XMas-New Years

We spent the week between Christmas through New Years (plus a few days) in the mountains.  We did some sledding, swimming and lots of skiing with big powder days.

The first powder day was 8 new inches, and was really fun for the most part, until it wasn't.  B wanted to go on a black, which was fun, but didn't end well with him needing to be dug out by his brother and Bri crashing (waiting on MRI results for a knee injury).  

Of course there was a lot of cooking (in our TINY kitchen with many people there).  Ads taught B lots of knife skills.

Annual NYE fondue (LT was in Denver with his girlfriend at a party).

On New Years day, B, Ads and I headed to Vail so Ads could meet a friend and so could B.  The only picture I got was of these two in the candy store post skiing.

The next day Copper got 10 inches.  Everyone was tired (and Bri was hurt), but I wanted to go.  I woke the kids up and everyone said they were too tired.  As I was about to leave, I nudged LT a bit more and he agreed.  It was one of the best days I've skied (albeit a bit cold and windy).

 

Christmas Week

With Christmas being on Wednesday this year, and the kids getting out of school the Friday before (and the time between Thanksgiving and Christmas combined with jet lag and a terrible stomach bug), we felt a little rushed.  But, we did manage to go to holiday events Friday and Saturday, head to the mountains Sunday, ski Monday, come back down because our nephew/cousin flew in and still celebrate holidays with family.  Above, Ads with a few friends on Monday.

My brother only has his kids parts of Xmas eve and parts of Christmas, but we managed to get two big family events in.  Grandma and Papa hosted a big holiday brunch on xmas eve and we hosted (by we, mostly Ads) Christmas dinner with everyone.  We also went to the candlelight Xmas eve service where my parents go to church and where LT works.  And of course a big pazole and tamale dinner following that service.

X mas morning was sweet family time, just the 5 of us.  B woke up quite early ready to go, the big kids slept in, we had gift opening and a big brunch (plus Bri, Lexi and I squeezed in a run).

The whole thing was lovely, but my favorite part is always the gifts they each choose for each other.  So thoughtful.

Ads planned, and invited, everyone over for Christmas dinner.  I bought all the food, but he prepped, and prepared it all (with a little help of his older brother and dad, and later uncle).  It was perfect.  Cheese ravioli, salad and cheesy garlic bread.

Holidays are always better with funny games.

 

December Fun

It was a rough re entry from Italy with all of us getting sick, laundry piling up and a million things to do to get ready for the holidays.  But we recovered and have had a great few weeks.  B went with one of his best buds to the Botanic Gardens lights.

LTs girlfriend works at a horse ranch that had a fun holiday event one day, bonus that B LOVES horses (though is very allergic to them).

I love holiday lights and this street is so beautiful in the mornings when I go to workout.

Annual holiday treats (not pictured was the cinnamon roll making day).

B's shoebox celebration in his class (the same week as the nutcracker and the poetry reading day, not pictured).  

Zoo lights with our friends (only photo I took).

Ski day 1, both older boys had already left us to ski with friends, but we were all 5 there.

Holiday dinner out with some of my best mom friends.

I came home from work one day to Ads making fried chicken and LT and his girlfriend making chocolate dipped marshmallows with peppermint.

One of my bookclubs does an annual white elephant, fancy dinner out night.  This year was a fun one.

Only photo I got from B's holiday performance.

Christmas #1 with LTs girlfriend.

Followed by a hilarious game of Go Bananas (my white elephant gift).

LT and one of his best buds at their white elephant exchange.

 

Munich- bonus night/day

The great, the good and the bad.  We woke up Saturday morning (the day we were to fly from Venice to Munich and then Munich to Denver) with a message from United that our flight from Munich to Denver was CANCELED.  Our friends (who were also in Italy, though we never met up with, were on the same flight had also texted).  We were rebooked to Sunday morning, our friends to another flight the same day.  Needing to get to Munich regardless, we got up and took the WATER taxi ( brand new experience for all of us and so fun!) to the airport to catch our flight to Munich. 

Parking for the water taxis at the airport.

The flight to Munich was stunning.  Over the dolomites, quick, and absolutely breathtaking.

When we arrived in Munich, Brian had booked us a hotel.  We checked in and decided to head into Munich to go to a Christmas market (while we had been to one in Paris, going to one in Germany has always been on my list to do!)  We walked out of our hotel to take the train into Munich, and AT THE AIRPORT, was a Christmas market!  Naturally we stopped, walked around, and the boys goe potato twisters on a stick.

We did, however, want to make it to Munich, which we did, to an insanely crowded and incredible market.  It was maybe a bit more "adult" centered with lots of drinks and food and less carnival than we were hoping for, but it definitely was a scene.  We got hot chocolate, and spiked hot chocolate, brats, and bought ALL the warm items being sold as it was very cold and we had only brought clothes for Italy (MUCH warmer).  

However, that night, LT came down with a nasty stomach virus.  Luckily I had brought zofran with me, which I gave him before the flight.  He managed to mostly sleep on the way home, but we did fill an entire biohazard bag as well.  As awful as it was for him, he was such a trooper and we made it home before the other 4 of us came down with the same virus, mostly leaving us home from school/work once we were home.