Shopping & a Chick Flick

After an entire day of relaxing, we were ready to hit the outlet.  The snow was a bonus and made our shopping experience that much more interesting.  Afterwards, we watching a movie that none of our husbands would want to see, "The Huntsman" and got our fill of Chris Hemsworth.  For dinner we went to a pho place across the street and were surprised how decent the food was.

Snow shopping

Definitely a first for our girlfriend getaway

At the movies

Allegria Spa

Spa day!

Ready to spa!

Watching the snow as we have lunch

Waiting to be called for our treatments

Aqua Sanitas

The waterfall felt like a shoulder massage

Group pic

Hot tub

After a relaxing day, we enjoying a sushi dinner.

Denver!

After almost an entire year, my annual girlfriend getaway had arrived!  Trung and the girls dropped me off at the airport before school and I took a quick two hour flight to Denver.  I arrived first, and Cora and Wendy arrived shortly after at another terminal, so I met them at their terminal and we went to pick up the rental car together.  We did a last minute upgrade on the car since increment weather was predicted for the next few days and we had to go far enough west through the most dangerous parts of the highway.  Then after a stop at Sprouts for some basic groceries, we were finally on our way to Beaver Creek for the next four days for some much needed R & R.  

We were greeted at the hotel by this handsome fellow

We got a complimentary upgrade to a village view

Our prix fix meal...albacore crudo

Steak

Creme brulee...so yummy!

Wendy's doughnut dessert was very interesting

Crepes for kids

The girls' friend, Isabella, joined us for the evening, but I needed to take Trung to the airport, so we hung out at KC Crepes for dessert after we dropped him off.

Amazing design in the sky tonight

Waiting patiently for their crepes

Everyone was stuffed!

3 Times a charm

Lydia did the "Life Cycles" play in 2nd grade two years ago, then Sophie did it last year in 1st grade, and now she's doing it again in 2nd grade.  Even though this was our third time watching the same show, it didn't get old as new kids gave it a new twist.

Getting ready to start

The farmers

Sophie, the true actress with her tongue sticking out at me.

Our third and final time watching this adorable play

The cutest little farmer that I ever did see

Swimming to Sophie

Today was a busy day!  We started off the morning with Trung and the girls walking Penny back to her home, while I picked up a Waivecar.  Trung and the girls took too long though, so I had to just grab Lydia and take her straight to her junior lifeguard try-out.  Despite not having the support of her father and sister (I cheered extra loud), she easily qualified for the program, clocking in 13 seconds faster than the requirement.

Yay!

The long line to pay

Lydia was nervous, but also kind of knew that she would qualify

After lunch, we headed home to set up for Sophie's belated birthday party.  I was hoping to get away with not having a party this year for her, but she insisted on having one since Lydia did.  So, I got Trung to organize a treasure hunt, while I made the cake.  The guests made their own pizzas for dinner, so all in all, it was a pretty easy party and Sophie seemed happy enough.

Kylie

Addyson

Tate

Penny the Pug

Trung's co-worker Ryan and his wife Sara were taking a trip to Texas and they asked us to watch their dog for a few days.  The girls were beside themselves because they have been asking for a dog for the longest time and this was the closest they have ever been (or will ever be) to that.  Each girl walked Penny to school each day and afterwards, I met my friend Irene with her French bulldog, Lola, and we went walking for about 20 minutes.  Penny was a good dog, but I realized that walking her was very time consuming, but could also be good exercise, especially for the girls.

Walking to school

Penny and Lola

We took Penny outside to pee later in the day and bumped into two other people walking their pugs.  The one on the left was 9 years and the one in the middle was only 9 months old.  So cute!

Baby Reggie

Penny was bored sitting in her crate and came upstairs to keep me company.  It's hard to do anything with this face staring up at you.

Adventures of Flat Stanley

Sophie had a school project where she needed to take pictures with Flat Stanley doing whatever she did the last few weeks.  She didn't tell me about it until just a few days ago, so we quickly put together what we could.

Stanley at karate

Stanley get a free cone at Ben & Jerry's

Mommy gets to have fun too

Mike turns 40!

We hadn't seen Mike and his family in quite some time, so we decided to pay them a visit to celebrate Mike and Caleb's upcoming birthdays.  We had lunch at Brodard and picked up a birthday cake at the neighboring 85 degree bakery.  Then we spent the rest of the afternoon hanging out Mike's family.  His kids had changed so much, and it was quite entertaining watching them react, or rather, over-react to everything.  I'd forgotten how funny kids are at that age...2 and 4.  We had hot pot for dinner with quality beef, during which, Sophie lost "Tim 'Buck' 2".  What a wonderful evening of fun and surprises!

Playing Hungry Hippos

Hot pot at its finest

Sophie's loose tooth coming to Mike's house

Uncle Mike cheering on "the pull"

Another tooth bites the dust

Cousin quality time, watching TV together

Caleb loves the new hat we got him

Celebrating Mike's 40th birthday; he's as fun as ever!

Yes, you!

Food Kitchen

My friend Tom had posted pictures in the past when he volunteered at a food kitchen, so I asked him to let me know the next time he went because I thought it would be good to show the girls how to help others.  Today we helped put together sack lunches with three kinds of sandwiches and handed them out to the homeless.  I believed the girls learned a lot, and so did Trung and I.

Assembly line

Chicken and tuna salad station

Putting together the snacks for the brown bags

Sandwich, anyone?

Organizing clothes while waiting for the window to open

 The window where the lunches are handed out. and the table full of pastries donated by local grocery stores.