Snow!!

So, this was not our first snowfall of the season.  Actually, it was like our forth or fifth.  But the kids loved it none-the-less.  We were waiting for Bekah to  pick the kids up for church and I thought it might be a good idea to shovel my drive.  The kids thought it was a great idea.

I told the kids to only walk on the parts I already shoveled so their shoes don't soak up the snow.  That lasted a whole five seconds.

This is the wreath that my Mom made and I love it.  It's filled with her personality: Simple yet elegant.

After the kids had been picked up and I was able to finish shoveling the driveway, I noticed that everywhere the kids stepped, it left a footprint I couldn't remove.  I thought it was cute.

Another trip to Denver.

Our second trip to Denver this year was not as smooth as the first.  For one thing, the drive was much more difficult and for another, I forgot I had a camera until the second day there.

So, the plan was to depart Tuesday night, arrive in Denver Wednesday morning, have Thanksgiving there Thursday, shop Friday, and head for home Saturday night.  Yes, this was to be one of our longer trips.  Well, we made it all the way to Brigham City on Tuesday night when I realized that I had left my insurance card at home.  I knew it would be very dangerous for me to drive all the way to Denver without it, especially knowing the way I drive.  So, we drove back home and decided to leave for Denver the next day.

We were more successful in departing on Wednesday evening and it was a good thing I went back for my insurance because I actually did get pulled over in Wyoming.  The nice lady officer let me off with a warning when she saw my sleeping kids in the back seat.  The winds in Wyoming were SCARY!!  I didn't need to drink my Red Bull because I was wide awake, trying to keep my car from blowing off the road.  But we made it to Denver in one piece Thursday morning.

We had our Thanksgiving feast @ Katie's in-laws' place and it was so very tasty!

I kept hearing strange noises like gurgling pipes or a faulty radiator or something and after a while I realized it was the dogs.  I don't have good pictures of them but you get the idea.

I don't remember their names but I'll never forget the noises they make.  I wonder if Mom ever thought they had Down's Syndrome.



After dinner was the after-dinner-chaos.  There really weren't a lot of children there but between the children and the grown-ups, there sure was a lot of noise.  Booboo* (or Lulli) and her cousin Hobbes (which their grandma so lovingly calls "Weiner") had a contest of who could be the most destructive as this video demonstrates so well:

  Actually, now that I think about it, the grown-ups were louder than the kids.  The other kids played with Play-doh or played Hide-and-Seek.

Judd sported his super hero cape all day.  It was awesome.

Kalvin attempted to play with the toys at one point but gave up after his creations repeatedly became victims of the wrecking balls named Booboo and Hobbes (Who happens to be named Hobbes Robert Angelo and who's father is named Michael Angelo.  I just wanted to add this little bit because I found it so...interesting.).

And I just have to share this video because I think it's funny.  I was video taping Kalvin and Maki and they just stood there like I was taking a picture.  I told them I was video taping but I guess they didn't hear me.  And then, a child pops out of a bench. (sorry for the crappy quality)

Ok, so Friday, Katie and I do the whole shopping thing, which is always an experience and I decided pictures would be dumb, so there are no pictures of our annual shopping trip.
Later on that day, we went to the Museum of Natural History.  I don't know about the others but my kids and I LOVED it.  I guess you can say that we are a family of geeks.  Ha ha ha.  Erika is really into rocks and minerals (like I was when I was her age) and Kalvin is really into dinosaurs (like I was when I was his age).

Don't worry.  Those wolves are behind glass... And they're fake.

On Saturday, we went to Roy and Betty's house again (Katie's in-laws) and we had the best tasting bean soup I've ever had.  I really need to get the recipe.  Then, we attempted to take pictures of the grandchildren and such.  Here are some of my attempts:

Attempt #1:

Attempt #2

Attempt #3:

Attempt #4:

(probably the best one so far...)

Attempt #5:

I just gave up after this one.

Just before leaving their place, Booboo and Hobbes did the cutest thing.

But you know, it was all for show.  The kids will do anything for an audience.  I actually think Hobbes and Booboo are mortal enemies.

*A funny side note about Booboo's name.  She has many nicknames.  There's Boo, Lulu, Lullie, and I called her Booboo.  but a couple times I got here names mixed up and I called her Boobie.  Of course, I would look around to make sure no one heard me and then silently laugh because it was funny.