Little Adventure: YMCA of the Rockies

Over the weekend we had the privilege of staying at the YMCA of the Rockies at Estes Park. It's located next to the Rocky Mountain National Park which is a place my family and I love to visit. To be honest, I didn't know the YMCA had such an awesome location there with an 800 acre resort style property with places to stay. The location was absolutely beautiful!

They recently opened a new and improved Arts and Craft Center with a bunch of new activities like glass fusing, silk painting, jewelry making, leather crafts, basket making and so much more. While there the boys checked out a few projects but their favorites were the tye-dying and painted ceramics.

The staff there offered support if you needed it or guidance to get you started. They were so patient and nice to the boys. Once the boys got started they were totally hooked on doing their best and couldn't wait to see their finished projects. There were projects for all ages ranging from 2 years to 102. So really anyone could find something fun to make!

 

 

Besides doing arts and crafts, we checked out all the fun activities the YMCA offers. We did mini-golf, stopped by the Dorsey Museum, went swimming, played outdoor chess and walked the property a few times. While there we even spotted some elk which were huge.

Thank you to the YMCA of the Rockies for a fun and adventurous family weekend. I highly recommend checking out the YMCA if you're in the area. Their activities are open to all guests and day-pass holders.

Thank you to the YMCA of the Rockies for providing us a complimentary stay in exchange for an honest review. All opinions and pictures are 100% mine.

Little Adventure: The Stanley Hotel

Over the weekend we headed up to Estes Park to visit The Stanley Hotel. This Historic Hotel opened in 1909 catering to upper middle class Americans. It is now widely known as the backdrop for the movie The Shining and investigated on the show Ghost Adventures. While walking around the property, my older boys were looking for ghosts but unfortunately didn't find anything.

The Hotel and it's surroundings are absolutely beautiful. There is a garden out front with views of the Rockies and the lobby of the hotel takes you back in time.  If you're ever in the area, we highly recommend stopping there to take a look around. My oldest son would love to go back and stay the night.

 

Little Adventure: Sledding with Friends

Sunday morning we met up with some friends at a local elementary school that has an awesome sledding hill. We all took turns going down on different sleds with the kids and had a blast. It was such a beautiful day but it was freezing! I love these little adventures.

9 Candy-Free Valentines

With Valentine's Day just around the corner, it's time to start thinking about what valentines the boys will want to bring to their classes. Some years they want the store bought cards but some years they want some that I have found to print off. They really like the idea of fun things to add to the cards that make it different than their friends. Both are great to me. Here are 9 great ideas if your kids don't want store bought this year :

Click on the links below to be taken to the printable!

Yoda Best /  Sip-Sip Hooray  / Dino-Mite

Got You Figured Out /  Love Bug  /  You're So Sharp

Valen-Slime /  Paper Airplane / Apple Of My Eye 

Crock Pot Sausage & Peppers {recipe}

One of my favorite kitchen tools has got to be the Crock Pot. You can throw everything in it, walk away and come back later to a yummy dinner. We try to use it as much as possible in our house due to our sometimes crazy schedule.

This recipe for sausage and peppers is so good. My husband requests it a lot and I'm happy to make it for him because I love it too.

What you need:
- 8 to 10 Italian sausage links (regular or spicy)
- extra virgin olive oil
- 2 green bell peppers- sliced
- 1 white onion- sliced
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
- 2 teaspoons minced garlic
- 3 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1 (15 oz.) can diced tomatoes
- 1 and 3/4 cup vegetable stock
- 3/4 cup Marsala wine
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
- Italian sandwich rolls

Directions:
Heat up your oil in a large skillet pan. Cut sausage links in half then butterfly them (I like to do this so they lay flat on the bread). Cook for a few minutes on medium heat just to brown them a bit. Meanwhile, add all the other ingredients to the crock pot. Once the sausages are done, add them to the crock pot too. Stir it all together. Some of the veggies may not all be covered with liquid but once they start to soften, they will be. Stir every once in a while. Cook on high for 6 hours. Slice the bread in half, toast it in the oven then serve your sausage and peppers on top. Enjoy!

What is one of your favorite crock pot meals? You can leave a link in the comment section!

Little Adventure: Denver Museum of Nature & Science

Over Christmas break, we went with my dad and stepmom to the Denver Museum of Nature and Science. This was all of our first time going there and we had a great time. They had a lot of cool exhibits and the boys loved the kid area and all of the animals. If you're in the Denver area, I highly recommend going here!

Roasted Chickpeas {recipe}

Do you have a favorite snack that you can eat over and over again? This recipe for roasted chickpeas has definitely been on constant over here. It's healthy, delicious and crunchy all at the same time!

What you need:
- (1) 15.5oz can of garbanzo beans- drained
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon paprika
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 2 teaspoons extra virgin olive oil

Directions:
Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Combine all the ingredients in a bowl. Pour onto a baking sheet and bake for 15 minutes. Stir and bake for another 15 minutes or until they are crispy. I like to sprinkle a little extra salt and pepper on top.

These can be enjoyed alone or on a salad to add that little extra crunch. Enjoy!