The Real Birthday

"Im three"... says owen.

(holding up 5 fingers, making a three with fingers is tough business)

Owen's Big three was his first birthday celebrated in Colorado.

We are settling in (slowly) and trying to find some local spots to call home. Mark has already found his burger joint, and both of us have decided we will gain about 100 lbs. here because we are obsessing over our new local ice cream parlor.

We met up with some friends (pretty much our only friends so far) to celebrate.

Peyton has grown so much in the time we've been here. She crawled on the first day we arrived (perfect timing littles...) and her top teeth popped through. She uses anything as a brace to stand up, and all of the sudden she will not stay put for two seconds. This mama is busy.

Ever since she has been teething these top teeth, she is making this hilarious face we call "the bulldog". Classic, especially with the mohawk.

Dear California...

We miss you... Thank you for your amazing send off.

The month of February was bittersweet (and an absolute whirlwind). Mark received a promotion and an incredible opportunity to grow his career (sweet) which meant that our family was leaving the beach and heading for Colorado (bitter). Mark commuted back and forth for 6 weeks until we found a place in Colorado, which left me as a single mom alone with two little ones during the week. I honestly could not have pulled off this past month without my dad and without Mark's mom... seriously, they were my life line.

When Mark was home on the weekends we spent our last moments in California doing our favorite things.

Enjoying the outdoors of our beach town with bike rides.

One last shot in front of the beach cottage.

Walking to the bluff in the mornings and getting coffee with my munchis.

Our families threw an amazing and heart warming goodbye party...

there were so many of our favorite people in one room (and all of their kids!!), it was completely overwhelming to think of moving away from this community.

We shacked up with family for the last week or so... it was chaos, but it was wonderful to spend those last days with them.

And Peyton turned 8 months (in February, this is late).

Peytee girl, little miss, baby girl, you are our joy.

Your hair is amazing, it grows only in a mohawk pattern and sticks straight up most of the time. You are an observer, you are as tough as you are sweet, and you love just being with our family. You do not like loud noises, you easily scare. You are indifferent to food, which makes you so petite. You love being held by your mama...and you belly laugh with your daddy. You add beauty to our family. You just got your bottom teeth, and dont seem overly eager to move, you are my late bloomer...just so content to be who you are.

I love my girl so much.

ps. sorry you only got to live in cdm for 8 months...

trust me, it was a great 8 months.

Owen's Storytime Birthday

Owen turned the big three in March. Before we left California, we hosted a story time play date to celebrate his birthday with friends. I chose the story time theme because story times were such a marker of this year for us. Every Tuesday or Wednesday (and sometimes both) we would visit the little library behind our house for story time with friends and then head to the coffee and the park. The story time had the sweetest librarian, who reminded me of Mary Poppins, she read books, sang songs, and put on a craft for the kids.

Owen and his Bella.

"Open, Shut them. Open, Shut them.."

"If you're happy and you know it stomp your feet..."

Bella read the stories with so much enthusiasm.

The captivated audience...

Burton Girls.

Miss Liv made an appearance.

Love your cupcake face Mr. Finn.

Owen & Claire. He loves her.

Miss Emma and her brother Luke with Kelly.

Love you so much Gigi and Linds...

Love your kids so much.

The kids enjoyed the playtime and just running around the house after cupcakes.

Owen & Ryder, Buds.

(They look so old in this pic)

Thanks for coming to celebrate Owen. Love you guys.