You guys.

We won a major award.

It's true.  

And I'm feeling really good about it.

In fact.  

Everything about this night was awesome.

Including the dirty Band-Aids we brought for an appetizer.

And why not wash it down with some blood

IN A SYRINGE.

Yeah.

That's how we roll.
Super gross.

The kids were totally convinced there was a ghost in the Haunted House.

Family costume rocked.

And I saw Annie and Daddy Warbucks, Si and the 80's band Jem and the Holograms.

I'd say it was a successful night.

So here's kind of a sad story.

Every year we visit the Pumpkin Patch.

Like every year.

Here we are last year.

And all the years before.

Seriously.

It's like a thing we do.

So naturally.

We had to go this year.

Although I will tell you. 

I was half tempted to take the boys to Albertsons and tell them have at it.

But.

Ends up.

I'm a sucker for tradition.

Who knew?

That was a rhetorical question.

I knew.

So off we went.

Yes, three days before Halloween.

And let me just tell you.

It sucked.

Like bad.

Mud.

Rotting pumpkins.

Weeds.

Cold.

It was totally and completely not awesome.

At all.

We didn't even find one pumpkin that would work.

NOT.ONE.

What a fail.

So we stopped by Wal-mart.

Fail #2.

We stopped by King Soopers.

Fail #3.

Finally.  

My kids found baking pumpkins at Safeway.

*Sigh*

We suck.

Ohmygosh, you guys.

Wouldn't it be, like, so embarrassing

if you made an appointment at the dentist

to get a mouth guard readjusted

because you recently had some dental work done

so, naturally, it doesn't fit anymore.

And on the way out the door you grab the case

that was holding said mouth guard.

And you drive all the way to the dentist

and then he calls you back and is all set to 

get the job done.

And then you open the case to find

that you don't actually have the mouth guard.

Instead.

You have the

ZEBRA RETAINER THAT YOU GOT IN HIGH SCHOOL.

Ohmygosh, that would be sooooo embarrassing.

Trust me.

It was.

Hello.

My name is Jordan.

It has been 304 days since I last blogged.

Whew.

That feels better.

Okay so here's the thing.

I realize it's been a while.

And I know you're probably like,

"Oh sure, Jordan.  Like we even read this stupid blog anymore."

And I know that I'm not the most loyal blog person.

I mean.

My life kinda changed when I met Instagram.

But.

I digress.

We took a super fast fun trip this weekend.

And there's way too many pictures. 

So.

I'm back.

So let me start by introducing you to my friend Annie.

She's super cute and fun.

Well.

I mentioned to her that we were going to New Mexico in October for

what else

Balloon Fiesta.

She thought it sounded fun.

And decided to come.

That, my friends, is a kindred spirit.

I mean.

She committed to spend 4 whole days with my family.

I have immediate family that wouldn't even sign up for that gig.

Seriously.

So fast forward to Thursday.

We pulled the kids out early.

And began 

"Dixon/Bryan Roadtrip 2013".

Yes, we all made it back alive.

Yes, we had tons of fun.

Yes, we saw the balloons.

But not as many as I would've like--stinking wind.

Gosh.

I sure love being home.

 You guys.

The last time we attended Fiesta

my Gavin was 3.  

Look.

I'm not joking.

 Seriously.  

These people are my favorite.

 And guess what!  

We found a turquoise door in Santa Fe!

You guys.

I don't think you understand what this means.

When I was pregnant with Gavin

we took a trip to Italy.

There, we found a turquoise door.

And I loved it.

In fact. 

I've been looking for one ever since so that we could take family pictures.

And look!

I finally found one.

But alas.

Spencer wasn't with us.

So I settled on just the boys.

Only.

Gavin was being kind of a turd.

And my boys had hat hair.

But I kind of love it.

 Guess what, you guys?

 

Today was our annual

 

"Dixon Adventure at Copper"

 

Click here for last year.

 

And here for the year before.

 

And here for the year before that.

 

And, too bad, the Kemsley crew didn't make it up this year.

 

You know.

We are in a recession.

 

Anywho.

This year was a blast.
 

 

 No, I'm serious.

I was a little worried about this trip.

I mean.

Spencer didn't come.

So that means I took the boys up by myself.

Well.

Not totally by myself.

I did hire a nanny of sorts.

But you know.

I was the only parent.

There's a difference.

And here's the tough part.

Gav is in a "I'm super independent and want to do everything" stage.

And Reese is in a "Everything bugs me and if I don't like it I'm going to sit here and sulk forever" stage.

So maybe you can understand why I was a bit nervous?

And.

I don't ski.
Ahem, I'm a boarder.

But we've decided that it would be best for our boys to learn to ski first.

So, naturally, I'm not much help.

However.

As it turns out.

I know just enough about skiing to keep them on their feet.

And they are awesome enough to keep trying when they fall.

Wanna see the cutest/saddest video?

Go ahead.

Watch it.



Poor Reese.

But he jumped right up and tried again.


 

And I'm kicking myself for not recording two seconds longer.

 

Because that's when Gavin put his arm around his brother as they got in line to go down again.

 

I love them.

 

 

And here's one more for you.

 

Because really.

That giddy smile kills me.

A Thanksgiving Rhyme.

This Thanksgiving was one of a kind.

We had our own meal, I didn't really mind.

Gav made some cards, with our name on each one.

He was so creative, it was really quite fun.

The first thing we did was look at the ads.

And wish for all those things that we've never had.

Then we ate turkey, and what do you think?

We plotted a picture as fast as a wink.

(Yes, friends.  That's me.  1990ish)

Then we posed and smiled with such desire.

You'd never had known that our house almost caught on fire.

No really.

It almost did.

Happy Thanksgiving!

You guys!

 

Do you know what this means????

 

I MAY NEVER HAVE TO SHOVEL THE DRIVEWAY AGAIN!!!

 





 

Ha ha.

 

Look.

Reese totally has a crooked smile.

 

Just like his mama.