Daisy - Everyone's Love Muffin!

The hardest part of leaving to go on vacation is leaving this sweet girl.

She's just the sweetest beast, that we are so grateful for, and that we hate to be away from. But thankfully, we're not the only ones that love her. We're so grateful to have a handful of people that happily take - and love on - our sweet girl while we're away.

Plus they send us great pictures like these!

And the exuberant greetings we get when we get home, well they're just amazing.  💗

Wordless Wednesday {Talented Friends}

Family and Skiing and Celebrating

Our second big celebration of the year was a decade of Gwen! She asked for a party with friends, and decided on SkyZone. After jumping exuberantly with her friends, we attended a hockey game the following night, then(!) took a trip up to the mountains to celebrate with some family. Trav's brother, Andy, his wife, and Gwen's cousin, Wyatt, flew out to do some Colorado skiing (a Christmas gift for Wyatt), and spend time with the birthday girl.

Last Tuesday we headed up into the mountains and on to Breckenridge, and checked in to a hotel for the next two nights. (Our hotel had some fun additions.)

 We got some really amazing weather while we were there... cold, but beautiful. Perfect for skiing.

 We spent 2 days at Breckenridge. I hopped between lodges, reading and relaxing.

While the fam skied to there hearts delight. 

We'd meet for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. It was so great watching the cousins together.

 

Gwen did great the whole time, but the second day she really gained her legs, going faster and with more confidence. 

On our third morning, we woke up, checked out, and headed to Keystone (a little closer to home). It was a little change of scenery, some new runs for everyone, and new fun for me.

 

While everyone skied, I had my own mountain adventure, spending an hour tubing!

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My turn to have fun on the mountain. 😉 This way I can say I was more then just a lodge hopper. 🏔 ❄️ #keystone #keystoneresort #colorado #snowtubing #mountainlife #intothemountainigo

A post shared by Meegs (@tattooedmeegs) on Feb 20, 2020 at 1:43pm PST

It was another great day, and the time went so fast.

It was such a beautiful trip, in such an amazingly beautiful location. It was hard to come home.

The drive home was beautiful, and it was good to be home. But I already miss our Ohio family... and that gorgeous mountain air!

Birthday Interview - Year 10

Previous years can be found here. 

Me: “Hey Gwenie, how old are you now?”

Gwen: 10!

Me: “Who’s your best friend?”

Gwen:  I have a few. Olivia, Prajit, I don't know! 

Me: “What is your favorite thing to do?”

Gwen: I really enjoy cooking.

Me: “What is your favorite color?”

Gwen:   Red. And Blue. 

Me: “How about your favorite food?”

Gwen:  Steak, but sometimes Ramen. 

Me: “What is your favorite thing to do with Daddy and I?”

Gwen:   That's a hard one... I really like building Lego sets, and playing video games with Dad. I like doing yoga and cooking with you! 

Me: “What is your favorite toy/game?”

Gwen:  I really don't know, I don't have a favorite. 

Me: “What do you want to be when you grow up?”

Gwen:  I like selling stuff in a smaller store, like selling at the Girl Scout cookie booth.   

Me: “What makes you happy?”

Gwen:  Spending time with you guys, and when you guys are happy. 

Me: “What is something that makes you sad?”

Gwen:  On summer days when I really want to play with my friends, and they aren't home. 

Me: “Do you have a favorite movie?”

Gwen:   No, I like a lot of them.  

Me: How about a favorite TV show?”

Gwen:  Captain Underpants, and Lego Ninjango.

Me: “Do you have a favorite book?”

Gwen:  Lumberjanes, and Wings of Fire. I hate that I have to wait a year for a new Wings of Fire graphic novel!


Me: What do you like to learn about?”

Gwen:   I don't know. Its a hard decision. 

Me: “What were you excited about for your birthday?”

Gwen:   Hanging out with my friends and having a party. And cake!

Me: “Where’s your favorite place to go when we leave the house?”

Gwen:   I like a lot of places we go. 

Me: “What is your teacher's name?”

Gwen: Miss Johnson


Me: “Do you have a favorite treat?”

Gwen:   Ice cream! And Fun Dip.   

Me: “What’s your favorite animal?”

Gwen:   I don't know, but Daisy is my favorite dog!  

Me: “Do you have a favorite song?”

Gwen:  Not really. But I enjoy Hamilton soundtrack.

Me: “What’s your favorite thing to wear?”

Gwen:   I really don't know.    

Me: “What are you looking forward to this year?”

Gwen:   I'm looking forward to a few things; I'm looking forward to Penelope's birth, and birthdays and Christmas! 

Me: "Thank you for playing along!"

Wordless Wednesday {Jump Jump Jump}

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Don’t beat them, join them. (This was a workout!) . . . #mygirl #happybirthday #jump

A post shared by Meegs (@tattooedmeegs) on Feb 16, 2020 at 2:42pm PST

 

Double Digits - Aka Dear Gwenivere, for the 10th Time

"Hey Gwen!",
Yesterday you turned 10! Double digits! A decade of reminding your Dad and I that we had literally zero idea of what to really expect when we had a child. You've blown absolutely every expectation out of the water. Both in being more strong-willed, trying, and exasperating then we ever could have guessed, but also more amazingly empathetic, kind, and loving. Thank you for being you. Funny, silly, amazing you.

You are so not a little kid any more, Gwenie. You are shedding things you've had since you were a baby. You are gaining more responsibilities, and rising to meet each one. This school year, you starting walking from school to our apartment office at the end of the day, and you've been so very conscientious about it. Its brought you joy, and me a lot more ease at the end of my days. You've helped when we've been sick, or when Daisy had her surgery, and you're getting better at remembering the little day-to-day chores that are yours.

You still love all things Legos, Harry Potter, Star Wars, Lord of the Rings/Hobbit. You love when we read together before bed, and we're working our way through the Harry Potter series again. You are very into graphic novels, reading them at amazing speed, and writing your own. Your favorite foods remain the same, but you're branching out more and are willing to try new things regularly now.

You are so inquisitive, figuring out how the world really works... and how you can make it work in a better way. You have a million questions about everything we read, watch, talk about. Its fun to see what your mind makes of things, though sometimes I'm ready for a break from the "Hey Mom..."'s that I get a dozen times in a row.

You are still skiing, and are dang good at it. Its a great way for you and your dad to spend special time together; the way you and I have travel. You're doing so well in school, enjoying your teachers, and (maybe less excitedly) learning new friend dynamics. Its hard sometimes to grow up and apart, and know that not everyone acts with as much kindness.

Gwenie, I read you a book the other night, just a random pick because we only had a few minutes, "The Wonderful Things You Will Be." It's a few years old, much younger then the books we read now, but it was sweet and we both enjoyed the rhythm of it. It talks of when the babe was young, but even for their tininess the parent could see how wild and wise they already were. And it ends with the parent telling the child that one day when they are grown, they will love them no matter what they've grown to be. I blinked back tears at the end. Baby, I simply adore everything you have grown to be already. You might drive me crazy at times, and know just how to push my buttons, but I am so proud of who you are, and I cannot wait to see who you will grow to be. I've done things in this life that I am proud of, but none more then you; you are all that I am proudest of.

I love you, forever and ever; you're the best Gwenie I ever had,

Mom

Winter, Harumph

It was pretty warm (for February) the whole time I was in DC. It rained two days, but the sun had popped out and was shining fully when I flew out. Which made it all the more annoying to fly right into a snow storm here in Colorado. The landing looked like we were still in a cloud, and the drive home was a bit treacherous.

Sure these pictures look a little pretty, as Saturday was sunny and nice... but Sunday the snow came back, and the sun disappeared, and it just kept snowing.

Everything that melted was back, and most annoying, the sun was gone for a few days. That's super unusual in Colorado, and we don't like it!

Now its back to being cold, but at least the sun is out. Can Winter be over now?

Ps.  Happy Valentine's Day! Tell someone you love that you love them!