For Terry

Thank you, Terry, for reminding me that I have a few eager readers who look forward to my posts!  

This Christmas was spent in Colorado, as usual.  It's a 2 day drive to get to CO, but the kids did very well.  Even little Lucy handled the drive fairly well.  We spent the first week in the Springs.  Half the family was sick and it was really cold, so we spent a lot of time inside together, enjoying each others company and distributing hand sanitizer.  

We did get out one day when everyone was feeling at least moderately healthy and the temps were up.  We had a great family hike and were able to get a full family photo.   

Grandma and Granddad certainly enjoyed having all five grandkids together.

We kind of feel like we're still raising Colorado kids, or trying to at least.

Little Lucy baby!  She turned 10 months old on Christmas day.  While we were in CO, she really started getting around quickly by scooting on her bottom.  She's still not excited about crawling.  Why bother?  When she scoots on her bottom, she can get where she wants to go and see where she's going.  She also said her first word, and it was.... Mama!!  I finally have a baby who uttered my name as their first word.  So fun!  She also started eating more finger foods - including Pa's black-eyed peas on New Years, which she loved.  The most challenging part of the trip for Lucy (well, for me) was that she started waking about every hour for attention/nursing/snuggles.  We're in night-waking detox now, though, and we're slowly making progress.

Pedicures a la Grandma -

Noelle LOVES the book Stripes, and she asked to read it at least 3 times/day for the whole week.

Once Elliot got over his pink eye, the cousins were able to hold him -

Tallon Christmas morning -

One of our yummy meals was pheasant, biscuits and gravy.  Roxanne was explaining to Isaiah was a pheasant was as she was cutting his meal into pieces.  His response was, "If it is such a pretty bird, why are we cutting it up?"   Ha!  He'll have a lot to learn about hunting in TX.
He sort of graduated to the big table, but the girls were happy to have their little space.

It feels like Noelle was just in this little Christmas dress and bow.  I blinked and suddenly it was Lucy's turn.  Can anyone tell me how I can slow time down?  Just a little?  

Our almost 4 year old got her own camping chair.

And Isaiah got an alien autopsy kit, which he was SO excited about.  Here are the kiddos getting ready to taste the alien eyeballs they had made -

On Christmas day, we headed up to Denver for part 2 of our Colorado Christmas.  Here's the whole group ready for stockings and presents!  Again, Mimi and Pa were thrilled to have all the kids and grandkids together!

Lucy warmed up to Uncle David right away -

Noelle got lipstick in her stocking "for special days."  Since she got it, she's asked almost daily whether each day is a "special day."

We all loved getting to meet and snuggle (and point at) baby Annelise!

The kids finally got a little snow time at the end of the trip.

The snow wasn't ideal for snowman building, but the kids improvised and made a mound man - 

One evening, we had girls' night, including a "girls' bath" for Aubryn and Noelle.  They had such a good time together!

Pa, David, Luke and Isaiah were having at least as much fun at a Nuggets/Lakers game!!

Sisters with our 2012 daughters!

Lucy got to experience snow for the first time.

She would have stayed out and scooted around on the snow for a lot longer than I could have.  I may be a Colorado girl at heart, but I'm not used to the cold anymore!

In addition to all of the fun above, we -
- celebrated birthday night for David/Noelle/Me
- celebrated Aubryn's 2nd birthday with a Mickey party
- had our 10th anniversary!!  We went out for breakfast in the Springs and then for sushi in Denver.  Luke gave me some beautiful garnet jewelry, and I bought him a daffodil painting for our new house.  Daffodils are the 10th anniversary flower, and they symbolize endurance, strength, and happiness.  We have vivid memories of the daffodils in Scotland that popped up each spring after long, cold, dark winters, so we can definitely relate to the perseverance of that sturdy yellow bloom!
- watched lots of football
- browsed real estate websites for our Longview house
- watched a few movies
- celebrated New Years.  Like last year, we woke up Isaiah to ring in the New Year (at his request) with a countdown and a glass of sparkling juice
- drove home with eyes to appreciate the beauty that drive affords.  It is the last time we'll make the CO to CA drive for a very long time!

When we got home, Isaiah looked in the fridge and remarked that he'd never seen our fridge so empty. It nearly brought me to tears because it's true.  He's never had an empty fridge, or a cold night, or a birthday/holiday without an abundance of family/love/gifts/food.  We are incredibly blessed to have had these last few weeks to celebrate and enjoy our family and so many gifts  We have enjoyed abundance in every way.  May we go forward into 2013 with eyes that are open to see need around us, minds that are fixed on Him, and hearts that are willing to serve.