Christmas Outing

Every year I try to plan a Christmas Outing! 

I grew up this tradition and loved getting to spend time with my cousins and friends in Denver, or ice skating, or going to Christmas shows!  So it's only natural for me to want to do the same for my kids.  Well last year's was a total BUST and this year was not much better!  I don't know if its the age of my kids. poor planning or just plain bad luck, but our Christmas Outing - again - this year did not go quite as planned!

It no where near was as bad as last year when I had puke and poop all over me, but it still was not great!

I wanted to take the kids to Zoo Lights, so on Saturday night we headed over to the Ohlheiser's to have pizza and then after we all headed down to the Zoo for a wonderful Christmas Outing!

Well as soon as we got onto I-25 there was a major traffic jam, so we got off the highway and took the back roads to the ZOO.  We finally got there and soon realized the entire state of Colorado was there at the Zoo to see the famous lights - it was CRAZY!  The parking lot was literally closed off and people were looped around the parking lot waiting to get into the Zoo and it was already 7:30pm!

It was CRAZY and very heartbreaking!

Ashtyn could see some of the lights from the truck and got so excited, but when I told her we couldn't go she got VERY upset!  I felt so bad! I too wanted to go, but there was just no way!

Eli was getting very antsy too - after sitting in the truck for an hour, he was done!

So we headed home with our crying and very upset kids!

Another Christmas Outing down the drain...

I was very bummed and just couldn't give up on the evening, so I quickly thought of what we could possibly do...

Well, we headed to Downtown Louisville to do some ice skating!

Again, it was crazy busy, but Ashtyn was happy and excited to try something new and I love ice skating!

It was so cute how they had little ice skates for Ashtyn!

The ice skates for me were less then desirable - but I made do!

 Ashtyn did pretty good - she basically just walked on the ice, but she didn't fall - YEAH!

 They had some sleds too, so when Ashtyn got tired, I pulled her around in that and she LOVED it!

It gave me a quite a work out though...

 Matt kept Eli in the truck, but once Eli saw the sled he had to come out and try it!

Of course he had fun and would giggle when I would swing him around...

The evening did turn out to be fun and I guess I had my Christmas Outing - just not the one I had originally planned.  Ashtyn still wants to see the Zoo Lights, so hopefully we can make it down there before its over.

Maybe I should start planning my Christmas Outing now and hopefully it will go off with a bang in 2012?

Always a fun time with the Trujillo's!

Tis' the Season for...

...decorating the Christmas Tree!

Ashtyn took it upon herself to decorate the Christmas Tree all by herself this year and she actually did a fantastic job.  She totally "gets" Christmas this year and it is so fun and exciting to watch it through the eyes of a child's - I forgot how exciting Christmas can be!

 She unwrapped all of the ornaments and would ask about each one...

'Who's is this" and "Who gave it to me"

She was so interested in the history of each ornament!

 Eli helped a little - but when he started throwing ornaments he was banned from the area!

 Tah-Dah!

(NOTE: I didn't move any of the ornaments - well maybe just a few, but the majority are where she hung them)

 ...and Christmas Crafts!

On Wednesdays I decided Ashtyn and I would start doing a craft while Eli took a nap.

We made snowman out of marshmallows and pretzels!

 Tons of marshmallows were consumed during the project...

 Ashtyn made a Princess Snowman complete with a Tiara!

Eli didn't nap well, and instead jumped on the couch - so TYPICAL!

 ...and Christmas Cookies!

On Sunday we all gathered at Aunt Pam's to make the million Christmas Cookies we do every year.

The spread usually included Pitzels, Sugar Cookies, Thumb Prints, Kiflings and then several others I don't even know the names for!  It's a bit crazy and VERY overwhelming in my eyes, but Mimi and my aunts make it look so easy!  Ashtyn helped with the sugar cookies...

 About all Eli was interested in was how the blender worked...

 This year was a little hard for me to enjoy - Eli is a handful and lets just say cookie making is not his thing!  I remember when Ashtyn was 18 months old she was making cookies and enjoying it, but not my son - NO!  SO next year I will leave him at home with Daddy so I can enjoy in the tradition along with Ashtyn!

 Here are the cookie sheets prepped for the oven - and this was only the Sugar Cookies...

Oh Christmas - how we love you!

We are only a week and half away!

Merry Christmas!

Ashtyn and Eli must have been VERY good kids this year because our home is overflowing with new toys.  This year Santa brought Ashtyn and Eli a train set and each one a pillow pet - Puppy for Ashtyn and Monkey for Eli!  Ashtyn was a little overwhelmed that morning with everything, but soon warmed up and enjoyed every minute of her new presents...

After laying around the house all morning (the best part of the whole day), eating breakfast and playing with toys we headed over to Nana's and Papa's for more presents.  Ashtyn got a cute outfit and an American Girl Bitty Baby - so cute!  Eli got an outfit and a savings bond...

For Christmas dinner we headed to Pam and Steve's where we enjoyed yummy cocktails - very necessary to get through the day - and of course wonderful food!  We spent the rest of the day eating, drinking and playing Clag, while Ashtyn ran around with her cousins and Eli cried - not a happy camper on Christmas, so it made for an exhausting day! Which made Sunday a very necessary day of REST!

Kevin brought his new girlfriend, Chante, to Christmas dinner.  Hopefully all the crying didn't scare her away...

It was a busy, crazy Christmas this year - it flew by but it still was very exhausting and I am kind of happy to see it go!  Not to be a Scrooge or anything, but I am so ready for normal, everyday life again!  Hope everyone enjoyed their Christmas and hopefully, now, we can spend some quiet time at home enjoying our new toys!  Merry Christmas to All!