December 2019 re-cap

 December 2019. 

A beautiful time before the CRAZINESS of 2020 hit us.  

Getting out Christmas decorations!  They had so much fun helping.  They set out the knick knacks and our HUGE collection of Christmas BOOKS!!!

Chris found a lovely tree, nice and big and full, to grace our front window.  

 

Oh, those branches.  Just looking at them up close again, the wonderful pine smell is seeping over me.  

And honestly, even in August, that smell just makes my soul happy.  I have a Christmas spirit essential oil that I totally put on every few months just because that Christmas feel is so uplifting.  

Lights on the tree!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Decorating.  It just tickled me how confused Kolbe looked standing here next to Daddy.  

Oldest and youngest decorating together

Look at Sophie go. Grabbed a chair and put some ornaments higher up!

Chris' parents bought me this ornament when we were dating.  It's a little Irish girl.  

Chris and I met in the Dublin airport on our way over to Austria for a semester abroad.  *heart eyes emoji*  

The tree is such a beautiful, beautiful way to recall so many beautiful memories and experiences.  

You guys, I was so excited to start the Advent journal from Blessed is She.  And it was really good.  I had a lovely Advent, reflecting on the beauty and struggle of family and really bringing it all to the Lord and working through it all with Him.  My heart grew and expanded, just like it always does when I spend time with Jesus, listening more intently and yet, sharing my whole heart with Him, exactly where it IS, not just where I WANT it to be.  

The girls' sweet dance studio organized a Christmas showcase that was just the cutest.  I love seeing my little girlies dancing and smiling and learning new things!

A favorite book around here at Christmas time is How the Grinch Stole Christmas.  The kids love the Grinch song from the old cartoon and they love it when Chris sings it to them especially.  Consequently, they also run to him with the book begging him to read it and do his fun Grinchy voices.  It's just the sweetest thing to watch and I love getting to sit on the sideline and just bask in the cuteness.  

We got to meet some of the reindeer at a local ranch and home supply shop.  The kids were pretty fascinated. 

A couple of the girls went caroling with a group of kids from church led by our choir director.  They really enjoyed singing for others and spreading Christmas cheer.  

We have the best realtor.  We've been in the house several years, and he sends us Christmas goodies every year.  This year they were yummy cookies!!

Chris made the BEST and most moist and delicious brisket for Christmas Eve this year.  I asked for brisket for Mother's Day this year because his Christmas Eve brisket was mouth-wateringly good.  

Yep, my mouth is totally watering just looking at these pictures.  Time to smoke another brisket, babe!! 

Kevin and Sara's family Visits 2018

In July, my brother Kevin and his family swung through Colorado on another of their crazy cross-country summer roadtrips.  It was SO much fun to see them and the cousins had a blast together!

Cousin fun!

Aunt Sara read stories from our library stash, Uncle Kevin planned scavenger hunts for the kids with clues that led them all over the house and yard searching for the eventual last clue and prize.  

We celebrated Kayla and Lily's birthdays a few weeks late with a ridiculously purple cake.  

            Kevin set up their Ninja Warrior course at our local park and the kids took turns trying to be the next Ninja Warrior.  

          

          

They are seeing who can hang the longest without dropping. 

           

Sophie did pretty well against her cousin Dominic.  

 

Even Kolbe wanted in on the hanging fun. 

 

Ava liked climbing the rope.  

We visited a splash pad while they were here (because it was HOT!!)

 

And waded in the creek 

Kevin and Sara also have 5 kids and they are really close in age to our 5.  

Kayla and Lily are 9 days apart.  Benji and Elise are 3 months apart.  Ava and Dominic are a month and a half apart.  Lucy and Sophie are a month apart.  And the biggest gap is between Kolbe and John Paul, who are 8 months apart.  

John Paul found a glass, broke it, and gave himself a pretty good cut on his hand while they were here.  Yikes!

We had a BBQ with the Burnetts (Kevin knows Ryan from Steubenville days).  Kevin and Sara brought over their lazer tag set and the kids had a blast.  

       

More park fun on their last morning and then we had to say farewell until next time!  Thank you so much for visiting!  We had such a fun time chatting until way too late, playing fun games together, visiting a bunch of parks, and just hanging out.