Poof!

Christmas has come and gone!  So many weeks of preparation, so much time finding gifts, so much time waiting for loved ones to arrive and then poof--it's over.

Miss G and family were the first to arrive.  Aspen was glad to have her good buddy back.

Christmas Eve crafts called for the making of festive holiday glasses for the whole crew.

Three different artists and three different techniques.

The big day arrived and we had to have some afternoon snacks before the mad gift unwrapping begins.  My SIL is from Australia so I thought prawns might make him miss home a little less.

He made the beautiful salami flower.

Miss G was very patient waiting for the rest of the family to show up.  I would have hated waiting when I was eight years old.

Not many pictures from Xmas day.  Here are the first cousins enjoying a game of Pig Out (or whatever it's called).

The next evening some of us ventured out to the Electric Safari at the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo.

It was a little chilly, but not terrible.

The zoo added a holiday drone show this year.  Here they are launching into the sky.

I was quite impressed.  The stayed in the air for quite a while and made all kinds of different formations.  This will be a new favorite of mine.

Then we were off to feed the budgies.

The reptile house was warm and creepy.

The things nightmares are made of.

A group photo.  Fun was had by all.

The amaryllis bulb we purchased in Amsterdam made an amazing debut!

The next day we picked up J & B from the Denver airport and made our way straight to the Rio Grande which has the best margaritas.

The next morning we braved the wind and cold for a family outing to Top Golf.

By this time the OK crew had joined us.

Selfie with my sweetie.

My favorite grandson was here from WA.  It was so good to see him after a long year and a half.

It was these two's first trip back to the states in three years.  They got to eat at several of their favorite places and do some shopping at their favorite retailers.

Group shot in from the green.  Backlight is terrible.

Herer's a redo in front of the tree.

Then it was home for our annual game of Trivial Pursuit to honor my dad.  Gosh, do I miss him.  No one yelling "Kickapoo Joy Juice" from his recliner.

Then it was time for the 2nd annual Christmas Cocktail fest.  Irv helped me out with the squeezing of the limes.

My "Yule Mules" were a crowd pleaser.

Having a cheers with my brother.  I sure wish I lived closer to my brothers, but a girl from a very blue state would be very isolated in a very red state.  I think I have to stay where I am.

A cheers with one of his favorite nieces.

The younger crowd started in on games of their own.  They didn't even ask the old fogies to participate.  I love the laughter that goes on when my crew is together.

Cocktail #2--it was kind of like a Christmas smoothie.

Then it was time to devour the big pan of lasagna I made.  Please forgive the paper plates--in my old age I like things simple.

The next morning we were off to the U.S. Olympic and Para Olympic Museum.  Miss G is trying out some curling.

Everyone tried out archery...

...bobsledding, downhill skiing, and other Olympic sports (sorry, didn't take many pictures).

J got a butter churn as a gift so tried it out.

The first batch was an epic failure.

After more churning there was success!

Of course she had to try it out.  It was delicious!  I think I'll keep going to supermarket for my butter.

That's it!  That's all the photos I took during the holidays.  I wish I'd done much better, but what matters most are the memories.  The next day everyone except for J & B headed home.  It was nice to have a day of bowling and eating with them (except for Irv whose dinner never arrived).

FB put together a video of my year in review.  It hit a lot of good moments.

Happy New Year!