Christmas Day! MERRY CHRISTMAS!

We had the wonderful opportunity to STAY HERE in Denver for Christmas this year!  Well, that is, we stayed in Denver until Christmas afternoon and the kids were just getting into playing with their toys, and then we hopped into the car and headed to Utah!  But it was SO much fun to be able to be here to open their presents and stuff.  They played and played and played- that is for sure!  We had so much fun. But let me back up a little bit!  We did lots of fun stuff before that. The month of December was PACKED, but unfortunately, we don't have tons of pictures, because my camera was out of batteries, and I couldn't find the charger. Then finally on Christmas Eve, I found the charger, and life was good again.  We went to the Botanical Gardens at Chattfield and saw their Christmas lights, we did the BOX each day (which the kids REALLY look forward to), ate lots of yummy food, took cookies/treats to people that we home/visit teach and a few of our neighbors and watched ALOT of Christmas shows!  WOW did we watch alot of Christmas shows. I was NOT very prepared for Christmas this year, and bit off a BIT more than I could chew in the craft/homemade gifts department, so we spent alot of time at home crafting and watching Christmas shows.  The kids were totally down with that, so i don't feel quite so guilty. 
    Christmas Eve has always been a really big deal to Cole and I, and this year did not disappoint.  It was SO much fun!  It was SUPER warm for most of the month of December, so we were able to actually go to the park and take the dog for a little walk and ride our bikes!  WHAT!  On Christmas Eve?!!?  It was so much fun though! We went to Wash Park which is pretty close to our house and biked around for a little bit, and then played on the swing set for a LONG time!  The kids had a blast, and it was fun to be able to get out and do stuff.  Then we came home and had our special fondue dinner.  We tried broth this year again.  I've tried it before, and didn't think that it was super yummy, but this year I spiced the broth all up and it was TO DIE FOR!  WE gobbled up so much food! The kids really loved the jell-o- of course- and we ate until we were about to pop.  Then the kids found the box- which was full of new Christmas Jammies- and we started the nights festivities.  We decorated pieces of paper to put on the couch so Santa would know where to leave the loot, we read Christmas stories (Cole is the BEST husband EVER and got me two new Christmas books. The Polar Express (which I have been wanting SO bad for the 7 Christmas's we've had together and just never bought) and the Limited Edition Charlie Brown Christmas.  Both are SOOO cute, and I am so glad that he bought them for me.  He knows the way to my heart, that's for sure!  After we read the Polar Express, we got out the carousel and told the Christmas Story from Luke 2.  The kids actually listened pretty well!  

Bread anyone?

Ready for the PARTAY!

THIS is what Lincoln had for dinner.  He feasted on 3 helpings of Jell-o!  Cant beat that!

What 3 year old likes shrimp!?  Payton does!  Holy smokes this kid can put it away!

Pretty smoggy shots because of the cooking pot (and the lens might be a bit dirty:) )

New Christmas Duds!

Showing all the jammies off together.  Isn't that the best shot of all three?!

Year of the Superhero!  Superman Jammies and Spiderman Slippers.

Enjoying the nativity

Reading from the "family bible" which he now calls it! :)  Silly Cole.

    Cole and I stayed up way to late helping Santa out and watching It's a Wonderful Life. Well, when I say we, I mean I.  Cole snored through the whole thing! Silly guy.  Christmas morning was SO much fun!  We had the best time ever.  The kids were opening presents for like 2 or 3 hours!  We didn't want to rush them at all, so they played and played in-between each present.  It was completely the year of the superhero!  The boys got SOOO much superhero/play guy stuff.  They love the makebelieve stuff with good guy/bad guy role play and play it all day!  So they were in HEAVEN!  Morgan got a few really cute toys that she played with all day.  She loved them!  Cole and I got some great stuff from Santa as well.  I LOVE LOVE LOVE Christmas, and this one was just as magical. 

Waiting to see if Santa came!

Checkin out the loot!  The light saber's were a BIG hit.

LOVIN the new zoo toy

Opening the Toy Story toys.

NOT looking at the camera because we are too excited to open and play with our toys.

Morgs got a new walking toy that she isn't quite into yet, but she will be excited...trust me. :)

The TJ...Cole LOVES getting pictures for Christmas, and these ones did the job!

   After we played with our fun stuff for a few hours, we packed up the car and headed to Utah.  The drive was really great, and we didn't have any problems, and we made it to Richmond just wonderfully!  More to come...