Goodbye 2011

We had a great year and are looking forward to what 2012 will bring.  We look forward to a year filled with family, friends, fun and of course lots of laughter!

Christmas Morning

The kids actually stayed in their beds until almost 7am this year.  Of course, I think they were awake before then but they did manage to stay quiet until close to the agreed upon wake up time!  Lots of presents to open and everyone was thrilled by their gifts.  As usual the kids made each other homemade gifts.  JP made the trio personalized hot cocoa mugs, Ryan made everyone bubble bath, Caitlin made mustaches & Madison made playdough.  We spent the day just relaxing and playing with toys.  Before bed, Madison and Caitlin started crying because they didn't want Christmas to be over and a few hours late JP did the same thing.  I think that means it was a success. :)

It begins!

 Opening stockings!

Opening gifts.  Ryan was so excited to show me what he got he pulled the camera away from my face!

 JP excited by his Harry Potter DVD collection Santa brought.

 A new Wii from Nana & Pa!

 JP trying out his homemade mustaches from Caitlin

 Madison testing out her new kitty piano from Santa

 JP & his haul

 Caitlin with gifts piled high.

 She loved the cupcake set from the Lees

 A new telescope from Grandmom & Pop!

The aftermath: 

Ryan trying to maneuver both a candy can & his new bike!

Christmas Eve

I did a really bad job taking photos on Christmas Eve.  We once again had Wigilia at our house with Carolyn & Paul, Jean, Sean & Anne and of course all the kids.  It was a great night and everyone had lots of fun.  The elves once again dropped off pjs for all the kids and they looked so cute in their Christmas red & white.  Many presents were opened and great food & company made the night even more special.

 George (3), Gus (1), JP (8), Caitlin, Madison, Ryan (3), Willa (3)

Eloise made a beautiful cake.

 At least the O'Reillys remembered to take a family photo!
 

 Present Time

 Madison operating on her polar bear with here new Bandaids and doctor kit from the O'Reillys

Ready for Santa!

Holiday Fun

Here's a bunch of photos I took right before Christmas.

12/4 We got an Elf on the Shelf!  The kids named him Roderick and were up early every morning to see where he moved overnight.  I absolutely loved this little guy.  He promoted good behavior & I never had to drag JP out of bed in the morning for school!

   
12/10 Trying to get the perfect Christmas Card shot!

A close 2nd

The winner!

12/11- My friend Kate hosted a Mother/Daughter Christmas brunch.  It was so fun & Santa even showed up!

 

12/17 Decorating cookies: I let the trio help decorate for the 1st time this year.  It was definitely an exercise in patience & there were sprinkles everywhere!

12/19 Annual Trip to Bass Pro & see Santa: No tears this year!

Playing with the trains.

Ryan in heaven.

Go Buffaloes!

Girls jeepin!

Telling Santa everything we want this year for Christmas:  JP- a telescope, Ryan- a Chuggington train, Caitlin- a magic wand & Madison- a kitty cat piano.

12/22 Snow!  It was a White Christmas- 9 inches fell a few days before.

 JP & Madison having fun

Two Holiday Shows

On the 12th we attended Park Hill United Methodist's preschool program and then followed it up 3 days later on the 15th with JPs.  Each class at the preschool sang a couple songs and we were out of there in about 20 minutes!  It was really cute, but we were in the big church and for some reason the acoustics were not the best so it was hard to hear.  I think the trio was a bit shell shocked performing in front of everyone, but they did great.
For JP's they did a musical play about Christmas at the OK Corral.  It was a cute story and all the kids were dressed up as cowboys.  JP was part of the crowd most of the time, but then did go to a group that did a special song as well.  The music was really catchy and everyone had a fun time.

 

Ready for the show!

Sorry the camera kept getting so blurry!

 

Cowboy Joe!

The Trio's 1st Field Trip

The trio took their first field trip to the Denver Firefighter's Museum.  They got to ride on the Preschool bus for the first time and Ryan was beyond excited.  When we first arrived, they showed the kids 2 short films on fire and fire safety.  That was it for Madison- she was so scared that a real fire would break out.  She spent the first part of the trip telling me she was sick and wanted to go home and then when she did calm down a toy fire alarm went off and she about jumped through her skin.  Actually out of all the kids there on Maddi and Ryan broke into tears when the bell went off.  I remember JP being scared of fire alarms too, so I guess it runs in the family!

Happy Guy on the Bus

 Ready to go in.

 

Miss Eboni holding firefighter Caitlin.

  Cool wall of patches.

Madison's favorite part of the day- getting back on the bus!  I love how they held hands as they walked.