The Annual Decking of the Hall's!

Each year we spend a day (or 2) decorating the house together as a family.  The kids always help and it is a fun way to start the excitement for Christmas.  We decorate, play music, drink cocoa, and of course the kids do EVERY nativity game they see as we unpack.  This year was no different.  Besides the usual decor, we have our big tree and a smaller Baylor University tree. Each ornament is a memory in time from travel to special moments. I like to say it is a memory tree. We have old car keys, McDonald ornament from my Grandma when I was 5, broken ornaments that are special but cannot be fixed, ornaments from those in honor of Daddy, handmade ornaments from neighbors, Baylor's baby ornament, ornaments to remind us of family reunions, pictures of travels, and more.  The kids still enjoy hearing stories of where we have traveled, seeing the ornaments they have made over the years (especially the ones with pictures), and hanging the ones they have selected each year.  Each one is a priceless memory for us. Here are some of the favorite decor and ornaments this year. 

A Colorado Thanksgiving (Part 2)

Day 5- Thanksgiving Day and a drive to Cripple Creek, CO

Today was a plan for one thing…relaxation!  We slept in (slightly since the kids were up again at 7:30am) and then had breakfast before getting bundled up for some snow fun outside.  The weather was perfect with the sun shining and Nana even joined in on the snow fun and sledded!  We had bought a new sled while in town and this one could hold all 4 kids at once!  So, the first sled of the day was all 4 kids and it went very fast down the hill.  After that they decided it was best for 2-3 people.  Everyone took turns playing, laughing, doing GoPro videos, and family pictures until it was time to get warm inside.  The rest of the morning was spent cooking the lunch meal (ham, mac n cheese, cornbread, salad & baked potatoes).  In the afternoon, we decided to take the scenic drive to the town of Cripple Creek, CO.  It was a small little town that was virtually shut down for Thanksgiving day.  However, we geocached and explored nonetheless.  We also passed an abandoned mine shaft, mountain scenery, and a military cemetery.  Well worth the adventure.  At dusk we headed home for Steaks, grilled asparagus and leftovers from our lunch.  Thank you Lord for the blessing of the mountains and awe of your beauty!  

Day 6- The North Pole theme park

Today was one we had been waiting for!  We surprised the kids with a trip to the North Pole theme park in Colorado Springs. We rode rides, fed the reindeer, went on the HIGHEST ferris wheel in the WORLD, saw a magic show, watched a glass blowing session, and took a train ride around the park.  The kids also enjoyed shopping in the gift shop with Nana.  Dinner was leftovers and hot dogs for the kids as we all started to pack and prepare for the next day’s travels home.  Cade said the day was “epic” and Caelin reported at bedtime that “today was the best day of my life”.  Hearing things like that make life worth every moment.   

 

Day 7- Traveling home to Texas

Our alarms went off at 3:30 a.m. The boys worked fast to load luggage in cars and take out final trash while we fed the kids.  We had a 2 hour drive from Woodland Park to Denver, returned 2 rental cars, checked 14 pieces of luggage and successfully boarded 9 people on a completely full flight, all by 8:30 a.m. It was fast and furious at times, but the kids did great and fell right in line.  We even had time to grab a coffee at airport before boarding, ha!  We arrived in Austin, TX around Noon.  It was good to see our own vehicles again and load up everything.  We ate a final lunch at the Catfish Parlour by airport and then went separate ways.  We took Nana home before starting our 2.5 hour drive to Tomball, TX.  It was bitter sweet saying goodbye to everyone, but the memories we have made will last forever.  Thank you to Nana for allowing us to have this opportunity and loving on us the entire trip!