Walton Week–Denver 16th Street

Denver ice skating day… my kids were so excited. 

After ice skating we ate next door at the Paradise Bakery and then spent some time walking down 16th Street. 

Walking in Watershed

It was fun to join my Mom and Dad on their daily walk through Watershed Park.  It’s such a pretty place, and just minutes from their house.  They are good walkers.  I love that the rain or snow doesn’t keep them from taking their daily walk together.

Visiting Mom and Dad

Just a picture of my Mom and Dad in their office.  After all the kids left the house, they created a computer space for each of them.  Here’s Dad showing me the spreadsheets he created for ‘Reading Scriptures’ and ‘Indexing’.  That’s just so my dad.  I had to take a picture…

Lots of researching, indexing, family history, and skyping happens in this room.  Love these two.

A Night in Vancouver

My Mom and Dad and I spent a great day shopping at the new mall in Twassen, trying on clothes, buying Christmas presents and eating Chinese Food for lunch.  My dad even test drove a new car while waiting for my mom and I to get tired of shopping… which never really happened.  About 4:00 we headed for downtown Vancouver to go to the German Christmas market.  Fun to see nutcrackers from Seiffen, and taste some really good German noodles and potato pancakes.  They we drove around Stanley Park for a great view of Vancouver.  So fun to spend some time with just my Mom and Dad. 

December Fun—Day by Day

 

Thursday, December 1st

• I flew from Colorado Springs to Bellingham to spend the weekend with my mom and Dad.  Originally my Dad was going to be going through Radiation but it got postponed until after Christmas, and since I already had my flights I decided to go anyway.  Such a great trip!
• Ryan starts his COUNTDOWN TO CHRISTMAS that we made and sent to Albania.  Every box had a scripture of the Birth of Christ, an ELF quote, and personal message from someone in the family, a YORK peppermint Patty, Hershey’s Kiss and small candy cane.

December 2 – Christmas Crèche

• Chris and the kids went over to the Stake Center to view all of the nativities at the Christmas Creche.
• I went shopping with Grandma and Grandpa at the new Twassen Mall.  So much fun to shop in RW&Co.  We ate Chinese food for lunch and then headed downtown Vancouver to go to the German Christmas Market.

Saturday, December 3th

• I went with Grandma and Grandpa Walton to a homeless shelter to prepare and serve breakfast with the Surrey Stake Leaders.  It was a great opportunity to serve and so fun to be with my parents.  They are such good examples of serving ALL of the time.

• YMCA Basketball game for Luke and Matt.

Sunday, December 4th

• 1:00 Church
• 6:00 The Church Christmas Devotional – I watched it with my parents over Sunday dinner on TV trays and really good Cherry Cream Pie.  My Dad was laughing because I caught him taking a second piece.  He and I both love this dessert! : )

Monday, December 5th

• Megan Lindy Swing Class
• Dad and kids put up the REAL Christmas tree down in the basement
• It snowed in Canada…

Tuesday, December 6th

• Mom flew back from Bellingham to Colorado Springs
• 6:30 Matthew’s Second Grade Choir Concert – Dad went to watch Matt and got some cute video.
• 5:00 and 7:00 Katie’s Holiday Choir Concert – Katie was devastated to miss but she was SO sick.
• Had an appointment with the President Woodward to be released from my Stake Relief Society Calling.  I served in that calling for exactly two years.  A year and a half with Brenda Lyman as president, Connie Lutz as 1st Counselor and Teresa Erickson as Secretary.  And six months with Connie Lutz as president, Tamzen Flemming as 2nd Counselor and Teresa Erickson as Secretary.  It was a good two years and I learned a lot as I focused on the Relief Society program and met so many great people.  A highlight was our RS Conference where I taught a class entitled ‘INTENTIONAL PARENTING”.  So many great auxiliary trainings and ward conferences.  I was truly blessed to be serving there with those women.

Wednesday, December 7th

• St. Nickolas visited us one day late so Mom could be there.  Chocolates, socks for the girls and reindeer hats for the boys.

• I worked on finishing up my Christmas cards!!  (I ordered them with a good sale back in September!)

• 6:00 Emily’s ART Performance Night.  Emily and three of her good friends dressed as Minions and sang ‘HAPPY’ during the Challenger ART Performance Night. 

Thursday, December 8th

• Served at the Missionary Zone Conference Lunch
• Basketball Practice for the Boys
• Emily’s Silver Tones Choir and Megan’s 6th Grade Choir

 

Friday, December 9th

• 4:00 Megan Swing Dance Class
• 5:00 Luke Swing Dance Class
• 6:00 Ward Christmas Party – It was a great Ward Party.  It was just a couple weeks after our Ward boundaries were re-aligned so this party was our new Cordera Christmas gathering.  Fun to get to know some of the new people in our ward.  We ate delicious ROAST and baked potato dinner and then each table was decorated with fancy deserts.  We sat with the Hales but it was fun to meet the Swensens and Perigos and chat with the Wilhelms as well.  Katie led the ward in some Christmas hymns and then we watched a church video before heading home.

Saturday, December 10th

• The Jacksons delivered cinnamon rolls early for breakfast!
• Katie took the ACT
• Luke and Matthew’s basketball game

Sunday, December 11th

• 1:00 Church

Monday, December 12th

• Swing Dance Practice for Katie, Emily, Megan and Luke
• Got our early Christmas presents from Rob and Lindsey Graham… Awesome T-shirts with ELF quotes!

Tuesday, December 13th

• Emily volunteers with Mrs. Gradisar’s class
• YW/YM and Cub Scouts – Mom helps out with Luke’s BEAR class

Wednesday, December 14th

• Mom had lunch with Mary Seaquist at Kneaders
• Emily volunteers with Mrs. Gradisar’s class
• Kids working on SO MANY SCHOOL PROJECTS and studying for finals.  It’s been crazy!  Can’t wait for these kiddos to have Christmas break!
• Piano Lessons

Love this little creation of Matthew’s… You can tell which countries are important to him… USA, Germany and Albania!

Luke’s Harry Potter Venn Diagram, Emily’s US Government Project and Katie studying for FINALS!

Thursday, December 15th

• Swing Dance Performance

Friday, December 16th

• Chris didn’t have to work.
• Carpet Cleaners came at 9:00
• LAST DAY OF SCHOOL
• We pulled the kids out of school a little early and headed straight for the movie theaters to see ROUGE ONE – the latest STAR WARS movie. Matt even had his Star Wars pajamas on for his class Christmas party.  The movie was great.  Such a great tradition for the last day of school.  Left the kids at home in the kitchen and living room while the carpets finished drying and Chris and I went to his Radiology Work Party.  It was fun to get caught up with Chris’ co-workers and spouses.  We ended up taking home the same gift exchange present that we brought since we liked it the most… a Cinnamon Candle.

Saturday, December 17th

• It was a such a snowy day!
• Painting the girls room!!  Emily and Megan have been tired of light pink walls and pink bedding for awhile now and have been begging us to let them paint their room.  We had planned and already purchased the light grey paint to wrap for Christmas morning, but when Chris and I figured out that we wouldn’t have a free painting day until the end of February!!! we decided to gift their present early and GET PAINTING!  They were SO excited and did such a great job helping us paint for hours! 

• At 12:00 we had our Christmas Piano Recital for Katie, Emily, Megan and Luke at GRANER MUSIC with Angie Kehl.  The kids did a great job. 
• Katie played:
• Emily played
• Megan played
• Luke played

• Katie had a Christmas party and invited a ton of youth to hang out, watch Christmas movies, play games and eat treats. 

Sunday, December 18th

• 1:00 Church
• 5:00 We had the Richins and Jacksons over for dinner.  Love to get together with these friends.  We talked and got excited about a Mexico spring break.  Can’t wait!
• 7:00 We all headed over to the Stake Center for the Stake Christmas Concert – which was fantastic.  A great Sunday.

Monday, December 19th

• 2:00 Megan and Emily went to Lizzie Leishman’s Christmas Party

Tuesday, December 20th

• Not sure what we did.

Wednesday, December 21st

• Lots of cleaning and getting ready for company to come!
• BYU Football Bowl Game – The Jacksons, the Larsons, the Hales, and the Egberts came over to watch eat dinner and watch the game. 

Thursday, December 22nd

• Christmas Party at the Pattersons -- We gathered for dinner with our Germany friends: the Pattersons, Gillespies, Astons, Garlocks and Penrods – who were passing through town.  Such a great night eating soups and salads and Squamish Bars and lots of reminiscing and laughing.

Friday, December 23rd – Christmas Adam

• We took the kids to a Christmas Adam matinee and saw the new Disney movie: Moana – which was SO cute!  Then we walked through the mall, waved to Santa from afar and went to Chick Fil-A for dinner!
• Chris, Amy, Jane, Peter and Alice arrive!
• Mike and Carly arrive!

Saturday, December 24th – Christmas Eve

• We had Christmas Eve Brunch at the Jacksons house with the Larsons, Hales, and Egberts.  German pancakes, lots of fruit and dip, egg casseroles, hot chocolate, pastries.  It was really good and it was fun to have my family there as well to meet my friends and vise versa.  The perfect start to a great Christmas Eve.
• Back at home we started to cook and Chris and the kids made and decorated sugar cookies with Jane and Peter.
• Christmas Eve Dinner: Roast, potatoes, gravy, creamed corn, Ruth Chris sweet potatoes, pretzel jello, raspberry jello, pear blue cheese Salad, and Martinelli’s.  So good!
• Read and act out the Nativity, play the chimes, set out stockings
• Megan Jackson brings us a surprise present and letter from Ryan – I bawled!   We read the letter which made us cry even more, and opened the present which was a book about Albania.
• We sent the kids to bed!

Sunday, December 25th – Christmas Day

• 7:00 Woke up and gathered upstairs in the loft to go downstairs
• Saw what Santa brought the kids, went through stockings and opened a few presents waiting for Ryan to skype
• Skyped with Ryan for an hour while everyone else ate Christmas breakfast and finished up the Seven Wonders puzzle.
• Had a great time opening presents
• Went to Sacrament Meeting at 1:00 – Katie, Emily and I sang in the Choir
• Back home to eat leftovers of Christmas Eve Dinner, and play games
• Chris was sick and went straight to bed for several hours.
• We ended the night with some good games of Pictionary

Monday, December 26th – Boxing Day

• Chris drove to the Denver airport to pick up Dan, Sarah, Annie, Leah, James and Kate!
• Grandma, Grandpa and Brian arrived!
• We played Dr. Mario and Ping Pong and Foosball and the girls played O Heck and Cover Your Assets with Grandma and grandpa
• We watched SULLY downstairs in the family room.
• Scott, Elisha, Molly, Fos, Nathan, and Owen arrived

Tuesday, December 27th

• Second Christmas – Exchanged presents with the Waltons

Wednesday, December 28th

• Worked on the 3RD WALTON CHRISTMAS VIDEO and had so much fun putting it together!

• Celebrated Emily’s 14th Birthday!
• Balloon games hosted by Brian

Thursday, December 29th

• Ice Skating downtown Denver and walking down 16th Street

Friday, December 30th

• Chris and Lisa’s 21st Anniversary!
• Chris worked
• Everyone went to Garden of the Gods to walk around and play on the rocks
• Walked around The Broadmoor and saw the Gingerbread Train

Saturday, December 31st

• The Silva’s headed back to Indianapolis
• We played games and had a New Year’s Eve Celebration
• Katie and Emily went to the YOUTH New Year’s Eve Dance!  Emily’s FIRST – she was a little nervous and emotional before she left but she had a great time.  

Sunday, January 1st

• Mike and Carly headed back to Phoenix
• Brian, and Scott, Elisha and kids headed back to Orem
• Sunday dinner made by Dan and Sarah

Monday, January 2nd

• Grandma, Grandpa, Dan, Sarah, Chris and I went out for Breakfast at La Baguette and then out to a 9:45am movie to see LA LA LAND.
• When we got home Katie, Emily, Megan, Annie, Leah, Luke, Matt, James and Kate were playing CHOPPED and had to put together a snack using apples, rice krispies, peanut butter and either relish, pickles, or jam.  They had so much fun.  Chris, Dan and Grandma were the judges and we got some pretty cute video.
• Then we took the kids to SPRINGS trampoline park.
• Dan, Sarah and kids headed up to Denver
• Grandma bought pizzas from Papa Murphy’s and we cooked them on the grill
• Then we took down the real Christmas tree downstairs and vacuumed all the dead pine needles