WILD LIGHTS!!

Zack was soooo excited to go to the Denver Zoo for Wild Lights!!
So, I guess I needed to get a little closer, those are my 4 kids standing in front of the gorilla lights.

Here they are!! It was sooo freezing cold, we all bundled up, and had hand warmers in our pockets. I don't know why this picture came out so dark, but I wasn't going to try to take another one, it was toooooo cold!!

He LOVED all the lights!! And he had it easy, riding in the wagon, lucky kid!

She was snug as a bug, too.

This is definitely our favorite thing to do. Christmas has officially begun, all the lights and caroling around the zoo kicks off the season for us. Our shopping is done, so now we can focus on family. I am going to try to bake sugar cookies, I will make my chex muddie buddies, (Jordan's favorite) and whatever else I feel like whipping up.

I LOVE CHRISTMAS!!

December Family Project

Emily's project this month was to make a family "banner" of sorts to show the traditions that our family enjoys during the holiday season.

Remember that family projects are supposed to include everyone, well it did this month.

Everyone traced and cut out their own hands, and on their left hand wrote their name and age, (except mom and dad) and on their right hand wrote their favorite tradition.

It is hard to read from the picture, (it was too big to scan) but every one's favorite tradition in our house is going to the Zoo Lights!!

We have been going to Zoo Lights since Jordan could barely walk. That is 12 years!!

HOLY COW!!

It is truly the best thing that we do together this time of year.

I love the way our "banner" turned out. It resembles a Christmas Tree built from our hands.

Just the way our family has been built from a small flimsy 3' pathetic 'charlie brown' tree when Todd and I first married, with NO decorations, to the beautiful 7' pre-lit covered with hand-made, child-like memories from each of my babies. Nothing matches, but each one special.

When my babies leave me to be on their own, you can bet that their tree will not be bare. Their ornaments will go with them to share with their families, on their trees. Hopefully we will be able to go to Zoo Lights still and keep our favorite family traditions going.

It's Broken...

Yep... Ty broke his pinkie finger.

This morning Ty and Jo were wresteling in the dining room. You know how boys are, arguing over something, and when Ty fell, he landed on his hand wrong.
He has to wear his cast for a while, ice it, they gave him a prescription for vicodin, I don't know if I will fill that, I want to see if ibuprophen will help the pain first.

Jordan is sorry, they made up, had a long talk with Mom & Dad, and Jo will be doing Ty's chores for quite some time.

Ty broke his finger thru the growth-plate, at the base of his finger. He will have to go see a hand specialist in a few days to assess the damage and there is a possibility of surgery, to put a pin in his finger, so it grows correctly.

It was bound to happen eventually with two boys so close in age and so very different.

Jo's eyes are a little red as he felt sooo bad for the accident. I think the boys will be getting a long better from now on.

Decorating Outside

Todd & Jo strung the ice-cycle lights around the house.

We need to get more to go across the top.

The GIANT Santa stands out front. He is so fun.

This is what we have done so far, I think we need more lights. I want to put candles in the windows, (the plastic light-bulb ones), and candy-canes across the front porch.

We will see.

Trimming the Tree...

Our new house got TONS of decorations this season.

I bought a pre-lit tree last year (after the holidays for 75% off!!)
It is soooo pretty!!

The kids hung all the ornaments on the bottom branches.

I had to rearrange some of them.

But in the end, we had a BEAUTIFUL tree.

I Am Thankful...

Aunt Roxanne brought sugar cookies to decorate. Zack LOVED it, the sugar high lasted about 2 hours!! So much fun.

Pie in the face.
Brynna got him back.
Paybacks Uncle Todd!!


See... Pie in the face. Uncle Todd told her that you cant "smell" the whip cream. She fell for it, and he smashed her face into the pie.
Oh, Uncle Todd.

Making the ornament-of-the-year.
Little cork reindeer.
Great job, Ty & Brynna!!

Playing outside in the cold. Em & AB are best buds.

Hi Great Grandma!!
Typical Boys... Football must be on.
Grandma & Grandpa had the day off, we ate at MY house this year!!
TONS of room for everyone!!
And a Kids table.

Jordan Made Us Dinner!!

He had to cook a 3 course meal for his final in Home Ec. at school. He Made Noodle Stir-Fry, Noodle-Rice Pilaf and Pumpkin Muffins w/ Chocolate Chips!!

I was VERY impressed at his knowledge of the Kitchen. Although it dosen't look impressive, it was tasty!! Everyone enjoyed it and even ate seconds!! The Pumpkin Muffins were my favorite. I am so proud of him. I may NEVER have to cook again! I've got Todd and Jordan, now. I am Spoiled.

Make a Smilebox scrapbook

Halloween Night...

~ Ty's Pumpkin ~
~ Jordan's Pumpkin ~

~ Zack & Emily's pumpkin ~
The Ghost was just for fun!!

Brynna -Gangsta' Girl - she had 'bling' but must have taken it off, I'm sure she didn't want to "show-off" ha,ha,ha.

AB - Zombie Train Engineer - He came up with that on his own. He is the cutest!!

Alice - Pretty Bones - she had necklaces on and a cute bow in her hair. So adorable!!

So my sisters and their kids came over to Trick or treat our new neighborhood. Brynna, AB and Alice went out with the kids and Todd, Jeremiah and Pat. Roxanne went too, and Stacey and I stayed home to pass out candy. Sadly, we didn't get too many kids come to our house. However our kids came back with their bags FULL!!

Then we went to see Grandma and Pa-Pa and called it a night.

I woke up this morning to Zack with the chocolate evidence all over his face. Yes, he had already tore into his bag and was eating as much as he possibly could.

OMG - it will be a rough couple of days, then all the candy will somehow be "ALL-GONE"!!
HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!

Trick or Treat

My Crazy Kids
Zack is a Bat

Emily is Gabriella from High School Musical. Although
I am sure Gabriella didn't wear Hot Pink socks with her pretty white dress in HSM2!!

This is Ty. He is the guy from the video game, 'Halo 3' I guess he is called Master Chief.
What do I know.

I hope this isn't a look into the future.

He is a good boy know, lets hope he stays that way.