Last weekend was Marcy’s birthday and she decided that we would go to a Christmas party at our old neighbor’s house. So, we all got dressed up and I took this cute birthday photo with Marcy and the kids.

The other big activity last weekend was getting the kids reindeer. Both kids picked out a reindeer to decorate and then displayed them proudly at home. Here is a photo of Jude doing his best “I am not smiling” face.

This weekend we made the two hour drive from Denver to Canon City to take the Santa Express Train. Marcy had heard other parents talking about how great the train was for the kids so we thought we would give it a try. We weren’t disappointed. The kids loved it. Santa came by and chatted with the kids and an elf gave them both special reindeer bells that they treasured. Then they got to sit on Santa’s knee for an official photo.

We hardly ever get a decent photo of the four of us so when we all got dressed up to go to the annual Briere Christmas party on Friday night I thought I would give it a try. So, here is the Renton family in front of our tree.

Last weekend we had the annual holiday fair at the kids school and we got there bright and early at 9am. There was so much to do with all kinds of crafts and activities including the little train that Jude and Anna enjoyed. They had a lot of friends there and the weather was nice so they spent a good deal of time outside playing. It was 1pm and time to go home but we could have easily stayed there all day.

Also last weekend we bought out Christmas tree. The kids enjoyed decorating, although Marcy did most of the work, but by the end it looked great. Both Jude and Anna are really into Christmas lights this year, always pointing them out when we are out driving. So, we put up some outside lights including some large candy canes in the front yard. The lights on the tree that we put in the little alcove at the front of the house are also pretty cool.

Today it was cold and cloudy – a great time to stay indoors. Marcy decided it was time to bake gingerbread cookies which was met with wild enthusiasm. It was a good 2-hour project and the kids helped every step of the way. Here is Jude and Anna licking frosting from the beater and spatula.

Jude has a new fun game that he plays by himself. Marcy bought 5,000 popsicle sticks at Hobby Lobby a while back and he has really taken to them. He will take these sticks and make all kinds of creatures from them, usually dinosaurs. But that is only half the game. The second part is where a predator will come along and eat the dinosaur. When this happens all the sticks are broken in two (Jude does this with his bare hands) and then put in the compost bin. The picture below is one of a dinosaur Jude made up that he called a carabarasuchus.

Jude had a rough start to the weekend on Friday night. It seems like there is a stomach bug going around at school. He picked it up and so he vomited few times. He was a bit pale and lacking in energy on Saturday. The only time he left the house was for a scooter ride around the block and that ended in tears. He was back to his chirpy self by this morning. We just hope Anna doesn’t pick it up.