Telluride

We headed to one of our favorite places in the world the day after Christmas.  It was a wonderful trip but Lisa, Daniel, and Noah were missed terribly.  They stayed back in Texas for good reason.  Sweet Grayson came pretty soon after we all got home.  

Luke really took off on the skis this year.  It was so fun to see him love it like we do.  

Mom and Dad still hitting the slopes together

Nothing but trouble right there ;)

 My favorite kind of date

 Doll stroller races

This girl kills me.   She has style like I've never seen.

 A Billy dogpile

Blake in a box

Luke doing story time 

 The littlest ones sledding 

 That time we almost lost Langley...

She LOVED riding super fast

but almost headed straight passed us down the mountain.  Thankfully Luke, Aunt Val, and Uncle Craig sacrificed life and limb by diving to catch her.

 A sunset in Telluride is pretty hard to beat

 Daddy and his girls

I was so excited to get to spend my 30th birthday with everyone. It made turning 30 not so bad.

Kendall dug the birthday cake

The adults got to go out for a special dinner at Alred's

I just love them

 We celebrated New Year's Eve there too by watching the torch parade come down the mountain.  I'm pretty sure we were all asleep by 9 though.

 I love that our family has so many special memories here

Christmas

We had a quiet but very merry Christmas celebrating at home this year. 

On our way out the door for Christmas Eve service

After church we had a non-traditional Christmas Eve dinner at our favorite pizzeria

Checking on the stocking goodies 

The kids must have been good this year  

Luke was into all things Star Wars this year.  

Langley and Kendall were all about the babies

  

A Kirby photobomb 

Miss Priss in her Princess Sofia jammies

Happy birthday, Jesus cinnamon rolls

It was so nice to be at home but we couldn't wait to leave for Telluride the next day...

December happenings

 We decided on one of Michael's free Sundays that we would head out to chop our tree down.  Too bad it just so happened to be 14 degrees that day.  The girls and I were pretty miserable but it made for a fun memory. 

 Kirby even made it but just added to the crazy. 

We got our tree home and for the second year in a row realized we (and by we I mean Michael)  ;) forgot to ask them to drill the hole in the bottom for our stand.  After a couple of broken and stuck drill bits, this is what we ended up with. It was the year of the leaning tree.  

 That same weekend we made our visit to Santa.   Luke takes after his daddy and is such a planner.  He knew he wanted a double lightsaber for Christmas for months so he drew his request and brought it to the jolly man.  

 We've created some snow bunnies living up here in the tundra

Snowy swinging

 Luke took a couple of ski lessons at a small skiing hill not far from our house.   It was perfect to get his skiing legs back before we headed out to Telluride after Christmas.  

Every year that we've been here the rehab hospital in town hosts a Christmas party for their pediatric patients. The orthopaedic residents dress up as (somewhat bizarre) animals, and Christmas characters to help with the fun.   The patients of the hospital are the "stars" of the show but our kids get to participate too.  Luke thinks it's hilarious to see dad dressed as a raccoon, the girls on the other hand are quite terrified.    I had to get a picture of our last year.  

 I got to fly back to Texas for a quick weekend to be a part of one of my best friend's wedding.   Katie was a stunning bride and it was such an honor to be a part of her and Adam's wedding day.

Luke and Langley had their school Christmas program and both did great.  I was a little unsure whether Langley would actually stay up on stage but she did.  She didn't sing a single word but I was proud of her for not crying. 

 Our motley crew just hanging at home one morning of the break.   

 Michael hosted his annual pheasant hunt again.   It was extra cold and snowy compared to last year but they had their most successful hunt ever.  I wasn't too sad to miss out this year.  Brrrr.  

Post Thanksgiving in Texas

We were so happy to be able to fly back to the Woodlands the day after Thanksgiving to see the whole Merrick clan.

Our happy traveler.  Don't let this fool you.  She is a force to be reckoned with on airplanes. 

 Langley was pretty smitten with baby Emma.  She hardly left her side.  :)  

 Kendall and Papa enjoyed the tiny room

We had a little photoshoot in the backyard one afternoon 

 When did he get so big?  He turns 6 tomorrow!  Rip my heart out already.  

 Nana and Papa with all of their grandkids

 The whole crew.  Kendall was less than thrilled at this point.

And one with Nanny and Granddad too! 

 Later that day Nana treated Langley to a trip to the American Girl store to pick out her Christmas presents.  I tagged along and it was quite an experience.  

I didn't take enough pictures of the time we had with my side of the family, but we did get over to see Great Grandaddy.  

What a fun visit home.