So BIG!

(ok another late!!! post)

The kids have a new Kabisch cousin.  Francis Ronen Kabisch born March 12th.  They are VERY excited to get their grubby hands all over him in July. 

Practically five months into the year and the kids have gotten crazy big.  Bigger shoes, bigger clothes (Zoe is in a 10, Kellan in a 14-16), bigger bodies.  We finally got Zoe to a doctor for a well check - three years later (not because we are slackers, but because getting her there isn't worth the fight and she's been healthy) - she's "projected" (if you believe in projections) to be 5'9.   She's raided all the shoes in my closet. 

Baseball tournaments and games started for Kellan and Jim.  Sad to report not the same winning record of last year.  I'll hold comments until they have more games under their belts and hopefully some victories.  

D is obsessed with being Kellan's twin.  He insists on wearing the same thing to bed, same thing to baseball games, even if he doesn't own the exact same shirt/pants, he wears the same colors.  I have never seen a kid so excited to buy black Nike socks as D was - same as Kellan (and every other kid).  

With Tyler and Ryan who along with their mom took us the Rockies Fanfest with their season tickets (in January).

Had we known at the time Nolan Arenado would end up breaking the Rockies record for most consecutive games with a hit, we would have given him his own ball to sign...

In the dugout

We started to see summer, than as typical of the past 8 years.  It snowed on my birthday.  So glad my buddy Jenny Marston (Howe) was her to spend it with me!

I took a Friday off back in February.  We made our first family trip to the mountains.  I had gone tubing just outside of Breckenridge the month before with my work and thought the kids would enjoy going.  It was a beautiful, seriously could have been in t-shirts, a lot of people were.  As most people know, I HATE heights, then anything fast with heights I HATE even more.  For some reason when I was there with work folks I must have always gone backwards, because I don't remember being scared.  Dexter and I stuck together.  We went down the first time on the highest mountain.  Poor kid hated it, and I sat backwards with my eyes closed so didn't think much of it.  I made the poor guy go three more times to get our money's worth - horrible mom, I even was scared toward the last two runs (such a wuss).  Of all things to force on the kid.  I'll never do it again - really never.   Kellan and Zoe LOVED it though.  

After I told him he was all done

Uncle Mike with baby Frank

Willow with pig tails

Bigger Frank

Frank laughing

and bigger Frank

Super Bowl 2013/2014

I wrote this months ago and never posted - hoping I can come right back to it this week, since once again I am months behind!!!

They endured a season of taunting, and persevered (who is the kids).  Though the entire family cheered for the Broncos and the Hawks all year, it came down to a house divided for the Super Bowl. Jim and I were sympathetic to the the old folks - Manning and Bailey.  The kids held strong to the Hawks.  Ultimately I was OK with the loss.  Especially since the kids got to go to school on Monday without the teasing.  Hard to attend a school in CO where Fridays are always Bronco day and you are a Seattle fan.  Zoe had her hat knocked off her head the Friday before the game.  Sounds like there were new Hawks fans that week after the game.  The kids wore their Bronco Championship t-shirts to not rub it in (what good sports).  

With her Wilson fat head

Super Bowl Sunday

D wasn't sure up until the day of Super Bowl who to root for,  you can see who he ended up going with in the end...

Earlier in the day - some sledding and "snow boarding"

A few months later...

Christmas 2013.  A couple reluctant Bronco fans

The two teams we've been rooting for all season, the two teams we've adorned jerseys for, the two teams we should have put money on at the beginning of the season are going to the Super Bowl!  We will be a household divided...more to come...

Now for a quick summary of the last almost 3 months!

Just as the snow came, Munson cut open his paw in the backyard, six stiches and much $ later he had to wear a bandage on his foot for 4 weeks.  

We celebrated Jim's 42nd and Zoe's 8th. 

Christmas came and went.  We managed not to disappoint.  

"We" played in the snow on winter days.  We played baseball on the days it felt like summer.  

New Year came and went.  Kellan made it to midnight for the first time (I managed myself).

We had a great visit with Uncle Mike and Aunt Jessie!  We made a trip to Boulder to once again try and convince Kellan to stay close to home for college.  "We" talked about finding an establishment with a new booming industry in CO to say we were a part of history, but we didn't try very hard.

I had 101 kids' quotes, none of which I can remember at the moment.  

Kellan got an Old Spice bath set for X-mas, not long after that came my favorite commercial of all time.  Click for Mom Song (Gma Sue this goes out to you).  

2014.  Less work - more play.

Jim's B-day - Some good fish and chips

Seahawks fans in the house

Kellan has become a real intense/uber-competitive fan watching the games.   "Stupid refs! What do they need contacts?!" I can't express what he's been like.  A bit uncomfortable to watch.  Maybe I will film him during the Super Bowl?  I realize he's under some stress at school being a Hawks fan, especially now they are facing the home team.  Zoe could care less what people think.  She brags about her team to her class.

D playing ball with the team (Yes, Kellan's baseball season has begun)

Only in CO, one day wearing t-shirts the next day playing dead in the snow (he really was fine).

All she wanted was a Russell Wilson fathead

Zoe representing UW (only a short time ago that shirt fit me). 

ZOES B-Day

Dexter was going to school with a cough.  It was a day or two before we found out the whole class was sent home with this, we thought it was a "subtle" hint

Zoe and Julia.  Zoe really is tall, but she's not the giant she appears to be in this picture.  She got a pair of short/high boots for her birthday.

Claire, Julia, Zoe and photo-bomb dad.  A night at the movies and slumber party.  

Merry Christmas.  No pictures of Dexter or I.  We decided to throw up all Christmas Eve.  I was down for the count for five days.  Lucky I was on vacation, and ironically lost 100 hours of sick time on the first of the year.  Tis life. 

Finally got their Xbox

With Papa Frankie, I mean Uncle Mike

U of CO at Boulder

With Aunt Jessie (and baby Frank)