I loved how the kids had a full week of no school before Christmas-- it gave us plenty of time to relax and enjoy this time of year, as well as sneak a few more fun activities in. In case you missed it, here is our family Christmas card for 2016:
My sister Whitney surprised us by deciding to fly in to Denver last minute for the weekend because she'd found some pretty cheap tickets, and we were thrilled to have her! We picked her up early on the morning of Friday the 16th at the airport and brought her home. She's been a busy little bee teaching school in Phoenix and was in pretty desperate need of a break.
Saturday morning we woke up to about 5 inches of new snow, and made egg nog pancakes and hot chocolate for breakfast. It felt just like Christmas! We spent the rest of the morning lounging in our PJs, and Whitney introduced me to the wonder (and perplexing cult following) that is Hallmark Christmas movies.
Jon had to work that day, so we met him after work in Castle Rock at Crave Burgers for dinner. I tried the Slopper-- which was an open face burger on top of a grilled cheese sandwich, smothered with green chili sauce, pico de gallo, and avocado. Their burgers are so unique, it was fun to take Whitney who is a burger aficionado.
Aren't they cute! Lucy has loved every single Auntie Whitney visit since time immemorial, way back when she was just a tiny babe in Philadelphia. We're so glad she decided to give up the 60 degree Phoenix weather to hang out with us in our snowy -9 degrees.
After our burger feast we hopped onto I-25 to cruise over to Larkspur to look at the drive-thru lights at Jellystone campground. Don't you think everyone looks thrilled??
Our favorite part is right at the end when you drive through the tunnel because the lights are all synchronized to the Christmas music on the radio station they give you. The kids totally rock out to Trans Siberian Orchestra and Mannheim Steamroller!
I love Christmas Sundays! I love getting pictures of them in their cute Christmas outfits-- and I wasn't sure if we'd have time to snap a picture the following week with the excitement of it being Christmas and all, and hindsight being 20/20 I'm glad we did.
Whitney flew back home to Phoenix late Sunday night, and the poor baby had to work a whole other week before her school let out for break on the 23rd.
Merry Christmas 2016
Jon had to work Monday through Thursday so he was busy, busy, busy. That meant lots of projects for me in an effort to keep the natives from getting restless. Lucy helped me make white chocolate covered popcorn to give to neighbors and friends on Tuesday and it turned out awesome!
Thursday afternoon Jon was finally done with work after their staff Christmas party, so we loaded up into the car and headed south to Colorado Springs. We stopped for dinner at Rudy's BBQ, which is a famous Texas barbecue chain-- for old time's sake, since we're really just relocated Southerners at heart. The atmosphere was JUST like the Pic N Pig back home, and it actually made me so homesick being there!
I got the brisket sandwich with coleslaw and it was pretty darn good! Tasted just like I remember it. Such a fun place to get dinner, as well as an unexpected trip down memory lane.
We then headed over to the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo for the Electric Safari. Let me just say how much I love this zoo! I'm so glad we bought a pass.
We got to check out some of the indoor animal habitats, like where the giraffes get away from the cold and wind, and the kids loved petting them and seeing their signature blue tongues.
There just happened to be a North Pole where Santa was hanging out (by the reindeer exhibit, of course) so we absolutely had to do that. You can't meet Santa too many times in one month, right?
Once again, Lizzie was very fascinated by his long beard and glasses, but just as content as can be to sit there on his lap.
The zoo was gorgeous! Of course since it's already located on the mountainside you got a great view of Colorado Springs lit up at night down below, as well as all the lights the zoo had put out.
We decided to pay a little extra for tickets to ride the skylift up to the top of the mountain. I rode with Lucy and Leah, and although very cold it was so beautiful!
Jon rode with Zach and Lizzie-- I didn't trust myself to hang on to the baby if she got cranky and started flailing because she is so slippery all bundled up in her coat and blankets! Thankfully, no incidences on the skylift.
Beautiful view of Colorado Springs and the Electric Safari down below. Honestly I was really reluctant to go and was dragging my feet the whole time before we got there-- it was supposed to be very cold, the kids had been wearing me out all week, I had about 200 presents left to wrap, food to prepare, etc etc etc, but thanks to Jon for reminding me that we only have a few more years to make memories like these before they grow up and always want to be going with friends and doing their own thing. I'm so glad we went! It was such a special trip-- it just felt magical with all the lights, and there weren't very many other people, and with everything that happened later on with Lizzie in the hospital, it definitely stands out as probably my favorite memory of Christmas this year.
Friday afternoon we took Lucy and Zach to see Rogue One-- the new Star Wars movie at the theater by our house. Lucy really enjoyed it, but Zach wasn't so sure about it. I think the plot was a little complicated for him to follow, and **SPOILER ALERT** he was really disappointed everyone basically dies at the end. We got back home, got the kids ready for bed and were all set for the Christmas Express Train early the next morning, when everything got sort of turned upside down on us and Jon headed to the ER in Parker to get Lizzie sorted out....
