Merry Christmas 2009!

This has turned out to be the best Christmas - not only did the family get some very nice and thoughtful gifts, but we have to thank God that Gary was able to be home with us this year! You don't realize how important that is until you don't have it and it really makes us appreciate and cherish our time together. We are definitely missing our families this year, but I think we are blessed to all be together. God Bless the troops that are defending us so we can be together. Merry Christmas!

Here's a couple pictures and videos of Christmas morning.... (Don't forget to pause the music if you play the videos)

Cole's gift from Santa - he LOVES it!

Olivia's gift from Santa - American Girl Emily (and a table with picnic food).

Daddy in his new robe.

A gift from Memere and Pepere (Gary's Parents).

Olivia opening a gift from Dolly.

A most thoughtful gift from my best friend from Maine, Amy. I LOVE it! Thanks girlfriend!

Olivia opening her first gift - From Santa!

Colvin jumping on his new trampoline!

Colvin playing with his car from Memere and Pepere.

Merry Christmas Eve!!

Here's a picture of our Christmas Eve - it's tradition that we let the kids open one gift on Christmas Eve - Olivia LOVED her present from Memaw - it was a Belle dress and Colvin got a monkey from my dad. Tomorrow is going to be GREAT!

Kitty Sitting

Our neighbors, Andy and Judy, got their kids a kitten for Christmas and this is the cute little girl ... she's been meowing a lot but she's finally becoming social. Do you wonder what Olivia wants now? I'll give you three guesses.....

Cole's OT session

We started occupational therapy with Colvin last week and he's doing really well. Don't ask me to explain it, it's the therapy that I understand the least, but it has to do with a body's sensory and spatial inputs. Here are a few pictures of Colvin and the therapist, Aleta. He seems to enjoy playing with her and of course, he loves all the activity!!

Dumping balls on top of Colvin in the ball pit.

Cole in the nylon/spandex swing - LOVES this!

Cole and Aleta doing a puzzle in the ball pit.

Colvin is buried in the ball pit.

Happy Birthday Amy!!!

Happy Birthday Amy girl!! I wish I could be there to help you celebrate!! I hope you have a fantastic birthday and next year brings many new and wonderful memories! Thanks for being such a GREAT friend - I'm so blessed to have you in my life! (Although I really do wish you lived closer) :) I love ya!

Trail of Lights 2009 @ Denver Botanical Gardens

Our Friends - the Doehrings

Merry Christmas from the Raymonds!

**PAUSE MUSIC BEFORE PLAYING**

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

Putting Up the Christmas Tree 2009

The finished product.

(Sorry - the picture is a little fuzzy)

Finally found our pathetic, little, Charlie Brown Christmas Tree - everything was picked over, ... they shop early for trees here in the Springs. Although it's small, it turned out really cute and we were so happy to have Daddy home this year to help us! Thank God for small miracles and Merry Christmas to all!

You know Colvin is tired when....

... it's time to brush teeth and he tries to go to sleep on the bathroom floor.

Best Christmas Swap Gift

My friend, Judy, invited me to a Christmas decoration 'swap' at a home of one of the ladies at her church. We had a lot of fun, everyone was super nice and best of all, I got this lighted 'present' at the swap - kind of like a yankee swap, but it was all Christmas decor and ornaments. The limit was $15 and this was my favorite! Such a neat idea!

Snow, snow and more snow.....

Today school was canceled here in the Springs because of snow. Sucks too because it's SUPER cold outside - like 5 degrees! I thought we left this behind in Maine .... wishful thinking. And again, Gary escapes the shovel - he's enjoying his own hotel room in DC (at a conference). Plus, the AF guys are such sallies, they have people to come shovel the driveway, but unfortunately, I can't wait that long. Guess I should get my butt outside......