when it comes to all things kitchen related.

You know who else has mad skills...Hayden. He has become a friggin ninja when it comes to opening gifts. One day he shall teach his mastery to Sebastian who is still just in training.

This was deemed the year that we all got boots! Good timing too. We're all going skiing in February!

I would be remiss without ending this post by doting on how fantastic my family is. Life is not without it's fair share of bumps and bruises and at most times feels like we're all running crazy, but really....it's perfectly imperfect and I love it.