Puppies

Grandma Kitty has a friend who is the lucky owner of 10 Golden Retriever puppies.  We went over to see them, I am not sure the girls have ever seen and held puppies up close and personal.  We almost had to tear them away and I did check pockets to make sure we didn't have any stowaways. 

Here are some pictures:

Christmas at GG's

The girls and I arrived in Cripple Creek about 2 to celebrate with Grandma Kitty.  It was a good day with good food and company.  I guess I forgot to take many pictures but here are a couple.

Christmas Morning

Well this year I think the kids slept in until 6 before tearing downstairs to assess the damages.  Santa left Olivia a walking cat and Cyan an Ipod even Roscoe got in on the action with a new collar.  The girls had been so excited all month for us to open the gifts they purchased at the store at school.  James was the reciepent of a Best Dad coffee mug while I recieved a necklace of a mom hugging a child.  That part was very heartwarming.  The even purchased gifts for each other.  The both bought one another a bracelet.

Here are the pictures:

Christmas Eve!

For Christmas Eve the girls and I attended mass (which was pretty painful because we arrived an hour early to get a seat).  Then we went to the Johnson Family Christmas Eve Party.  We were totally bummed that James had to work though. 

My white elephant gift, a herb garden (which I eventually lost but in a suprise turn of events won too)

 Other white elephant activites.

 Johnson kids

 The girls and I

Dad Day

Today was the girls day with Dad.  First they had lunch at Golden Corral.  When they pulled into the parking lot Olivia exclaimed "This is my dream come true".  She had been asking to eat there for quite some time.  After lunch the headed to the bowling alley where the girls beat Dad at the one game they played.

Here are pics of bowling:

Guess who took the last picture???

Stronger than the Wind

I got a call from the health assistant at Olivia's school last week.  Apparently she was playing at recess when she wasn't paying attention to where she was running and ran into a part of the play equipment.  The health assistant iced her head, checked her out, and sent her back to class.

Later when I asked her what happened she said this "I was running around and the wind got in my way.  Then I couldn't see where I was going"  The way she said it was so funny.  It was as if she was convincing me that she is a force stronger than the wind and was seriously upset that it dared to get in her way.  Trust me - We believe that she is...

Tornado

Olivia woke this morning like a tornado of energy.  She was so hyper, talkative, and loud it was almost insance.  Well when she crashed she crashed hard. 

Here is Olivia when she fell asleep behind the couch:

We dont actually know why she was back there though.  I know she must have been cozy because there is a heater vent she was sleeping on.

Christmas Parties

The girls had their Christmas parties at school today.  We were lucky that the teachers had them at different times.  James and I went in right as school started to Cyan's party.  Her teacher had a breakfast buffet and they watched Frosty the Snowman.  I didnt take any pictures because we were to busy helping serve food.

Olivia's party was later in the morning.  The made Christmas trees out of sugar cones, frosting, and candy.  It was pure chaos with all those kids and all that candy.  There is a child, Nicholas, in her class who has autism.  He has a special teacher assigned to him and another child.  This teacher told me that Olivia is her favorite kid.  She said Olivia is very kind and nurturing with Nicholas and has helped teach him how to be in Kindergarten.  She said if there is one kid that Nicholas trusts in class it is Olivia.  When school started Nicholas barely said a word to anyone and now he answers questions and gave James a high five.  Glad to know our Olivia is a part of that change.

Reindeer Hat Extravaganza Part II

Today James went to Cyan's class to make reindeer hats.  Cyan said all the kids thought her Dad was cool.  I bet that will make him feel good to hear. 

Here is a picture of her class:

Gingerbread House

This year James built his first gingerbread house with the girls.  I am thankful he was able to experience the messy joy that is building a gingerbread house.

3rd Annual Cookie Exchange

Today we hosted the 3rd Annual Johnson Cookie Exhange.  It was a very fun time and there are lots of very yummy cookies that are waiting to be eaten.  Here are the pictures:

 Cyan and Nina were best buddies.

More Chickens

We LOVE our chickens.  This weekend we played with them all weekend through the glass door.  They like to peck at shiny objects so we used my wedding ring, which we promptly lost.  Lucky for me Cyan and Olivia found it a couple days later.  For the reward we are going to a movie this weekend.

 Here we fed them a pancake.  It was hilarious to watch them eat it.

Party

We all were able to attend a  Christmas party at Joy's.  I love it when James is able to attend this kind of stuff.

I wish I took more pics though.

Tree

We took down the tree from the attic and put it up.  Here are some pics of the girls in the act. 

Although I have no idea what James is doing.

Reindeer Hat Extravaganza

 James has a tradition of going into Cyan's classroom and making reindeer hats with the kids.  This was the first year he was able to go into Olivia class.  We think that everyone like it based on how many kids hugged us when we left.  In a couple weeks he is going to Cyan's class too.

There is a child in Olivia's class with autism and he has a special helper assigned to him in the classroom.  That teacher told me that Olivia is one of her favorite kids.  I said she was one of mine too.