....and now New Year's

Storment Family Christmas was celebrated just after New Year's this year. Gabe, Nancy and Jameson headed over for New Year's Eve, which was a lot of fun! We watched the Cougs win a game at the Arena and then hung out at home after putting the kids to bed. Zac & Kristen were celebrating their 2nd Anniversary that night, but we met up with them the next evening at Wild Sage downtown. Grammy Sharon watched the kids so the bigger kids could go out together. Really good food, and it was cool to hang out with my brothers and "sisters" for the night. The kids and Grammy and Papa got in on the fun the next day when we exchanged gifts and had lunch. A nice way to start 2012! (Please note.... I managed to post these pictures in a pretty random order....oops.)

Zac, Seth, Gabe @ Wild Sage

The ladies.... Nancy, Katie & Kristen

ready to par-tay

the boys faceoff

Sweet Jameson ready to ring in the new year

the first toast to 2012 - Nancy & Gabe

a few toasts into 2012



tips from Uncle Gabe on how to toot your horn ;)

love this scrunchy face

getting a little fresh air...cold, but fresh

Luke, Ella and Jameson

Zac & Kristen enjoying gift opening chaos



Luke's new CAT

Christmas Catch Up

Christmas was a big deal this year.....there is no way to skip over it, so here I am posting about December in March. I apologize for being such a slacker. Just before Christmas we flew from Spokane to Denver so we could begin our holiday with the McKinstry side of the family. Seth's brother, Oliver, picked us up (Happy Birthday, by the way Ollie!) at the airport and shuttled us to Loveland so we could have a have a quick visit with Seth's sister, Maia and her family. Maia, Steven and Silas made us a great lunch and the kids had a fun time playing and opening gifts. It was so good to see the Rauers - Silas has gotten so big and visiting just made us want to hang out longer, but we had to hit the road to get to Rapid City....and Grandma and Grandpa. We'll skip over all the travel details - let's just say it was a long day, from flying to driving. We'll also say that Uncle Ollie is a saint to put up with us! We were all so happy to reach Rapid and walk into Tim & Margaret's warm, comfy house!

It was a wonderful Christmas.... we decorated cookies for Santa, went to Christmas Eve service, ate A LOT of yummy food, went ice skating, saw cool Christmas lights, and best of all - spent really nice time with family we don't see often enough. We'll all get together again in May/June to celebrate Tim & Margaret's 40th Anniversary, and that time can't come soon enough! 

COUSINS - Silas, Ella & Luke

Auntie Maia in the middle of it all

Mr. Silas Rauer - love this guy!

The Rauer Family

frosting cookies for Santa

Grandpa and the kids hard at work

Checking out the loot from Santa

Somebody's excited (and looking a little crazed)!

Christmas morning....before the kids woke up

what's in there?

Christmas Dinner

Ollie and me in the kitchen - watch out!

Ollie, Ella & Seth on the ice

Luke hanging out with G & G

my view from the backseat of Oliver's car

dancing in our seats....making the most of a long drive

Denver Zoo Lights

No Excuses

Whew.... it's been a long time. No excuses, just posts to come! Oh, and a new look!

Miss E's 4th birthday recap

Instead of having a party at the house this year we headed out for Miss Ella's birthday. We went ice skating in Riverfront Park (well, Seth and Ella did. Luke and I watched), met up with Grammy and Papa at the carousel and rode that a few times, and then met up with Zac & Kristen at Red Robin for lunch. Such a fun day! Ella had a blast ice skating for the first time, and Seth's back recovered in a couple days after holding her up a majority of the time. Miss E had the biggest smile on her face the entire time! And the carousel is always a favorite, along with Red Robin. After our outing we came back to the house for presents and cake. My little pony was Ella's choice this year.... so I did my best and was pretty happy with how the cake turned out, especially the rainbow look on the inside! I think Ella had a fun day - we all did! Can't believe our baby girl is 4!

heading out on the ice for the first time

love that smile!

Seth getting a work out

Luke's first ride on the carousel - he wasn't so sure

Weeeee!



Luke love Papa's hat!



getting down to business



time for cake!



rainbow cake!



my mama and my baby girl :)



Aunt Kristen with the birthday girl



Christmas Prep

Tis the season, and we've been decking the halls. We were home for Thanksgiving, and we got busy that weekend getting lights up (in and out) and setting up the tree. The kids have had a blast with the Christmas decorations.... some of these being kid friendly, and some not. Our house may not ever be featured in House Beautiful but I love it! Aside from decorating, we've done some baking, shopping, Santa visiting, and a thanks to Grammy Sharon - some fun gingerbread house decorating. Friday we head to Denver and then Rapid City for a McKinstry Family Christmas and we are all very excited! The Storment Family Christmas will follow over New Year's weekend. Happy Holidays to all of you!

everyone needs a little girl in a tutu to help with their exterior illumination

enjoying Twas the Night Before Christmas, as read by Grandma Margaret, Grandpa Tim, Uncle Ollie, Aunt Maia and Uncle Steven. They love it!

Picture time with Santa.... Luke loved every minute, can you tell? ;)

Santa brought a couple reindeer to Stanek's with him

Proud decorators



Ella's first preschool Christmas program - why did this make me feel so old?



Look Who's 4!

It's been a whirlwind around here lately, and all of a sudden, our baby girl is 4 years old! I will post some more details and pics of all the festivities as of late - soon. Now I'm heading to bed. Happy Birthday, Ella! We love you more than words can say.