Full of smiles

Our time in Vail was full of smiles! Simply, Vail makes us smile...here are a few reasons why

Eating Sunday Brunch...

Enjoying the flowers...
Eating Ice Cream...
Looking at a silly brother...
Sitting in a special chair...

Everyone was very sad to leave...Andrew said several times he needed to stay until it snowed...and it was ok he would wait!
Even with the disappointment of a closed Gondola, the kids and Brian and I had a much needed weekend away full of smiles and time to enjoy our family...a special thanks to Jill for helping us out up there and Grandpa for watching Bailey at home.

More Vail...

While we were in Vail, Gore Creek provided hours of entertainment. The kids did not mind the freezing cold water, they loved throwing rocks and watching the leaves float down stream. Lucky for us the creek was right outside our front door!








Some of gorgeous fall colors. You can't beat this time of year in the mountains. Wonderful views, great weather, no crowds...



For those of you wondering, yes Lexi was there and this is how she spent most of the vacation!

Vail

So here is how our Friday went...

While the boys are at school and Tessa is doing her playgroup (see pervious post), quickly pack all the gear for 4 kids and 2 adults...the shoes alone are a lot!

Pick the boys up from school and start the 2 hour drive up to Vail...thankfully an uneventful drive. Arrive at our condo in the Village to these incredible views!! ahhhhh! (taken from our condo in the middle of the village!)

First stop: a family walk to toy store because we forgot to bring Tessa a baby doll. Discover it is closed for the season and instead discover the magical calming power of 88 cents worth of pick your own jelly beans from the general store next door.

A trip to pirate ship park...


Dinner at Vendetta's...

Miss Independent walking through the Village...

Late Night (6:30) ice cream in Lionshead...

A Bus ride back to the condo in the Village...

And, still time to stop and smell the flowers!! Which are still in bloom everywhere...The summer slogan is fitting...

Productive Playgroup

....Productive Playgroup + Mary Jane = Fun for Tessa

On Friday mornings Tessa participates in a productive playgroup (a group of kids similar in age meet at the house and a teacher comes to teach a preschool lesson)
Our neighbor, Mary Jane, and Tessa have become good friends, after all they are only a couple weeks apart in age!

Mary Jane arrived looking as cute as ever!

Shaving Cream Time!

Tessa can't believe it, I am allowed to make a mess like this, WOW! (And yes, their teacher, Katy, cleans everything up- a win-win!)


They always end class with story time...

Little Lobbers

The boys love their tennis lessons. They go every Thursday after school and look forward to it all day!

Zach had almost perfect form...


And even follows through..amazing

I love that they give the kids buckets to pick up all the balls. I think it might be one of their favorite parts of the class!

So this morning when Brian was putting on the boys shoes he noticed that three of the shoes are size 11 and one of the shoes is a 12! We have had the shoes for over a month and worn them several times and it took us this long to notice, who says we are busy!

Zach

While I was working on the computer yesterday Zach was hamming it up for the camera!  Sometimes I can't get enough of this kid...I think he is going to break some hearts...

We LOVE School

.....especially on Wednesdays!
Every Wednesday I take all three kids to school together. Andrew and Zach go to their regular class and Tessa gets to go to a mom and tot class at the same preschool. Wednesdays are special because we usually get to go to Starbucks or Duffy's (cinnamon rolls) before school. Today we went to starbucks...



Tessa seems to be growing up so fast...

Are Vanilla Frosted Scone eyes the new Tiramisu Eyes ?!?!?
Another perk of Wednesdays.... (well maybe)
Tessa's class is over at the same time the boys have recess which means we get to spy on them and sometimes visit. Today Andrew told me he doesn't want me to come at playtime he wanted me to wait until after he eats lunch...is this the same boys that used to cry at every drop off?!?!?!... makes me a little sad


Tessa in her classroom...