A Colorado Christmas

Well December was here and gone before I could blink. The first few weeks were spent in getting Christmas decorations up, attending kids programs at school, making lots of Christmas goodies to share, attending a few parties, dealing with a bout of pink eye at our house, and getting up on the Mesa a few more times to enjoy the snow.
The last few weeks were filled with a quick trip to Utah to visit family and going to the wedding reception for Natalie Bautner, which was wonderful! And it was lovely to visit with both my Mom and Emily, despite a seriously ill Spencer with the stomach flu and a very high fever, that threw a wrench in other plans. My girls always love playing with their cousins Lily and Flash, and Amanda got a fun night out with Grandma. So while not planned the delay was perfect. I loved watching the kids catch snowflakes on their tongues outside my moms condo. Snow is magical with kids. (Too bad my phone has picture erasing issues or else I would share the moment.)

We then traveled to Michelle's house and had a fun evening playing games and visiting with some of my siblings and their families. The kids again had fun with cousins and throughout the whole trip were excited to exchange a few gifts in person for the first time in a lot of years.

Michelle traveled back with us and we had a very nice Christmas with her back at our house. We made gingerbread cookies for Santa, played lots of games, and the girls and I performed with our ward choir and children's choir a Christmas program on Christmas morning. We also put on our annual Christmas Eve Nativity but this time it was extra special as we received some new costumes thanks to Patty, Madison, and Megan. The kids looked adorable!

We also ventured downtown for a horse and buggy ride and enjoyed dancing to some Christmas music to stay warm while we waited our turn. The kids also loved visiting the horses.

Santa and Mrs Claus came by and Maren was sure to tell them that she made some cookies for Mrs Claus. Maren was thrilled when Santa told her that he would be sure to get them back to her.
Maren has been waiting for snow for years...she would talk about it all winter long when we lived in the South and always is the first one geared up and playing in the snow whenever we go up on the Mesa. Can you tell she is loving it?
Maren also was very excited for Christmas this year, she asked for an ipod, a chalk scooter, and a pet. I had to chuckle when I asked her if she knew what an ipod was and she told me "No, but it sounds cool." She wasn't disappointed when there was a chalk scooter and no ipod, or pet. And I was most amazed that she was more excited this year at the gifts she was giving, as she hand picked a few from the dollar store with her own money, including a Christmas tic-tac-toe game for aunt Michelle.


Amanda loved having Michelle here and spent lots of time playing games and hanging out with her. She got a few things she wanted for Christmas but her big gift was a surprise, some very nice swim gear with her teams logo on it. She made me laugh when she commented that for the first time in many years she didn't get any books for Christmas, good thing we frequent the library lots at our house. She was equally excited to give Dave a Christmas tie, that she bought, that played Jingle Bells!
Dave decided he needed to get in a bit a down hill skiing this year, and since 5th graders ski for free he decided Amanda was the perfect companion. She even got a free half day lesson, which turned out great for all.
Amanda also helped me get ready for a New Years Eve game party we planned with some friends, and has become my babysitter at the house when I have somewhere to be while Jacob is napping, it has been so helpful! Here she is throwing icecycle bombs into the snow drifts for fun.

Spencer had a fun very low key Christmas program at his preschool in which the class sang a few songs, and the kids opened a book the teachers gave each of the kids. It was perfect. He loves to sing right now so we got a lot of Rudolf renditions at our house with these antlers he made.

We had struggled with finding a good, safe place to sled with the kids, especially after all the powder turned icy and slick, but when we were snowshoeing one day we found the perfect hill. Spencer, who had been a bit apprehensive about sledding in the past, fell in love with our friends sled and we couldn't get him off of it.

He outlasted all the kids that day.
He also loved spending time with his aunt Michelle, and has been very vocal about how upset he was when she left.

Spencer was very excited for Santa to visit and left out some reindeer food on the back porch, and would not stay in bed (a common problem lately). But at least I can call it cute (for one night anyway) to find him asleep on the stairs waiting for Santa. I love this age with Christmas, as he fell in love with the Christmas stories every night, even cried when I put them away, and was absolutely positive (and incredibly excited) that Santa ate the cookies we left out.

Dave grew an attachment this vacation as Jacob would not not leave his side. One the plus side I got out of diaper duty for a good week plus some, and how do you tell a kid this cute no anyway? Along with this stubborn streak we have laughed as we have been dealing with the "I ou i" phase ("I do it" phase, Jacob is getting very good at speaking with only vowel sounds). Like when he went to set the table and had to get the silverware out himself and ended up with 6 spoons at one place setting. And my other favorite, when I had just finished cleaning his hands and face after lunch (note that I had asked him to do it two times first), and he then went and got his face dirty again just so he could wipe it clean.

Jacob also absolutely fell in love with this blanket Granny sent him for Christmas. It is Backyardagans theme, a show he loves to watch with Spencer. He laid himself down with it for a much needed early bedtime one night.

Jacob also surprised us with his desire to want to ski the last time we went out. He outlast Spencer, who we shouldn't have started at the windy trail head that day.

It is a bit slow going with both of them elbowing in the chariot, or fighting over who's turn it is on the ski's. But we get more distance every time.

And the girls are making great progress and even took on a monster hill last time, then Amanda turned around and did again. so fun!