Santa!

This is the first year that Gracie and Ryker, well mostly Gracie, understood the idea of Santa and were excited to go see him.  As you can see, Ryker was a little suspicious of Santa and Mrs. Claus, but Gracie loved it!  After the picture she turned around and told Santa her list.  Once she had his attention she didn't want to stop.  He tried to say, "Ok, thank you," numerous times, but she wouldn't have it.  She had more things on the list she needed him to know.  The top three items are a monkey, stroller, and baby.  She told me this morning that she forgot to tell him she wanted a bathtub for her baby, "but he's smart so he knows."  

Decorating the Christmas Tree

The kids were so excited and helpful decorating this year! We turn the lights on first thing in the morning and they love showing them to everyone who walks in the door.

Thanksgiving

enjoying daddy's chex mix while laying in bed at the hotel

We had so much fun traveling back to Nebraska for Thanksgiving! We got to see lots of family, the kids traveled really well (thanks to Diego), and Ryker fell in love. We spent Thursday at the lakehouse eating tons of delicious food and playing games. Friday we traveled to Hastings to see Waid play basketball. (and of couse we squeezed in some swimming!) Saturday was more swimming and another Hastings College basketball game before traveling back to Pop's and Mimi's again. Waid played awesome! We are so proud of him and really enjoy watching him play! Sunday we rested up before making the trip back to Denver.

Ryker fell in love with Leslie. I've never seen him behave the way he did with her. He went right up to her and hugged her and wouldn't let go. He hasn't seen her for about a year so he must have been stunned by her beauty. It was so cute the way he kept going back to her throughout the day! I tried to capture a picture of him smooching her, but after about 20 attempts became frustrated. Mal captured the only picture of him actually kissing her, but I think the rest are super cute, also, and tell the story of his first crush.

My one regret of the weekend: no family picture!

pure exhaustion (driving home from hastings)

ryker learning bball from marcus




my little baller




he loved dribbling and screamed when it was time to go





superstar

Lindsey's Wedding

ryker chasing after griff

friends and cousins

ryker thinks ainsley is pretty, gracie thinks he's silly

cheesin' it up with lindsey

fancy gracie

First snow of the year!

All bundled up and having fun in the snow!!!

Carlee

chillin' in the chairs, i love this picture!

The puzzle master

We love Lincoln and Caleb so much!

Just another day at the Children's Museum . . .

Madagascar 2

Fantasy version of going to Madagascar 2 with the kids goes like this. We all sit in our seats at the movie enjoying our popcorn and drinks. No crying or having to whisper scold. We walk out of the movie happily holding hands.

Real version of going to Madagascar 2: I have no idea what this movie was about. I was so busy refilling drinks, refilling popcorn, changing poopy diapers, taking Gracie to go potty, and whisper scolding, which turned into not a whisper. I think the kids enjoyed the movie and I know Coleton enjoyed it, but, unfortunately, I did not. The kids ran screaming out of the theater and definitely were not under control.

Go, Ryker, Go!

Ryker is addicted to the show "Go, Diego, Go!" Coleton, Mal, and I think we are going to go crazy because it can get a little annoying. I'm sure it's the repetition of the show that Ryker loves, but we are sick of it. So if you want to win Ryker's heart, turn on Diego and be tortured.

I Love our family!

"I love our family!" Gracie said this to me the other night as we were laying in bed with Ryker and Coleton. Sweetest thing I've ever heard. We agreed with her.

These are the amazing pictures Mal took for this year's Christmas card. I will be using them for scrapbooking and framing purposes also. I can't wait!

A Witch and a Pirate