Brooks' Kindergarten Program

Brooks had his first program at the big school! It was really crowded and we were not early enough to get a very good seat. Luckily Mike had gone on ahead and got a pretty good spot to stand. This is the first number they did and it was all the K-4 kids. I challenge you to try to find Brooks! They put the little kids down front on the floor. He is about the center of the picture in the navy and white sweater.

I felt like we were pretty close, but the pictures were horrible. Here is when it was just the Kindergartner's turn. Brooks is again on the floor, which made it hard to see him, I don't know why they put them on the floor when they had risers.

Brooks did great! He was so excited for his program. When he found us in the crowd

he would wave and blow kisses--what a ham! I finally got a picture in the hallway so you could see that Brooks was there.

Eating his candy from Santa

This would have been a really great shot if Ty had kept looking :)

It was -7 as we left school after the program--BURRRRR!

He Did It!

Ty got on stage and sang at his Christmas program! He had talked about doing it, said he was going to, but when the time came he was really nervous and anxious. Really not even when the time came, when the day came--he would start crying and get upset when it was the day. Here he is where they lined up, you can see the apprehension in his face.

Brooks went over to hold his hand and help him. We also came up with the fact that he could take his puppy with him to hold.Here he made it to the stage, still nervous, but up there.Once they got going he did fine. Mike thought he looked on the verge of tears the whole time, but I thought he relaxed a bit. He did all the motions and all the parts, but didn't sing very loud :) we were just glad he did it!

We made a huge deal out of it and then took him out for pizza afterwards!

Good Job Ty!

Our Tree

It is tree time! The boys were so excited to get our tree.We had lots of help.

I don't know what Ty was doing--why he had such a funny smile. He looks like a crazy person.

I wish this wasn't blurry, I think it is so cute of Cooper.

Brooks still loves trains! This is a Thomas holiday train we bought on sale last year after Christmas, it was really fun to have it as a surprise this year. It was a good thing we still had some Thomas track because what it came with was not quite enough.

lights--we are making progress

ahhhhhh, finished product

***************OUTAKES*********************

more crazy person

Just Like Rockefeller Center......Not Reallly

Saturday night was Crested Butte's annual light the night, night. There is a small, short parade to the big tree and then Santa light's the tree. This year Santa brought one of his reindeer to the parade. This was the first time for the reindeer and it was a huge hit! The reindeer making his way up Elk ave.

Brooks getting a lift to see the reindeer above the crowd.

Boosting Ty for a better view. I held Ty most of the time, he gets nervous in crowds--plus it is hard when you are so close to the ground in a group of adults.

It was really cold. I thought for sure in the single digits--but really it was about 11 degrees.

You can see Daddy enjoying this less and less with each boy. Cooper was having fun. Once Santa makes it to the tree he lights it up to start the season. After! Our beautiful tree is now lit for the rest of the year. One of my friends remarked it was just like the lighting in Rockefeller Center. Really it was a lot of standing in the cold for Santa to flip the switch. Brooks being silly

Santa Sighting

I still have new pictures from our trip to California, but I am going to jump ahead a bit today. We took the boys to the holiday bazaar at the school and they got to see Santa. In the past we have not had much luck with Santa, but today the boys did GREAT! Ty did not believe his dad that Santa was going to be at the school. Hugs for Santa.

CHEEEEESE!

This seems to be the only picture I got with Brooks and Santa. He was very first and I was not quite ready. He got right in there and told Santa what he wanted.

Next was Ty's turn. We did not think he would do it but he went right up and let Santa put him on his lap.

Ty asked Santa for Spike the Dinosaur. Here he seems to be explaining the specifics of Spike the Dinosaur. He was telling Santa there are spikes all over him and he is green. It was really cute.

Cooper was not as sure about Santa but he was not going to be left out.

I am not sure he gave Santa any suggestions, but he went up and saw him.

Mike and I were both floored the boys did so great! It was really fun to have them excited to see Santa. We were first in line and they did not have time to think about being scared.

This afternoon Ty asked me if we had any carrots. When I told him we didn't he was worried we wouldn't have any for Santa's reindeer. Then I had to explain that today is NOT Christmas Eve. It could be a long 19 days.

1st Snowman of the Season

This the the first snowman made of the season. Mike helped Brooks and Cooper with this on a Sunday afternoon. I thought they did a great job! Very creative on the face!

We have not really had snow since then--the resort really needs it to snow.

It may take me a few days to blog again. I feel very guilty sitting at the computer when I look around at all the work I have left to do on the move! (that and Christmas breathing down my neck ;)