Christmas 2015

We spent Christmas in Wyoming last December. The highlights included: an improvised nativity reenactment by the grandkids, family dinner with the extended family (We tried to pull of the annual cook-off, but I don't recall that there was ever any judging...we'll just say that Cecilia's Grinch Punch was the winner as she was sure she'd take the title), Brady's Mission Report, and of course watching the kids excitement as they opened presents Christmas morning.

El Arroyito / La Quebrada

Armando's family in Tela has a "quebrada" (stream) in their backyard. The water is clear and clean and just the right temperature for a little wading on a warm afternoon on the last day of the year. The girls (and we adults too) enjoyed a little dip in the water after we arrived and before we hit the beach. 

Marcela, Sofia, Natalia, and Cecilia.

These two are so precious. Maielisa and Ally enjoyed the water as well. Can't you just see it in their faces? I just want to pinch their cheeks. 

Marcela loves taking care of anyone younger than her. 

 

Yudi, Helaman and Ally

Sofia just chillin on a rock.

Cousins

 Ally was having a great time playing with her dad in the water.

I think her favorite part was dunking him.

 Don't you think?

 Us with Ceci . . . Marcela had already gone inside.

 Say cheese, guapo!

 While the rest of us took a dip in the water, Abuela Rina occupied the hammock for the most comfortable spot in the house. There's nothing like a warm afternoon in a hammock!

Non-Traditional Christmas Eve

We did something completely non-traditional for Christmas Eve and went swimming in 19 degree outdoor weather . . . thermal hot springs in Thermopolis, Wyoming. It was my favorite Christmas Eve ever. I hope it becomes a tradition for years to come. It was so heavenly to soak in warm water and go from the freezing outdoors to the sauna. Plus, Annie was there with us, and anyone that knows Annie, knows how fun it is to go swimming with her. To get to Thermopolis, you have to drive through a Canyon and the center rock formation is for my brother, Brady. He and Armando spotted it last summer as they were rafting down the river and Armando had me snap a quick picture as we were driving by. If you know Brady well enough, you'll know why. Love you,  Brady!

On our way to the pool, Marcela spotted a dinosaur so we had to take a picture.

 Jacob and Keekee went along with us.

 Leafless trees and steaming water . . .

 As long as you're in the water, you really don't feel the cold . . . the outdoor slide on the other hand, was probably a bit colder, but for some reason, Marcela and Cecilia must have made about 57 trips down it. For some reason, they're skin and bone bodies didn't get cold.

 What, it's 19 degrees you say? And I'm grabbing metal? Your thermometer must be off! It feels like summer out here!

 Marcela always makes friends when we go swimming and these two had the same swimming suit.

 Armando was crazy and went off the high-dive.

 Unidentifiable silhouettes . . . don't worry Annie, these are the only ones I'm posting. ;)

 Mom just enjoyed sitting underneath the warm water.

I love pictures of my mom while she's laughing. They make me happy.

Makayla & Jacob @ Christmas

It's blog catch-up time. Not sure I'll ever really catch-up, but I'm not giving up hope. While we were in Wyoming over Christmas, there were perfectly cloudy days for easy portraits. And the one 15-minute window that we took to escape to the fields of white for a few photos of my sister Makayla and her darling Jacob the sun peaked through the clouds and made a grand appearance. They didn't let that stop them.

In the end, I actually liked the brightness the sunshine brought to these precious shots.

Christmas Morning at Uncle Greg's

The great thing about celebrating Christmas eve and day 24 hours earlier as a family was that we actually got to celebrate for 48 hours because it left Christmas morning open to spend with Uncle Greg and his family. They invited us out for their traditional [and very delicious] Christmas breakfast. The temperatures were sub-zero, but the scenery was beautiful and we couldn't help but go out and watch as he fed the animals. Thank you, Uncle Greg, for always inviting us to spend time at your beautiful home. I wish we could make it there more often.

Proof that it was, indeed, just a bit chilly. We left a cup of water in the car overnight. Oops.

Pre Christmas Eve Family Dinner

We spent Christmas in Wyoming this year and we did it a day early to accomodate everyone's schedules - which turned out great cause it felt like we celebrated longer and were able to gather with extended family who are usually gathered with their larger families on the big day. Grandma got a little surprise from her kids - a tablet. She loves technology.

Makayla and Brant.

Aunt Lori with Amanda and Curt.

Mom and Uncle Greg

Grandma Leann with Dad and Marcela

Jayme and Tim

Annie was here for the holidays!

Marcela and her natural pose.

Aunt Keekee with Marcela and Riley

Riley, one of the two cutest boys on the planet!

THE two cutest boys on earth! They were born a day apart and they are very entertaining.



The cousins opened gifts after the party - a little Christmas Pajama love.




The three cousins in their Christmas PJ's. I was so glad I got some for Jacob because he couldn't stop talking about the Santa on his shirt.