Go BUFFS!

The weekend after Christmas we headed to a Men's CU Basketball game with Nana, Papa and Mimi.  With Eli being so in love with the CU Band we thought he would be in heaven attending a live concert!  And he was...he enjoyed every minute of the basketball game and behaved so well - I was impressed.  He actually got into the game and would clap, cheer and boo whenever necessary!  The kids enjoyed the basketball game much more then the football game - probably because there is more action going on and the Men's team is actually very good and fun to watch, plus the band is so much louder in the gym then on the field!

 Papa carried the kids down the snow packed hill - I had my camera ready for when he fell, but he made it safely!

 Eli loved sitting on Mimi's lap and I am sure she enjoyed every minute too!  There is something about that little boy that people just love!

 Eli's favorite part was when the tubas go down on the floor and spin around while playing the fight song!  He then tried to do the same thing when he got home with his saxophone - he is so funny!

Ashtyn's favorite part was getting dip-n-dots! 

I am sure going to a CU basketball game is not her favorite thing to do, but getting spoiled by Nana for a whole afternoon is something she will never turn down!

With the CU team being so good this year, games are hard to get into, but hopefully we can make it back a couple times before the season is over!

GO Buffs!

Christmas Day

On Christmas morning Nana, Papa and Uncle came over to open presents at our house. 

It was fun to spend our first Christmas in our new house with my family - even if it was short lived!

My parents of course spoiled us all with way to much...

 They bought Matt and I a new kitchen table and a rug for the family room - We love them!

For the kids, Ashtyn got a build-a-bear closet, which is the best BOX ever! Some new clothes and all the Disney Princess dolls which she sleeps with every night - all eight of them!

Eli got a new truck and boat, some new clothes, a baseball and little mitt!

The baseball is stored on a high, high shelf until he older!

Nice try Uncle!

 After opening presents at our house we headed over to Mimi's for breakfast and MORE presents!  My kids had so much fun playing with the older cousins and of course Uncle Steve...

 

 Papa Bill actually fell asleep while presents were being handed out...I didn't judge him I was very envious!

 Mimi gave Eli a trash truck - he was in heaven!

Ashtyn got new dress up clothes and shoes!

 After Mimi's we headed to Aunt Pam's for dinner and relaxation!

Christmas this year felt like a whirlwind and I am just so glad to see it all come to an end! 

I know, I know how Scrooge of me, but really I am just ready for normal, every day life! 

Next year I am sure I will be back in the spirit, but until then...

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Christmas Morning

 Christmas Eve was awesome!

After heading home from dinner and getting the kids settled into bed, I sat on my couch and watched Christmas Vacation and admired my tree - what is better then that?

 Ashtyn was so excited this year getting ready for Santa.  She wanted to write her note all by herself, and actually did a very good job at it, and of course she specially made two gingerbread cookies to represent her and Eli and left them for Santa with some milk!  She was so thoughtful...

 Her note said...

"Dear Santa, 

I have been a nice girl. 

I want a dixie horse. 

 Love Ashtyn and Eli too"

 We actually had to wake the kids up on Christmas morning...my parents were coming over for presents and we had to be dressed and ready by 9am - One year I would really like to just hang out till noon in my pjs, but with a big family, I don't ever see that happening!

Ashtyn was so excited and ran downstairs to see if Santa had come - for Eli it was just another morning and he just wanted a cup of coffee as usual!

 Eli still waiting for his cup of coffee, but he did say "Oh, that a big, big trash truck!" 

He calls every truck a trash truck...

 Santa brought Ashtyn exactly what she asked for - a Dixie Horse along with some board games! 

She was very excited and so in love with her Dixie Horse! 

Here's a little story about that Dixie Horse:

Two weeks before Christmas we were buying paint at Jax for the new house and Ashtyn saw this Dixie horse.  She so badly wanted to buy it, and kept asking and whining, so to keep her from throwing a fit, we told her if she asked Santa I bet he'd bring it to her for Christmas...she agreed and would tell everyone from that point on she wanted a Dixie Horse from Santa for Christmas - nothing else!

Fast Forward a week and half and I am out "shopping" and what is completely sold out three days before Christmas - the Dixie Horse!  Shelf was full of them two weeks ago...

Knowing we would completely disappoint Ashtyn if Santa did not come through with a Dixie Horse we reverted to Amazon.com.  We did find the beloved Dixie Horse, but would have to spend thirty dollars just to ship it to us to be on time for Christmas morning...

Bottom line a $15 Dixie Horse cost us $50 - but it put a big smile on her face that morning!

FYI - Next year Santa needs to start shopping in July!

 Eli enjoyed digging through his stocking more then anything - Mainly because there was candy in there and that's all he really wanted for Christmas!  He also got gum, a Starbucks Coffee Kid mug, and drum sticks!

 Ashtyn LOVED her stocking stuffers too - an angry bird, candy, a gold starbucks ornament and some shrink-a-dinks!

 Eli playing with his big, big trash truck from Santa!

 Next they opened their presents from us...

Eli got a boat or as he calls it "Papa's Boat", a trumpet and some symbols!  He was completely outfitted with all band instruments this Christmas - Yeah!

 Ashtyn got an electric diary, a La La Loopsy mermaid, Play Dough and a new horse figurine for her new bedroom!

Our kids are so spoiled, but they so deserve it!

Merry Christmas my sweet babies!

Christmas Eve

 We spent Christmas Eve with the Trujillo's! 

 It was a great evening eating yummy Mexican food, playing games and watching the cousins all play together!  We definitely missed Rob, Ariana and the boys this year - it was just not the same without them - maybe a little quieter though!  When all the boys are together the sound seems to escalate!  But we really did miss them...hopefully next year they will make it home for Christmas!

 

 Grandma and her three granddaughters!

 Aunt Lorraine was in town for Christmas which is always a treat!  She loved my enchiladas!

We of course kept the White Elephant tradition alive and the presents definitely got less tacky and more desirable this year...

 Sandy got some red wine and expensive chocolates...

 Matt's present got stolen twice, but ended up with his own - Itunes Gift Card...

 Kodi got an electric shaver - I am sure Josh benefited more from that then she did!

 Eli using a paper towel roll as a trumpet - he will turn any found object into a musical instrument of his choice...

 Lorraine got the best one - a "Butt Head" hat and lottery tickets...

 but Josh swooped in and stole that!  He really is a "Butt Head"...

I ended up with a gift card to the movies - DATE NIGHT!

 The kids LOVED opening their presents and were of course spoiled by Grandma and Grandpa...

 Ashtyn got lots of different crafts to do...

 and Eli got a Saxophone - YES!  He was so excited when he got it and started marching around...

 Eli also got some bells - which I believe was a regifted White Elephant present from last year - but Cheyenne loved playing with them!

 Brooklyn and Cheyenne got a kid IPAD to share...

 Eli LOVING his new present...

Elfie came to visit again this year and brought them their Christmas Pajamas!  It was so cute, because when the door bell rang they all ran to the door to see what it was - Yeah, they are finally getting old enough to enjoy the tradition!

 Cheyenne was so cute when she got her pajamas - she hugged them and just walked around with a big, cheesy smile!  She is just so precious!

Christmas Eve was very relaxing and fun this year! 

I think as the kids get older it will get better and better for us adults.  We are starting to actually enjoy each others company again while the kids play peacefully! 

Afterwards we headed home and got ready for Santa...Ho Ho Ho!