Yay for Christmas visitors!

This Christmas was how I always dreamed it should be like.  Lots of family visiting from out of town, all the kids together opening presents, a few trips to the sledding hill, lots of people in the kitchen making food!
   My parents came for a week from Ohio, my sister and her family came from Massachusetts, and my other sister came from Staten Island, NY.  We went up to Breckenridge one day and walked around and rode up the gondola, we went sledding down a huge hill up the street, we saw the lights at the farms at Chatfield (which next year we will be more prepared for the cold!!), we had my grandpa and Aunt & Uncle over for a nice lunch, we went into Denver and walked around downtown and had a yummy dinner at a tapas place.  I just wish everyone was still here.

Making cookies Christmas Eve

Aunt Erin preparing the cookies

Joey got into the fun, that's flour on her nose

All the grandkids in their Christmas jammies

The presents overflowed into the room

Tebowing! Actually he's catching his breath after pulling up Riley & Ella on sleds

Christmas time is here

The first week of December we found a local nursery to pick out our Christmas tree.  It didn't take long, it was freezing outside! They tied it to the roof of our car, which I had to take a picture.  When we lived in WA we just went down the street to the tree farm and carried it home.   This past weekend we went downtown Littleton and had the kids see Santa, it was free so we didn't get the best pictures as in years past, but the kids had fun.  Owen cried as soon as I handed him to Santa, he was not happy with this weird guy with the beard.  Riley was shy and quiet and hardly said a word.  Ella however was smiling, laughing, playing with his beard, touching his hat, and giving her list of things she wanted.  I don't know where that girl comes from.  Now we're just getting the house ready for all our visitors for Christmas!  Can't wait to have a house full of family.

Birthday, Thanksgiving, & Haircuts

I'll just put everything into one post since I'm a bit behind.  Ella turned 3!  She's a fun, energetic, center of attention little girl and I love her for being so outgoing.  We celebrated with grandparents the day after her birthday on Thanksgiving.  She asked everyday if it was her birthday yet and it finally was.

  My parents flew in from Ohio to spend 5 days with us over the holiday, it was so nice to have them here and see our new home.  My grandpa, aunts, & uncles also flew in and stayed in Arvada with my Aunt & Uncle.  They ended up coming over yesterday to check out our house too.  It's nice to finally be in a place where there is family. 

    Then I made the hard decision to cut Owen's long locks.  It was getting in his eyes so we took him to Jack & Jill's children's hair salon.  He was ok for the first 5 minutes, but when the hairstylist had to keep cutting he wasn't having it.  He cried and wanted out of there fast.  Now he looks like a little man, I really miss the curls so I think I'll be letting it grow in until I see them again :)

My attempt at making pilgrim hats with marshmellows and cookies 

First time bowling

Owen before

Owen after!

The big 6

Riley turned 6 this past Friday!  I can't believe it, she's such a big girl and is always very helpful at home.  She entertains Owen and keeps Ella busy for hours.  She loves kindergarten and is starting to read and write really well.  I can't believe the things she says sometimes, she seems so grown up already.  We had a birthday weekend for her, we celebrated at home on her b-day, went out to eat with Grandpa & Grandma Eberhard, and went to an indoor amusement park with her friends.  I'm exhausted, but we still have another birthday girl coming up in a week!

This was from when we got our flu shots, we got to meet the Colorado Rockies mascot 

Treats!

I went to Target for candy today fully expecting a ton of kids to bombard our house for Halloween.  I mean in Gig Harbor we probably got five kids every year.  What was completely shocking is that we got 0 kids here...as in zero, nada, no one!  When we went out with the kids in the neighborhood we thought we were the only ones walking around.  We eventually found some groups of kids out but it looked like a ghost town.  Yes, we are apparently in an older neighborhood.  All the kids that used to be here are in college and all grown up.  Oh well, the kids still got lots of candy and hopefully younger families will start moving in soon.  Happy Halloween!

Elmo Ella, 50's Greaser, & our Pink Pirate

Don't worry he didn't fall :)

Fall is in the air

Saturday morning we went out to a local park and picked out some pumpkins.  It was 85 yesterday and just beautiful.  Cool crisp mornings warming up throughout the day.  We went with my friend Kate, my college roommate, and her kiddos, Luke and Lilly.  I love fall, the leaves changing, hot apple cider, football games, Halloween....  

The kids

Since moving in we haven't been out much, mostly my fault because I want to get the house in order first.  But we did go to a friends birthday party at a local recreation center.  The girls got hooked up to this fly in the air contraption.  They had a blast.  And here of course is a picture of my baby who desperately needs a haircut, although I can't do it cause his hair is so cute!