Cookie Exchange

Jilly, Hilary, Alex, Lisa, Megan & Desi
Opening presents - jammies & matching bags

Jillian & the Fave Five

Jillian has made some great friends since she's been at Westridge, and today she had a cookie exchange with her "fave five" - Hilary, Lisa, Desi, Alex & Megan. She didn't even mind having me around, so Shellie (Hilary's mom) and I had the chance to catch up and drink hot buttered rum while the girlies did their thing. Love moments like this!

Kirstin, Adam & Burke

Burke & the ladies Jilly & Burke

Kirstin and Adam Gentry came and tiled our basement bathroom, and so the renovations begin... They actually renovated their own house awhile back and did an amazing job, so we were so excited that they wanted to come do our bathroom. The best part (other than a lovely finished job) was that we got to spend time with them and hear about their lives - Adam's leap into dental school and Kirstin's new role as a full time mom. And the icing on the cake was hanging out with Burke today. Kirstin has a special place in our family's heart as she was Mallory's first babysitter, and it was fun to see our girls holding and playing with Kirstin's baby. It's amazing how God brings wonderful people into our lives, and we are blessed because we know them.

The Girl's Got Rhythm

Bree, Jillian, Anna, Lexi & Kylie (part of the group)
The instructor, Jessica, & some of the girls at rehearsal.

Jillian and her hip hop dance group had their debut performance last night at a local talent show, and they were fantastic. They've been rehearsing this particular dance to "Shackles" by Mary Mary, and Jilly we've discovered has great rhythm (her piano teacher's been telling us that too). They get to perform again two times on Sunday, and it's a pleasure to see her having so much fun with it.

Christmas Songs at Starbucks

Jillian played Feliz Navidad & Let It Snow.

Mallory played Winter Wonderland.

Love hearing the girls play the piano, and even better - they love playing it. We don't even have to nag them to practice. If only getting Mallory to clean her room was that easy . . .

Mallory's Christmas Concert

Mallory & Grammie

The Lakewood alumni were invited to sing the Hallelujah Chorus with the choir.

Tonight we went to Mallory's Christmas choir concert at Lakewood High School. The evening was fantastic, but even better was the opportunity to watch Mallory doing something she LOVES - singing. She had a singing part with a couple of girls and was excited and confident and was of course, fabulous. We love hearing her sing - in a choir, in the car, with her friends or in her room. It's all great, and the best part is she likes all kinds of music so we get to hear a variety. Right now her favorites would be Taylor Swift, Carrie Underwood and Rhianna, but that could change tomorrow. We are so proud of you Mallory!

Baddeley Visit

Peter, Joy, Jenny & Eric
Eric - doing the "twist"
Jillian & Callan
It's hard to believe that they were once 3yr olds at Wilmore Kindy together.
Peter & Eric
Men their age should NOT be wearing matching hoodies!!!

Ribs - need we say more

I took the Baddeley family to the airport this afternoon, and now the house seems so quiet and empty. We had such a fabulous time with them doing lots of touristy things, shopping and just hanging out and being with them. Now we have even more great memories to add to the ones we made with them in Australia.

Baddeley Visit Highlights -
Jillian - skiing at Copper Mountain, playing the Wii with Madie & Callan and eating ribs on their last night
Mallory – snowball fight and agreed with Jillian about eating ribs
Joy – consuming a couple of great bottles of red wine with Jenny & Eric on Sunday night and staying up way too late talking
Peter – celebrating Eric’s 50th at the Buckhorn Exchange

We miss you Jenny, Eric, Madie & Callan! Until next time . . .

Baddeleys Have Arrived

Eric, Jenny, Madie & Callan flew in today from Australia and brought with them a homemade Christmas fruit cake for Peter - his present from the Forrest family. I think Jan had little faith that I would actually make him one, and she is probably right. Good thing the cake made it through customs even though Callan's suitcase didn't.

More Thanksgiving

Bree, Mallory, Jilly, Logahn, Anna & Amelia
Heather & Peter - getting ready

Brian, Sharolyn, Tracee, Peter & Terry (Scott was at the airport getting Mason)

Mallory, Jack & Mason

Bree, Jilly, Logahn & Anna

Ben & Gage

Today we had our second Thanksgiving of the year - this time with our small group. One of the families in our group spent their Thanksgiving in Juarez, Mexico building a house with a team from our church. We surprised the Wilkin family with a traditional Thanksgiving meal with all the trimmings, and thanks to Heather Papay, even the green jello salad for Brian. It was a great afternoon of yummy food (because who can't have Thankgiving dinner more than once), a time to celebrate the safe return of Brian, Sharolyn, Jack, Anna and Ben and listen to their stories and a time to enjoy the company of great friends. We love you guys!

Trimming the Tree

Pizza - the "traditional" decorating the Christmas tree meal
Step 2 of setting up the tree
Jilly, the little one, gets the low branches
The little one gets the tall branches too . . . with help!

Mallory - the tall one

And she definitely doesn't need help to reach up high

The decorating is complete

This morning Peter and I brought up the red and green Christmas boxes with all of the decorations for around the house and the tree. While Peter shoveled the snow, I opened the boxes and began to unpack. It seemed as if each decoration had a story to tell - our story. There were ornaments the girls made in school at Hillview Preschool, Sacred Heart, Ferny Grove, Willmore Kindy, St Peters and Westridge and cinnamon ornaments that we made together. There were ornaments for important dates and ornaments from family and friends. We especially love the ornaments from Mallory's East Coast Grandparents (Ron & Nancy) who sent them to her wherever we were. You see, for Mallory's very first Christmas (at one month old) we were flying back to Colorado from West Virginia and had decided not to put up a tree that year since Mallory wouldn't know the difference. Nancy could not believe that we didn't have a tree for her, so for many years after that, she and Ron would send an ornament for her and then for Jillian after she was born - I think to ensure that we actually put up a tree for the girls.

After the girls got home from the sleepover with all of the cousins at Grammie's house, Peter put the tree together. We have two trees this year, and our big tree is the tree I woke up early (at the store by 6am) to get the day after Thanksgiving last year. It's beautiful, and even more beautiful now that Jillian and Mallory have finished decorating it. When they were little, I remember all of the ornaments being on the lower branches and all in one spot near the front of the tree. Mallory asked me if I moved the ornaments around when they were little, and I admit I was one of those mothers who did. But not this year. The tree is simple and beautiful and all of the ornaments are perfectly placed.

So now the trees are done (The theme for the little one is white and silver.), the decorations are up and our tummies are full of pizza (our "traditional" meal after decorating the tree). Christmas cards are next.

I love this time of year - from Thanksgiving through Christmas, and while I loved Australia, this time of the year there never felt right. Having snow on the ground outside was absolutely the perfect backdrop for decorating the tree. For me it was a sense of definitely being "home" -though I wonder what Mallory & Jillian consider home to be.

First Snow

Holden
Milo
Milo - ready to pounce
Our backyard in the snow
More backyard snow
Soooo pretty

Snowfall last night

Last night was our first "real" snowfall. I think we had our official snow earlier, but when you don't have to shovel, it doesn't really count. Most of the snow that time melted before I went to work at 9am, there was no trace of it anywhere by lunch time. This time, however, Peter had to get out the shovel and clear off the deck so the dogs could have somewhere dry to sit and shovel the driveway and sidewalks.

The dogs LOVE the snow and happily bound all over the yard so that not a single inch of pretty white snow is untouched. That really annoys Mallory & Jillian who think the yard is beautiful until not one but TWO set of puppy paws hit the snow. The girls were at Grammie's for the night with their cousins, so Holden and Milo could do whatever they want with no complaints from them. They are so cute chasing each other and throwing snow in the air as go.

I am not a huge fan of snow - at least the icy, shoveling, driving in the snow bit, but I have to say that it definitely feels like the holidays.

Thanksgiving 2008

Peter & Nathan - too much turkey??? Mallory & Jessah
Guitar Hero fest

Hangin out with the family
Karla & Mom
Heather, Nathan & Jerry
Jeff bought the Hulk gloves for ...???

Jilly is off in a hurry

A time of thanks...

Thanksgiving has to be one of my favorite holidays - mostly because it's all about being together with people I love and reflecting with a grateful heart on all that I have. This year I am thankful for many things in my life especially my small family (Peter, Mallory & Jillian - and yes, even the puppies) and my very large family and the way they love us and support us in more ways than I can count and friends - old friends from across the US, Australia and other parts of the world and new friends who feel as comfortable as old friends. For me it's the people in my life who make my life that much richer.

I was far too full and far too tired to post at the end of the day yesterday, but we celebrated & hosted our 2nd Thanksgiving since moving back to Colorado. We had over 30 people (and lots of kids) in our house and had an amazing time eating, drinking, talking, playing and most of all laughing until we cried. The adults had a Taboo match (or two) that pitted sister against sister, and yes, we are ALL competitive and play to win!

After everyone left and the girls were in bed, the house suddenly seemed so still and quiet. I realized then that is exactly what I want our home to be like. Sometimes it's a place full of laughter and crazy, loud activity all over the place, and other times, it's a place of calm and peace. It's all of those moments combined that breathe life into our home and our family.

The Beginning

Let's begin . . .

So this is my first attempt at "blogging" and hopefully, I'm a quick learner. I have just realized in the past few months that Mallory and Jillian seem to be getting older at an accelerated rate. Not that time is going by faster, but the time that they have left at home before college seems to be shrinking. The baby and toddler years are long gone, and elementary school is almost behind us. This new journey into junior high and high school is both exciting and a little bit scary all at the same time.

It is a pleasure to watch them take those baby steps and sometimes giant steps into independence, and I don't want to miss the major milestones and important events along the way. I also want to remember the "small moments" in their lives too as they are pieces of the process that is shaping them into the women they will become.