Believe it or not...I'm actually going to write another post and only a week apart...Either I don't have enough to do or I just find writing a blog so much fun! Actually I suppose it is option C I just have something else to say. I definitely have enough to do, especially with Christmas knocking on my door and my usual organized self not available!

Anyway...Last night after running to the Italian market for the 2nd time in less than a week and driving home in the snow, thinking how perfect this is for Christmas I saw two people out for their evening run. And while I've run in the cold, the rain, the wind and yes, the heat...I can't recall a time when I ran in snow...like measurable snow. So I had this fabulous idea! I would do it...Needed the run anyway. So I got home, found my ear warmer, my 4 layers of clothes and 2 pairs of gloves and off I went. Although, I did have to avoid a noticeable amount of ice patches, overall I felt great...I only slipped once, had to dig snow out of my shoes multiple times and ran slower than I'm used to. I'm sure I was a site...with my hair, eyebrows and sweatshirt covered in snow, snowflakes flying in my eyes and water falling off my face. But it was the most fun I have had in the snow in a long while.

So I highly recommend the running while snowing...maybe just in Colorado, I'm not sure!

2011 Christmas Letter

Yes, I have procrastinated as long as possible...not because I didn't want to write a letter this year (because I actually enjoy writing about my family!) but because I'm not sure I have anything of any substance to write about. I don't want to have a completely sugar coated letter that just says how great things are, because lets face it...we all have issues! So, I guess I'll get started and see where it takes me!

Tyler...oh my little Ty-guy. He has done well, and I've discovered he is far smarter than I've ever given him credit for. He turned 5 in September and started Kindergarten. I won't lie, I was a little worried how this was going to go since every time we had met with the teacher he wouldn't have anything to do with her. He kept telling me how much he liked preschool and his other teachers. Tyler spent the summer telling me that he was not going to Kindergarten because he liked Ms. Jan and Ms. Vicki. Even the kindergarten teacher was a little worried how this situation was gonna go. However, Tyler has surprised us all. He loves school, he has made some great friends, he thrives in the routine of school and learning new things. And amazingly he is reading books to me now instead of the other way around. I love it! A few weeks into school I did ask him how school was going and his response "Mom, I like school, but next year just go ahead and sign me up for the 1/2 day deal" Probably not gonna happen buddy, but that is a good thought! Tyler continued on with soccer this year. The whole team plays really well together and the coach almost has the 5 year old kids running like a machine. It is impressive. And while Tyler did plenty of growing in the game of soccer there is one goal that completely stands out...even the Colorado Rapids would have been impressed. Tyler's other new hobby is football. The little man has forced the issue at our house which made us start frequenting both little league and high school games, (as mom is too cheap to go to an NFL game!) Since the local high school went to the semi finals in the playoffs Tyler and I braved the cold to go watch the game. During the game (our team was loosing) Ty told me "Mom if they don't start picking different plays and passing the ball they are never gonna get a first down." Sure enough, they changed things up and things got better. The local team still lost, but I was more impressed with Tyler actually knowing the whole situation. I may have a future coach on my hands! I feel like I could go on and on for hours but this was just supposed to be a summary right?

The kids at one of our 'weekends' in the mountains!

My dear dear Brookie! 3rd grade started off a little rough for us. The whole mean girl drama thing has officially started and I (being the mom) am not impressed! They were supposed to be innocent a few years longer. Our first major hurdle of the school year was the teacher being male...but that only took a day or two to get over, then it started off how the girls were being mean, you don't dress stylishly (do they even know what that word means?) and it's hard work to hang out with us. While Brooke was telling me these stories I may have burst out laughing many times. However, I'm proud to say that Brooke successfully stood up to the girls and everyone is nice again! Good thing! More exciting news in Brooke's world...she went away for a week with Grammie and Papa and came back fully able to swim! I can finally say I have a child that knows how to swim, I could not be happier! Next year I'll send Tyler away with them and quit paying for the expensive private lessons! Brooke also had a change up in the dance department. I finally caved and let her start dancing hip hop along with Ballet, Jazz and Tap...Shortly after that decision the studio closed. Brooke's little heart broke, as did mine because that meant work for me. After interviewing numerous dance studios I found one close to the house and it has worked out beautifully! Her Ballet teacher thinks Brooke has amazing amounts of potential, and honestly Brooke has come so far since she started there! I have not seen her tap and jazz progress yet but Brooke loves those teachers as well so I'm thinking she is making progress there also! This year she decided that she wanted to concentrate on dance and give up soccer, so much to my dismay that is what we did. I will admit it was nice not having to navigate two games on Saturdays and having to be in two different places at the same time, none the less I was sad to see her give it up. I'm sorry, again I'm supposed to be summarizing!

She can do the full split now, but this is the closest picture I have!

As for Louis, he again has been busy with work. We decided to put a bit of a hold on house projects especially since he has been working all the time anyway. With the addition on the building they have and the 'second' job it seems like he is there more than he is home. The 'second' job has been good for us. Although, I will admit that between all the work and summer activities Louis did find time to have the yearly 'yard competition' with the neighbor. I'm pretty sure that the neighborhood would agree that they both tie for first place. It is pretty fabulous to have the best yard in the neighborhood, but I do give him all the credit. I'm pretty sure I wouldn't even be able to start the mower. We celebrated our 10th Anniversary in June and spent a weekend in Beaver Creek. That was exciting to just be away from everyone. And it was a great time for us to catch up on sleep. We also spent a week last January in Maui. It again was good for us to catch up on our relaxing. Besides work and running kids from place to place it doesn't leave too much time for him to do much else. 

For myself, I have still been running, working, along with trying to be an involved parent. Sometimes it is easier said than done but somehow it always works out. With Louis working a lot the kids and I have adapted to doing things on our own. I'm not sure I love it, but have learned to live with it. For some of the 'races' I participated in this year...I started with the Colfax 1/2 marathon and finished better than I have before but still not living up to the expectations I hold for myself...we all do that right? I then did the 'Tough Mudder Challenge" with my brother and some friends. That consisted of a 10 mile obstacle course in Beaver Creek Ski area. Some of the obstacles included swimming in 36 degree water, running up and down hills (steep never ending hills) snow, mud, electrical shock etc etc...and yes I did finish that. It was hard but I'm glad I had the courage to begin. Then I did the Georgetown to Idaho Springs 1/2 Marathon...I had a hard time with this race and vowed I would be better prepared next time. I set a personal record at an Oktoberfest 5k in September but went straight downhill after that as I had a knee situation crop up. Couldn't have had anything to do with hiking 14ers, running 1/2 marathons, hill repeat workouts, long runs and speed work all in the span of a couple of weeks. I've been very slowly rehabbing that and things seem to be on the mend. Other than the typical life of being a mom I really have no other exciting news to share. 

The Krapes Family 

Parents wish list!

While reading an article online today (I'm thinking that is where I get most of my blogging ideas) it said that parents of older kids wished...and then they had a whole list...Well one of those items on the list was that they wish they had written down all those moments when your kids made you laugh...And while I have made a small effort in that area with this blog I totally forgot about Sunday's adventure so here goes....

So my last Sunday with just me and the kids, we are heading the mall and I had this conversation with Brooke...
Brooke : Mom I want a bunk bed
Mom: Probably not babe!
Brooke: Well dad can make me one.
Mom: Yeah, your right, if your on the 20 year plan
Brooke: Well China can make me one.
Yes my child, you are right China can make you one...
Meanwhile, it was a good thing I was parking because I was laughing so hard.

Then later in the day...Tyler is watching the Bronco game and he comes to find me doing laundry and says Tyler: "Mom it was 3rd and 7 and they ran the ball, why would you run the ball?"
Mom: "I'm not sure buddy, I wasn't watching!"
Tyler: "Mom, I'm not happy about this, they didn't make it!"
Mom: "I bet it will be all right buddy"

Tuesday afternoons are reserved for Tyler and I to hang out. Yesterday Tyler decided that he wanted to play wii and I had some Christmas things to attend to so I decided that would be fine.
Mom: "Tyler we need to get going because we have to pick Brooke up"
Tyler: "Ok mom, just give me a few"
Mom: "You have three minutes"
I continued reading my stuff, while sitting on the floor...he comes up and knocks me over "Mom, you just tackled like in tackle football!"
Mom: while trying not to laugh "Next time can you just give me a warning that I'm about to get tackled?"
Tyler: "Yeah, I guess, I wouldn't want to injure you!"

Next time you stop by the house just be prepared to tackled!