White Christmas in Longmont

 We went to mass at 6pm in Lyons on Christmas Eve and just as we came out it started snowing. This is how our house looked on Christmas morning after we shoved the driveway and the sun came out. As you can see the driveway is almost dry already. They say that only 13% of the time does it snow here on Christmas. I guess we are lucky we got a white Christmas on our 2nd year in Colorado.

 Here is our tree with presents around it. Not too bad for being a "lean" year.

 Here is the view from our side yard looking down the street. The snow is so pretty.

Looking down from upstairs at our Christmas table. It's so nice having more space in this house.

Christmas with Grandsons

 The boys with their new blankets from Auntie Candace and the plate they are leaving for Santa.

 The Kirkland's had a great "Charlie Brown" tree that Nathan and the boys cut down in the woods.

 Grant got his own "Ninjago" watch from the Faulkner's---he loves it!!

 Carsten with his "fake" magic wand from Santa.

 We got Grant a tool box full of real tools and some wood he can use to practice with.

Carsten got a real microscope so he can be on his way to being a scientist.

Longmont Christmas Parade

 It was VERY cold with a chance of snow but we bundled up in long johns, jackets, mittens, beanies, wool socks and boots and went to watch the parade. We brought popcorn to keep the boys busy while we waited. Grant loved cuddling under a blanket with grandpa.

 Here's what Carsten thinks of the waiting..... Both boys were very good sports.

 My company "Wright Kingdom Real Estate" was at the beginning of the parade since we were the main sponsor of the fireworks. Below the boys are happy to be back at our house showered up and ready for bed. They fell asleep in their sleeping bags on our living room floor 5 minutes after I told them good night!! (Grant is wearing his "Ninja" pajamas.)

Christmas Cookies

I had the boys over last weekend to make Christmas cookies. I had pre-made the cut-out sugar cookies and the boys got to help mix up 6 colors of frosting.

 We had to do a lot of mixing and adding powdered sugar to get just the right consistency.

 Grant is wearing the Christmas apron that my grandma Ames made for our girls. Carsten insisted on one that didn't look like a "girl" apron. They did a great job decorating the cookies!

 Then we made my grandma Dunivent's sugar cookie recipe where you roll the dough into balls, dip them in colored sugar and then bake them. Carsten got bored and let Grant take over. Grant really enjoyed rolling the balls and was very good at making them the same size. Rena said his teachers at pre-school say his favorite thing is doing the housekeeping jobs. He will make someone a good husband some day!!  It's pretty cute considering what a tough boy he can be.

Chritmas Time is Here

 Posing in front of our beautiful Christmas tree, all dressed up and ready to go to my work Christmas party (except my shoes which killed my feet all night). The party was at the owners house in Boulder and it was a lot fun visiting with agents and staff members.

 Here are some of our decorations...the Santa bank that mom and dad got us in Mexico when the girls were little. and the mugs and plate from Donna and Ed Farnum.

This is the nativity scene that we bought for my mother-in-law many years ago. She always loved it and now we are enjoying it.

Last Thanksgiving Pictures

 We spent Thanksgiving day at Nathan's cousins house in Ft. Collins. Mike and Ryka have two Great Danes. The kids were AMAZED by them!!  Look how big this dog is next to Ms Charlie!

 Grant decided to stand back just a bit until he checked them out.

 Here are the cousins watching a movie together. Mike and Ryka cooked an delicious Thanksgiving feast of prime rib, deep fried turkey AND beer-can chicken PLUS all the trimmings!!

The Saturday after Thanksgiving we had Robin, Ross, Ross' parents (Don and Mary) and the Engasser family (Candace's best friend from Corona and her husband and daughters) over for dinner at our house.

 That's Laney, Robin, Carsten, Candace, Grant, Daphene and Charlie above.

And here are Ross, Don, Mary, Rena and Robin and Ross' friend Sam. It was SUCH a joy having a full house!!  The kids had a blast playing outdoors and the adults had a blast inside, eating and drinking and chatting up a storm. We loved getting to know Ross' parents and visiting with Becky and Johnny and their girls.

More Fun With Grandkids

 Making bead necklaces--all the kids loved doing this.

 Even Laney was able to string her own beads on the string.

 Then grandpa and the kids made a cinnamon roll Christmas tree.

 Here are Grant and Charlie watching TV together...Grant better wake up!

And Miss Charlie cuddling with a rock in our yard.

Thanksgiving Turkeys

 Candace helped the kids make these cut turkey hats.

 Silly turkeys!

 And now the turkeys have a snack outside...

and play follow the leader.

Here they are with their hats and their necklaces.