Kids Say the Darnedest Things!

Let's face it, Peyton has never been a fabulous sleeper...since birth. In fact I recall many nights when he was in my tummy keeping me awake. That should have been a HUGE warning sign! I've read just about every book out there on sleep routines, habits, and how to's.  Brandon actually thought I wrote the book Go the $@%£ to Sleep! And is still wondering where our money is from it. I practically put a hole in my stomach worrying about how much or how little Peyton was sleeping. Now I've raised my white flag...he won...and my stomach can't take anymore! And that's why this story is so stinking funny!

A week or so ago I was putting Peyton to bed. Bedtime isn't a horrible time but Peyton knows how to pull out all the tricks to make it hard! He's just too smart. How can you not give "one more kiss" or "one more hug" or "one more minute with DreamLite". I cave every time! I also cave when he wants me to lay with him. Drives Brandon NUTS but I just can't say no! This night was no different. We were laying in bed, DreamLite was turned off, and Peyton and I were snuggling. I think I fell asleep a dozen times before he even decided to close his eyes. After a little while I say to him, "Peyton aren't you tired from all the swimming and playing you did today?" He of course he responded with "NO!" So I said, "Peyton it's ok to be tired. And you need your sleep so you can grow and play hard again tomorrow." (Disclaimer...what I'm about to tell you next I have NO CLUE how he would even come up with this!!) For a minute or so Peyton is quiet and then blurts out, "I'm not tired, my legs are tired. How bout you take a knife and cut my legs off and they can sleep and when they are done you can put them back on. But don't worry I'll be brave." WHAT!!! What, as a mom, do you even say to that!!?? Of course I told him that we can't do that even though he would be brave and it was time to go night night. He said ok and off to dreamland he went. The things that come out of my boys mouth on a daily basis are hysterical! It makes up for all the sleepless nights we had the last 3 years <3 

Just a little Saturday adventure...in Aspen

Saturdays are always wonderful days to spend in Aspen. Today was no exception...it was a gorgeous day to bike into town and make a stroll through the Saturday Market.  Little did we know that we were in for a small adventure!

Our friend Tory decided to join us this morning on our bike into Aspen, as usual it was a leisure ride with some laughs, seeing a plane take off, and passing about a dozen people with no manners that don't say hello after you say hi to them. Once we got into town we took the street that runs right into the Saturday market...well we tried to take that street. It was blocked off with caution tape and fire trucks were out everywhere. At first I thought the fire department was blocking off the street for kids to come and check out the fire trucks! Which would have been totally awesome for Peyton! Not so much...they were blocking off the street because there was a huge bear on the roof of the building. Your guess is as good as mine as to how he got up there...but he was there causing a ruckus on a fabulous Saturday morning! As we were standing there making a decision on which way to go next a police officer came up to us and said, "I think it would be wise for you to move. We are trying to lure the bear off the roof and this is the escape path we are wanting him to take." Enough said...we were gone!

We make our way to the market area, park our bikes, and start walking through the tents. We find some yummy strawberry sorbet, delicious Colorado peaches, and some nice looking corn. Peyton also got to pet a Lama. Yes, a Lama...why a Lama is at a Saturday market is beyond my comprehension but Peyton sure did like it! After strolling through the block of vendors we went to the food area to get one of the worlds greatest Gyros (Brandon was waiting all day for it!). Where the food vendors are is set off to the side of the other vendors. It's in a small "woodsy" type area with a couple tables with chairs, a guy playing guitar, and huge tree that kind of makes a little fort for kids to play under. Peyton loves to play under that tree. After we were all done chowing down we went over the Aspen Animal Shelter tent to ask if they wanted all of Brandon's old tennis balls. As we were standing there waiting to talk to someone Peyton was running back and forth from under the tree to the dogs. After a couple minutes I noticed Peyton wasn't coming back from under the tree so I said to Brandon, "can you go get our child from under the tree?!" Seconds after I said that the fun began!

I heard horns blowing...people yelling and scrambling...I turn around and see a HUGE BEAR TEARING THROUGH A TENT GOING UNDER THE TREE AND STRAIGHT UP IT!!! I have never come so close to peeing my pants in public! My stomach was in my throat...I couldn't see Brandon...I couldn't see Peyton...and I had lost Tory! A little bit of panic set in because Peyton was just playing under that tree and I had no clue if Brandon had snatched him up or not. I ran by the tree and finally ran into Brandon holding Peyton! Brandon knew what the horns were and grabbed Peyton as fast as he could. They were out on the street when the bear came tearing through, so Peyton got to see the bear up close and personal! Not knowing the true danger of it...he was totally excited!! We finally found Tory and started to make our way away from the tree and the bear!

I'm pretty sure that event...that lasted about 45 seconds...made me age 5 years! After that I decided we needed some cookies and to get far away from that side of the market so we went to Paradise, got some cookies, hopped back on our bikes and made our way home.

The baffling part about the entire thing were the people standing under and around the tree trying to see the bear. Of course the police were going ballistic trying to get everyone to GO AWAY but these people were completely oblivious! Stupidity is an understatement. If anyone had gotten mauled by that bear coming down they would have deserved it because 1. they completely underestimate what a bear can do 2. they weren't listening to authority 3. they sat there not only putting themselves in danger but more than half of them had children with them! That may seem like a harsh thing to say but come on...IT WAS A 500 POUND MALE BEAR!!!!!!

Back to the police...why in the world would they be trying to lure a bear down from a building in the middle of a super busy town on a Saturday morning??!! I know they had a "preferred escape route" away from all the people and market, but did they really think the bear would do exactly what they wanted him to do!? In my own unprofessional opinion I think they should have monitored the bear and waited until the Saturday market was over before trying to capture it!

Happy Saturday!! I need a drink!!

Colorado Fires

This isn't the most happy post but I thought I would take the opportunity to share the informtaion I have and know to those who don't about the fires in Colorado.

I am writing this because I know a lot of you are worried about the fires in Colorado and the people and loved ones that are near them. Please pass on this information to anyone else that may be interested in reading about what is going on throughout our state.

As it stands right now Brandon, Peyton, and I are an hour and a half from one fire and an hour and a half from another (that's driving time). Brandon's parents are 25 minutes from an out of control blaze east of Grand Junction. Brandon has cousins, I have a close friend and a cousin being affected by the Waldon fire. My best friend is affected by the fire in Eagle. I have college friends being affected by the fires in both Boulder and High Park. I have a very close friend being affected by the fire outside ofDurango. And the scariest is that Brandon and I have close friends here in the Wildcat/Snowmass Fire Department on the front lines fighting these fires.

I know it is hard to think about people that are affected by the fires that aren't family members. The fact is that these fires are having a large effect on the entire state from people having family, friends, schoolmates, local firefighters, and others in or near the fire. The other side of the devastation that not too many out of state people are talking about is the HUGE effect it is having on the state’s tourism. Not just in the areas of fire but the entire state. People don't want to camp because they can't have camp fires, they are afraid to travel with the risk of being stuck/and/or caught in the start of a fire. The entire state is in a very delicate state right now and everyone is on alert. The snow-pack is gone. Yesterday was the first day Aspen/Snowmass has seen a decent rainfall since April. The dead trees from the Pine Beetle are just sitting on mountainsides vulnerable to the lightning. And then there is the lightning. There have been some vicious storms blowing through our state. Just last night Brandon and I witnessed about an hour of non-stop lightning with little rain. I'm not talking about lightning that lights up the sky, I'm talking about the lightning bolts you see in photographs. Every strike we could see. 9News weather has said that those storms will be coming through every afternoon for a few more days.

Here is the development on all the major fires in the state. Note: there are more fires burning than just these. These fires are the large devastating ones are the ones I've listed below.

Waldo Canyon Fire in Colorado Springs has been burning for 6 days with 3 people dead, and 346 homes lost. Tuesday it was at 6200 acres, today it is at 18,500. Today the fire is 5% contained. The devastation with this fire is not only the acreage at this point but the fact that its path of destruction was through residential areas.

Keep in mind, containment is not how much of the fire is put out but is the barrier of the fire that the firefighters have created to control it and try to fight it.

The High Park Fire (north or Denver, but don't confuse it with the Boulder fire) has been burning for a couple weeks. I'm sorry I don't have an exact date. The fire is now 85% contained. It is 87,284 acres which is the largest fire in Colorado history. 259 homes have been destroyed and one person has died. The good news is that they are expected to have it 100% contained by this weekend.

The Pine Ridge Fire is east of Grand Junction, with part of it burning on I-70. I believe as of this morning one lane eastbound on I-70 had opened. No west bound traffic. This is a concern because for residents west of Glenwood Springs and our area the Grand Junction hospital is the closest trauma hospital. Denver would be the next. Usually if someone needs to be flight-for-life out of here they are taken to Grand Junction first. Flight-for-life can mean either helicopter or ambulance. I've known people to be transported via both. This fire is 12,047 acres and has a path going straight for 50 oil wells which could be absolutely disastrous. It is also 0% contained. Theterrain this fire is in is said to be difficult for firefighters to get in to, and the resources are getting low on the help you would want to see from the air. Evacuations have been made and no homes have been taken yet. This is the fire that is 25 minutes from Brandon's parents.

If anyone would like to read more about any of the other fires 9News Denver is a great source, as well as the Denver Post. As I sit here writing this it is starting to sprinkle! This state needs about a week of the New England dreary, rainy weather!!!! Thoughts and prayers go out to all friends, family, workers, and business owners! Stay strong Colorado!

Happy Duck Days

I'm not sure if there are any other people, other than my redneck husband and myself, who are completely obsessed with the new show Duck Dynasty on A&E. It has to be the most hilarious show on television right now. It's on every Wednesday night and not only are you treated with being able to watch one new episode....two are always shown!! We sit in our living room with our awesome headphones on (yes...we have to wear headphones when we watch TV because our son can hear a mouse fart and if we want to completely hear everything that is being said on TV and not jump to the remote every time the shows volume gets louder...we have to wear special TV headphones) and laugh until we just about pee our pants at this show. It's about a completely out of control redneck mountain family that invented the most popular hand-made duck call. Of course it is another reality show...why wouldn't it be because that is what our society is overly obsessed with right now. I have to admit...I'm a victim of being sucked in to watching all the reality TV...including Jersey Shore. (Brandon thinks I need help). OK, back to the ducks...Take a Wednesday night, pour yourself some whiskey (like Brandon does) or moonshine and treat yourself to an hour (or more) of straight laughter.

Since this show has been on ironically we have been noticing more ducks in the pond in front of Mrs. Gordon's house. Mrs. Gordon is Brandon's boss and the owner of the property we live on. Despite why my Mom and Dad may have told you, or showed you...we don't own this amazing property...the upper elite does...and Brandon has the pleasure of working for them. Blah! So, with having more ducks (or I should say two main ducks that keep coming back) Brandon and I have been making a point to show them to Peyton. It is pretty amazing where we live and the wildlife we get to see so every chance we get we like to show him and educate him on all the different animals. He has seen hundreds of Elk. Every morning we get and up look out the windows to see if there are any on property. He has seen coyotes, hawks, a muskrat swimming in the pond, deer, or course all the other normal animals that are seen just about anywhere. But the ducks are safe and fun to watch, and one of them is absolutely beautiful. A week or so ago Brandon brought up that we should go out and feed them sometime. I thought that was a great idea...and so the story begins!

Brandon had left to go play tennis and Peyton and I were outside playing in the dirt and riding bikes. He got bored with the bike so I asked him if he wanted to take a walk around the pond. Of course he did! We started walking around it and he instantly wanted to go swimming in it so I explained to him that it was dirty and unsafe and there is no way in his lifetime that I will ever get in water like that with him! He is at an awesome age right now because instead of asking "WHY!?" he just says "OK Mommy." Love it! And I will cherish it while it lasts! As we are walking around the two ducks appear out of no where! Peyton got so excited! So I said, "let's get some bread to feed them!" We ran as fast as we could to the house and got the loaf of bread and went back to the pond. We started walking towards the ducks and they swam away. Instead of scaring them right away I gave Peyton a piece of bread, told him to rip small pieces off, and throw it in the water...with the hopes that the ducks might notice and come our way. Well they didn't so I attempted a duck call. HAHAHA! I was laughing at myself, and Peyton was too. But then he joined it. It was like a symphony of dying ducks! And in no way did it work to get the two ducks to come our way. What to try next, what to try next....Well I thought if we walked slowly and quietly toward them, they would stay. Sounded like a good idea but we just ended up walking back and fourth over and over and over again. Meanwhile Peyton is getting hungry so for every piece of bread he is still throwing in the pond...he is eating two. He is also becoming less and less interested and I am becoming more and more pissed at those stupid ducks! I thought ducks had more than a half of a brain...I thought they would see us throwing mass amounts of GOOD bread in the pond for them to eat and come closer to us. Nope. Then I turn around and Peyton is squatting behind and tree. I know what you are thinking...he found an awesome place to drop a deuce...nope. I asked him what he was doing and he said, "Hiding!" I said, "From who?" He said, "You and ducks!" Great! Kinda funny...actually really funny. It was time to go in and eat. Duck feeding mission failed. Ducks-1 Peyton and Mommy-0.

Memories, memories...

There are many awesome things I remember about my childhood and a lot of them are from Dearborn Street in the winter time. Maybe it's because it's winter now and I have a snow-baby son to relive those moments with. I remember a winter where we got so much snow we had our own ski hill in the back yard!  My Dad (the snow-baby that he was and still is) built our back deck so that part of the railing could be removed. When we got enough snow, somehow he piled up enough snow so we had our ow little hill for skiing and sledding! I remember strapping on my tiny skis (I believe they were plastic), flailing down MY OWN mountain, and using the back yard fence as my break. I would stay out there all day. Another winter I remember specifically was one where we got so much snow we had our own little igloo village on our yard! My Dad worked at a paper mill where he was able to take the snow plow trucks. He would come home with one and plow as much snow as he could on the side of the driveway. That winter there was snow piled up as high as the garage roof! With all the snow we started digging, well maybe it was my Dad and Mom who started digging, (and I'm sure there was a valiant effort made by all us kids to help) and before we knew it we had our own igloo with roof access and a couple tunnels that sprouted off of it. Aside from eating and going to the bathroom we had no reason to go back in the house! I could have lived out there, I had my Barbie Dolls and friends and that's all a young girl needs! Then there were the days up at Pleasant Mountain (now Shawnee Peak). I could write blog after blog about all the memories I have from spending every winter weekend and school break up there. I will spare you and save that for another time. This blog is named "because of Peyton" so I better stick to that!

Where I was going with the trip down memory lane is now I am able to create all those same (but different) memories for Peyton. And let me tell you...it has been nothing but a total blast! Getting him on skis for the first time made me melt! It was probably my proudest "mommy moment" yet.  To see his excitement and deer in a headlight face while taking him down the mountain is amazing.

Sunday Brandon and I took Peyton outside after his nap. The kid needed to burn some energy and what better way than to bundle him up, get him out in the fresh air, and let him do his thing...well with the help of mommy and daddy we made it a little more exciting. What kid do you know has a Dad that will take him out on a dirt bike in the middle of winter? That's right...Peyton's Dad! The afternoon started with Brandon and Peyton going for a joyride on Brandon's dirt bike! Let me backtrack for a minute...I don't want everyone to think Brandon just throws our kid on a dirt bike for good giggle, it was all Peyton's idea! When we were in the garage getting bundled up Brandon asked Peyton if he wanted to ride his bike. Peyton's answer was, "ride daddy big bike!" As in Brandon's dirt bike.

After letting their faces thaw some Peyton decided he wanted to get the sleds out! YEA! We have about a foot and a half of snow in the area where we normally go sledding so mommy and daddy packed it all down and made a nice little track! Off we went...wwwhhheeeeeeeeeee! After a few runs on the sled mommy decided to show daddy who was boss of the winter outdoors. I grabbed a shovel and started carving out some steps in the huge pile of snow Brandon had plowed. That was fun for about eight seconds then Peyton started to destroy them. I then had an even better idea...the pile of snow was big enough to build a tunnel! So in Pepere Doucette fashion I started digging. I think for a second Brandon's mouth dropped then he looked at me and said in a confusing voice, "Peyton, what is mommy doing?" Digging a tunnel...duhh! After digging for a little while I finally got through the other side and with Brandon's help the hole got bigger, to the size where we could crawl through! I don't think Peyton knew what to do at first, but after seeing daddy crawl through he got the idea. He came through to the other side and sat right down on the little seat I made him! Even Lucy (our doggy) loved it and was running through! After a while the sun was going down and it started to get cold so I said to him, "Ok P, let's go in and get some dinner!" He looked at me like I  had a giant booger coming out my nose and said, "NO". I asked him if he wanted to eat dinner and sleep there and he responded with "YES!" After a few minutes of trying to convince my snow-baby that it was time to go inside I whipped out the bribe, "Let's go inside and we can get some hot chocolate!" Yup...that worked in a nanosecond. So we went inside and our night continued.

Watching Peyton sit on the couch, drinking his hot chocolate, I thought to myself...these are the moments we live for.

The Things We Do To Get Our Kid To Do Something...

Oh the things parents will do or say to get their kids to do something they want them to do.  There are things in the form of a bribe, whether it be candy, toys, or what Peyton likes to call, a "happy". A "happy" is anything that is not good for you that can be used as a bribe or a reward. A happy is an M&M, a cookie, a candy cane, Gerber veggie puffs, and even his multivitamin (because it is like a fruit snack).  There are things that parents will say, like we can't do this or that if you don't do this or that (also could be a bribe I guess). Those are the common uncreative things. Brandon and I have had to get a little more creative...and our son is only 2! We may be in trouble!

 If you were a fly on the wall in our house today, and knew nothing about Peyton, Brandon, or me, you would know that our son was 2 years old. He was testing our patients in every way and form that he could. And now trying to get him to do something/anything we ask is a small struggle. I say small because I know all you parents reading this, that have more than one child and/or children that are grown or older than Peyton are laughing at me right now, thinking...GIRL, YOU HAVE NO IDEA WHAT YOU ARE IN FOR in the years to come!

For the most part Peyton is an AWESOME kid! He doesn't throw temper-tantrums (yet), he doesn't know how to talk back (yet) except for saying NO (which I think he says just because he can, not because he fully knows what he is saying no to), he is like Rain Man on a schedule and he thrives on it, he is generally a very good eater, his attention span is longer than 5 minutes, he doesn't play with his poop, he is still somewhat easily redirected, and he likes to keep his clothes on. The small struggles I am talking about are when we ask him to do something.

Mom, "Peyton did you poop?"
Peyton, "Nnnoooo."
Mom, "Are you sure...you stink!"
Peyton, "Yyyeesssss."
Mom, "Well I can smell it, lets go change your diaper!"

And the battle and chase begins! We only live in a 650 square foot place and I have to chase my kid around the entire house to capture him to change his diaper! Once I get him and put him on the changing table he instantly tries to turn over onto his tummy, which may make it easier to wipe his butt but not to get a diaper back on, so the  creative distractions begins and the toys come out for distraction. Sometimes just the toys do the trick but other times it takes a little more. I sometimes throw a blanket over him and pretend the upper half of his body isn't there. I say, "where did Peyton go?" over and over. I think he gets confused for a few seconds, thinking to himself "where did I go?" but that may be just long enough to get that diaper changed. Obviously after I take the blanket off of him and scream, "THERE HE IS!" and we all laugh. Other times Brandon and I have to tag team (if we are both home) I really love it when Peyton laying on the changing table and styles Brandon's hair and makes him look, as Peyton would say, "handsome!" Then there are times where the Tickle Monster needs to come out because Peyton is throwing a fit because he doesn't want his diaper changed. Just hearing his precious laugh is music to my ears.

Brushing his teeth at bedtime is also fun. We sit him on the counter (don't judge...he has never fallen off) and the brushing begins. The first 8 seconds may be easy but the novelty for Peyton has worn off and he wants to be doing something else...something fun. One trick I have is to give him a toothbrush and pretend to brush my teeth at the same time. 50% of the time just this works the other 50% my creative side needs to come out. So I pretend to gag when he has the toothbrush in my mouth. He starts laughing and his mouth is wide open for me to see and brush all his teeth! Totally gross but it works. I also let him pluck my eyebrows or any other facial hair he doesn't think I need. Lip gloss is another distraction (again, don't judge) he likes to put it all over my face! Normally I don't take the cap off but sometimes desperate times call for desperate measures.

Eating. I did say that Peyton is, for the most part, a good eater. He does have his moments. We don't stress, we get creative. I mentioned "happys" at the beginning...Peyton sometimes thinks that steamed veggies (mainly chopped carrots) are "happys". If it's something he has never eaten before, its a "happy", and when he really doesn't want to eat anything we tell him it's all "happys". He is a pretty smart kid so sometimes he doesn't fall for it. But if it works once then it was a golden moment. The best is seeing Brandon and his Golden Glob performances telling Peyton how good the food is while he is eating some of it...trying to get Peyton to eat it. (Can you attach videos to blogs because I may have to do that!)

In the end if we are out of creative ideas or just plain tired the bribes do rear their ugly head. Nobody said we were perfect parents!

Happy Day...or waaaassss it...

This afternoon I was on the phone with my mom telling her about all the "episodes" Peyton and I had today. (And by episodes I mean all the crazy *#%@ that happens throughout the day...that generally comes with having a toddler.) She says to me, "You need to write a blog! That (the story I had just told her) is really funny! And maybe you will have less anxiety about things if you write them down!"  So I thought to myself...YES! I can write a blog! So here is my first try. I can't make any promises that I will write them weekly or even monthly but I am sure going to make an effort! Who knows it may make me feel better during the awesome anxiety bouts that I tend to have. If anything I hope it gives everyone a good laugh every once in a while!

Our day started as usual today, Peyton woke up around 6:30, I tried to get him to fall back asleep with Brandon and me, and after laying still for about 5 minutes he started whispering "wake up". With not much response with whispering he starting talking...then came the yell, "WAKE UP!" Brandon pops up saying, "Why am I even making an effort? Peyton lets go!" I won't bore you with every detail of the morning so I'll jump right to the fun stuff.

I had today off so I decided it would be totally fun to take Peyton over to Buttermilk to go skiing. I got everything ready and organized so it would be easy once we got over there (Buttermilk Mountain is only 2 miles from our house) I got myself then Peyton dressed and with my spare time I got him PUMPED to go skiing! We drove over and were sadly told that we weren't able to park there for the rest of the week because of Winter X Games. SERIOUSLY?! I have lived here for almost 8 years and didn't know you couldn't park at Buttermilk the week of X Games! Duhh! So we drove home and asked Brandon to drop us off, and like the amazing husband/dad he is, he did.

We got there, unloaded our skis and Peyton and I were on our way! Or were we? Once we got over to the beginner chair, or should I say where the beginner chair is suppose to be, I noticed it wasn't there and in place were huge mounds of snow! DAMN X GAMES! Yes, again I should have known! There was no access to the beginner lifts while X Games were going on. A friendly ski instructor said I could go to the top of the mountain and there was a little beginner area set up with a rope tow and everything. I looked at Peyton and said, "Booboo, we are going big today!" We got on the chair safe and sound...until I pulled the bar down on Peyton's leg! Boy did he scream! And then he was scared. I thought to myself, I hope this day ends up better than it's starting! I calmed him down once we got about 3/4 of the way up. Once we were there he was totally fine! He also blew my mind with how he was skiing!

Now comes the best part of the day! We went down the little beginner trail they had set up, Peyton was screaming WEEEEEEEEEE the whole way down (which was about 20 yards). It was music to my ears. The rope tow that was set up was pretty cool. Nothing like the "make your arms fall off" rope tow at Kents Hill! There was a nice little wedge to hold on to while you got pulled up. The challenging thing was to do it with a little man between your legs (wow that sounds really bad...told you I hope to make you laugh). So I had Peyton between my legs holding him with one arm while using my other arm to hold onto the wedge as we get pulled up the longest 20 yards of my life! It was a great arm workout! The second time we went down I was going down backwards, facing Peyton and he was actually balancing and skiing to me! I wanted to cry, it was amazing! After the third time down we went and got some water and a snack bar...and then the meltdown started!

I have no stinking clue where it came from or why but Peyton was beyond not happy! So with him screaming bloody murder I put his skis back on and started carrying him down the mountain. Yea, that lasted about 45 seconds. I put him down and told him he needs to be a big boy and started skiing down with him between my legs...SCREAMING! To try to get him to cheer up I said, "lets go ski some powder!!!!" And we did...and he LOVED IT!! Again...amazing! Until I realized I WAS ON THE WRONG SIDE OF THE MOUNTAIN!!!!!!!!!!!! Not cool. I was on the west side of Buttermilk...where you cannot access the main side. You can only imagine what I was thinking. We get down to the lift and I say to the lifty...as he is taking my son from me..."can I get to the bottom from here?" He says, "no, do you know the mountain at all?" NO DIP-WEED if I knew the mountain I wouldn't be standing here freaking out because I want to be on the other side! Backtrack...he took Peyton because we aren't allowed to go through the silly pass scanners together so that fired me up a little more. Luckily on the way up Peyton was happy and laughing.

By the way this whole time Brandon is waiting for us at the bottom with rent-a-cops giving him the stink eye because they don't want him there. He was also on a time crunch to drive Ms. Daisy (his boss) to a lunch in town. Ok...where was I....we get to the top and I think, maybe we can download and take the chair down?" NOT! it was a 20 yard hike just to get to the chair. So I carry poor Peyton the entire way down the mountain, passing 2 ski patrollers who aren't the least bit concerned that I am carrying a child down a mountain...or why I was doing it. We get to the bottom safe and sound...minus my arms falling off.

My knight in shinning armour is waiting for us in the parking lot and we go home, eat lunch, and take a nap. We started the afternoon fresh and aside from not getting my child to the potty on time, having him pee all over the bathroom floor (yes it was my fault and not his because I dilly-dallied putting his little seat on the toilet) and not being able to feel my arms we had a great afternoon/night.