December Daily 6, 2015

My cousin Amy flew in for a tea class. Some airport views.

My cousin Julie made me this beautiful table runner and sent it back to Colorado from Minnesota with my mom.

Amy brought the boys new cards. Reid was eager to break them in.

Eric with his newest Christmas decoration.

We had my cousin John over for supper while Amy was here. Leah conducting the train.

The guys playing Candy Land.

The next generation of cousins.

Eric and Peter:

Me and Amy:

December Daily 7, 2015

We've been on the lookout for a Broncos piggy bank for Reid for a couple of years. I asked one of my friends who has season tickets to see if they sell any at the stadium. No luck there, but she happened to spot one at Target a few weeks later and gave me a heads up. 

Paper towel rolls make good light sabers.

My cousin Amy brought me a new You Are Here mug.

December Daily 8, 2015

Sometimes Aiden wakes up when I'm getting ready for school. Cute send off with lots of waving and blowing kisses.

The latest addition to Eric's outside Christmas display.

December Daily 9, 2015

Pre-dawn view on the way to school.

Annual trip to the Trail of Lights to visit Santa Claus.

Aiden asking for a BIG Lego police helicopter.

Reid asking for a Wii U video game- Mario Tennis: Ultra Smash.

December Daily 10, 2015

Afternoon light in my classroom is the best. Grading is the worst.

A little Rocky Road ice cream in memory of my Dad on his birthday.

Reid and Grandma.

December Daily 11, 2015

Tough week fighting a cold and hoarse voice, so I was happy to reach Friday afternoon. I picked up the boys after school. Another teacher from school has his kids at Shaffer, too, so we chatted while we let them run around and chase each other for quite awhile.

Opening packages from Art and Judi, my parents' long-time friends. They used to give me and David ornaments when we were little and they are still some of my most-treasured.

Aiden's latest- the Lego police fending off some Pokemon lizards.

We enjoyed Winter's version of Friday night lights. Chatfield: 80, Lincoln: 69.

December Daily 12, 2015

Christmas Bell

How many days 'till Christmas?

It's mighty hard to tell.

Take off a link every night

When sandman casts his spell.

And Christmas Eve will be here

By the time you reach the bell.

The kindergarteners have 5th grade buddies at the boys' school. During the week Reid was sick, they made these count down chains together. Aiden was able to make his with his buddy, while Reid's buddy made the one for Reid. I love count down chains, so these are a welcome addition.

Playing games on pbskids.org:

Hung the stockings up today:

December Daily 5, 2015

Reid putting together Legos from his Advent Lego set.

I'm pretty excited how this turned out- I finally hung up the boys' kindergarten portraits.

I bought a Christmas wreath from our neighbor boy who sells them for Boy Scouts. They're always really pretty.

The boys and I did some bowling. Well, they bowled and I reset the pins.

We played some "Crazy Eights", "Steal the Bundle", and "Trash".

And set up a marble maze.

Eric and I also did some tidying up, so the boys were climbing in the chairs while Eric was cleaning in the kitchen. I told them that's how they were squished together in my belly.

We put up the Christmas tree. The boys were very excited to help decorate.