Puzzle time

It's become a Christmas tradition for the Lefebvres and Goldsmiths to do a puzzle on Christmas Day after the gifts have been opened. Last year we'd purchased a cheesy puzzle of Marco Island -way back in April. We left Cindy to finish it and she reported that it was missing a few pieces. She said she couldn't blame the damn cats though, since a few pieces from some other puzzle were inserted. Cheap!

This year I nearly forgot to buy a puzzle! Paul and I purchased it on Monday while doing some last minute shopping in Denver at an outlet mall. No missing pieces this year - it was a nice 1,000 piece puzzle.

Puzzle time was my favorite part of our Christmas trip. At one point Cindy and I were working on it and the kids and Paul were "resting", sitting in the living room nearby. Cindy and I were singing and laughing - driving the others bonkers I'm sure. We entertained ourselves though. It was a relaxing time - even Cindy took time out from cleaning up after the big Christmas Eve "sing-a-long" wingding at her house.

I don't know about you...but I find Christmas very stressful - and I don't even cook or entertain at home! There is such pressure for perfection, amongst the angst of loss. This is a time of year that many of us most miss our loved ones who have died. I think about Christmases gone by. What fun we had when I was a child - the excitement of the belief of the man in the red suit! That's what gets me through the super early build up of the season - knowing that the kids of today are amped up like I was.

I loved seeing our family. We arrived at our daughter Amy's place on Sunday afternoon - kind of a surprise as we'd failed to let her know we decided to drive out a day early. Hello Amy! She took us to hang out with her friends - fun! She and her girlies sang karaoke.

Feeling some Christmas spirit here...

I'm sorry I didn't get a photo of me with my Aunt Marty and cousin Amy. Doh! We stayed with Marty in Centennial, near my cousin's place. My cousin Amy Brownlee so kindly invited the fam over for chili - 2 kinds plus cornbread!

Niece Jordan and her girlfriend Jill were there, along with Brownlee's delightful children Matt and Kate. We got a brief glimpse of the new pup - a 6 month old yellow lab. It was great to see my cousin Richard too. Note: Post Christmas, All of the Lamm fam is in Mexico right now including the San Fran clan - my cousin David and his wife Lisa and 2 kids. Of course Aunt Marty is playing up the Matriarch thing! Hope they have a great time - I think Richard was making them all dress in their Broncos gear today...

Jordan, Jill, Amy

On Tuesday we were off to the mountains. There was a bit of snow to contend with once we got vertical.



Edwards

That night we ate Mexican with my sis Cindo. My endocrine gland and her eyeballs have been acting up and we were glad to see each other. Damn health problems! Good thing the things we have aren't life threatening. Phew! Next up for her - cataract surgery in early 2015. We drank margaritas. Jud and Kara arrived from St. Louis via the airport and rental car that evening. Yay - our gang was all there!

On the 24th, Jud, Kara, Amy and Paul all went skiing. Cindo and I ran errands. I took time later to shop in Edwards at my fave bookstore. That afternoon we attended a candlelight service and sang Carols.

Colby's GF Liv made the gorgeous cookies

The singing just warmed us up for what was to come....the Lefebvre party!

Fam photo 2014 - Amy, Jud, Kara, Paul

Liv, Colby, Cindy

We got out the music books that Bolder's mom sent him back in the 80's when they started these parties.

even Jud donned a grass skirt this year!

The party was a success! As much as it ever can be without the main attraction - Bolder. We sure miss that guy.

Christmas Day was nice - opening gifts at Cindy's place, eating little quiches and a new addition - Duffy Rolls from Denver. Uncle Bill introduced us to them - yummy. I received some cool and thoughtful gifts. Just right. Still...not as exciting as receiving a Johnny West or Secret Sam gun with a message shooter though...

Eric carves

We worked on the jigsaw puzzle noted above and it was very relaxing. The Goldsmith attended the movie, "Wild" - it is really good. Later we went to Pottorff's for Christmas din din. It was awesome as usual. Good food and friends. It was a great way to end our trip.



It's all over but the crowns - prizes after a fab meal

It was a snowy drive out. We ended up staying in North Platte on Friday night as the snow flew. We were glad to get home to snowless DSM. Especially Odie who found the tall snow in Vail daunting. My fam rocks!

Colorado trip so far

We're having a great trip. The weather has cooperated - in fact it's been perfect. Don't miss the cold and snow of Iowa at all! Vail is even warm and sunny. We got to Denver at 5 PM Wednesday and took Amy and roomie Carrie out to eat. So good to see my baby. Then headed to Aunt Martha's for the night. Juddy stayed at Amy's.

Loved having time to talk with Marty and Bill at their home Thursday a.m. Jud, Paul and I went to the movie remake True Grit that afternoon and ate at a barbeque joint, Moe's - where Colby works occasionally. He works at their other branch a lot. We stopped at the liquor store and bought some booze for Lefebvres and got wine at Marczyks and a gift card for Colbs. Last minute shopping!

That night we headed to my cousin Amy Brownlee's house for a great lasagna supper. Her hubby Tom was there along with son Matt - a 7th grader. Gorgeous daughter Kate, a HS soph was off to a Colorado Avalanche hockey game. She's a busy teen ya know. Marty and Bill were there, and my cuzzie Richard Amy's bro. Amy also invited her neighbor Gwen. Our Amy arrived after work. It was lots of fun sharing holiday cheer with relatives! I'm so mad I didn't take any pics.

Friday it was up to Vail after we stopped at Amy's to pick up Odie. Jud waited for Am to get off work at 4, but we took off around 1 PM. Cindo was in party prep mode when we got here. Got checked into Riverwalk and came back for the party - A&J arrived about 6:30 PM - starving! Good thing Colby had brought the Moe's (there's one here in the area too) wings. Plus meatballs, cheeses. We popped in the wiener winks.

People started arriving - the place was hopping! The fun thing is this is year 3 for the Goldsmiths to be here - we know people now. I got hugs and air kisses! Paul and I are honorary Kitchenettes. Amy was exhausted from her work schedule and took a nap. Bolder did the first set of songs about 8 PM. We were awful singers - it was great! About 9:30 the place was at a dull roar. There had been several spills and people were pleasantly liquored up. Not me though - I nursed my drink this year (I know - I surprise myself).

Colby played a drum and led a string of kids in with grass skirts. (tradition) It was mele kalikimaka time! He popped it on the CD player and we all chimed in. It is hilarious! Boldie is so serious in his reading glasses, leading the songs like Lawrence Welk, Jr. Kelsey thought he was struggling and hurried to his side to help. When people don't know the words they sing "hanna hanna hanna"

Too soon - or not soon enough it was over. This year, people didn't bring wild children and allow them to run amok. My sis didn't have to snap. People left at a decent hour. We all enjoyed it! Amy came back to spend the night with us at the motel so we could have some quality time. Jud stayed to bond with his cousin Colby whom he used to torment and Colby used to bite him. Now they love each other! World peace!

This a.m. we came back to open gifts and Amy had to rush off to work at Beano's. Church you ask. I know - there is no Catholic Church here. (okay there probably is, but we don't look it up). Our Christmas is about family. After Amy headed to work, Cindo and I went for a nice walk with Odie (I had to carry her for part of it) and the boys went to Charlie's (Boldie's work) to put together T-shirt orders for all their shops for tomorrow. A nap is in order! Merry Christmas to all!