Decorating the Christmas Tree

Dec. 13, 2010. Well, we finally got around to decorating the Christmas Tree. This year my pre-lit tree gave me quite some problems. I got it out of the box and put it together and plugged it in only to have patches around the tree not lit-up. Then after replacing about forty bulbs over the course of two days, I finally got it completely lit-up. Although, my tree was lit with all white lights it now has colored lights in all the places I replaced bulbs. Yay, the tree was finally lit! Yeah, that lasted for about one night. I got up the next morning only to find that the boys had been playing with the bulbs on the bottom of the tree and it was missing lights. So after messing with lights again and spending about an hour I couldn't figure out why the I couldn't get the bottom two rows of branches to light up. Frustrated, I gave-up. When Adam got home from work he messed with it and checked about half of the bulbs. Then I tested the other half only to find that every bulb was working. So then I started to follow the wires and found a wire that had been completely cut! I was not happy at all! Not wanting to deal with it anymore I ran a string of colored lights around the bottom of the tree and called it good. The next day the kids and I decorated it. As crazy as it was trying to get the tree to look nice, I think we did an awesome job and the tree turned out beautiful. Adam even got me a lovely new angel for the top.

Coco With Santa & Hike to Miracle Rock

Dec. 11, 2010 Kids got to have hot chocolate and cookies with Santa who stopped to see the kids in our ward for a quick visit. Jaxton showed no fear and was the first of our kids to sit on Santa's lap. He also downed several cookies and a couple cups of chocolate. Austin had no problems telling what he wanted for Christmas even though I am not sure how much of it Santa understood. Kelseanja made a little list on a piece of paper, so Santa would know what she wanted. Makayla wrote Santa a poem which he read. Trenton got to meet Santa for the first time and didn't seem to mind the big white beard which may have gotten drooled on. I think Santa enjoyed holding him as well as a few other newborns in the ward. When Santa was done listening to all the kids and posing for hundreds of pictures he was off.

After we helped clean-up, we grabbed some lunch and headed for the hills. We found ourselves in Glade Park up in Colorado National Monument at a little picnic area near Miracle Rock (aka Potato Rock). We ate our lunch, then decided to find where this large rock was hiding. After all how hard could it be to find a huge rock anyway?

There were a few trails, but none of them was clearly marked, so we guessed. Just over 1/4 a mile later, hiking in the snow, we finally found the gigantic rock.






Of course we took pictures and played for a short while then headed back to the picnic area.



Where we found an arch-like overhang and took more pictures. For December, it was a nice warm day clocking in at almost 50 degrees. Can anyone say Heatwave?




For a spur-of-the-moment family outing, we had an enjoyable time. On the way home I took more pictures of the scenery as the kids watched "Tinkerbelle and the Great Fairy Rescue" for the second time that day, but this time in French. (That is what happens when there is only one movie in the van and Daddy is with us.) The funny part is that none of the kids realized it was playing in French for about fifteen minutes when Kelseanja finally pipped up saying: "Why can't I understand what they are saying?" Funny, funny. Even funnier, we left it in French and the kids didn't seem to mind.

Silly Time

Dec. 10 2010. Adam and Austin playing. I am sure Austin has no idea he is showing the 'loser' sign. Still hilarious!


Kelseanja asleep, Makayla sick, Jaxton being funny.

Trenton Enjoying His Toy Saucer

Nov. 29 2010 Trenton in his toy saucer for the first time. Also, him trying to put all his fingers in his mouth at the same time. So Cute!