New Year's Eve Party

I don't have any pictures, but wanted to l write a little about New Year's Eve. Steve and Nancy Brown invited us to a party at their house again this year. We had a great time last year, even Delwyn enjoyed himself, so we were happy to be going again. If it weren't for them, we would probably just go to bed since Austin and Landon don't let their kids stay up yet. Britta went a party at the Gentry's and Ryan went to Piper's.

We had appetizers and desserts, I took strawberries and cream cheese dip. It was a different group of people who were there this year: Allreds, Klains, Pratts, Chris and Tiffany Thompson, Brittany Snow, and Susan Bodily. Maybe a couple more. We played a game that listed many events that occurred in 2019 and we had to put them in the order that it happened. There were sporting events, historical events, celebrity happenings, etc. Delwyn and I stunk at it, we only got 2 right. Ha!

We had a white elephant exchange that was quite fun. Delwyn ended up with some fancy socks and I got some strange wall decor--a picture frame that said "Let It Snow" filled with red, white, and green pom poms.

We visited for a bit and then played another computer/TV game called Fibbage. They ask a question and everyone gives an answer. Example: Johnny Depp is going to buy 10,000 of these. People say doughnuts, socks, or whatever they can think of. If you can't come up with something, the computer gives you a suggestion. All answers are given plus the truth, and each person chooses an answer. You get points if someone chooses your response instead of the truth and you get points if you guess the correct answer. It goes for several rounds and then winners are declared. Each couple was team and Delwyn and I got third!

Midnight came pretty quickly. We watched the ball drop in Times Square, had a Happy New Year's kiss, and that was the end of 2019! 

Giving Machine

As part of the church's Light the World Program, they have these Giving Machines located in 10 cities throughout the world. This is the second year and Denver was selected to host a machine! They work like vending machines, but instead of buying a snack for yourself, you can purchase items for charities. The Denver machines are giving to 4 local charities and 2 international ones. You can buy things like a month's supply of diapers, ten days of groceries, a mattress with bedding, a bus pass, 3 chickens, or a pig. The machines opened the week of Thanksgiving and run through January 1. I have been so excited to go and we finally made it!

Dagny checks out all the things you can buy. The items are pictured on tiles that drop to the bottom when you buy them.

Landon bought meals for a Women's Shelter and it had a picture of spaghetti and meatballs on the tile. Lincoln was so excited! He thought he was going to get spaghetti and we explained to him that we were buying it for a hungry friend. He was so cute about it all!

I heard that sometimes there are lines and you have to wait. We were lucky to walk right up, especially since it was quite chilly, only in the low 30's. Brrrrrr!

Such a happy face despite the cold weather!

We bought a blanket, box of soap, books, toys and a water pump. It was a humbling experience to donate things we take for granted. I hope these machines are back in Denver next year! We had a great experience.

There was a Mellow Mushroom Pizza Parlor right across the street, so we went for lunch. Ryan is the only one of us who has been here before. Their pizza is quite fancy. We got the Mighty Meaty and the Great White.

We ordered 2 large pizzas and they were huge! We'll have some tasty leftovers!

Christmas Eve

Continuing the tradition to see the lights on Christmas Eve. Downtown Castle Rock has such a good display. I love the lights that go across the street,

and every tree is lit up from bottom to top! It's beautiful!

And of course we wouldn't miss the Bunker's display!  It never disappoints! The lights flash to music and it is amazing! The display this year was called "Little Drummer Boy".

This is the first time in several years that Wade hasn't been working at Village Inn and we are so glad about that! Who wants to work on Christmas Eve?? We usually go there for food and/or hot chocolate. Ryan has gotten really good at making gourmet hot chocolate, so he made us all a yummy mug.

He puts french vanilla flavoring in the hot chocolate, tops it with whip cream, and drizzles caramel on the top. YUM! 

Loving our Christmas Eve treat!

Hot chocolate ranks pretty high on my list of favorite things.

The girls sang some Christmas songs. I love music and I'm so thankful that my family enjoys music and has many musical talents.

More Christmas music before we go to bed so Santa can come!

Dagny Can Pedal

Teaching Dagny to pedal and ride a bike has been such a big challenge!! I couldn't even get her to pedal a trike last summer. She wouldn't even pedal a whole rotation before she would get frustrated and just insist that she couldn't do it. She would jump off her bike and run to her scooter. We bought this little bike with training wheels thinking it might be a bit easier, but same story. She just refused! My kids learned to pedal so easily and so quickly, I can't understand why is it so hard for her.

The weather has been so nice the past few days and I have really wanted to take the kids outside. I had a lot to do to get ready for Christmas and I had Calista, so I kept talking myself out of it. Today I couldn't resist any longer.

I told Dagny she was 5 now, and she was big enough to pedal, and sure enough--she did it!! She struggles a bit sometimes to get going and she sometimes gets stuck on an uneven spot, but she can ride now! 

I don't know who was more excited--me or Dagny! I'm already dreaming of summer days riding bikes around the cul-de-sac!

Christmas Decorating

It was so fun to have Austin's family here to decorate with us. Little kids make everything more fun because they get so excited over little things.

Maddie learned how to hang the ornaments on pretty quickly, and

she would run for another one as soon as she was done.

It is so fun to have Britta here! I especially missed her during the holidays. We let her choose which ornaments to use and she picked the blue ones. I am in the process of replacing all my ornaments with shatter proof ones. Most of mine are glass since that is what they were made of back in the day when I started getting different colors and themes. 

The blue, white, and silver ornaments are new to go with the snowmen. Millie shows us the one she liked best.

Ryan's ornaments go near the top since he's the only one who can reach that far.

I think the snowmen and blue ornaments are my favorite tree decorations out of the different sets that I have.

Ryan won't let me take his picture very often, but he is a little more accommodating when Britta is here. 

Maddie is so gentle with the ornaments. 

She will be a pro when they set their tree up and decorate it.

The tree is looking very nice!

Even Austin helped. 

Those eyes!

Claire asked if she could put the angel on top and Britta was happy to act as a ladder so she could reach.

Look at all those decorations! Beautiful girl and beautiful tree!

Another boost from Britta so she can reach a little higher.

Such a great helper!

• Claire wanted to decorate the top of the tree, and she kept Britta busy giving her boosts. They made a good team in getting the top of the tree decorated.

Kimberlea and Calista came over towards the end of our decorating and joined in the fun. She loved the lights and the sparkle.

Cute girl! 

Claire loves to hold Calista. 

Claire got a kick out of being taller than Austin.

Melissa and Claire played some Christmas duets for us. Melissa started giving piano lessons to Claire in August when school started and she is learning a lot! 

Ryan put up the lights outside a few days later. I'm lucky to have such a good elf to get them done.

King on the roof! It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

Celebrating Megan's Birthday

Today is Megan's birthday and we are celebrating! We had poppyseed chicken for dinner and now it's time for cake! It's a Better Than Anything Cake, a poke cake with caramel ice cream topping and sweetened condensed milk poured into the holes. It's topped with Cool Whip and Heath candy bits. Yum! Landon does the honors of lighting the candles.

The kids were pretty excited to help blow out the candles. We had to remind them that we need to sing "Happy Birthday" first.

Presents are so much fun!

Megan had lots of help getting it open. A gift card for a manicure and pedicure!

Happy 34th Birthday Megan! So glad you are part of this crazy family!