Merry Christmas 2014!

 We were so excited to have Christmas here with Tim's family visiting this year. Aubrey flew in early on the Friday before Christmas. We had a weekend of fun events planned starting with archery at a nearby sports store. It was fun to test our skills (or lack of)!  Other events included lunch at the Duchanbe Tea House, shopping on Pearl Street, a holiday laser show at the Fiske Planetarium, and looking at Christmas lights. 

 

Grandma Diney and Grandpa Rod got here the following Monday, the next day, Ty gave them his gift, which was a ride on the Georgetown Loop Railroad Santa Train!  At first, Ty didn't even smile because he was so busy taking everything in. Eventually, he warmed up and just enjoyed the ride. We received delicious cookies on the train and Santa even stopped by and talked to Ty for a couple of minutes and gave him a bell.  Aubrey wasn't feeling well, so she and Tim stayed back.

After the ride, we detoured to Denver to visit the train store, then headed home.

Because it was Christmas Eve-Eve, we competed in my family's tradition of drink tasting.  We all picked fun drinks out then tasted and rated them. Even Ty got in on the action. After tasting, he would tell us if they were yummy or yucky. I have to say, some were "yummier" than others.

 Unfortunately, my choice for chocolate soda was not on the "yummy" list. The winner ended up being a Huckleberry Soda Grandpa Rod had picked out, with Ty's Orange Cream a close second. It was a fun end to a fun day.

I had organized a Jingle Jog/Walk with friends from the ward to get everyone out and doing something the morning of Christmas Eve. We had a good group turn up. Rod and Diney stayed back to make the cocoa, and the rest of us took off toward and around Harper Lake. It ended up being a beautiful morning! That afternoon, we all went to the movie "Penguins of Madagascar." It was only Ty's second movie in the Theater, and he was really good. The movie created a lot of laughs!

For dinner, we ate clam chowder and cornbread, then celebrated by discussing the nativity, singing Christmas carols, and opening one gift each. It was a nice evening.

 The next morning, Santa had come!  All Ty had wanted from Santa for a long time was a "Budo" dog and candy canes, but he accidentally saw a lego firetruck and quickly added that to the list. He was not disappointed on Christmas morning (but has since created a never ending list for Santa for next year).

 Grandpa Rod made this nice table for Ty for Christmas, and all gifts were quickly used.  We all got so many nice gifts. Ty enjoyed each and every one of them.   Ty was so spoiled by having his aunt and grandparents there. He loved the attention.

 

Christmas Season!

 Excited to have a two-year old for Christmas this year, I planned plenty of activities (one each day, to be exact), and we got to...most of them. Unfortunately, I didn't take as many pictures as I should have. Here we are at the Hammond's Candy Cane Festival (Santa goes there to pick up his candy canes before Christmas.) We met Ty's friend Elizabeth there.

 Greely Festival of Trees.  I liked the snowman and reindeer made out of logs:

 Ward Christmas Party:

 Up until very close to Christmas, we had really warm weather. It was nice to get outside (since it's been snowy and icy since!)

 

We even had fun after the snow fell!

 Ty's letter to Santa. He claims he was a good boy!

Thanksgiving in Georgia

 Tim had a conference in Atlanta the weekend before Thanksgiving, so we rounded up the Larsen's and all headed to his parents' cabin in the mountains of North Georgia. Ty and I flew there a few days after Tim, so I had the joy of flying alone with a two year old. He was pretty good, but the flight was during nap time and he didn't actually fall asleep until just before we landed. Oh well.

Our first night in Atlanta, we headed to Gladys Knight's Restaurant, Chicken and Waffles where we had, well, chicken and waffles. It was delicious!

Tim presented at his conference the next day, so the rest of us met up at the Georgia Aquarium along with some family friends, Seth and Sarah and their kids. Over all, there were 7 kids and 7 adults. We were quite the party.  Ty was scared of the aquarium when we went in Denver, so I was glad he had a good time.

 

Afterword, we headed up to the mountains. Grandma and Grandpa had so many cool toys set out, Ty was just in heaven.  He kept busy for hours in the basement, but also enjoyed all of the extra attention he received from the family.  While there, we celebrated Grandpa Rod's birthday! One of his gifts were these cute matching jammies Diney made! These are some happy kids (and grandpa)!

 Thanksgiving day was very cold. I had planned a turkey trot of sorts, but we decided to keep the activities close to home, so we set up some Turkey Games in and around the cabin. In this one, the kids had to get the acorns from one hanging bucket and put them into another bucket. They thought it was pretty fun.  We all helped with the big meal, and the feast was delicious!

 Family picture time.

 

  I have some talented relatives. DeAnne sewed these adorable Christmas PJ's. We spent a LONG time trying to get pictures, but these are the best we could get. It made for some laughs from the grandparents, at least.

 

 

The day after Thanksgiving, Diney threw me a "Pink Party" baby shower! Even the boys were invited. I got some really cute baby clothes that made me pretty excited to have a GIRL!

 On our last day in Georgia, Tim and I headed to Cloudland Canyon State Park to check out the scenery. It was so pretty, and quite different from what I am used to in the West. I loved all of the waterfalls and tropic-looking trees! Later that afternoon, we headed back to Colorado. It's always sad to leave family, but we were glad especially for Ty to spend some time with his Larsen cousins!