Thursday, December 29, 2022

Getting into the holiday season

 As soon as we returned from Costa Rica, we jumped right into the holiday season!


Just me and the boys made it to the Grinch this year.











Such a handsome dude. Melt my heart. 



Got the tree!







While me and the boys were in Denver, Josh took Emmy and her friends to dinner at PF Changs and to the Christmas celebrations at the mall. Best dad ever!




I love that he will still wear Santa tshirts to school


We drove to look at Christmas lights one night on the way to pick up Emmy from gymnastics. We go to the same neighborhood every year - they do it up, Santa even comes for a visit! So naturally, we hopped out of the car for a picture :)




I volunteered in Owen's class when they made gingerbread houses. I've done that every year with all three of them.


O-dog killed his first kindergarten performance. He stood front and center and performed his little heart out - it was the best!







Josh and I went to our friend's annual Christmas party which was actually my third of the weekend! Lots of ladies parties which I felt honored to be a part of :)




The next day I made everyone hike through the canyon to get the car we left the night before. It was only a little over 2 miles and took an hour. Many tears to start but everyone had fun in the end. Haha.




The first week of Christmas break felt a lot like the first week of quarantine. Us trying the work and get organized for Christmas while the kids were bored!


Our annual day at the ice skating rink! I took 6 kids and no one got hurt = success!









SomiSomi ice cream = perfect way to end the day.









Denver 2022

 Me and the boys squeezed in a quick trip to Denver to see the O'Connell's and the Lemoine's and meet sweet Michael. It was a quick trip but worth every second. We got some quality time at Julie/Dan's and Marc/Kristen's playing inside and exploring the neighborhoods. No surprise, Owen was obsessed with holding Michael, well, we all were :) And Ronan is an athlete in the making and Ferne the sweetest with the best imagination ever. It was so fun we thought maybe we could make it an annual trip!

On another flight - this one seemed so easy!


He has been waiting to hold a real, new born baby forever!



The elf jammies just make the whole thing - haha


Oh how I miss those new born snuggles!





Ro-ro!


Best basement ever - Ryan was so impressed with Ronan's basketball skills!




Such a natural with kids of all ages





Christmas cookies time!









This park was so cool




Then we headed over to Ferne's neck of the woods!

Owen built a log cabin with Marc


Meanwhile, Ferne took care of Ryan at the doctor's office




If you could believe it, it was the same temperature in Denver as it was in SD! 








Closest thing they came to, to sledding.






Wash park is so pretty!



Ferne is quite the artist!



Kristen did such a good job of taking pictures she wasn't in half of them! Next time, we rotate!





A little after dinner dragon slaying session.




She took him down - victory face.


Ryan couldn't believe Julie handed Michael to him while he was standing! I told him he shows everyone how responsible he is :)







Until next year!