Wow, it's been a while. I'll just say that January's a tough one for me. I believe I am part bear because all I want to do is eat and hibernate, and that's just not possible with little ones. Here's a little bit of what's been going on here.

I finally had to retire the server book I've been using for the past three years and five months. I don't usually get sentimental over objects, but this book has seen me through a lot of ups and downs. I distinctly remember buying it on my first shift back to Park Meadows CCF after I had Alaina. I didn't want to go back; I'd told everybody that I wouldn't be waiting tables anymore, and here I was. I try to be positive about my job because it really does enable us to lead a nice life, but I can't help but feel like it's a necessary evil. I know that this photo will bring back a lot of memories in the years to come, so I will try my hardest to only associate it with the good ones (and not the crotchety old man who poked me in the back last night because the lemon for his water just couldn't wait until I was through taking an order at the next table). I will miss you and your familiarity, little pleather book.


I broke out my new 85mm lens. I have so much to learn! I definitely can't use it indoors, since on my camera it's the equivalent of 127mm, but I'm really excited to take it outside when it gets a little prettier!


Star Wars has officially taken over our home. The kids don't even wake me up in the morning anymore; I'm awoken by them trying to close my door quietly so they can sneak downstairs and play Lego Star Wars. I can't go back to sleep after I know they're up, but it is quite nice to be able to take 15 minutes to slowly ease into my day. We play Star Wars on the Playstation. We watch the movies. We watch the t.v. shows. We play with Anthony's old action figures. We have "lightsaver" fights every day. Connor talks about "Denver Jesus" (General Grievous) and Alaina loves "a dutty-doo" (R2D2). First blood has also been drawn in the name of Star Wars, since Alaina took a lightsaber to the mouth. Aside from that incident, Anthony is revelling in this!






Connor's fixation on all-things-Star-Wars has really cut down on his temper tantrums. I did manage to capture Angry Troll Face when it was time to turn the game off. I won't be sad to see this face go if he ever outgrows it. I am happy to report that Connor has developed the cutest freckly nose around. I can't get enough of them! His two front teeth are also nearly ready to pop out!


The weather's been more like March than January, and I'm not complaining. It's nice to be able to make it outside without freezing our bums off.


Alaina has learned a key tactic in getting what she wants from me. She used to say things like, "I want to have an apple cider." Now she says, "I want to have an apple cider...todeda(together)!" "Mommy, let's put some make up on...todeda!" Who can say no to that?! So now, when Connor is at school, we'll sit down and chat while warming our hands around an apple cider. I hope this continues. (I didn't want to let on that I'm able to summon patronus' from steam, and mine is a phoenix, but I guess the secret is out.)


Taken by Alaina. Edited by me, because it's cheaper than Proactiv.

Christmas 2011

Grab some popcorn and a comfortable blanket...this may take a while. :)

We pulled up to Nana and Papa's house on the night of our 7th anniversary (after an unexplained 80 mile detour that I guess was by subconscious manifesting my desire to drive east and visit Mary Ann). We were so excited to be able to spend a big chunk of time with Daynarae and really see how the kids would interact. A lot changes in six months when they're so little! Daynare was enamored with Tonnor and Waina and wanted to sleep in Alaina's room.


Papa kicked off the vacation right with ice cream in bed, this time with all of his grandkids.


When Connor threw a tantrum, Daynarae was the first to comfort him.


After that first night, I was hit with a terrible cold, so it was hard to even pull out the camera. The bubble baths in the jetted tubs are always great photo ops, though, and Alaina wanted to take one with Daynarae.






A couple of years ago, Anthony mentioned that he wanted to go snowshoeing. What a perfect way to ring in his 30th year! We woke up early, left the kids with Nana and Papa, and drove to Estes Park to spend a day in the mountains.



Ironic!

It's a little bit sad when I realized that I was surprised by the shape of snowflakes! I've gotten so used to the "cancer flakes" from the inversion that I forgot they could be so pretty!


It was an odd sensation to walk across a frozen lake!







"This snow knows how to make a chair!"






As we reached our summit, my lens began to fog up. Just as we got there, a storm rolled in and created one of the most beautiful moments of my life. The snow fell softly and quietly. Anthony's phone streamed "Marshmallow World" by Dean Martin. Despite the snow clouds directly over our heads, we could see for miles to other peaks with beams of sunlight. It was magical.





We realized that we were losing light, so we began our descent down the mountain. The snow was beautiful during the day, but it made for a stressful drive home! We ended the night at Buffalo Wild Wings, and as Ryan would say, "We got our Wednesday."


It's hard for me to love other people's dogs, but Zoey has a special place in my heart. :)


The next morning, the Christmas cookie baking commenced.



(Dad, please ignore my sloppy face-swapping!)





You all know how great of a cook I am, so I busied myself with the annual Christmas puzzle. I owned it this year.








After the snowfall on Anthony's birthday, we were blessed with blue skies every day. Daynarae got this Barbie Jeep for her birthday and learned a hard lesson in sharing since we couldn't get Connor off of the thing!


Papa was a good sport and let the kids pelt him with snowballs for nearly an hour!


I wish my camera could have captured all 3700 lights on the tree!


...and here we arrive at Christmas Eve!


Picking out cookies to leave for Santa




Matching Christmas jammies! Forgive the grain! The one exposure I took while my flash was recycling was the one where they're actually looking at the camera!


Santa came!


For the first Christmas in years, I had trouble sleeping! I was up before the kids because I couldn't stand the thought of missing their faces as they came out of their rooms (and also the thought of those terrible no-makeup photos!).

Checking to see if the reindeer nibbled on the reindeer food we left out the night before! They were sure messy!




Alaina only asked for one thing this Christmas: jewelry. By the time we were finished opening presents, she was draped in necklaces, rings, bracelets, and stick-on earrings.


Every time we go to Kohl's, Alaina gravitates to this pink and purple jewelry box. By the third visit, she wasn't crying about having to leave it anymore, but now she has one of her own! I love that wide-eyed excitement!



Tebow time! While the football is actually Connor's, Anthony was excited to get a Tebow jersey from Ray. That and a Gamefly subscription were Anthony's big gifts.

We've lasted this long without introducing violent toys, but I let go a bit and Connor's Christmas involved lots of Nerf guns, shields and swords, and a lightsaber. As of tonight, I am to refer to him as Luke. He's only Connor when he goes to Nana and Papa's. Apparently, I am Yoda. I always thought that little green dude was cute.


You know Santa has hit a home run when a toy is showered with kisses before it's even out of the box!


Connor has been asking for a big camera like Mommy's for months. This was one of the last presents that he opened and I was so happy to see the joy on his face. "I never had one of these!!"


Spoiled.


Spoiled v2.0.


I got spoiled this year, too! See that beautiful gold box?! I've been lusting after that lens for two years now! Anthony also got me an awesome scooter to ride around with the kids and some other great gifts. Nana, Papa, and Kelly got me a pair of Bogs, which are the best boots on the face of the planet. And finally, a purse big enough to hold my camera but still stylish!



The Dietrich kiddies


The first family picture in two years!

Look how serious Connor is! I love it!






We decided to postpone Christmas dinner until after the kids were in bed so that we could all eat hot meals. It was so relaxed and special.




All in all, we had a fabulous Christmas. We couldn't have asked for anything more.

The day after Christmas, I searched high and low for some sleds to tackle this hill. I hit up Walmart, Target, Toys R Us, even Walgreens and Lowe's. I finally found some tubes and we spent the afternoon sledding and tubing. This photo doesn't do the hill justice...it was soooooo steep! Sorry, I was too busy having fun to take any pictures!


Instead of fatting around on our last day, we decided to make use of the snowshoes Nana and Papa got for Christmas. We didn't want anybody to feel left out, so we did our darnedest to include the kids. It was quite windy and cold, so they didn't last long. Let me rephrase that...they lasted about ten paces. Lesson learned, but I'm so glad we got this picture!


Simply breathtaking.


Connor was a trooper, and I think that if Alaina hadn't been so sluggish, he would have done quite well!



"I'm tiiiiiired....."





Papa took one for the team and shuttled the kids back down the mountain to a nice, warm McDonald's Playplace. Nana inherited my fabulous (terrible) cold, but we pushed her to the top.








Once we were all safely back at home, Ryan built us a fire by which to listen to Anthony play his guitar and roast marshmallows.








That wraps it up. I don't think our 2011 Christmas vacation could have been any better!