Denver Aquarium

We went to the Denver Aquarium on Saturday. They have a really cool shark exhibit, check out Mason's expression when the shark was right by him.

Other Minnesota pics

While we were in MN we went to the Como Park Conservatory. This is the same place where Zach and I had our engagement photos taken. Peyton really wanted to go swimming with the koi fish. The como zoo was open and we went to the monkey house and there was a baby orangutan that looked just like Peyton but with a lot more hair.

Uncle Spencer is the best!!

Peyton and I took a trip to Minnesota for a few days. I will post the pictures from my camera later. Here are some of the portraits Spencer took of Peyton. He is the best, I am always surprised at how well the pictures turn out. During the session I always think he could not have gotten a good shot because Peyton was too wiggly or not looking at the camera or insisted on holding this ugly Barney doll. But Spencer always comes through.

Happy 4th Birthday Mason!

Mason had his birthday party at Chuck E. Cheese's. His best friend Griffin's birthday is on the third and Mason's is on the fourth so they had a combined party. They had a blast, even though it was a total zoo. It was complete chaos but totally worth it because I didn't have to clean up the mess. I can't believe Mason it already four years old. It seems like only yesterday that he was my tiny baby, barfing all over me. I can't believe I actually miss those barfing days.
Here's what Peyton thought about Chuck E Cheese's. She slept through most of the party.

Other cute Christmas pics

In their new Christmas church outfits.
We went to the Nutcracker at the Colorado Ballet Co. It was really good. It was a fun girls night out.

Christmas Eve and Christmas Morning

Making cookies for Santa

Finding that Santa ate the cookies we left him.

Santa heard Mason's request for a mote trol Lightning McQueen. The kids actually slept in until seven. Peyton was really cranky, I think because she was hungry and she had two ear infections. Here is a picture of her throwing a tantrum while opening a present.

Its Beginning to Look a lot like Christmas

We let the kids decorate a gingerbread house for family home evening and it was really difficult for me not to take over and do it myself. I tend to be a perfectionist with these sort of things and it was hard for me just to let go and let the kids have fun with it. It was worth it though because Mason said "this is my favorite night ever!" after we were done. It was probably because he got to eat so much candy.


Santa happened to be at the Park Meadows Mall last weekend so we took the kids to see him. I predicted that Peyton would freak out and refuse to even look at Santa and Mason would talk his ear off about all the toys he wants. It was the exact opposite. Peyton sat and smiled for pictures. We had to force Mason onto Santa's lap and he refused to look at the camera. As we were leaving he yells back at Santa "I want a mote trol (remote control) Lightning McQueen, and my sister wants a baby doll." This from the kid who gave Santa hugs the first time he met him.