Some visuals of our Winter...

First off, let me say that Colorado Winters are not what the average person's notion is of Winter - like, at all. People here tell me that this particular Winter has had spells of warmth that are warmer than normal (NO COMPLAINTS HERE), so I will try not to judge all future Colorado Winters by this one. But, SERIOUSLY, it's been awesome. Here's what I mean: We get snow, yes, but once the dump is over and the sun returns to its fixed place in the sky (a mile closer to me than in other places), it goes back to FEELING like not-winter. Sure, the snow is around... the ice hangs out a bit...slush requires boots... but other winter paraphernalia  is truly unnecessary. It can FEEL like Spring, even when the temps don't look it. Just because of that fantastic sun. People wear sweatshirts and call it good. I swear 35 degrees here feels like 55 in Ohio. I swear it. But then... when we actually are GETTING 55 here. In. The. Dead. Of. Winter... Bust out the flip flops! 

When I got on the blog today, it was with the intention of posting pictures only... But then when I typed in "some visuals of Winter" as the subject, I felt it necessary to qualify it. And now that I have just written the above paragraph bleeding with my infatuation with and gratefulness for my first mild winter in CO, I now realize what a punk my midwestern peeps must believe me to be (particularly after a rough patch involving cancelled school for way sub-zero temps there). Forgive, but in this case, dear friends, the grass is most definitely greener in these parts. :) Hang on, Ohioans, Minnesotans, and even Kentuckians... Spring is truly a coming...

 Daddy and the eldest of the clan getting the driveway in good shape

 Sullivan and Anderson, on President's Day, dining in a bunk bed fort for lunch. We only found ONE stray macncheese noodle that night at bedtime. :)

 Look at who came to visit!!! Rachel Jacobs, with whom I have forged my longest-ever friendship (let's put it this way: Rachel and I became friends at 6 - about the age Jackson is in this photo!), assisted me through this past snowy weekend while Scott was out of town. We didn't get out much: Hence the cooking pic above and craft pic below. :) She taught us all how to make Spaghetti Squash!

 Working on the craft projects Rachel brought boys

 Anderson's new smile is reminiscent of that of a piglet. Sullivan is one handsome guy. And Jackson was uninterested in appearing happy.

 Look at this little treasure stash! A couple weeks ago a MASSIVE box arrived (like 40 POUNDS massive) at my front door... It was a "baby -shower-in-a-box" from my Minnesota ladies. Filled with both newbie girl stuff and treasures from the collections of their own growing kids, I had a BALL unwrapping it all! Thanks, girls! You better believe I felt like one special mama!

 Valentines Day morning... In my household growing up, V-tines Day didn't get much fanfare. But the one little tradition my mom was sure to make happen was HEART SHAPED PANCAKES. I hadn't realized that previous V-day mornings had made an impact... but Jackson raced down the stairs that morning and asked, "Are we making heart pancakes?" 

Making our Vtines Cards... a several-step process this year that I can assure you will reduce down to the one step of STORE BUYING THEM next yr. :) Fun stuff, though. We forced spaghetti noodles in the shape of a heart, painted and decorated them, then hand-wrote: "You are IM-PASTA-BLE not to like." It took my grown-adult husband several seconds to register the play on words. I think it may have been COMPLETELY lost upon Sullivan and Jackson's k-garten/1st grade counterparts. At least WE thought they were clever.

In baby news, I finally can answer with dignity when grocery-store strangers ask, "Any day now, huh?" - under a month and that counts as any-day in my book. Prior to the 36 week (aka ONE MONTH LEFT) juncture a few days ago, I was repeatedly (and sweetly) reminded how pregnant I look. At the gala Scott and I attended a month ago (so- count them - that means I had TWO months to go) - where there were several medical professionals in attendance, I think the obstetric representation had their gloves tucked in an easy-access spot in their tuxes/gowns once they saw me in attendance, CLEARLY ready to catch. In all fairness, that dress DID make me look bigger than I was. But still, I think my rather short torso and 5 ft. 3/4 inch height make it hard NOT to see JUST BABY when being looked at. And, for those of you who do not already know this, I am pretty comfortable with... maybe even welcoming of... attention.

Gala pics:

Just had my 36 week appt yesterday and am... DRUM ROLL PLEASE... 1 CM dilated!!! Which, most of us know, Means. Absolutely. Nothing.  March 23rd is fine by me. Campbell Joy can bake all the way up to her due date. But. Not. One. Day. Longer.

Christmas Letter/Update 2014!

Merry Christmas to all!

Bowling on Christmas Eve

Lots o action in the past year for us Arthur's. New address. New job for Scott.  New promotion for me (additional responsibilities i.e. new baby in 2015 = promotion for this stay-at-home mom! P.S. Where's the accompanying raise?). New school for kids. New decade of marriage for us.

Lots of sameness, too. We still love each other very much, look for ways to become increasingly involved in our community, desire for personal and spiritual growth at every turn, work hard to keep our bodies young, attempt to teach our offspring what it means to be good people, struggle to get laundry folded and in drawers, and are very, very, very tired. :) 

Jackson: 
Our seven year old 1st grader has shifted to a more introverted soul. Although he absolutely enjoys play dates and the social side of life, the all-day school schedule leaves him hungering for time in his room and in our home enjoying art projects and quiet make-believing during free time. He still surprises us with the other-world-ness of his depth, sensitivity, empathy, and self-knowledge at such a young age, making comments such as "I just wish I could dive into love and stay there awhile" or, after a frightening trip down a tubing hill, "Well, now I know what to expect: fear. I think I"ll pass on the next run." CHALLENGE: Teaching Jackson how to manage and healthily direct his emotions.

Sullivan:
Our five year old kindergartener had a LOT of growing up to do over the summer. In Ohio, we had planned to have him hang back an additional year in his safe, cozy, tight-knit special education preschool class come this past Fall. When we moved to Colorado, the options changed, and he had to get his backpack packed for full-day big boy kindergarten! Sullivan LOVES it. His language development (speech has always been his challenge) continues to grow and his new claim to fame is discovering his funny side (according to teachers) and discovering success with it with the ladies (father's child much???) :) What we love about Sullivan is that he wants to do everything fully and well (read: attention to detail) and that he generally is up for anything.  CHALLENGE: Teaching Sullivan that aggravating Anderson puts him on the naughty list and that his own self-created rules and legalisms are not ones that EVERYONE is required to follow.

Anderson:
Our two year old "play schooler" is a mess. A complete and total mess. His smile is as large as life and his scream is as large as life. He is fun, demanding, playful, destructive, affectionate, aggressive, loving, and disobedient. The umbrella quality for all moods is a very, very HIGH ENERGY disposition. We simply do not understand; aren't subsequent kids supposed to adopt a mellow and easy-going spirit? Example: He repeatedly screams 'READY TO GO' in the car at every single intersection where the stoplight has the nerve to be red. Because of said Anderson-ness (coupled with a pregnant mamma), we decided - for the first time - to send a child to school at the early age of 2. He goes twice a week to a local church's little school and thrives. Anderson loves his family and wants to constantly be included and engaged in anything and everything mom, dad, or brother Arthurs are doing and does so non-silently. We love him. Challenge: Teaching Anderson patience and that he is not the center of the universe (baby-is-going-to-rock-his-world).

Campbell Joy: Everyone suggests that this baby girl is going to be spoiled. I refused the possibility until we were selecting trinkets to bring back to our kids while on a trip away. We found appropriate little gifts for each boy under $5. BUT THEN THERE WAS THIS LITTLE BABY GIRL DRESS for $20. Let it begin. :) Thus far, she is active in my belly and seemingly already puts up with her brother's roughness: she appears un-harmed by accidental jabs and kicks and jumps thrusted upon her temporary home, natural consequences of parenting three boys. We are all extremely excited and extremely scared about her arrival in March. Will we make it? Challenge: Teaching Campbell to let her mother sleep in a comfortable position.

Scott: Scott is thrilled to have been offered the position as Vice Chancellor of Advancement at the University of Colorado's Anschutz Medical Campus and thrilled to be surviving it. :) The learning curve has been insanely steep and his involvement in big decisions, big problem-solving, and big ideas has kept that hungering mind of his very, very fed. Scott continues to run, often found with his little miner light and leggings on in the wee hours of the morning, fending off coyotes (no joke - he saw one once!). He is grateful for a 10 year anniversary trip to Cancun, Mexico, sans kids, with his wife in November where long, uninterrupted conversations transpired on beach walks and the biggest decision of his day was which all-inclusive restaurant to hit up that night. He/we soaked up every moment, because the next opportunity for a couple-only trip will be just about right around never. Challenge: Squeezing it all in: making family, work, and personal wellness ALL priorities.

Tricia: Tricia has handled the move, house-renovation, pregnancy, and social transition quite well, if she does say so herself. :) Truly, I want to share that my relationship with God and the surrender of ALL THINGS (control, worry, fear, plans, emotions) to Him has been the explanation for any moments of sanity or peace. As always, I remain fascinated by faith. And the growth opportunities this year have abounded in that department. The neighborhood we (read: our realtor) selected for us (Sundance Hills) is an extraordinary fit with friendliness abounding from our neighbors and new friends. The elementary school, pool, and playground are each a walk away and invites to a new book club and mommy-only-play-dates are among the things I am thankful for here in our new digs. Challenge: Re-incorporating exercise into non-pregnant life and providing a healthy slice of parent attention to each kiddo. Spring shall be interesting!

And, finally, it should seem clear that we have developed a habit of making and breaking traditions (I announced two years ago that our holiday letter delivery would shift to Groundhogs Day annually, then missed last Feb -- I announced last year that our gift-giving would come in the form of "Top New THREE THINGS/products" our family came to love over the previous year and then tossed that one out the window). Therefore, I will not promise any follow-up. But, this year, I'd like to toss out a few of our family favorites... may give you insights into our daily lives:

2014 Favorites:

Recipe: Honey Lime Enchiladas

Humor-maker: Emily McDowell's cards, sayings, and prints (thanks for introducing, Marie!)... if you ask me, EVERYONE ought to have the following posted somewhere (not for young eyes): 
http://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0527/2397/products/153-m-you-are-doing-a-fucking-great-job-print-8-x-10_1024x1024.jpg?v=1411014169

Snack food: Laughing Cow Soft Swiss Cheese...it was included in our Welcome Basket by the temporary living agency that found us our, well, temporary living the first 8 weeks we resided in CO. Had not tried it before. I. CANNOT. GET. ENOUGH.

Inspiration: "Jesus Calling" Devotional by Sarah Young... It was given to me last Christmas by my aunt (thanks, Aunt Lisa!) and the short, yet profound messages encouraging both gratefulness and surrender assisted a great deal in 2014! 

Music: "Multiplied" by NEEDTOBREATHE, "Magic" by Coldplay, and "I'm Not The Only One" by Sam Smith... for the record, we are still obsessed with SPOTIFY (give it a month free if curious).

Kid chapter book: The Secret Zoo by Brian Chick... Jackson was fascinated by first book in series... on second now!

Novels: The Fault in Our Stars by John Green, The Invention of Wings by Sue Monk Kidd, The Storyteller by Jodi Picoult.

Toys/Games: Rush Hour 

and Story Cubes 

Fast dinner: Still Chipotle and Papa Murphys

TV Shows: Still stuck on both Grey's Anatomy (I know - we are loyal) and Parenthood (last season this yr! go back and start from the beginning if you are new to it). Recently, we can't get enough of "Big Bang" and will plunge into "Downton Abbey" in January.





Much, much joy from Colorado... As always, we are grateful for our loved ones and your continuous support of us and this Arthur Adventure we are on. No matter what state (as in the U.S. kind AND as in the emotional kind) we find ourselves in, our dear friends are always in our hearts. 

Scott, Tricia, Jackson, Sullivan, Anderson, and Campbell Joy Arthur

Scott and Tricia in Cancun, MX celebrating 10 YEARS of marriage!

Boys during our first wkd trip to "the mountains" (VAIL!)

A decade with this goof

There's my guy. My Scotty-Too-Hotty. My bestest supporter, joker, and listener. The one, when I first shared that there was interest in this guy to my parents, I described as, "witty and playful." He's still witty and playful, all these years later. And I love him more now than ever before.

Happy 10th Anniversary (celebrated on Oct 30th) and Happy Cancun (leaving in two days!!!). 

I love you, Scott.