We’re just doin’ our thing over here. The kids are mostly over being sick, except for Lexi, who still looks like she got run over by a truck. I haaaaate it when the kids are sick. They just get so miserable, and it hurts my heart to see them that way! Thought I’d share a few pictures. Paul and I got a real tree this year, for the first time ever. I love my artificial tree, but this year Paul wanted to get a real one. He said he had such great memories of running around the Christmas tree lot with his brother Jon, playing tag and hiding from their parents. So, we scouted out a nearby tree lot and headed over there one night to build some memories with our own kiddos. Well. We got a nice little tree, but we froze our ASSES off. The kids spent the whole time inside the jumpy house, trying to maintain their body temperature before they got frostbite. On the way home, Paul said, “I guess when I was remembering my childhood, I forgot about the fact that I grew up in southern California.” Uh, yeah, babe. Colorado Christmases are definitely more brisk! Here is our little tree. I put the lights on, but the kids did 100% of the decorating. I love it.

I’ll have to remember to zoom in and get a picture of my newest, most favorite ornament. When we were in South Dakota last summer, we stopped at a Christmas store and I picked up a few ornaments to commemorate our vacation – Mount Rushmore, Crazy Horse, Reptile Gardens…plus a KISS ornament of Gene Simmons that I just couldn’t resist!

Paul’s working nights this week, while his bridge construction project begins, which means he’s been home during the day a little bit. I love it! He and the kids put together a gingerbread house the other day, and it’s good that I got a few pictures…Pablo has nearly wiped it out, bite-by-bite. Gotta love a sugar high!

We had a nice, big snowstorm last night and throughout today, which dumped about a foot of snow on us. Perfect day to sit inside the warm house, making Chex Mix and cutting out paper snowflakes. My little pup enjoyed tunneling around the backyard! Here she is heading back inside – she needs a little sweater, poor thing.

During our snowy day, I headed out with my shovel to make a little path to the mailbox, and I found a present on the porch for Miss Kayley. Her darling friend Carissa dropped off a little Christmas cheer, but we didn’t realize it until it had been snowed upon for hours and hours. I brought it inside and the kids asked, “Why do you have a gift bag full of snow?” Luckily, the goodies within dried right out!

Only a few days left, and the kids are soooooo excited. My sissie was supposed to come for Christmas, but it just didn’t work out. We’re so bummed about it, but I think she’s even sadder than we are. Love you, sissie! We’ll have to have a spring break sister weekend, for sure. If I don’t update again before Christmas, enjoy the holiday!