Christmas in Farmington!

We had a great Christmas! Lots of snow, lots of food, lots of presents, and lots of family!

The boys started Christmas Eve early by heading out to snowboard with their cousins.
While the guys were gone, the grandmas got busy cooking in the kitchen!

Shane and I got a visit later that afternoon from our good friends Kevin and Jill Anderson. We definitely don't get to see them enough...they live in Arizona. Kevin and Shane grew up together, so we are lucky when Kevin and Jill are spending Christmas in Farmington the same year we are! Our kids love it too! They have a great time together!

Kari's family came over to spend Christmas Eve with us! Her husband Rick and Shane also grew up together!

Shane and Don enjoying Karla's amazing Navajo Tacos!

Karla had lots of crazy games planned for Christmas Eve...including the making of the reindeer antlers!

All of the kids participated in a live nativity!

One last picture with the cousins before they headed home for the night!

The kids enjoyed spending Christmas with both sets of grandparents...my mom and dad came to spend Christmas with all of us!

Rylie go her Elizabeth American Girl Doll from Santa! That was the thing she wanted the most! She came downstairs, looked at her presents, and pointed to a box and said, "that must be my Elizabeth"...and she was right! She hasn't let her out of her sight since she opened her!

Mason got an iPod for Christmas!

The boys got the Nerf guns they wanted from Grandma and Grandpa Bloomfield...they are semi-automatic...there have been darts flying all over the place ever since they got these out of the box! Ginger (the dog) has had quite the time chasing them all over the place!
Rylie and Elizabeth!

Here we all are Christmas morning...after opening all of our presents from Santa...he spoiled us this year!

We woke up Christmas morning and it was snowing...the first one I can remember in YEARS!!! The kids took full advantage of all the snow and built snowmen! Rylie was especially attached to hers!

Grandpa Bills was on "battery duty" for all of the boys new spy equipment!

All Parker wanted for Christmas was a D-Rex. Santa surprised him by bringing him one! He has played with it nonstop since opening him! He even sleeps with him!

Here we are playing with the D-Rex...he can recognize voices...we were getting him to walk to us! He's just like a puppy...but better...we don't have to feed him and we can turn him off!

Kari's little boy Chase was baptized yesterday...it was so much fun to be able to share his special day with him! Here I am with Kari and our mom and dad!

We all had a great Christmas! Happy Holidays everyone!!!

Snowboarding

On Christmas Eve, Shane took Mason and Parker snowboarding for the first time!

They went to Colorado, just outside of Durango...and it was freezing! The boys didn't care...they had no idea what they were in for!

The both picked it up pretty quickly. Here's Parker trying to get up!

There were lots of crashes, but they kept getting back up!
Here's Parks...all the way vertical! Mason's up too! As mentioned...it was freezing! Parker had balls of ice hanging off his eyelashes! When he came home, he was happy to announce that he only got two bloody noses!

Mason...totally wiped out!

Do you think he is tired?

They had a great time! The boys are dying to go again! Shane on the other hand hated it...and plans on sticking to the skis!

Sledding!

This morning we woke up to SNOW!!!

Even though Rylie has strep throat and Parker has the croup...we decided to go sledding with Kari, Rick, and the kids! (Yes...I'm up for Mother of the Year!)
I think we're a little TOO excited!

Kari and I decided it isn't about the outfit...it's about staying warm! She's sporting some Aztec Well Coveralls, while I raided Karla's snow clothes from 20 years ago...SWEET!

Here are Kari and Jordan...with Jord, it's about looks and warmth...and she can always pull that one off!!!

As Kari and I were watching Shane and Rick air up the tubes, we were wondering..."how many boys from Farmington does it take to air up a tube?!"

So...our kids are so spoiled...yes...those are the four wheelers loaded up and ready to go. We wouldn't want anyone to have to walk up the hill!

Here are Rylie and Jordan...Rylie's first time down the hill...ever! She loved every second of it!

Parker after his first run!

Mason...all smiles and ready for more!

Yes...we loaded those four wheelers up...nobody wanted to waste any time! (And Rylie insisted on riding up on Rick's lap!)

Shane and I even got in on the action...I can't remember the last time I went tubing...but I'm definitely never going to be too old for it! Here are all the kids...they had a great time and can't wait to go again!

Lots and Lots of LIGHTS!!!

First and foremost...these pictures don't do these lights justice...just so you know...

This is Don and Karla's yard at Christmas time! (Shane's parents)
They start putting up their lights the weekend after Thanksgiving...sometimes even earlier!

Don has made everything by hand! He adds a little something new each year. This year, the carriage above is a new addition!

They even have a section that is synchronized to music!

The gingerbread man jumping rope is another new addition!

These are the most amazing lights I have ever seen...and we look forward to them every time we come home for Christmas!

December 21st....

12 years ago today... ...we said I DO!

To celebrate, we went to the Apple Orchard Inn Bed and Breakfast in Durango, Colorado.

It was covered in a blanket of snow...it was amazing!