Welcome to the Family, Eden Grace Bedwell!

My brother and sister-in-law had an extra special Christmas this year--Eden Grace Bedwell was born Dec 22, 2007 at 3:08pm. Eden weighed 7lbs 13 oz and was 21" long.

Eden is Darren and Cherish's first baby, and will be Carson's closest cousin in age. :) She is SO cute! Here is the proud papa:
And here is the amazing Mommy :)

We can't wait to meet Eden!!

Let me tell you what ELSE I got for Christmas!

Holy Cow...
I have to be careful about vocalizing things that I would like to have, because apparently Santa has bugged the house all year long and doesn't forget! I was definitely on the NICE list this year, because in addition to the new Canon camera that I got for Christmas, Mike also gave me an 80 GB Ipod that not only stores music, but movies and pictures as well. It is so much fun. I am so spoiled, but I am oh-so-grateful for my life and the people I love. Nice going, Mike!!

We didn't have to dream about a White Christmas...

It is STILL snowing here in Denver, and it sure set the mood for a great Christmas :). We didn't do much, but it was wonderful to hang out with family and we owe so many people so much for helping us out while Mike is recovering. Mom and Dad Bedwell came over for a bit on Christmas eve, and Mom made her famous spaghetti for dinner. On Christmas morning, we woke up to a snowy wonderland which always sets the mood!!

Even though Carson won't remember his first Christmas too much, Santa still came to our house. (Who am I kidding?? Santa came to our house before we had kids EVERY YEAR)--Mike and I still believe. :)

This year, Santa came in two shifts. EVERYONE was surprised in our house! Here is a picture of his "first" visit, where he left Carson a tool kit, Kava a snowman toy, and a notice for Mike that XM radio is installed in his car:

In round #2 of Santa's visit, there were a lot more surprises, but there are not pictures of these--I will explain momentarily. Santa brought Lisa a new Oregon Sweatshirt and Carson got some Oregon sippy cups so he can "represent". Santa and Mike also got Lisa a new powershot Canon Camera!! Unfortunately, when I was learning how this new camera works, I deleted several pictures accidentally which really sucks. I had a great picture of our Christmas dinner that Sue and Jackie prepared, a cute picture of Santa Carson sleeping, and pictures of Christmas morning by the tree. What a hard way to learn how the camera works!! I have to let it go...

Here are pictures of Carson with his Grandmas:
Grandma Sue (notice that Kava is in the picture as well--he rarely leaves her side when she is in the room!!)

Grandma Jackie (I love this picture)

Finally, here is Kava enjoying the season. He LOVES wearing these antlers--honest.

We had a very special Christmas--not only because Carson is in our lives now, but because of the outpouring of love and help we have received from family and friends while Mike is recovering from quite a major surgery. Thanks to everyone--for bringing meals (Moms, Jack & Phyllis Brown, and Jeff), shoveling our driveway (Dawn & Jere, Kevin, Bob, and Keith Senseney [Chad's Dad who came by TWICE on Christmas day to shovel our walks!!], picking up prescriptions (Bill), and just helping out in general. We love you all very much.

SOMEDAY this surgery will really be worth it!!

The Best Christmas Present of all...

Words are not necessary. MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Surprise, Daddy!

Mike just came home from the hospital today after having knee surgery on Tuesday. He is doing very well, but the rehab will be pretty tough for awhile. In a few months, he will actually be able to enjoy the fact that he will be pain-free for the first time in YEARS. On Thursday, I could really tell that he was missing Carson a lot. So last night Carson and I piled into the car and drove back in to Boulder Community Hospital to surprise Mike who didn't know we were coming. I walked around the corner of his room holding Carson, and he was shocked. :) It was great. Here are a few pictures:
Carson is spreading some Christmas Cheer--
And he certainly loved to see Daddy!

And Daddy loved to see him. MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!

As I was parking the car last night (man, I am so glad that I don't have to drive in BOULDER anymore!!), I passed this sign that said "Surgeon Parking Only" and this was the car parked in the space...

A ruby red PORSCHE. Ahh, the capitalism of our healthcare system.

That is all I have to say about that.

It is great to have Mike home!!

I always knew Mike was the Bionic Man, but now its for REAL

On Tuesday, Dec. 18th, Mike had his left knee replaced in a 2 1/2 hour surgery at Boulder Community Hospital. He is doing great, and already got up a walked a little bit today. He already has more range of motion than before the surgery!It is exciting. Carson and I have been doing a lot of driving in the past 2 days. Mike is slated to come home Friday afternoon if everything continues to go well.
Much thanks to the Grandparents and Friends for your help this week!

I am so glad that Mike will finally walk without pain!! :)

Christmas Light Extravaganza 2007

There is so much happiness right now in my life, but one thing that really bums me out is that our good friends Dawn and Jere (they live right across the street) are moving to Cleveland in March. Jere got a huge promotion with MOEN, so they have to relocate. We will miss living across the street from them so much! I guess we will go to Cleveland to check things out next year...
On Sunday night, we embarked on our annual Christmas Light drive. Bob and Jeff joined us this year, and of course Carson made his inaugural trip. This house is one of 2 homes that make our 2007 list of the BEST. What makes this house so special, you say? It isn't necessarily the decorations that you see in this picture--it is the unique presentation that lands this house on our list. We heard that if you tune in the radio to 103.9 FM when you drive up to this house in Vista Ridge that music plays in sync with the blinking lights. When we first drove up, the house was pitch black and we thought it was a bust. Then--BAM! Lights went on everywhere and Mannheim Steamroller was blaring in the car in complete unision. It was very cool, however I am glad we don't live close by because those lights were blinking so fast that I thought I might have a seizure. :)

Here is our annual favorite home in Broomfield, and this year is no disappointment!

On the driveway...

In the windows...

Father Christmas looks a little scary if you ask me...

The front door entry way was really pretty this year, but it was hard to get a picture.

All and all, our Christmas Light Extravaganza was a success, although it seemed that less houses overall chose to put up lights this year. We still want to go to the Zoo lights, but we'll see how Mike's knee is feeling next week!

A "Current Events" post...

So there are some things happening right now that really put emotions on a roller coaster. Most noted is the death of a former student that Mike and I knew very well. Abby was a wonderful person whose life was cut short WAY too soon.
http://www.dailycamera.com/news/2007/dec/14/former-lafayette-woman-mourned/
This was one of the hardest funerals I have ever attended.

Rest in Peace, Abby.

Another developing event that has caught my attention concerns the fact that Broomfield High School has been shut down due to high Asbestos readings. Awesome. Mike only works there for 9-10 hours on most days...
http://www.dailycamera.com/news/2007/dec/15/broomfield-high-decision-expected-sunday/
It was really nice to have him home last night instead of at a basketball game, but should I be worried about this?????

Finally, reading the Daily Camera is always good for a couple of laughs--this article is so amusing to me because the newspaper has just given huge amounts of publicity and advertising to the new strip club on the Pearl Street Mall (that no one even knew about). Ah, the People's Republic of Boulder!!
http://www.dailycamera.com/news/2007/dec/14/strip-club-opens-on-pearl-street-mall/

Mike and I are going to a great holiday party tonight, and it will be nice to grab onto the holiday spirit in light of these current events. Hug the people you love, don't go to Broomfield High School this weekend, and for goodness sakes don't spend the holidays lookin' at some hippie poon at Club Nitro in Boulder!!

Peace out.

Yummy Christmas Cookies

Every year my Mom and I love to bake Christmas cookies. Yesterday, Carson and I went over to Grandma and Grandpa's house to make some of Mom's infamous cookies and enjoy the wonderful decorations that are out for the holidays. One of the traditions that my Mom started when we were growing up was to decorate our Christmas stockings with pictures of us on them. All 4 of us have a picture stocking, and now even Mike has one! :) My Mom is working on Carson's stocking as well.
Here is my stocking--I really love this idea. It is a great way to personalize them and to watch the progression over the years. I might copy this...hee hee

Here is Carson when it is time to make Christmas cookies. Perfect!

The Christmas music is blaring (yes, even the most irritating song by Barbara Streisand--avoid her version of Jingle Bells!!), and we begin to work our cookie magic...

Mom makes the dough and frosting, and I do the rolling, cutting, and decorating. It is a pretty good system, I think. We always have a great time at any rate. I personally like the cookies with no frosting on them, but you HAVE to decorate Christmas cookies--you just have to.

Here is the finished product. Some of those bears look a little deformed, but that won't matter when I'm chomping them down later. I just won't give the bears out to people...

Carson is such a happy kid! Here he is spreading holiday joy to everyone around him in his santa hat that cousin Alayna got for him.

It is snowing and COLD today. Everything looks so pretty with Christmas decorations and snow. Carson, Kava, and I are enjoying a nice day INSIDE by the fireplace.

Oh--and I'm doing the laundry. Gotta run!

Fun Holiday weekend!

I love this time of year, and this weekend was a great way to really get into the holiday spirit. It was busy, but incredibly fun. Here are some highlights:

At 4 months old, Carson met Santa Claus! Our neighborhood puts together many special events--and on Saturday morning Santa came to visit at the elementary school. We brought toys and canned goods to donate to a good cause, and the kids could see Santa while adults ate a continental breakfast. It was really cute--there was even a coloring area where kids could make pictures of the season! Carson studied Mr. Claus closely, and then was more interested in the lights in the cafeteria. However, we (mommy and daddy) were thrilled to see our son sitting on Santa's lap! :)
Hey Carson--try to look a little more excited...

On Friday, it began to snow which of course is always a good thing around Christmas. The weatherpeople underestimated this storm, though, and we woke up on Saturday to a frozen wonderland with 3 inches and it was still snowing! They are forcasting more snow tomorrow, so it looks like we will enjoy a white pre-Christmas at any rate.

On Friday night, Mike and I got a rare date night. We took Carson over to Grandma and Grandpa's house (Bill and Sue), and then we got some quality time--just the two of us! When we got to their house, they showed us the newest ornament that they have added to their Christmas tree this year, which is really a neat tradition that the Lowes do for everyone in the family. Each family member has a plain red ornament with their name on it. I actually remember the year that I looked on the tree and saw the "Lisa" ornament. I was so excited! I got kind of choked up to see Carson's ornament. We are just so lucky to have him here and to be a part of such great families.

When Mike and I left for our precious date time, it was snowing and cold so we decided that now would be a good time to deliver the jackets, gloves, and hats that we purchased this year for the homeless in Denver. We drove downtown to the Denver Rescue Mission to figure out where to give out the warm coats. When we got closer to the mission, there were easily 50-60 people standing outside the building trying to keep warm. There are only 190 beds available each night in the mission, and these people weren't lucky enough to get one in the first come-first serve system. It was snowing and so COLD! I couldn't believe how many people didn't have a place to stay. It was really sad, and all of a sudden our 6 coats didn't seem like nearly enough. We certainly didn't want to just throw them out the window for people to fight over, so we rang the doorbell of the mission and gave them to one of the volunteers. It is so sad that some people don't have the means to even have a roof over their heads. Mike and I decided that we will collect jackets all year long, so that we have more to deliver next year.

There are 100 actual beds in the mission, and 90 cots that are brought in to deal with the overflow. Denver is not a nice place to be homeless during the winter months.

After delivering coats in Denver, Mike and I enjoyed a great meal at Cinzettis Italian restaurant.

On Sunday, I introduced Carson to my friends in the "sisterhood"--a group of us that meet (or try to) once a month to hang out. We had a brunch at Kathy's house and did our annual gift exchange. It was tons of fun as usual! Next month we are going Bowling, so I am really excited for that!

On Sunday evening, Mike and I hosted our annual Culd-de-sac Christmas party with all of our great neighbors. We had a ham dinner and some holiday cheer. This will be the last Christmas party where all of us who have been here since the beginning will be there--Dawn and Jere are moving to Cleveland, and Jane and Ernie are moving to a bigger back yard about 20 minutes away. It was bittersweet to think that things will be changing in the Culd-de-sac soon, but still a great chance to hang out with our friends.

Today I am off to bake cookies with Mom at her house. I can't wait to eat some of Jackie's infamous Christmas cookies!! Oh, and help make them of course. :)

Now this is what I call STATISTICS!

My new master's class is Statistics, and it started last night. I was not looking forward to this class at all, and I was pleasantly surprised when we analyzed a bag of M&Ms as our project to compile data. Of course it is necessary to know how to do this to be an administrator...ha ha ha
It could have been MUCH WORSE :)

A New Holiday Classic--Shrek the Halls!

If you didn't get a chance to see Shrek the Halls when it aired a couple of weeks ago, you are in luck--it is on again on Dec. 11th and you shouldn't miss it. I think it is an instant holiday classic!

I mean, you can't ask for much more than the Gingerbread man recounting his horrifying run-in with Santa (not a good time to be a cookie!!) in his version of "Twas the Night Before Christmas"...good stuff. :)

Don't miss it!!

Family Christmas Traditions

The Holidays are here!! We love this time of the year and all of the excitement that comes along with it. It is fun to hear about everyone's different traditions for the holidays, so here is a list of what we do to enjoy the spirit of Christmas:

1) We always buy a new special ornament for the tree. In the past, we purchased ornaments from our vacation destinations, such as a fish ornament or faberge egg. Last year, we went pretty random and got a cool looking spiderman ornament. This year, I finally got the personalized family ornament. :)
2) When I was growing up, we always piled into the car and drove around to look at everyone else's Christmas lights with the Christmas carols blaring. Mike and I still carry on this tradition, but we actually have a destination each year. There is a neighborhood in Broomfield (across from the Eagle Trace Golf Course) that goes all-out with lights. One house in particular is absolutely stunning. They decorate inside the windows and both the front and back of the house. Christmas music is playing outside, and sometimes the owners even let people inside to see all the decorations they have there as well. LOTS of people have found this little "secret", so around the middle of December there is usually a traffic jam to get into the culd-de-sac. We bring hot chocolate and get out of the car to socialize for bit while we take in the display. I will post a picture of this year's lights a little later on this month.

3) A few years ago, Mike and I started collecting Christmas houses from the Kohls collection. Every year, we add to the village that is set up above our fireplace. We really pick and choose what houses are in our little town; all of them are relevant to us in some way. There is a schoolhouse (duh), a ski chalet, a church, a coffee shop, a tavern :), and an antique store. This year, we added a pet store in honor of Kava!

4) Our tree has a flavor of randomness--and this is just the way we like it. You will find anything from old heirloom ornaments to Crate and Barrel designer ones. Besides our annual ornament that we get for the tree, the only ornaments that we collect are the White House series: http://www.whitehousechristmas.com/WHC/productslist.aspx?CategoryId=3 .

One of our former students bought one for us every year when he was in high school, and we have kept collecting them ever since.

5) During the 1st weekend in December, we always go down to the Parade of Lights in Denver. It is actually a pretty good parade--with huge balloons and all. I love going to the city around the Holidays, and this tradition has been something that we have loved every year! In the past, we would actually stay downtown (great way to avoid traffic), but I think we will come home in the future to let Carson sleep in his own bed. :)

6) This is the Denver City and County Building. It is amazing every year! I remember going to see this display when I was a little kid. You can drive by, walk to it, or the best way is to take a carriage ride by it with the ones you love. :)

7) This is something that was Mike's idea to do every year with the Nativity decorations. Where is baby Jesus? Well, we don't put out baby Jesus for display until Christmas Eve. This gives us one more opportunity to pause and take in the true meaning of this holiday.

8) Every family has their special movie for the Christmas season. Our favorite is The Polar Express! This movie really gets us in the spirit and ready to BELIEVE. :) We get all cozy in pajamas and turn on all the Christmas lights, grab some hot chocolate and watch the Polar Express.

8) NEW Tradition for this year that we have started: We want to give back to those who are less fortunate than we are, and so we have purchased 6 winter coats with a set of gloves and a hat for each, and we are going to give these away to the homeless in Denver. Our plan is to actually drive around in the city and find people who look like they are cold, and give them a coat. I'll keep everyone posted on how this goes!

9) NEW traditions now that Carson has arrived: Of course we will visit Santa Claus and write him a letter, but we plan to begin the tradition of going to the Denver Zoo's WILDLIGHTS every year.

I envision a nice dinner of Chili, going to the zoo lights, then coming home for some eggnog or hot chocolate. Friends and family are welcome!

What are your Christmas traditions? Post comments here or send me an email because it is always fun to hear about how people celebrate the holidays!