8th Annual Girl's Gift Exchange

I think this is the holiday party I most look forward to (no offense to the other parties we attend). This is the time that us girls get together and eat good food and catch up. For some of us it's the only time we get to see each other. We were lucky enough to have both Simone and Betsy G in town but we missed the rest of the girls who couldn't make it. We started at Ari's for a potluck brunch and some good gift stealing. Everyone always brings such great gifts that you'd be happy to go home with any of them but don't think because we're all friends that there isn't stealing going on. The stealing started late in the game this year but one the ball got rolling, the stealing was in full motion. But everyone went home happy.

Then some of us headed to the theater to see the Girl's Only Show. The show was hilarious and really is for girl's only. The entire audience is full of women only and the 2 women show "is an original comedy that celebrates the honor, truth, humor and silliness of being female". The show runs until Feb. 15th.

Happy Holidays

We decided to do an electronic holiday card this year.

Giving thanks for our amazing friends and family and hoping the new year brings you good health and good fortune.

Christmas Tree Hunting

This weekend we went up to Nate's family property up Left Hand Canyon, outside of Boulder, to find our tree. Chris, Tara and Koben came with us. (Riley was up in Estes with Dave and Pauline). We drove in and then took the rest of the road by foot. We walked all the up to Nate's uncle Chuck's cabin. Chuck built the cabin by hand and it has the most amazing view.

We had a great time looking for trees. We chose 2 that were next to others so we could thin out the little grove and give the others more space to grow. Chris, Tara and Koben even found time to make a snow man.

The Holiday Season

(I love this picture.
Riley and Gunner watching Nate while he put up Christmas lights)

The holiday season is upon us and our weather is finally starting to reflect that. We have most of our outside lights up and are starting to decorate inside. I'm very anxious to decorate this year. Maybe it's because last year I didn't really feel up to decorating since Riley was so young. We didn't even finish decorating our tree and the Department 56 scene never made it out of their boxes last year . But this year is different. I rearranged the living room furniture today in preparation for our tree that we'll be getting on Saturday. I think this year were going to put our tree in a different spot so we'll see how it works. I might start setting up the scene today or tomorrow. I love Christmas time.

(Just checking it all out)

Happy Thanksgiving, a little late

(Max, Koben, Riley (who wouldn't sit still), Emma, Hailey and Trevor)

Thanksgiving with Friends:
Every year the Keeney's host their friends, potluck Thanksgiving the weekend before. It's always a fun time to get together and catch up with our friends. This year we had 7 little ones running/walking/crawling around with 3 more on the way. Things sure have changed.
Thanks Tracy and Abbey for hosting a get together that we look forward to all year round.

Thanksgiving with Family:

We hope that everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving and enjoyed a (hopefully) long weekend. We were in Colorado this Thanksgiving which means that Nate had to do some cooking. We hosted Thanksgiving "Dinner" at our house at noon for the Bustamante side of the family (Nate's mom's side). Nate made the turkey, stuffing and gravy and everyone else brought the rest. Everything was wonderful and it was great to spend time with the family.
Once everyone left our house it was time for Thanksgiving "dinner" #2 with the Vielehr side of the family. Although we really didn't eat a full second dinner, because we got there after everyone was already eating, I grazed on leftovers and we had dessert #2. Riley enjoyed having other kids to watch. Pailynn (Nate cousin Derek's youngest daughter who is 2 months older that Riley) was very interested in Riley and kept following him around. They were so cute together and it will be fun to watch their friendship grow as they get older.

Riley and Pailynn

Nate's cousin Ryan and his wife Mona were also in town from San Fransisco with their baby girl Selma, who is 6 months old now. Riley loves to bounce on the couch so getting him to hold still for a picture has become a challenge. He kept bouncing on poor Jack. Riley looks a little out of place, it's a very international family.

(The cousins (sort of): Riley, Jack, Pailynn, Tawanchai and Selma)