Merry Christmas and to all a good night

Well, I am getting ready in about half an hour to wake the little ones to prepare for Midnight Mass (the moment we look forward to every year). But we started the evening with the best Christmas presents -- Nana and Aunt Katie put together photo albums for each child and Nana says she wants each one to come over at the end of the year and do another page with her. Then we had Chinese food with Nana, Katie, Blue Truck, Aunt Nancy, and Uncle Ed. We returned home and put everyone to bed. Then I decided to decorate Jesus' Birthday cake as I really don't like to do those while the kids are hovering. And guess what I backed up the sink rinsing RED icing off of dishes. (I am very grateful for a loving and understanding husband -- although at that point I was just glad I had a husband.) So some pictures to remember the evening by:

Living by family

This past May we moved back home to Colorado. One of the biggest reasons was to be by family. My parents bought a home here last year but my mom's family lived here as well. This past Oct. her last sister moved back to Colorado. So now we are all here (except my sister -- someday).

Saturday was my aunt Nancy/Godmother's birthday. The whole family went to our favorite pizza place, Fargo's.

My Grandpa Bill (Mom's dad) who turned 90 in Oct.

My Uncle Billy (he prefers Bill and I prefer Jenni but am Jennifer to him-- it goes both ways), my mom's brother.

My aunt Margaret, my cousin--her son Patrick (behind her), and Uncle Ed (Aunt Nancy's husband)

My Aunt Nancy (the birthday girl, she nor Aunt Margaret like to be in pics) and Grandpa.

Uncle Billy and DG! Uncle Billy doesn't mind pics.

Grandma Ethel, Grandpa Bill, and Uncle Billy.

My mom, dad, husband and kids all went but somehow remained out of pictures!

Peter's Birthday

Well another great thing about living around family is they all join you for celebrations. We had a lasagna dinner and dragon cake and ice cream for dessert. Great Aunt Nancy, Great Uncle Ed, Great Uncle Billy, Cousin Patrick, Aunt Katie, Nanna, and Blue Truck all joined us.

My dad (Blue Truck) recminising about Fruit Roll ups. The ones that say "lick here".

Aunt Katie, Uncle Billy, Nanna, Blue Truck, Aunt Nancy and Cousin Patrick chipped in on various aspects of the western costume.

One of the realitives asked if it was ok to get him a rifle. I said, "Why not? He turns every other toy in the house into a gun."

Two Weeks with Grandma and Grandpa H -- in pictures

Mommy and Daddy alone in a picture? Has that happened since the wedding?
Garden of the Gods -- she loves rocks

Her digs after shopping trip with Grandma

the only picture with a grandparent in it and PG made him look silly (and Grandma took the picture) :-)

Bishop's Castle: One man in southern CO is building this castle. It is near a cabin (we got to spend the weekend at) that Blake's aunt and cousins built and own.

More Castle -- this guy Jim Bishop was a rod iron artisan in Pueblo

DG and his cousin -- ok well it is Blake's cousin's son (but I don't know what that makes him to DG so we just call him his cousin)

DG, RA (superstar), N, and H (two out of the three cousins)

So what else did we do? Shopping, Cave exploring, hiking at the Garden of the Gods, playing lots of board and card games, ate lots of good food, spent a weekend at the cabin... Had so much fun. Wish Grandma and Grandpa lived closer. They are gone for a week to visit more grand kids. They will be back for 5 days (Halloween included)!