Christmas Cheer

I sit here to write while snow is falling outside creating a beautiful winter wonderland - we should have a white Christmas! I have pork chops, apples, and butternut squash in the crock pot which I love for allowing me time this afternoon to bake cookies with Laina instead of preparing dinner.

December has been a whirlwind for us but in a good way. Here are some pics from the different Christmas-time activities we've done so far.


Above is the Garden of Lights at Denver Botanic Gardens. Thanks to my parents getting us a yearly pass, we were able to go and bring another family along for free! On the left is a huge ice sleigh that was being sculpted as we watched.



It took a full two days to trim the tree. Laina loved the red bird on the left and it was the first ornament she picked out. Below is the finished product and very happy 2 1/2 yr old!

Above left is Laina enjoying a couple of real reindeer at the Wildlife Experience. We got to pet them too and they are very friendly and very cute! They reminded me of ponies so right away they got a spot in my heart :) Did you know that the females grow horns, too? These were both females. On the right is one of the blow-up reindeer that Laina put down for a nap in our bed. Last year at my parent's house, Laina adored these guys. My mom mailed them to her so she could have them this year, too! There is also a red one and she actually put both of them to bed, the white one on my pillow and the red one on Jay's pillow. It was so sweet. She even named them Snowy and Rosie.

We also went to the Parker Carriage Parade, but we have so many pictures from it that I am gong to do a separate post!