Christmas at the Bolthouse's....the video

Our first "night" of Christmas

We're Michigan-bound for Christmas with a stop off in Iowa on the way.  All the traveling means 3 Christmas celebrations in the next week--oh my!  We kicked it off with a Bolthouse Christmas last night in Colorado.The boys were equally excited to dig into the gingerbread house as they were to open presents!?

 The anticipation could have powered our entire house....

Everyone was thrilled with their gifts.....and every boy had pieces galore....this picture doesn't do it justice:-)  Merry Christmas!

Our last Preschool Christmas Performance

It's hard to believe that the days of preschool will soon be behind us.  I'm both ecstatic and sad at this prospect....and it made me a little weepy the morning of the last preschool Christmas party!?  What a couple of cuties we have:-)

Christmas Parties Galore!

 Wednesday was the big day!  The boys prepped by watching a Christmas song singalong before school.

 John (next to his favorite classmate, Gianna, in the red dress) did a great job singing four Christmas songs.  "Happy Birthday Jesus" was his favorite.

 Jacob was a pro at the hand motions.  He rocked his role....and loved the jazzy version of "Joy to the World" most of all.

 Kenny's class party was snowman themed....and he didn't have any trouble eating his entire ice cream snowman:-)

The J's crashed the first grade party!

Enjoying Christmas at the Ranch

Kenny and I had a fun date to see the live performance, "Christmas at the Ranch".  It was an amazing production that included the Denver Bronco's drumline and magic cards that lit up to reveal scripture. 

December Ski Fun

It's been so fun spending our December weekends in the mountains!  The boys have been in ski lessons every Saturday, and the record snowfall has made the skiing surprisingly good for Sarah & Darin:-)  The resorts do such a great job making the atmosphere festive!  Lots of Christmas decorations and roving Santa with candy canes:-)

Kenny's wish for Christmas

"All he wants for Christmas is his two front teeth....."  Kenny FINALLY lost his second front tooth.  It was hanging by a thread for over a week before he finally lost it in Iowa over Thanksgiving.  He raked in the bucks....both the Michigan and Iowa tooth fairies paid out!

Happy Thanksgiving from 3 little turkeys

 Jacob and John were pilgrims for their Thanksgiving party at school. 

 Kenny worked hard on this Turkey in his speech class. 

Happy Halloween!

 We had a fun Halloween highlighted by perfect weather!  The boys' pumpkins were pretty shriveled after a week in the Colorado sun, but they still served as great Jack-O-Lanterns for the festivities.

 I felt very safe trick-or-treating with two Star Wars Clones (Kenny & Jacob) and Wolverine (John)

 We went to friends house for chili and fun before trick-or-treating.  This was quite the crew!

Kenny had a new strategy this year.  His sign reads, "3 pieces of candy if you give the vampire money".  He was surprised that there wasn't any money at the end of the night!?

Kenny's Pumpkin Project

Kenny rocked the 1st grade Pumpkin Project!  He picked out a book (Star Wars), designed a pumpkin to reflect the characters (R2-D2 and C-3PO), and completed the project packet.  The  pumpkins were on display in the school library, and 2nd Graders toured the pumpkins and left post-it notes with encouraging words for the pumpkins they liked.  What a fun, positive experience for our budding academic:-)

Kenny's 1st Grade Halloween Party

 Kenny's classroom Halloween party was first thing in the morning!  They had a snack station, a craft station and a game station.  Here's Kenny working on his craft. 

The entire school does a parade outside to show off their costumes.  Here's Kenny, "the Clone", marching in the parade. 

Jacob & John's Preschool Creations

 Jacob and John were thrilled with their Wednesday project at school!  Gumdrops and toothpicks make for great fun!

Jacob built the tallest structure in the class.  His teacher, Mrs. Elgard, thinks he'll make a great architect....but Mommy and Daddy are thinking structural engineer:-)

Kids Zone Creations

 Last week was a Lego-themed kidszone at the library.  The boys each made a special creation.  Jacob's was a space ship.

 John's was filled with all the animals and treasures he could dig out....

.....and Kenny's was a knight fight:-)

Fence Building

 Grandpa earned his keep on this trip out.....we put him to work building a permanent fence around our backyard garden. 

 Jacob was anxious to help....

 ....but Daddy and Grandpa did all the heavy lifting. 

 We used a gate from my Great-Grandpa Hedblom's farm, and made a sign with all of our handprints. 

What a happy little garden!  Thanks for your hard work Dad!  And thanks for entertaining the boys Mom:-)

Pumpkin Carving Time

 These hardworking boys had a ball carving pumpkins this year.  Kenny was totally independent, and Jacob and John needed just a little help with scraping and a lot of help with cutting:-)

Park Fun with Grandma!

 Kenny had to show off his new bike and sweet biking moves to Grandma....she had trouble keeping up with this speed demon!

 Jacob liked showing off his brave playground moves....climbing on the OUTSIDE of the slide!

 Sweet John showed off how he woos the ladies:-)

Grandma was so patient and spent lots of time working with Kenny on tying shoes.  They made him feel like a teenager with sweet dance moves:-)

Our annual hike to Devil's Head Lookout

 We had a perfect day to hike to the top of Devil's Head Lookout.  The aspens were at peak color, the weather cool, the sun warm, and the boys FULL of energy. 

No fires as far as the eye could see--thank goodness since these firefighters were lacking focus:-)

Ready to Ski!

These three are ready to hit the slopes....or the grassy backyard:-)  It should be a FUN ski season!