Light Show at the Denver Botanical Gardens

My dad and I enjoyed visiting this light show together...there were a million lights to see. It was really worth it to get the special glasses. Such a fun experience! I looked through the glasses all the way home, too!

What you see through each of the different sets of glasses: stars and snowflakes, respectively

Fountains...

Snowflake Tree...love this shot.

...by a frozen pond

Funny Sleeper

Doesn't look comfortable to me, but if she wants to sleep with her butt up in the air, go for it!

From Outside

This one's for you, Mom :)

Family Christmas Get-together

Kira's side of the family: (front row) Kira with her Mom in from California, and bro-in-law Paul, (back row) Travis & Amrie with Leanna and Kira's Dad

...and the funny one! Ginger really wanted to be in the photo, too. Amrie's expression cracks me up--I've never seen it before!

We WishYou a...

Thank you Jesus for coming to earth as a little baby so many years ago. It is for this reason we celebrate Christmas! Thank you for taking the punishment we deserved, even though you never sinned. Thank you for defeating death, rising again, and sending us your Spirit so we can live by your strength. We are so grateful and we love you!

Friends

Amrie got some good practice sharing her toys when little Naveen came over (with mom Arikka) and checked out the super-fun singing cube. "The Wheels on the Bus" seems to be a big hit with all the babies!

On the Move

Amrie is a pretty confident walker.

Our One-Year-Old!

Uh...Mom, why are these here?

The better to keep you out of the cupboards, my dear!

Last Swim Lesson!

Amrie did great during the 6-week parent/toddler swim class. For the last lesson, Dad came along, too!

Family Get-Together

Happy 1st Birthday, Sweet Amrie!

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"It's my party and I'll eat my cupcake upside-down if I want to!"

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Cupcake Aftermath.

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Ellee and Amrie check out the new toy from Aunt Leanna & Uncle Paul (who was missed!)

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Grandpa Robert, Aunt Leanna and a very serious Birthday Girl.

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The Birthday Girl with all the local family plus the 3 Nebraskans: 2 Great Grandmas, 2 Grandpas, 1 Grandma, 1 Great Aunt, 1 Great Uncle, 2 Uncles, 1 Aunt, 2 Cousins, Mom & Dad and the Simon dog.

Fuctional Creativity

After about the 5th bite of food, Amrie tends to become highly distracted. Travis came up with an ingenious way to get her attention. She thinks it hilarious, but it does the trick!

Ricotta Pancake Morning

Special treat to start off another snowy day.

Conquering the Stairs

We are thrilled that Amrie can now go down the stairs as safely as she can go up them. Feet first is so much better than head first!

A Whole Lotta Snow

Unfortunately, the trees were not ready to support all that heavy snow!

We got about 8 inches; first snow of the season.

Our Little Sweet Pea

What a blessing that she even loves veggies :) Mom is happy.

11 Months

Fun Dinner

Travis' parents invited us to join them at a client appreciation dinner at the Wings Over the Rockies Air & Space Museum in Denver. Couldn't pass up a free dinner, a chance to dress up, and an opportunity to check out another interesting museum in Colorado!

Mom with her favorite plane in the museum :)

Colorado Katydid

I was surprised to see this guy on the side of our house! Apparently katydids have hearing organs on the joints of their fore legs. CrAzY!

Another Meal Shared

A lunch out with the girls :)

In from Louisiana

Kira's Aunt Cherie was in town for business and came over for dinner--so fun to see her again after 15 years!

Close Up.

For some reason I just had the urge to take a photo like this. I love it!

Visiting Great Grandma

Notice Amrie's grip on Grandma Rita's necklace :)

Four Generations!

(l-r) Grandma Brenda with Amrie, Kira, Great Grandma Rita, Great Aunt Shirley

"Almost got it!"

Aquarium!

Grandpa Robert and Amrie!

This expression is typical for Amrie when she is taking in something entirely NEW!

In a dome...peeking into a fish tank

Love these colorful anemones.

Yup, a tiger at the Aquarium. There were four of them.