3rd Annual Christmas Cookie Party!

Everywhere you looked there was SUGAR!!

And so began the baking process...

Brad created a Monster Truck cookie for Braydon!  The letters are Emily and Megan's "inside joke" Cookies because noone knew what they meant.  

 My pals (and helpers) in the kitchen, Rebecca and Denice!

John Tice joined in on the baking by helping out with the Chocolate Covered Deer Scat.  (Just kidding-they are Oreo Truffles)

What would a Christmas cookie baking party be without putting frosting on our noses? 

...and finding flour fingerprints on our clothes?

Displaying our creations! 

This is Braydon's plate of cookies.  Yes, there are cookies underneath all that frosting!

Then the SUGAR kicked in and Sam started getting wild.

 

Finally, it was time to clean up and I had to grab the camera for this photo because Brad and I didn't know that Joe knew how to use a broom!  

Sam Rocks! at her school concert

Samantha's 4th and 5th graders put on an adorable concert called "ROCK!"  She played a caveman which is why she is in the costume.  She was so animated I  couldn't stop taking pictures of her.  Here she is in all her many moods

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And so the Christmas season begins...

Our first event-Santa's Parade of Lights in downtown Denver.  Only able to get one photo of us with our new video camera that is obviously not designed to take the greatest photos.  But still-we caught us in the moment.  A great evening!

Halloween and Thanksgiving 2010

Halloween-Samantha's costume was an 1980's aerobics outfit and Emily and Megan were "Super Heroes" done up the way a 13 year old girl would.  

Do you think there is enough sugar for the kids this year?  

Grandma Jean always willing to come and support the kids!

Trick or Treating was fun this year and the neighborhood went nuts with decorations!

We wouldn't let Joe and Jackson go with us without putting on some kind of costume, so they borrowed a couple of my Halloween headbands!

                                              

This house was ALIVE!! Notice the windows upstairs are eyeballs!

A beautiful night-no coats needed!

Now,  a truckload of photos from our 2nd annual Wichita Thanksgiving at Derek and Kris' home.  Kris, me and Robbin.

The inseparable cousins, Grace and Sam.  We noticed this trip that they have the same teeth which is why I took this photo.

Derek digging into the appetizers and making a pickle sandwich

Prepping in the kitchen!!

Eduardo's girls waiting patiently for the grub

Joe and Emily still wanted to sit at the kid table this year.

Uncle Tom on the couch ( lives in Wichita now) was there!

We went to Prairie Pines Tree Farm to cut down a tree for Derek and Kris.  What a lovely afternoon that was. First the tractor pulled us to the tree lot!

Emily spent a good portion of her time picking off the thistles on her clothes.

Precious

We found their tree!  Time to cut it down!

TIMBER!!!

Kris, Grace, Isabella, Derek, Brock and Jaxon

Sam jumping off and on the wagon !

 I love my gang

Eduardo and his youngest girl, Yadaira

Robbin, as always, with the kiddos

Brad, not sharing his treat with Joe

We stoppped for hot chocolate and treats and from the looks of these photos, it was HOT but delicious!

Joe and Yadera hangin'

Brock and his cuteness

Sam wrote on her hand S + G = BFF

We ran a race on Saturday, which turned out to be an obstacle course thru farm land!  Great fun!

Kris-about 6 months pregnant ran the 1 mile race with some of the kids!  She is amazing! 

Cheering the 1 milers into the finish line!

Here comes Kris, Brock and Isa!

Way to go Brock and Isabella!!

YAHOO!

The 2 mile obstacle course team! 

On your marks, get set-BANG!

Joe and Jaxon take the lead

Sam and Grace cruising along!

Me and Ems at the finish line!

Brad pushing Yadira to the finish line!  

We all finished STRONG!!!

Reward at the end of the race is a big bonfire with SMORES!  My kind of race!