A Winter Wonderland

While the few days leading up to Christmas, and of course Christmas day itself... were certainly entertaining and enjoyable, the real fun was had during the week after Christmas! 

It snowed for like a week straight... which unfortunately brought bone-chilling temps, but it also made for a whole heck of a lot of fun and some great pics!

Jack finally got his turn on the sled...

and showed absolutely no fear!

After going down with Moe-Joe, Jack twisted my arm

and talked me into taking him down again. 

Jack sure was a little trooper and had lots of fun...

despite the cold & all the snow.

Back at the house, the kids take a break from playing in the snow

and warm up by playing Hungry Hippos!

Playing Hungry Hippos with his three Grandsons...

who knew Dad-Oh could have that much fun?!

The boys take a break from all the adult games,

and take in some lunch while watching a movie.

Later that afternoon, Me, Jei & the boys decided to walk the half mile

to Moe-Joe & Dad-Oh's place... in NEGATIVE degree weather!!!

Perhaps not the best decision we've ever made... but we did manage to get there without any frostbite or hypothermia, as well as take a few good pics along the way.

Of course when we finally got there...

Jack headed straight for the fireplace!

Two things that were a must during our visit: Get myself back on the slopes and get some good skiing in... and the second was to get Allen into skis and introduce him to snow skiing. Fortunately, both of those things happened one beautiful sunny afternoon during a day trip to Sunlight Mountain.

The Ski School made it clear that the kids do/learn better when their parents aren't hovering around watching them like a hawk... so I snuck into the woods, made sure I couldn't be seen, and snapped away! 

Believe you me... it took every bit of restraint and self control I could muster not to yell, whistle, and scream in absolute pure jubilation and excitement in seeing my son ski for the very first time! 

It wasn't long before he got the hang of it

and graduated to a much bigger/longer hill.

That of course required a little help in getting to the top...

from the scary chairlift! 

But not to worry... as he was in good hands

and didn't seem scared whatsoever!

Me and my new ski buddy!

Mandi got out on the slopes too... but to be honest, I think she preferred holding friends & family and a glass full of beer than some cold ski poles!  

Meanwhile, back at home...

Moe-Joe gave Jack all the sweet lovings he could handle. 

It was Gabe's couch just as much as it was anyone else's...

but Allen felt so special when he got to share it with his friend!

A Motley Crew if I've ever seen one!

Happy hour at the Grandparent's place,

where the women drank their wine...

And the men watched their cartoons!

With everyone dressed, looking nice, and enjoying their beverage of choice... it was just about time to head out for a celebratory dinner in town. 

And why exactly would we all go out to dinner to celebrate, you ask? Well because it was sweet baby Jack's 1st Birthday, that's why!!!  

Of course it wouldn't be a proper celebration...

without the one and only Sammy Shoe-Shah! 

Both Hamp & Sam joined us for the big celebration...

as well as a cute cousin photo in the snow.

With all the attention focused on Jack,

Allen was feeling a bit left out and depressed.

But then after telling him he could help open and play with one of Jack's birthday presents... Allen quickly turned that ugly frown upside down! 

Certainly no frowns coming from the Birthday Boy!

Only when we all get together and are being silly (ourselves),

can you get smiles & laughs like these!

Although he didn't win, Allen showed potential in the paper-airplane throwing contest we held prior to our meal being served. 

Naturally, we tried to get Aunt Moo to participate in the contest... but she opted out, which was probably a good thing, as I don't think her plane would've made it very far in the state she was in!

Just because we were celebrating Jack's 1st Birthday in pretty much the Middle-of-Nowhere, Colorado... doesn't mean we had to settle for a second rate birthday cake!

Jei actually baked and decorated Jack's cake several days prior to leaving California... and amazingly, it survived both the trip, as well as sitting out in a cooler in the bed of the truck for over a week!

After a delicious meal out, we all came back

to the house that evening to have cake and open presents.

Cake, ice-cream and presents...

the perfect ingredients for happiness!

There definitely wasn't any arm-twisting involved

in trying to get Jack help opening his birthday gifts!

Hard to believe our baby Jack is a year old already! Seems like just yesterday Allen was the one turning a year old. I know Jei & I both made it clear that we weren't all that thrilled (to say the least) about having a December/Christmas baby... but Jei was absolutely right when she said, "Well... at least he'll always be celebrating his birthday with family!"...and that of course, makes us all very happy!

Poor Dad-Oh... couldn't find anyone to play Hungry Hippos with him, so he had to resort to try and teach Jack how to play, or rather how not to eat the little red balls!

With the sun on its way down and freezing temps out, I not only somehow got both Moe-Joe & Jack to stand in the snow for me... but I also got them to smile for the camera too!

With an absolute ton of leftovers, Jack helps Aunt Moo organize and clean out the fridge... and then in turn, Aunt Moo helps Jack clean the floor where he spilled a big bowl of chili all over! 

Negative 3 degrees out and snowing...

perfect weather for a walk around the block!

I'm sure they'd both prefer to stroll Jack and walk with Gabe & Allen on a warm sunny beach somewhere... but as long as they're all together, the winter wonderland would have to do!

Dad-Oh & Allen leading the way.

On our way back we spotted Bucky and his friend hanging out under a tree... who could not have cared less that we were absolutely awestruck standing less than 50 feet away! 

Back home, Moe-Joe & her boys

snuggle up on the couch to stay warm.

Monkey in the middle!!!

One afternoon while hanging out at the Grandparent's place, Moe-Joe and her boys set up shop in the back room... and with each one assigned a specific duty, Moe-Joe's business ran as smooth as can be.

Moe-Joe & Sammy practice

for their big recital later that afternoon.

Moe-Joe & her silly...

but imaginative business partners.

New Year's Eve was pretty uneventful... except for one big college football bowl game that all the boys were excited to watch!

Happy hour in the kitchen... where Moe-Joe wore red & black in defiance, Aunt Moo snuggled Jack, and Dad-Oh snuck in some snacks during a commercial break!

Jack... such a ladies man!

With the win firmly in Tech's grasp...

it was time for the boys to let loose and enjoy a little silly time!

All the cold walks, sledding, skiing, games, and silliness in the house were all lots of fun... but I have to say, I think my favorite part of our trip was just sitting around together laughing and seeing those amazing smiles of the people I love most! 

No matter how wonderful they are, vacations are just that because they always come to an end... and it was finally time for ours to end after an amazing week and a half in the snowy Rocky Mountains with family. It's always hard to say goodbye... but this one was infinitely harder given that we had to say goodbye to Jason - perhaps for the very last time. 

It may have been a gut-wrenching, tear-jerking, lumpy throat goodbye... but as we drove away and headed back to California, we couldn't help but smile thinking about what a great time we all had together, and of course about how there was no way we were going to breakdown going back in our practically brand new rental truck!   

Thank you Aunt Moo for hosting such an

incredible family get-together for the Holidays!