Christmas Light

In Downtown Englewood there is a house that we try to go to every year. The owners for all out. It is fun to see the changes each year and we love to see our favorite too.

10 years and Counting

December 17th was Tyson and my 10 year anniversary. The following Friday we ditched the kids and went out for dinner. We went to a little Italian place Tyson knew about. The funny thing about the place is.... Tyson girlfriend from High School is the one that told him about this place. He went there alot with her.... After I ate the food I knew why. Sooooo Good. We waited over and hour to be seated. It was a small place of only about 20 table. I guess the best way to describe the food would be authentic home style Italian/ comfort food.

Excellent appetizer of Calamari. I'm really not a seafood fan but I will eat calamari every once and awhile and this was some of the best I have had.

Tyson's plate of awesomeness.

Ann's plate of yummieness. Under the sauce is Chickenbreast and asparagus.

Grandma's Tree

A few weeks I decorated Grandma Great's Christmas tree. She wanted something new so I made all paper ordimantes. I also put paper snowflake on her mirrors and some on her walls and windows. It turned out really nice. She wants to keep them all for next year but they are only paper; I do not think they would be worth it. It reminds me of an old time Christmas before every one had fancey glass bulbs.

My Brother Abe

Abe moved home this last weekend. He will be living with us for a few weeks. It is so good to have him around for awhile.
This is Abe old house downtown Denver. Taydom and Vilate helped Grandma take the moving truck back. They thought it was the greatest thing to ride in the big moving truck.

Cookie exchange

Yesterday my freind hostested a Cookie exchange. It was so fun. I made 10 dozen pepermint butter balls and came home with all of this. I only got the kitcken dirty once and got all my cookies gifts done fast. Thanks Megan, I had a great time.

Parade of lights

Saturday Night we rode the Light Rail downtown to see the Parade of lights. Every year around the beginning of December, one of Denver news channels hosts and Parade of floats all decorated in Holiday lights. I had never gone down to watch it before and so we were all excited to go. It was a great night to be out, about 45 degrees. We had dinner on the 16th Street Mall and met up with some friends to watch the Parade.

Vilate and Lexi

Taydom and Levi

Santa at the end of the Parade.

Friends Megan and Paul.

The kids zonked out on the Light Rail on the way home. The late night and all the excitement on the parade just wore them out.

Home Depot

A few days ago I was at Home Depot with Grandma looking for the last few thing she need with her bathroom remodel. While I was there I notice they offered kid workshops. I've heard about them from others but never really looked into them. Last Saturday Home Depot had a kids workshop. The kids made an art easel. They had the best time. Home Depot had all the tools and supplies for free, all you do is show up. Our local Home Depot's kids workshops are the first Saturday of the month for 9 to 11 am. We will be back next month.

The Nativity

For the past 6ish year the Littleton Stake and other church in the area start the Christmas season with a Creche Festival. It would be the next Thursday -Sunday after Thanksgiving. Hundreds and Hundreds of nativity would be set up in the church for all to come see. There were wonderful musical number in the chapel too. Many of the Nativities would be from other countries. Someone could spent more then 2 hours or more looking at all the Nativities and not see them all. I like to start the Christmas season by going and taking the family.

This year they changed it. They only had a few Nativities sets (maybe 50). The major focus was on the theater performances acting out the story of Christ birth. It was a nice combination of music and acting. I really enjoyed it, and wish my kids could see it. (they were home sick this year.) My cousin Austin was Joseph. He did a great job. The spirit was very strong; a wonderful way to help remember the true reason for Christmas.

I have the best Hubby

This December 17th is Tyson and my anniversary. We will be marry for 10 years. Wow! We are old! We have plans to go the restaurant were he prepossed to me. I am really looking forward to it.

About the bag.....2 summer ago I bought my first Vera Brady bag and just fell in love with it. (They are very popular in New England.) It has tons-o- pockets to put things in and tone-o-room for everything else. I just love it. The colors of my first bag are very summery and I did not think I could use it in the winter and so I put it away and pull out an older winter bag. HATED IT! Tyson told me to go buy another one for winter but I could not find a fabric I liked so I never got one. (I'm a little picky) When summer came around I was so happy to pull out my Vera Brady bag again. I just love it so much. Well, summer is over and it is again winter and I pulled out me old winter bag to use. Tyson again told me to go buy another bag but I'm not is Boston any more and they are no where to be found. I had concluded in my mind that I was not ever going to have a winter bag I liked. And so it went on until one day I was shopping with Grandma and found a very similar style bag in a home decorating shop. It had winter colors and would do but.... I was not in love with it and so I decided to wait and think about it. That night I told Tyson about it and wanted to show it to him. He said he would go with me that weekend and so the day went on. A few days later I was digging thought my older winter bag saying some unkind things about how I could not find things and how much I hated it. Tyson handed me a white box and told me to open it. I asked what it was and he said it was my anniversary gift. I told me it was not for at least another week and he insisted I open it now. Guess what was inside. THIS BAG! I could not beleive it. "Were did you find it?" I yelled. A few weeks ago he had been up north were his parents live and was shopping with his mom. He had been hiding it for at lest a month. It is the newest fabric and I LOVE IT!



Oh... by the way. Did I mention I have the best husband? He is so kind and very thoughtful.

Here is a photo of my summer bag.

Gingerbread Houses

Every December we make Gingerbread house. The kids LOVE it. It is so fun to watch them create something. We save mostof our Halloween candy to use. It a good way to help the kids to not want to eat all their candy. This year we put the house together Tuesday night and decorated it Wednesday morning. The kids had a late start Wednesday and did not have to be at school until 10:30. With getting homework, dinner and baths done there was not time to allow the kids to really be creative without rushing it. I was so glad for the late start day. It worked out great.

Green Eggs and Ham

One of our favorite books is Dr. Green Eggs and Ham. The kids have loved it scene they were very little. They love to act it out. They will take turns being Sam and the the other guy. Some time I have got to get it on video.



Over a month Taydom has wanted me to make Green Eggs and Ham. So I've look for a recipe but no such luck. The other night I did not want to cook so I pulled out the easiest thing to make.....scrambled eggs. I dropped a few drops of green food coloring in the eggs and chopped up some ham lunch meat. Ta Da! Green Eggs and Ham! Taydom was so happy!

Playing in the Snow

Saturday night we got a snow storm, and so after church Sunday the kids got on their winter gear and headed outside. They tried to make a snowman but the snow was to dry it did not pack together. So they made snow angles and just had a great time rolling around and playing. Ofcourse there was hot chocolate and cookies once they came in. Maybe I'm getting old but I don't like to be cold and out in the snow too much any more, but I remember loving the snow when I was younger.