The rest of the month

All I've had time to write about this month has been holidays and Christmas programs and festivities, and while that has certainly been the theme for December, we've managed to squeeze a couple other activities into the last few weeks.

The weekend before Christmas, we piled everyone into the car and drove down I-25 to Albuquerque for the New Mexico Bowl. Grandma Hansen came along to help wrangle kids and Vicky and Matt joined us to cheer for the Cowboys. The Cowboys played in this bowl in 2009 and I missed the chance to go then because I had a 2 yr old and a 9-month old but this year it seemed do-able. Although the Cowboys lost, we still had a nice trip. The kids were astonishingly easy travel companions. I can say that because I didn't have to keep them entertained while we were at the game. I think they might have worn Grandma out. The trip was long but we all had a nice time and it's fun to be at that stage where they can all travel a little easier.

The only good picture I captured of the kids involved them eating room service pancakes while watching cartoons and needing some anti-static stuff for their hair. Vicky and me at the pregame tailgate. Go Pokes! Yes, those are temporary face tattoos and no, we aren't too old for them. Me and Cowboy Joe!

Glenn showing loads of Poke Pride.

I told him to "smile" and this is what I got: Back home and post-Christmas. Will received this shirt from Grandma and Pop-pop for Christmas and they must have picked it out from the Catalog of Sure-Fire Ways to Thrill a Four-Yr Old. On the surface it's just a mild-mannered green long sleeve tshirt with a picture of a dinosaur on the front, BUT when you cross your arms, you get a mean blood-thirsty dinosaur mouth. Eeek! Preschool was closed on Thursday and Friday of this week and instead of staying home and doing more post-holiday chores, I took the kids to Denver to spend some time at Pop-pop's house and to see the Zoo Lights. The weather was pretty mild this year so it seemed like a good time to go. As soon as we walked in the main gate of the zoo, a vendor was selling glow in the dark swords and you can be sure that Will noticed and we shortly walked away with two lovely new swords. It worked in our favor later because it was easier to keep track of Will by looking for a large glowing light swinging frantically back and forth as he battled a legion of imaginary bad guys.

Reina joined in the jousting fun.
Oh look, it's a light-up tiger. Let's figure out how to stab it with our swords.
While taking a break from slaying monsters, they did get to touch a hedgehog. It was a very exciting night at the zoo.

I'm not sure if I'll get a chance to post again before the end of 2011. Tomorrow we will be busy wrapping buffalo burger, that's right, the other highlight from December is that Glenn shot a buffalo last week. I'll spare the blog the buffalo hunting pictures, but he is very excited and I'm proud of him. Buffalo meat is very good and we'll have a freezer full to last us a very long time.

2011 has been an eventful year for us. We traveled to Florida and Reina saw the ocean. We bought a camper and delighted in the fact that both the kiddos are already little outdoorsmen (and outdoorswomen!). We said a heart-breaking goodbye to our beloved Canyon but then welcomed an energetic, furniture-chewing, bird-hunting, kid-snuggling bundle of a dog in Trigger. We donned satin dresses and (not-satin because that would be bizarre) suits and watched Vicky marry Matt and welcomed a new uncle into the family. I sadly lost my last surviving grandparent but took solace in the happy memories. We spent time with lots of extended family and enjoyed lots of visits from our "relatins" (Will's word for relatives). We watched Will learn to write his name and play football and turn the corner away from toddlerhood and make a beeline towards Kidville. Reina found her voice and reminds us daily that she's nobody's pushover. As 2011 comes to a close, we have a lot of happy memories to look back on and I'm excited to see what 2012 has in store for us. Happy New Year!