Wishing all our family and friends a

"Christmas of Love"

We love you all and are so grateful to have you in our lives!

It seems like yesterday when our kids were babies. I felt inspired to scan their old photos from their first visit to see Santa Claus!

Joseph Thomas Acker circa 1995

Emily Ann Acker circa 1997
Samantha Faith Acker circa 2001

Zoo lights

Making Memories...Our tradition with The Wilsons started this year. Instead of exchanging gifts with the kids we are going to share a night together and do something "Christmasie". This year we went to the Denver Zoo Lights and froze our buns off. It was very pretty and we appreciated all the work that went into putting up the lights, however, we all agreed that this would be our last time to do the Denver Zoo Lights. Joe was the most festive. In every photo his hat is SHINING for all the world to see!

Christmas Dance Recital

Emily and Samantha have both been taking jazz/hip hop dance classes at South Suburban. They had a recital this weekend. They got to dance next to each other in the final dance medley. If you just watch the first 30 seconds of the video closely you will see how Samantha didn't finish the "hand slap roll off" to the poor girl at the end of their dance line. We had a good laugh about this one. Samantha rarely misses a beat and she had to continue on with the dance-forget about the girl!!

Even though the ride home was in subzero weather (-4 degrees), you can see the relief on their pretty faces that the dance recital was over!

We started a new tradition this year! A Christmas Cookie Baking Party! Meg, Aaron and their boys, and Joci, Tyson and Levi joined us! It was a blast! We let the kids do everything, so by the last batch of sugar cookies, the dough was like rubber from all the hands that were in it! (I actually never did eat one because of that) The men watched Monday Night Football and did not step foot into the kitchen except to eat a cookie!



The flour was flying!!!!!



















Joshua loading up on the sugar!


Our masterpieces...




Joe added his own "tin"sel this year (look at his teeth!)




Jacob and Levi didn't bake cookies but added a sweetness of their own to the evening!

Making Memories...My goal this Christmas is to make lasting memories, not the usual "eat dinnner, open presents, go home" memories. Memories that will stick. And here is the start of our holiday season. Ice skating and window shopping with our family, the Wilsons and the Allens. Stay tuned for more memories as they happen!

Joe looks like Yukon Cornelius from Rudolph, the Red Nosed Reindeer, wearing a miner's hard hat. "Gold and Silver, Silver and Gold! Whaaahooo!" He is behind Tanner and Christopher in the black coat.

Baby Levi is "hanging out" with Joci and Grandma Melanie. He reminded me of an Ewok-round and furry with little teddy bear ears on his head-precious.

Me, Emily and Edward.....Oh, and Bella.