Goodbye 2011

What I loved about 2011:

All of the amazing camping trips we took this year.








The fun times we had in the backyard of our old house.




Finding our new home and really making it ours!


Finding a new passion- cycling.



After finishing June Lake Loop for the first time!

Finishing my first triathlon.



What all this cycling and running has done to my legs. I actually have muscles there now! Can you see 'em?



Creating this masterpiece on my bedroom wall for under 25 bucks.


Our wonderful Christmas memories with the family.





I can't wait to see what 2012 is going to bring.

Resolutions

Remlinger Family New Years Resolutions:

P: "Climb more mountains, camp more campgrounds, brew more beer!"

A: "Do at least 3 triathlons in 2012 with one being an Olympic distance. And all of the above with Paul (except maybe the beer). He can do that on his own-it stinks when it's brewing.'

T: "Go to more waterparks!"

D: "Trucks."

White Dog: "Make peace with the UPS truck and the driver."


What is your New Year's Resolution? Leave a comment below.

Merry Christmas

"Do you think there are any here with our names on them?"

Fake

I never thought I would break down and buy a fake tree. But this was the year that I am glad I did. We initially bought a real tree and had it all decorated and set up but a few days before everyone arrived it started to rot and stink really bad. It became rancid. You would walk in and sit down and would eventually get a headache. For a few days I couldn't figure out why. We have no idea why it did this. We watered it everyday (which was a royal pain-in-the-ass because of the spot we had it set-up in).

Prior to this happening I became frustrated with needles and having to water it everyday so I went out and bought a fake one. We originally were not going to use it until next year but guess what-we did!

So here is a picture of our second (and FINAL) tree. I actually like this one better.

It is too quiet here.

Christmas has come and gone. The week went by so incredibly fast. It was a crazy week with (at one time) having 11 people in the house but I would not have changed it for the world! I loved being around family. I truly miss that. The boys got so many wonderful gifts from relatives and Santa. Maybe a little too many....we are still assembling gifts from Christmas.

2012 will be here in just a blink of an eye. I am excited to see what 2012 will bring us! Happy New Year to my wonderful friends and family. We love you.

Pilots and Christmas

I am so thankful that Paul will be home for Christmas (well at least Christmas morning-he flies out that afternoon). As you know the airlines do not shut down for Christmas and with Paul being a junior pilot it was a shock to find out that he would be off. In prior years the kids were too little to understand when December 25th was. So on December 23 or 26 or 27...Santa would just magically show up. Now that T is older he knows exactly what day it is and how many "sleeps" until Santa arrives. Thankfully Paul will be able to wake with the rest of the family and see the joys of knowing that Santa came the night before and left them presents!

Let the baking begin.

Over the past few days the Holiday baking has been in full force.

We have been busy little elves making: Peppermint Bark, Peppermint cookies, Gingerbread cookies and Sugar cookies!

11 days until Christmas

I can't believe how fast this year has gone. In just 11 days Santa will be bringing presents for all!

This next week will be a busy one, as I prepare for the first round of guests to arrive. My brother and sis will be coming in on Wednesday and I cant wait to see them. I hope the snows stays on the ground. My brother (the typical Californian) jokes that he is going to put chains on his car and drive around with them on. I told him "he and the mailman will be the only ones with chains, so you go ahead and slap that giant label on your car and see how many looks (and fingers) you will get."

The next round of guests will arrive a few days later and continue to trickle in. At one point we should have about 12 people here for Christmas. But a full house is what Christmas is all about. I wouldn't want it any other way!

welcome new readers

My Christmas cards went out this weekend. So I realize I might have some new blog readers now.

Welcome new readers!

And to the old readers...you are still here? Why?

kidding, of course.

Hi and miss you all.

Love, PATd white dog and a blog

2 years ago.

Happy Birthday Lil’ D.

Today you are 2. You are your favorite number. When asked “how many” of something your answer is always ‘two.”

The past two years have flown before my eyes. I want to just bottle you up right now and keep you this way. I love all the funny, cute and innocent things you do. I love the way you carry around that little blue blanket and call it your “baby.” Baby goes everywhere with us and needs a good washing about every other day. Baby gets dragged all over the floor of most of the major stores here in Prescott.

I love how you are starting to put words together now, to make up sentences. I know sometimes Tyler gets on your case and says, “Dylan that is not a complete sentence.” Don’t worry about it D, Mommy can understand you.

You are Mr. Big Stuff now and no longer want to sit in a stroller nor eat out of your highchair. Both will most likely be on Craigslist soon.

You’d rather follow me around a store yelling “Mommy help.” Which I know means “Mommy slow down, you are walking too fast.”

You want to sit at the table now and eat with the rest of us. Thank goodness you will actually sit on the booster seat I just bought you today. It was getting a little tough for you to eat your cereal in the morning when the bowl was up to your forehead.

You are obsessed with Elmo, police cars, monster trucks and fire trucks right now.

You love that song on the radio called “Pumped Up Kicks.” You request it daily from the backseat.

You are starting to learn your colors but for the most part everything is usually “blue.”

You also like to say that just about every animal when asked what they eat, “eat grapes.” When asked how they eat the grapes it’s always “in a bowl.” Typically said with a southern drawl.

You are starting to become interested in the potty but I know not to push it. You will sit on it every now and then and lately you have been requesting the dvd called Potty Power.

We are still currently battling Bubba (your pacifier) with you. Right now you only need it when you are tired. We are trying really hard to just let you have it in the crib for naps and nighttime. You still sleep very well at night from 7:30 pm to 7:00 am and you nap in the middle of the day for about 2 hours. I am so very grateful for this sleep pattern. And that is one of the main reasons why Mommy is not wanting to take it away!

You worship your older brother. You follow him around everywhere and try and do everything he does. I know this annoys him sometimes but he’s a wonderful big brother and will try and include you the majority of the time. Already I can see the special bond the both of you have and I know he will always look out for you.



So Little D here’s to you...Happy 2nd Birthday!

Diaper duty for.....

Yesteday was Race Day for The Remlingers.

I can honestly say this was the first time I actually almost backed out of doing a race. I wasn't worried about the course or race itself, I just hated how freakin' cold it was. It only got up to a high (in the afternoon) of 50 degrees. I don't like to be cold and I dreaded that cold wet bike ride/run after the swim. The pool itself was heated to about 80 degrees so it felt wonderful to get in it. For once, I actually wished the swim was longer. When I got out I was wet and cold for the rest of the race. I do have to admit that maybe it helped with my time because it was faster than I have ever done. But I think I am still thawing out my fingers and toes today, though.

So the results came back and diaper duty for the week goes to....


me.

Paul beat me by 5 minutes. 1:37 for Paul and 1:42 for me.

But I actually raced in a different division and I placed 2nd in my division. So while Paul can go and "talk" about beating my time, I can actually show-off my hardware. Yep since I placed I got a medal to take home! whoot-whoot.

shovel the snow

we came back from Phoenix and came back to lots of fresh snow. They got more while we were camping this weekend for the triathlon.

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas

Like the wine in the background? Because after a few glasses Mommy can relax about not having to make all those little candies perfectly straight.

iTunes

It's a cold snowy day today.

Enjoying just being inside and sipping hot cider.

Thankfully we got the lights hung yesterday before the storm came. It really feels like Christmas now.

I am also enjoying downloading some new Christmas songs from iTunes. They have some good ones out there.

But somehow I don't think Paul will be happy when he sees that I just paid .99 for Barking Dogs: "Jingle Bells."



Just in case you (too) would like to get into the Christmas Spirit: