Colorado Christmas

(picture I took in Sedona, AZ at a light display)

We've been fortunate to have been surrounded by both our families for Thanksgiving and a week in December before Christmas (which I still need to blog about).

This year for Christmas we had a quiet, just the 3 of us, Colorado Christmas. Derek and I had fun inventing new family traditions. We also had the chance to enjoy the Christmas Spirit through our daughter's eyes.

Here are some activities we did during the week of Christmas:


Driving around neighborhoods to look at Christmas lights. We found some amazing homes that did an amazing job! Then we learned of the local First Nazarene Church doing some kind of light show. We went to check it out. It was awesome! They had it all set up throughout their huge parking lot. They had their own radio station to broadcast Christmas music that danced with the tree lights. It was beautiful! Then of course they put a magnet sign on our car that read Cassidy's name so throughout the whole drive-thru they would wish Cassidy a Merry Christmas knowing her name: Santa and Mrs. Claus, the helping elves, the 3 Wise Men, other helpers dressed up for the season made it personal to her. It was magical! At the end was the best part, a live Nativity scene of Mary and Joseph. We were definitely impressed!



Mommy and Cassidy going to the Ceramic Shop to make our home-made gifts for daddy. A family tradition every year. Cassidy painted a mug and with her fingerprints made some snowmen art on the mug. I designed a mosaic frame for Derek to put on his desk at work. It was fun! This was our 2nd time to the Ceramic shop and we really enjoy it, I think it will be our little mommy/daughter tradition!

Cassidy's Christmas Dress

One night, Derek took Cassidy Christmas shopping for Mommy. It was sweet! They always come home with adventures to share. We also had fun going to friend's homes for Christmas parties. We also had a fun Enrichment Activity at the Church. We held our 2nd annual "Service Auction" and had a Mexican Buffet for dinner. I'm so grateful for the sisters I serve with and couldn't do it without my Enrichment Committee.

CHRISTMAS EVE

On Christmas Eve Derek wanted to take Cassidy to see the movie "Princess and the Frog. " I thought it was a perfect idea! Especially since that evening she would be opening her ONE Christmas Eve gift from her daddy, a beautiful pajama gown of Princess Tiana.

We invited our friends Jamie and Tyler to come too. Cassidy was so excited to have received our invitation to see the movie (invitation idea from my friend Shauna).





We then were able to get plates of goodies together to deliver to some friends. Cassidy LOVED helping and delivering the goodies.


CHRISTMAS MORNING (after we all slept in):

"Merry Christmas Daddy! Now wake up!"

"Wow, Santa ate all his cookies and drank his milk!"

"Gasp! Santa left some surprises!"

Cassidy's New Lil House

Daddy built us instruments out of Cassidy's new legos for our family band

Daddy's Mug from Cassidy

Cassidy picked out some bright pink PJ's with butterflies for me. They make me happy!

My new Belgian Waffle Maker

Oakley got a yummy cookie biscuit in his stocking

Cassidy invited us over to read books in her new home

Happy Birthday, Jesus!

Yummy Waffles the next morning using my new waffle maker

Throughout the month, friends would ask what we were doing for Christmas. I would tell them we're having a "quiet" Christmas at home. Well I didn't think anything of it, until one day Cassidy said to me, "Mom, I don't want to have a quiet Christmas I want to have a loud Christmas!" It was funny! But after all said and done I don't think it bothered her one bit!

We had a Special White Family Christmas!

Derek's Birthday

Cassidy was the birthday planner this year for her Daddy's Birthday...she insisted Daddy had to have a Spider Man cake. Then she asked me if I could take her shopping for a gift for her Daddy. I took Cassidy to the Dollar Store and let her pick whatever she wanted to get for a birthday gift. She didn't take long, she was thrilled with her choice......An Air Horn, that LOUD horn they use at Sport events. I hadn't even told her that I was thinking about getting tickets to the Air Force Football game as my gift for Derek, it was perfect! She was definitely inspired! :) She even picked out a birthday card all by herself (which was actually a Halloween card) close enough right?

Then we went home and I started cooking one of Derek's favorite meals for dinner...Chicken Parmesan. Cassidy helped me make the cake batter and she frosted the cake all by herself, and put the decorations on the cake. I think she did a pretty good job!

The Halloween Card that read: "To a Boy Who's Fun"

Gotta Love that Air Horn!

Our first attempt for going to the game was cold and snowy so we decided to postpone for the next weekend. We couldn't have picked a more gorgeous day to spend outside watching football! The Air Force Academy was playing Wyoming. We won 10-0. Lousy score but it was still exciting and Cassidy was enjoying her first football game. It was cute to watch Derek explain to his little girl all about the game of football. We had great seats in the front rows and had plenty of room for Cassidy to climb. The Cadets would come down from their seats onto the field and do push-ups for each touchdown. It was cool. It was a fun to do together and I'm so glad it brought a smile to my birthday boy! And of course that horn was well used for those good plays!

See all the Cadets!

Our little Cheerleader with Pom Poms

Happy Halloween!

Cassidy talked about wanting to be a Dragon WEEKS before Halloween! I thought it was quite cute, and different than other girls her age. But I wasn't sure how I was going to get her dragon costume without paying more than I wanted. Especially since I already had some other costumes we could wear. But how could I let our little girl down? Her heart was so into being a dragon!

Then I remembered my sister-in-law Sara had designed a cool dragon costume for my nephew Michael. She was willing to ship the costume. But my friend Camille found a lady selling a dragon costume on Craigs-list. I had to get in touch with the lady and hope for the best. Three dollars and finding some pants at the ARC later, it all worked out! Then I found Derek a Knight costume. Derek was our Knight, Cassidy our dragon, and I was the Princess.

Cassidy was the cutest, friendliest, dragon ever! Fortunately, because that picture below could have been ugly if the dragon decided to keep blowing fire on my Handsome Knight in Shining Armor.



We hope you had a wonderful Halloween too!


HALLOWEEN FESTIVITIES:

Montessori Preschool Halloween Party
Miss Shanda using toilet paper to turn Cassidy into a Mummy

Cassidy's Turn to do it to Miss Shanda

Halloween Craft-Decorating Ghosts and Witches Hats

Decorating Halloween Cookies and eating them

Miss Shanda handing out home-made playdoh that smells like Pumpkins to the kids

It was my turn to teach Joy School-We had a Halloween Party and did some school work
Aren't they soooo cute!

Painting our Jack-O-Laterns/Coloring & Cutting Pumpkin worksheets

Dancing to Monster Mash
I think Cassidy REALLY liked the Microphone

After a busy day of Joy School, Cassidy and I got comfortable on Mom's bed to watch a movie and to relax

Family time at the Park on Halloween Day

Primary/Nursery Halloween Carnival at the Church
(Friends-Leanna, & Callie)

Cassidy beating up on the Giant using Marshmallows

Ready for Trunk or Treat at the Church

Eating Candy with Friends
(Friends-Logan, Annelise, & Brooklyn)

Trick or Treating time with Daddy
Mommy and Oakley stayed home to hand out candy

Aren't they the perfect match!