Monday, December 28, 2009

Merry Christmas!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!! Our Diva turned 7 but she seems to think it was 17! She enjoyed all the cards, phone calls, gifts, and attention pretty much the entire month.


We celebrated Christmas a week early this year, as we were planning to drive to Houston on Christmas Eve & Christmas Day. The kids had so much fun riding their scooters, watching new movies, & playing new games all weekend long.

Christmas Eve traditional pajama photo without the tree!

Christmas Eve came & brought a big snow storm with it, so we decided to leave for Houston on Christmas Day. We didn't even think that everything would be closed! It was hard to find food & sometimes an open gas station, but we made it to Wichita, Kansas before we decided to get a hotel. The weather was very strange-overcast with the wind blowing snow all over the road & then we went through quite a few dust storms. In some areas it was white-out conditions! The only thing open in Wichita was an Ihop for dinner & then we stayed at the Hyatt. The night was a rough one, as someone was up every half hour.

We stopped at McDonald's & Winchell's for breakfast before heading out & drove for what seemed like FOREVER!!! The weather in Oklahoma was beautiful, but the roads had 3-4 inches of snow packed ice on them, & cars all over the side of the roads, so we were grateful for staying in Wichita & not trying to push through. We drove with our 4-wheel drive turned on from Colorado all the way to Dallas, where it had snowed the night before. Crazy weather! It was only supposed to be 16 hours from Denver to Houston, but it took us 18. It was also supposed to be in the 60's but it was only in the 50's.

Wednesday, December 23, 2009

December Happenings

We had such a fun but busy month of December! 'Tis the season I guess. It started out with a wonderful piano recital where Murph showed off her talent; then Ryan's work party where the theme was Mulan Rouge. I even got one dance out of him!! We took the kids to breakfast & to see Santa & his reindeer, & even got a fun hayride out of it. When replying to Santa's "what do you want for Christmas?" they all looked at mom for help! I guess we do the Santa thing simply for the photo op. And maybe for something to do out of the ordinary?
Andrea took the girls to see the Nutcracker but forgot her camera. Great performance, but chilly night. We also saw our little Diva perform in a school Christmas play, which will be posted later. Still trying to figure out the whole download thing!! Until then ...
Family Hayride

Rare moment of love while waiting for the hayride


Traditional photo with Santa. Apparently, they need new jeans!

Santa's Reindeer


We took the kids to a place called Toast for breakfast. Who can resist oreo pancakes?
Little Man was in Heaven!

We couldn't believe he ate the whole thing! Well, he had a little help!


Ryan's Work Christmas Party
"Casanova"

Piano Recital