Christmas Eve 2011

After a very busy month preparing for Christmas, we took the time to stay home for two days and enjoy the holiday.  The morning of Christmas Eve, the boys let the girls sleep in and I found these three cuties on the couch with their reading materials.  Oliver with Daddy's iPad, Daddy with his laptop and Kellan with a book.

After a great breakfast that Anne brought from an amazing pasty chef in Fallon, Kellan helped clean up. It's probably a good thing since he is usually responsible for most of the disaster on the floor.

Keith and Oliver spent some time outside building the igloo, which was the talk of the neighborhood.  We later found out that the neighbor kids were checking it out while we were away at work and school. Their Mom also threatened them dearly if they dared ruin it.  What a great neighbor Mom!

Oliver was in no mood for a photo with the igloo so this is a picture of Oliver crouching in the snow with his Daddy.

Our family tradition is to go to Christmas Eve candle light church service to celebrate the reason for the season.  Lucky for us, the church is in our back yard, literally.  The girls drove to church since there was snow between us and the church which was not a good combination with our girly heels.  Oliver escorted us to ensure that we arrived safely.  Daddy and Kellan walked since it was much easier than strapping Kellan into the car seat, which he usually detests.  Prior to church, Anne got a great family photo of us.

After church we came home for more Christmas Eve festivities which included Auntie Anne pushing the boys around and around and around in a clothes basket.  Oh the fun a clothes basket can provide!  The giggles echoed throughout the house.

Then Kellan discovered that Auntie Anne was a viable source for story time.  If you have a lap and you're willing to read Kellan a story, he'll be your buddy, instantly.

After an amazing dinner of pork tenderloin and sweet potato risotto, provided by Chef Keith, we let the kids open a gift from under the tree.  Since we knew Uncle Jerry was usually good for a great (and usually obnoxious) toy, we steered them in that direction.  Once again, Uncle Jerry did not disappoint.

Oliver was very serious about opening his first gift, as he usually is about tasks.

Oliver encouraged Mommy to open the gift he had made at school for both Mommy and Daddy and he  took a picture.  It was a very cute wreath that he had made out of different shapes.

Behold!  Oliver's gift from Uncle Jerry, which included a respiratory work out for Daddy.

Kellan chipped in as much as he could.

I have no idea what these things are called but Oliver (and Kellan) LOVE it!  It's like a weeble wobble that won't fall down with Uncle Jerry's favorite team, the St Louis Rams.  You can tackle it (which the boys do), wrestle it (which the boys do), punch it (which the boys do), sword fight it (which the boys do) and the list goes on!  The only rule is they have to watch where they are playing with it and it's can't take out Kellan in the process.

Kellan helped Daddy open his gift of new Christmas PJ's.  Mommy, Daddy and Auntie Anne all got new Christmas PJ's since Christmas morning is always filled with lots of photos.  Good PJ's are a must!

Kellan was a bit nervous about his gift from Uncle Jerry, but he warmed up to it.  The adults in the house wondered if they had to actually put batteries in Kellan's new Rams Dinosaur.

You see, our nephew Rio has the same toy and it plays a song that is loud and obnoxious.  It is one of those songs that will stick with you for DAYS!  It could be the Enigizer commercial as it keeps going and going and going.  We did put batteries in it, Kellan did warm up to it and it may mysteriously find a new home at the bottom of the toy box.  Shhh... don't tell.

The gifts were a big hit on Christmas Eve, as was dinner and the candle light service.  As the evening wore down, it was time to prepare for the arrival of Santa Claus.  Oliver had placed his order the week before for a silver remote control car.  He later realized that he forgot to tell Santa that he wanted a silver bike, so he sent a message with Silly Sam.  Now, it was just time to put out the cookies and milk and hit the hay.  Oliver's choice for cookies? Warm chocolate chip with whip cream. 

The cookies were carefully baked, decorated and placed along side a carafe of milk.

With the quick change into PJ's and elf slippers, the boys snuggled on Daddy's lap for a traditional reading of the Night Before Christmas.

The story is the same, year after year.

Year after year, the magic and wonder grows bigger in the hearts of our boys.

Through our boys, we are reminded of the true meaning of Christmas and the precious gift of life.  We also get the pure joy of re-living pieces of our very own child hood and the magic that surrounds Christmas.

With the closing of the book, a tight tuck into bed and visions of sugar plums dancing in our head, we drifted to sleep in hopes that St Nick would soon be here.

Trail of Lights

Friday afternoon, Anne and I stayed inside while Oliver and Daddy went outside to play in the snow.  They quickly built our very own Frosty.

Oliver was SUPER excited to have Frosty in the front yard, complete with a black hat and a broom.  He was a tad sad that we didn't have a carrot for a nose, but we'll work on that for the next front yard Frosty.

On the other side of the yard Dad dug out a tunnel, which was a HUGE hit!  An even bigger hit was the iglo that was built beside it but we didn't get photos of that.

Friday night we met the Martin family for pizza prior to our walk down the Trail of Lights.  What a great time we had!

Owen and Oliver enjoying some dinner.

Owen and Oliver met at Primrose where they started together as infants.  Owen is only 10 days younger than Kellan.  Ironically, Owen's brother Cole is only 3 days younger than Kellan.  These two boys have a great time together and they are both very competitive.  The regular conversation is who is faster, who is bigger, who is taller, who won the race....

After dinner we headed off to the Trail of Lights at the Chatfield Botanic Gardens.  Kellan didn't even make it to the front gate before he had cried his eyes out and Keith took him home for a warm bath and bed.  His idea of a good time was NOT strolling through the Trail of Lights in a a mere 8 degrees.

The first stop for the remaining boys; Cole, Owen and Oliver was the fire pit.

Cole, Oliver and Owen all bundled up and ready to roll through the Trail of Lights.

Aren't these two bundles of joy a bunch of fun?!

We about froze our buns off.  (After all of the Christmas calories, I wish it was that easy!)  However, the freshly fallen snow did make for a beautiful setting.

The cold temeratures didn't slow Oliver and Owen down a bit.  After running laps around us and through the snow, they dove in to make some snow angels at the end of the trail.

Oliver was smiling ear to ear with his round and rosy cheeks.

Within ten minutes, we were defrosting at home.  Oliver requested hot cocoa, complete with marshmellows which he added himself.

Mmmmmm

Contemplating which marshmellow to slurp up next.

It is important to dive in nose first in order to fish out the perfect marshmellow.

Oliver was one happy boy.  A fun day in the snow, a night with his friend and a night of hot cocoa and marshmellows.

Auntie Anne for Christmas

It has been seven years since Anne has been in Colorado and at that time it was for our wedding so we were unable to be the hosts with the most.  We asked her to join us for Christmas this year and she agreed.  We were SO excited to have her join us and for her to visit Colorado once again.  In typical Colorado fashion, Mother Nature greeted her with a snow storm of over a foot of snow.  By noon, the snow flakes stopped falling, Keith had shoveled the driveway and we were ready to welcome her to Colorado, the state of many weather changes.

Anne flew in from Reno, NV and after picking her up from the airport, we headed Downtown Denver for dinner at The Chop House.

We had a great dinner which provided the two of us a chance to catch up and have some girl time prior to embarking on the craziness of the Ham Fam House.

Before leaving the Chop House, we asked the valet guy to take a picture of us.  "A" picture turned into a bunch as he took photos from multiple angles.  He clearly enjoyed this and told us he had been asked to take a few pictures in his valet career.  It was fun to get a few pictures from our evening with the freshly fallen snow.

On our way home, we drove past the court house to admire their amazing display of lights.

On Friday, we had planned to drive to Vail for lunch.  It is my absolute favorite mountain town and a 1.5 hour drive on clear roads.  With the new snow, we were concerned that we may have delays or traveling difficulties.  We had dinner plans Friday night so we opted to forgo Vail for the day (huge bummer) and stay closer to home to explore the sights.  Our first stop was just down the road at Red Rocks Amphitheater.  The new snow and clear blue skies provided an amazing view.

Anne and Carrie at the top of the Amphitheater.

Even though a crew was quickly removing the snow from the steps to the stage, it was a bit icy so we opted to stay at the top of the theater.  We did take some time to tour through the visitors center and explore the history of this amazing location.

Downtown Denver from the top of the Red Rocks Amphitheater.

The contrast between the red rocks and the blue sky is always breath taking.

Next we drove West on I-70 to the Genessee Exit. This is the same exit that the church is where Keith and I got married.  This is also the location of my favorite freeway view in Colorado.  Just as you crest the hill, you get an amazing view of the snow capped Rocky Mountains.  (see later photos).  Also at this exit is a heard of Buffalo that were enjoying some recently served lunch.

Rocky Mountain High, Colorado.

(feel free to sing along!)

From the over pass, the view of the Rocky Mountains with I-70 flowing below.

On our way to Look Out Mountain, we stopped to pay our respects to Buffalo Bill.  Here lies William Frederick Cody and his wife, Louisa Maud Cody.

From Look Out Mountain you can see a view of the MillerCoors Golden brewery in the valley down below.

Our last stop in the tour was downtown Golden.  We had a nice lunch followed by a walk down to Clear Creek.  The creek was frozen over with the rocky mountain water flowing below.  Again, we had a great view of the brewery.  In case you're wondering, my office is basically below the big red Coors sign.  

Anne and I had a great day exploring the area.  Thank to Keith for juggling the kids while finishing up some final touches for Christmas.  The fun doesn't stop here.  It's time to bundle up because this evening brought us chills.