Winter "Fun"

Being new Coloradans, I've been really excited to take part in all of the fun things our new state has to offer in the winter months. In California, we had to drive about 4 hours to get to any snowy, outdoor adventures and now they're literally in our backyard!

While my mom was visiting last weekend, we decided to take everyone ice skating. Like, on a real lake that's frozen. It's been YEARS since I put skates on and Ritchie had never been!

So, let's just take a look at how this went, shall we?


You can't really tell, but basically Max is sobbing hysterically. Like, refusing to even TRY.


You can tell better in this one. *Sigh* What am I going to do with this sweet, wimpy child?


Proof he had skates on. Not once did he even attempt to stand on them. The skate wearing lasted all of 10 minutes before we gave up and just put his damn uggs back on.


Ben didn't do a ton better, but he at least tried.


It was fine. They just played in the snow around the rink.






The big people (Old people? No, big people sounds better.) still had a solid 30 minutes of skating fun before we all basically collapsed and declared ice skating to be insanely challenging.


Oh look! How romantic!


Don't we look like we're having fun?


Don't be fooled. Ritchie basically pulled me around the whole time whilst I yelled/whined things like, "not too fast!" and "please slow down!" and "I don't want to do this anymore!" Maybe Max gets it from me?







Then we went inside where the real fun began! Hot chocolate and popcorn anyone?


Look how big Ben is. Now, make it stop.










Grandma sure does love these two.


In general, he's SO much happier indoors OR during summer.

So, based on how splendidly this event went we naturally thought it a great idea to try sledding this weekend. Saturday and Sunday we had the biggest snow storm that we've experienced since moving to Denver. I think we got between 7-10 inches. The park nearby has a lot of hills, making it a great little stop for a quick sledding session.

We didn't even get out of the CAR before the crying began.



He finally stopped sobbing hysterically when we told him he didn't have to sled, he could just watch.


At least he looks cute all bundled up.


The great thing about having a 1 year old is that he can't tell us he doesn't want to try sledding. So, he did.






Please note Ben's face.



Poor kid.



It was at this point that Ritchie said, "Why don't you soothe him and stop taking pictures?"

Oh, right.


I took a couple of turns and it was fantastic! However, I doubt we'll do it again this year. The kids just aren't ready for outdoor winter activities. We'll stick to indoor movies, coloring and hot chocolate (this weekend's other activities)

We're planning our move back to CA promptly (Just kidding).

An Outfit Post (To Catch Up)

I skipped WIWW this week. Whoops. So, here are a few of my outfits from last week. I've been HORRIBLE about snapping pics, so please forgive me, mkay?


Listen, don't be jealous of my photogenic quality. It's just something I possess, I can't help it. (Um, NOT)
sweatshirt: Whole Foods
Shoes: Toms
Jeans, undershirt: Nordstrom


Sweater: Nordstrom
Jeans: Nordstrom
Shoes: Sam Eldeman

And later that day...


Jacket: OLD (I have no idea)
Shirt: Anthropologie
Hair Flower: Stella & Dot
Leggings: Nordstrom


Shirt: Anthropologie
Jeans: Nordstrom (I have maybe 3 pairs I rotate regularly and two of them are identical. So, just assume moving forward that my jeans are from Nordstrom)

Necklace in every pic: Lisa Leonard

Those are the only pics I have! Yeesh. This week has been even worse, I'm sorry to say. I hope to have SOMETHING for you for WIWW.

January's Goal and a Home Tour!

In January, my goal was to get this house of ours organized! I did a pretty good job. Closets? Check. Fridge? Check. Pantry? Check. The only things I didn't get to (yet) was our filing cabinet and our basement. Both pretty large tasks that I'm hoping to tackle REALLY soon.

So, while I had my house all clean and (mostly) organized, I thought I'd give you a little tour.

By the way, these pics are AWFUL. I don't have the right lens to adequately capture these spaces and I was taking pictures in poor lighting.

Enjoy! ;)

When you walk into the front door (which we never use), this is what you see on the wall:


My collage of photos that I'm trying to expand. And the kid's kitchen/imaginative play area.


To your left in the space is the open play area.


This is the view when I'm standing in the play area.


This is the view from the tiny hall leading into the kitchen/living/dining rooms.


In that tiny hallway are the paintings my brother made us for Christmas! Love those!


As you keep walking into the house you pass a cutout with the pantry and our Christmas card hanger and bathroom.


And, of course, our menu.


And the kitchen would be to your left.




From the kitchen you can see into the living room.




This is the view of the living room from the dining room.






And the view of the dining room from the living room.






I spared you the stairway. I'll also spare you all the bathrooms. Think toilet, sink and shower/tub and you've got the idea.

So, just FYI. The boys' rooms are totally boring and not at all what I'd like them to be. I will eventually put them into one room with bunkbeds and redecorate the whole space. For now, they have simple and very plain rooms. They ONLY sleep there, so it's cool, I guess.

Maxton's room:

As you enter....


To your left upon entering.




Just some details...






Bennett's Room:

As you enter:








Why, yes we have a janky half decorated space above Ben's bed. No, I don't plan to finish it.


My favorite part of the room, the Apple posters.



Our room:

As you enter...


Standing back by the nightstands.


Standing by the bathroom door.


Standing by the windows


Those shelves will eventually house even MORE photos of us. All black and white. I just need to bite the bullet and buy frames. I also need window coverings of some sort. All in good time.



That's it!! Welcome to Casa de Lincoln. It's NEVER this clean.

How We Cure the Sickies Around Here

It's that time of the year, isn't it? Playdates get canceled more frequently, snot covers everything, nobody sleeps because there's always someone coughing or who can't breathe. It's cold/flu season.

I'll touch briefly on the flu. I'm a firm believer in the flu shot. Now, that does not mean our house is flu free by any means. We ALWAYS get something. But, when we do it's usually a brief stint of barfing from each boy and then it's over. The one year we didn't get the flu shot is was DAYS of cycling through each of us, all of us barfing and on the toilet for 12-24 hours each. Horrific. I still get an upset stomach just thinking about it. So, while not the "crunchiest" momma thing to say ever, get your flu shot.

Now, onto that pesky cold. The one that's currently making a little stop at our pad. We have 5 sure fire ways of getting rid of a cold in our house.

1. JUICING:

Or making smoothies. We do a combo of fruits and veggies, greek yogurt, almond milk, chia seeds. When we juice it's always with something high in vitamin C. And PLENTY of greens. Zuchinni, celery, carrots, spinach, kale, apples, lemon, oranges, etc... anything goes. At least one juice/smoothie per day around here when people are sick.

2. TYLENOL:

Every 4 hours on the freaking dot. I'm not kidding. We all can't make it through the day (or night) without drugging the children.

3. VICK'S VAPORUB:

Here's the trick to Vick's. Put it on their feet (the bottoms) and cover those tootsies up with socks. It seriously helps them breathe. We only do this at nighttime and it makes a HUGE difference.

4. HUMIDIFIER:

Why, yes we do have that cute little guy! And, he works. We use him all night, every night when the kiddos can't breathe.

5. REST

I'll nap with the kids more just to keep them sleeping, we'll put them to be earlier, let them sleep in our room, put on movies and let them veg out. Hell, I've even been known to buy them milkshakes and let them eat them in the car just to keep them happy and still. Anything to get us through the day when everyone is cranky and tired and doesn't feel well.

What do you do to help your kids over their colds? Any new tricks out there?

31

I turned 31 today.





I've been thinking a lot lately about the things I really want in my life, what's really important. There are many a blogger following the model of monthly goals, one major accomplishment for each month of the year. I, too am taking on this model.

January:Organize the house 
What better way to start the new year than to get everything organized and clean and shiny :) I'm working on it - I'll give you an update at the end of the month.
February: Shower and get dressed and make a genuine effort to look pretty EVERY DAY. 
I spend most days in jeans and a sweatshirt of some sort with my hair in a hat and no makeup. I'm known to go roughly 4 days without showering. It's gross.
March: Learn Photoshop 
I think learning Photoshop would really enhance my business. I'm hoping to gain a good grasp of the basics in March.
April: Obtain a business license 
This is just something that needs to be done and it's also one of those things I'll avoid like the plague. It will probably get done at the END of the month.
May: Eat all meals at home 
We eat out WAY too much. This will be a crazy challenging month for us, but I think it's an important habit to get in to.
June: Exercise every day 
Again with the good habits! I haven't been exercising and my body can tell. I'm hoping to have begun SOMETHING prior to June, but it's my goal to do some sort of physical activity every single day in June.
July: Zero frivolous spending
No buying movies, no new clothes, no household items that aren't necessary, nada. Another tough month.
August: Learn a new craft 
The craft world is my oyster. Yarn wreaths? Sewing something? Knitting? Painting? What will it be? Even I'd like to know.
September: Dedicated 1 hour of unplugged time with the kids each day 
SO important!! I've been profoundly aware of how plugged in I am. I definitely spend time with the kids. 10 minutes here, 15 minutes there.... then I check the phone or my computer, or I make a call, or I take a picture for instagram. All fine things in moderation, but I want my kids to know that every day they have my undivided attention, even if just for an hour. One solid hour.
October: Read Pillars of the Earth 
Why this book intimidates me, I'm not quite sure. It's been on my list forever though, so here goes nothing!
November: Overnight trip with Ritchie 
Because of December's goal and how much money we're needing to save, I'm not sure where we'll go, but even if we get ONE blissful night in a nearby hotel without kids, sleeping in and enjoying each other uninterrupted it will be a huge investment in our marriage.
December: Apply for adoption 
I'm scared to even put this down. We've just begun to really save and commit to this in our minds and hearts. There's still a TON that could stand in our way. The longing to start this process grips me so tightly that I can barely breathe sometimes. It's a goal. An important one.

Follow along, will ya?