Happy New Year!

Gas Prices

So I just had to comment on the price I paid for gas yesterday. I paid 1.35 a gallon. I know some say that these low gas prices only point to an economy that is sicker than it appears. I don't care what they say, I love it. Especially since we are a family that drives A LOT. Everyone is losing money everywhere else you may as well be able to save some here.

Rollerskating

We went rollerskating with my friend Jara and her kids Amanda and Madeline. I was suprised on how well both girls did. Cyan was like a rocket and just went around and around at top speed. Olivia gave it a shot which is more than she usually will do. She went around at least 5 times holding a hand and then another all my herself.

Here is Cyan and Amanda

Here is Olivia with Jara

Tomorrow it is Beverly Hills Chewchewawa (that is how Olivia says Chihuahua) at the dollar theatre. Wednesday I have to work but the kids are talking about asking James to take them rollerskating again.

Refridgerator

Good news on the freezer front. We had a repair man come today. In less than an hour and about 200 bucks the freezer is fixed. Good news for us.

Christmas Day

On Christmas morning Olivia climbed in our bed at 7. I had to convince her to go see if Santa came. On our way downstairs we had to wake Cyan. Odd kids.

We came downstairs, checked out the stuff from Santa, opening our presents, played with all the new stuff and got ready to head to Woodland Park

At Aunt Sandy's we had a great time. There were presents, video games, great food and great company. When we got home we played the Scene It Disney game that Uncle Chase gave us. Here are the pics from the day.

Our tree after Santa's visit

The girls looking at their stockings

Olivia checking out what Santa brought
Cyan with her new Wii game

Olivia unwrapping a present
Cyan unwrapping a present
James scores a new lunch box
Olivia wore this on Christmas day, yes it is tights and a shirt
Olivia opening presents with Grandma Kitty
Cyan with a gift from Grandma GG
Uncle Chase opening the Dark Knight from the Johnsons

Christmas Eve

On Christmas Eve we went to mass with Uncle Dan, Tyler, Hannah and Aunt Joy. After a very enjoyable mass we went to Grandma and Grandpa Johnson's for the Christmas Eve Party. It was a late night but a lot of fun. Here are some pics from the evening.

The Girls

Olivia and her gift

Cyan and her gift

James and Dan

James and his white elephant gift

Hilary and her white elephant gift

The Original Johnson's

Cookies

We made cookies this morning for Santa. Here is a pic of the girls with the ones they decorated.

Olivias:

Cyan:
It would not be the holidays without a certain level of disaster. We have all been in varying degrees and kinds of sick for over 2 weeks. James was the most recent victim yesterday. Our refrigerator is not working properly. It is getting cold but not evenly. The top 2 shelves of our freezer are not freezing and we are not certain the refridgerator is cold enough either. We have the first available appointment and it is next Tuesday. Plus yesterday the check engine light came on in my car with some code about some tranmission thing. When it rains is pours, right.

Nutcracker!

I told you the kids were into the Nutcracker. Here is them performing thier own version.

Mills Ladies Night Out!

We had a First Annual Mills Ladies Night Out. The evening started at the Bronco Billy's Steakhouse for a very yummy dinner. After that we went to the Miracle on Bennett Ave. It was a very cute production.

Cyan was even able to join in this time. On the way there she started to not feel really great. She got a dose of Tylenol and perked up enough to be able to come to dinner and the show. I think she really liked the show. It was the first time she ever saw a live stage production.

If this picture is not very good blame Chase for not letting us all get our smiles ready.

Olivia and the puke fest!

We took the kids to Itz yesterday for being so good to me when I was sick. We ate and watch the Grinch. Then we went to spend our tokens. Cyan bowled a mini-bowling game and then rode the giant hangglider ride. Olivia spent her tokens trying to win a prize (which her Dad did get for her). We went for a little dessert and another movie. Cyan started to not feel good and proceeded to get sick. We left came home and Cyan plastered the bathroom and initated the trash can. Then she took a nap. A little later she ate a popsicle and proceeded to throw that up as well.

Not to be outdone or forgotten Olivia exclaimed that she was going to puke. Here is her reaction:

She spent the next 45 minutes like this. She wouldn't lower the trash can, sit on the couch, or look at anything but the bottom of the can. Mind you she had no other symptoms, nothing led to this point where we actually thought her throwing up was a possibility. Here are a couple more pics throughout the ordeal.

We even changed her into pj's but she continued to stare at the bottom of the trash.So how did this ordeal end. The child actually threw up. We are in agreement that she willed herself to do it. Not to be outdone or left behind in any fashion. This is my Olivia. So if ever someone says to you they have a strong willed child dare them to meet Olivia.

My Dear Olivia!

I thought I would share some of the other crazy things Olivia says. She likes grapefruit and calls them "big ones". If she asks for "bread hooked up" that mean 2 pieces of bread buttered and stuck together. She is afraid of bad guys in movies. Her grandma took her to Bolt and she said it was too scarey. She is also afraid of the Grinch and Mouse King from the Nutcracker. She insists if they move into our neighborhood that her Daddy beat them up. She frequently makes up stories. She told Aunt Morgan that kids were not allowed in the glow golf place in the mall. She will tell me when I get home from work that her Dad would not feed her breakfast or lunch and made her sit in her room all day with spankings.

Funny kid!

Nutcracker!

Cyan and Olivia are totally in love with the Nutcracker Ballet. We have watch 5 different versions on 5 different days. If you get the Ovation Channel you can get in on the action as well. It has been great because it gave them something to do while I was sick. Yea for the Nutcracker! (or Mouthcracker as Olivia is still calling it)

Pretzel dipping

Today we dipped some pretzels in white chocolate. I think they ate more than we set to dry but it was fun none the less.

Once again James is the BEST DAD EVER!!!

We had a meeting at Cyan's school about her speech progress, which by the way she has made amazing progress and might not need speech therapy by 1st grade. Anyway we were at the meeting and talking with the teacher about the Christmas Party. James volunteered to come in for the party and help the kids make a reindeer hat. James came right home and designed the hat and gave the design to the teacher for mass production. This Thursday James and Olivia went in for the party. James helped all the kids make the hats and Olivia was his assistant.

Cyan was so proud that her Dad came in and helped in the classroom. All of the kids were in awe of him and loved the hats. I am so proud of James for being the best husband and father ever. We are very lucky girls.

Here is the hat:

Forgotten Camera

This Saturday the girls and I hosted a cookie exchange. On Friday we made 6 dozen Mexican Wedding Cake Cookies. Then Saturday we helped Jayme with her cookies which were Sugar Molasses. Then the party began. There were 10 ladies participating so lot of different cookies. We also did a reindeer craft with the kids that I remember from my childhood. It was a good time and I enjoyed visiting with all the ladies.

After the exchange we went to Joy's holiday party. Joy is the BEST party hostess in the world, so when you are invited make sure you attend. The kids had lots of fun with the cousins and friends at the party. Olivia even found a new best friend in Joy's neighbor's child. Which was evident when we were leaving and Olivia screamed for 10 minutes because Brooklyn has princess pajamas and Olivia does not.

So through all this fun I forgot my camera. Once again you are left to imagine a ton of cookies and a joyous party. I was going to fake some pics today but I am a little under the weather and am not up to it.

Winter WildLand!

Last night we went to the zoo's Winter WildLand (formerly Electric Safari). The kids had a good time but Cyan did not feel well. We liked the fire pits they had lit around the zoo. We also saw Santa feed the hippos a cantelope and bread. We left and drove past our favorite Christmas house. If you are a local and don't know about the house on Dale street let me know and I will tell you where it is. We also did the drive through light display put on by the church on Fountain and Academy. I have never been there but it was pretty cool.

I forgot the camera so you will have to imagine what it looked like.

2 firsts in one week

Another first for Cyan. Today she is home sick from school. She has a little fever and a sore throat. She says she will feel fine to go to the zoo for Electric Safari (or whatever they are calling it)

Snow Day!

The worst day for parents has finally come for us. Cyan has a snow day. AAGGHH

Gingerbread houses

Today we made gingerbread houses. We use a kit and buy two so there are no fights. The bonus is that plan actually worked this year.

Cyan before:

Cyan during:

Cyan after:

Olivia before: Olivia during:
Olivia after:
Olivia was refusing to let me take a better picture of her.

Christmas decorations

I want to show you our outside Christmas decorations. So here you go.

I know in the picture it looks a little wimpy, actually in real life it is probably not that spectacular either. But when you live next to this there is no need to compete.
Now these are people who love Christmas.

Mouthcracker

As you know we put up our Christmas decorations today. We have a nutcracker. Olivia has been playing with him like a puppet all day. She calls him "Mouthcracker". Funny!

Dinner Battle!

We had a battle at dinner tonight. We had chicken and dumplings and the kids both ate it great untill James told Cyan she had to have one last bite. The are locked in battle at I type with no victor in sight. It was pretty funny especially since it is his battle not mine. Here is the pic.

Remember when Olivia fell asleep in the garage in time out? That was over eating chicken and dumplings as well. Maybe I should stop preparing that as it seems to be battle food.

Tree

We put up the Christmas decorations today. Those of you who are in Colorado Springs will know that this was a rotten day to be outside hanging onto a ladder but that is the way it goes. So we got the outside done. When Cyan got home from school we started on the tree. Here are some pics of the tree. I will get some of our house and our neighbors tomorrow.

Big Yellow Bus!

Today was the day that the parents finally cracked and allowed Cyan to ride the bus. I am nervous about kids being mean or her getting off at the wrong stop. We went and met the driver on Tuesday and were ready for the ride to school today. (We are going to work our way up to riding home).

So here is how it went. Here is us going to the bus stop and then waiting for the bus.

Here is Cyan getting on the bus.

Here are Cyan's nervous parents following the bus to school.

Here is Cyan running from where the bus lets the kids off to the line to wait to get into school.

Here is Cyan waiting in the line right before her teacher saw us and pointed us out to Cyan. We were trying to be sneaky and not be seen.

So she made it on the bus and to her classroom all by herself. I am a little sad because if she got scared or lost then we know that we should still take her. I guess she needs us a little less today. I wish they stayed little.

Mushrooms!

I forgot to post this when Olivia said it but it is funny enough that I had to do it now.

We were at the grocery store doing a large grocery run. I bought mushrooms and Olivia saw them. She said "Mom, Why are you buying those? We have them in our grass and they are poison"

Pretty Funny!