Breakfast and more sledding

December 27

This was our last day. Janna and Luke had told us about a breakfast/lunch place called Snooze. We thought we would try going. We get there and were told we had a 45 min. wait. The kids were already hungry. We walked down the sidewalk a short ways and found the Corner Bakery. We had breakfast here. The food was good. All of the plates were empty. Snooze will have to wait until next time. (Maybe in February and without kids.)

It was a warm sunny day. The temperature was in the forties. So off to sledding again.

Leah ready for the hill.
Lilly didn't get to go last time because she wasn't feeling too good. I think she enjoyed herself.

Janna ready for some fun.

Janna put Sawyer on a sled by herself when we first got to the hill. She wasn't too happy about the bumps. She stayed next to Wayne after that. She didn't want Janna making her go down again.

Shea just loves the snow. We had a hard time getting her to quit.

See how nicely Shea fits the sled. She is so light she just sails down the hill.

Carin helping Lilly back up the hill.

Three way race. I wonder who won??

Rusty enjoyed himself. It got so warm that some jackets came off before we head for home.

The Lee children.

What a great way to spend a Christmas vacation. I was sad to go home, but at least Wayne and I are going back in February.

Christmas Lights

December 26

Wayne and I sent two nights at each of the houses. Monday night was one of the nights at Carin and Trent's. Since they hadn't gone to dinner with us earlier in the week we took them to dinner. Afterwards Trent wanted us to see some Christmas lights. These next few pictures are from just one house. I can't imagine how much time it takes to set up and take down this much in decorations, or how big their electric bill will be come January. We were just glad to be able to enjoy their effort.

There was an amazing train set. I have a feeling that it is up all year long.

This family has been doing this for 29 years. Carin said it was their last. They are going to try to sell different cases and displays. Where would you store all the decorations the rest of the year?The Garner girls by their tree.

Christmas

December 25

The Call family gets up early. The children were told they could not get out of there area until 6:00am. Kari and Matt got a phone call from the basement at 6:00. I understand a few of the boys had been awake since 3:00. They stayed downstairs.

Ryder enjoying his new train set.
Haylie investigating her sock.

Cade checking out new sports shorts.

Tanner ready to ride his new bike through the house.

Weston admiring his new BB gun. I think they were all happy. For some reason I didn't take any pictures at Carin's house when we went there after church.

Musical Program

Christmas Eve would not be complete without a musical program. Abby is doing quite well on the flute.

Brynn has just started playing the violin. She is using the violin that was Carin's and then Sara's,

Leah is singing a primary song. She has a sweet voice, very easy to listen to.

The boys sang Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer. It was entertaining.

Haylie got Sawyer to sing a song with her. Haylie also has a good voice.

Janna and her kids sang a primary song. Sawyer insisted she hold the book. It made for a fun evening.

Nativity

Christmas Eve continued with a program. It started with the nativity. Matt and the kids put together costumes while the kitchen was being cleaned up. Wayne read from the Bible while the kid re-enacted the story.

Shea represented the animals in the stable. Like all the stuffed animals around her.
Brynn was Mary. Weston was Joseph. Cade was the donkey.

Abby and Haylie were the shepherds.

I really like this costume. Leah was the angel, thus the baseball cap.

The shepherds show really good amazement.

Next, the three wisemen came in bearing gifts.

Here is a view of the whole scene. They all played their parts well.

Christmas Eve

December 24

Christmas Eve was spent getting ready for an early dinner. I was in charge of stuffing (of course). All the girls had assignments. Carin made party potatoes and other things. Janna was in charge of deserts. They were yummy. Kari had been struggling with the hives the last few days. She finally decided it was time to see a doctor. We only saw her lips, eyes, and neck swollen. It really looked uncomfortable. Kari had the turkey in a brine. My job was to get it in the oven while she was at the doctor.

Luke had my camera for a while and took some candid pictures.
Ryder

Don't you just love the expression.

Stone

JannaTanya had told us about a tradition in Great Britain. They have party poppers. Wayne and I saw some in World Market in Whittier. We decided to look for them when we got to Denver. We found a World Market and bought some.

You pull on both ends of this tube. It pops and out falls a crown, a surprise and a joke. I guess I didn't explain them too well before we pulled. Some of the kids threw away the crowns and couldn't find their surprise. Oh, maybe we will try again next year. Dinner was delicious. I should have taken a picture of the adult table.

Sledding

December 23

It snowed most of Thursday. Only the main streets get snowplowed. The neighborhood streets are left unplowed which means you are on your own to get out of the neighborhood. Our car (Lex) doesn't have snow tires so we didn't go very far on Thursday. Janna's car has snow tires so she drove us to see the Garner family.

Friday morning the sun was out. The Calls and Garners came to the Lee's house. It was decided the weather was great for sledding. Janna took us to the neighborhood sledding hill. It was a great place, just a little tricky since it was a horseshoe shape. The sledding paths would cross.

Weston and Leah
Haylie and Abby

Cade and Van

Tanner and Stone

Shea, Leah and Brynn

The group climbing back up the hill.

Stone, Rusty and Abby

Janna

Janna

Leah

Abby

Brynn

Cade

Rusty.

Look how intense Weston was one this run down the hill.

Shea and Haylie

All the adults saw this one sledder going down the hill really fast and going further than anyone. We finally realized it was four year old Shea. She just fits the sled when she lies down. This position allows her to sail down the hill.