The makeover!

You know that itch you sometimes get to change something? Well I was feeling it pretty badly. I might have described it as a rash. So I needed to do something and I came up with a change that I could afford. My good friend Karen came over nice and early and we cranked this project out in one day. Their room wasn't horrible by any means, but I needed to do something to relieve that annoying itch. So we started with this: And we finished with this: I still have a few things to put up on the walls, but overall it's not too shabby. Next project: Nina's room!

A long, cold, fun and very sad day

Donovan and I were so excited to go to this game. Even though the weather looked to be super cold, we were still very much looking forward to it. We bundled up with 4 or 5 layers, brought a couple of blankets and made our way to the Sports Authority Field. During the regular season, once the Broncos started playing well, the whole city had this energy about it. Broncos flag were flying all over and everywhere you went, people were donning their orange and blue. The week before this game, there was an extra dose of excitement. So basically the build up was huge! We rode the train down and walked with thousands of other fans to the stadium. The pregame festivities were awesome and pumped everyone up for the big game.

And then we were taken for the most emotional ride full of highs and lows. So many great plays, then so many horrible plays. So many reviews and an overtime too. It was so blasting cold that people's drinks were freezing if they didn't finish them quickly enough. We stood for most of the game, behind a row of obnoxious Ravens fans. And like these balloons floating away, so did our dreams of a trip to the superbowl! Boo. Donovan cried along with several grown men around him. We are hoping that next year will be better. Maybe we'll warm up by then too.

And he's 2!

This little baby of the family is now a big 2 year old. I noticed something pretty awesome as his "party" unfolded. Matt and I sat back and observed as the older kids brought out the cake, lit the candles, brought Rex presents and encouraged him to open them. He has a unique experience as the youngest of a big family. There are so many people for him to look up to and follow. And the older siblings absolutely love him (most of the time). They are always trying to teach him new words, some appropriate and some not. They get Rex out of his crib and high chair more than I do as well. Rex is starting to believe that he can do whatever the older kids are doing and gets beyond upset when he isn't included. He knows where he belongs and I absolutely love it. We are so happy he is in our family!

We actually celebrated his birthday a day late since we were still driving home on his birthday.

One last pose

One last pose before we had to load everyone up and make the 16 hour drive back to Colorado. Goodbyes are sad. I don't like them.

Starting off the new year with the cousins

Matt and Ben took all the kids and met some of my uncles and cousins up at Ben's parents' cabin. They loved trudging through the snow and riding on the argo. I loved spending the day with my parents and sister. Everyone was happy.