Sleepy Sunday

Today was a good day.  A very, very good day.  We started out with some pancakes and Thomas and friends, then moved on towards reenacting one of Sol's favorite stories (has to do with freight cars transporting lemonade bottles... lots of "pop! pop! popping!" going on).  In the afternoon we went into town for some sledding; after watching a handful of big kids get some air on a couple of ramps, our little one decided to step it up.  He took the hill all by himself and went over those ramps like it was no one's business.  I loved being as close as I was- hearing his fast breaths as he approached the ramp and then the quick gasp! as he flew through the air... pure delight.  Pure, pure delight.  After about an hour of sledding we headed to a local coffee shop for some hot chocolate covered in whipped cream and dark chocolate syrup.  Our boy was in heaven.  So were we.

Winterskol

Last weekend we hit up Winterskol in Aspen.  It was COLD, COLD, COLD.  Like, really cold.  Did I mention it was cold?  Because it was.  COLD.

Anyway, we had lots of fun.  Had a tiny picture taking party in the car, got a balloon, listened to some music played by the USAF, sampled some hot chocolate, played rock-paper-scissors, danced with our reflections, and then passed out in the car.  Success.

Christmas

Solomon woke up around 8:15 on Christmas morn, high as a kite.  His first find was Rudolph, sitting right on top of a box.  To say he was thrilled doesn't even begin to touch the emotions he had (and has) about this stuffed animal... it immediately became his best friend and has yet to miss a family outing.  Before opening up gifts we had breakfast, then spent the rest of the morning exploring EVERYTHING and making phone calls with grandparents.  In the afternoon we went to Marble to tromp around in the snow- we were hoping to go ice skating but the local rink was covered up in about a foot of snow, making that little adventure impossible.

Christmas Eve

We celebrated the night before Christmas with some friends, some pasta (spaghetti with asparagus, mixed greens salad, fresh bread), some cookies (they were vegan!  and they tasted great!), some new pj's, and some games (Scattergories anyone?).  

When we asked Solomon what he wanted to leave out for Santa, he found a picture he had made ("Dear Santa, Hi."), picked out 2 cookies, then insisted on a glass of water rather than milk (a bucket of water for the reindeer), and a carrot for Rudolph.  

Sol was so excited about Santa coming that he bypassed his normal bedtime and stayed up until 11 (yay!).  He kept glancing out the windows, hoping he would get to see Santa in his sleigh.  To this day (ummm, January 1st), he says that he could hear Santa opening the front door at some point when it was dark outside.  Maybe?

Here they are!  I was so glad to find a new sugar cookie recipe!

Solomon took to the sprinkles like a mad man

Cara meant business when it came to the cookie decorating challenge

Azalea and Ashley

New family tradition- a book and PJ's on Christmas Eve... Solomon was fired up!

See what I mean?  He could barely contain himself!

For Santa and his reindeer

Happy to bypass bedtime and hang out with the cool cats

Jason and Courtney, done by Cara

Finished!

Cara made this delightful angel

Not awkward at all!

Fun in the snow

On Sunday we had a killer time at the grocery store (as you can clearly see from the picture below) then spent a good portion of the afternoon playing in the snow at a local park.  We only yearned for our cross country skis for just a little bit.  Just a wee little bit.  Wee.  Little.  Bit.  

Truth?  Still wondering how to get the little guy fired up about getting his own set of skis.  I mean, surely there's a way.  Surely.