Happy New Year!

3 Years, 37 Weeks.



Another one bites the dust!

2013 is now in the books, but not before a flurry of activities during the last few days.

We've had quite the adventure this year, and look forward to many, many more in 2014.

We wish you Best Wishes and God's Blessings in this new year!

The blessing of the kids together with their grandparents.

Here was our [fairly short] week:

• Continuing from Christmas Day, we picked Papa and Nana up from the airport, their flight arriving just before 4.  We parked and met them at baggage claim, and helped lug their bags back to the parking garage.  Because Nana had missed Deeda's traditional turkey Christmas dinner back home, she requested turkey and mashed potatoes for dinner.  So we made a quick stop at Too Jay's Deli, which was one of the few restaurants open in Ocoee (the other choice was Denny's...um, no thank you!) and picked up our dinner order, which we prepared on our fine china!  I told Tangie this was the way to go, making Christmas supper was a breeze!  After eating we partook of Christmas 2.0, opening up Santa's presents in their stockings before opening a slew of presents from both Mommy and Daddy, and Nana and Papa.  It was a very excitable time, after which they spent the remainder of the evening opening up packages and trying out each individual toy.

Checking the mail for Christmas cards.

The presents will have to wait until we finish dinner!

Ta da!  Dinner is served!

"See Nana?  That's you!"  Showing Nana her picture.

On your mark, get set...

Maddy shows her new Disney princesses from Nana.

Thank you Papa!

Thank you Nana!

Can't wait to try her new digging kit!

The living room was immaculate an hour ago...

• Thursday we let Papa and Nana sleep in (somewhat) while the kids tried to keep quiet and played with their new toys.  After breakfast Braelyn and I went on another 5 mile bike ride around the neighborhood while Papa and Nana helped the twins assemble some new toys.  It was a pretty slow moving day for the most part, we drove down to Downtown Disney to watch the new Disney (how fitting!) animated movie Frozen, which was Ah-Mazing!, swinging by Mimi's for supper before heading back home for more playtime and bed.

Swung by the Grodacks to harvest more tomatoes for Duncan.

Our ride stats.

Trying out her new rock/gem tumbler from Nana that will make the pieces smooth and shiny.

Taking a picture of Nana taking a picture of everyone else at Downtown Disney.

One tree for each!

Papa helping to open up yet another toy for Kohlden.

• Friday started with projects:  Papa and I began cutting a hole on Tangie's side of our bathroom to install a medicine cabinet.  For some reason or other the builders had installed one on my side but not on hers, although they left enough space for one.  So we bought one to put in ourselves and save the hassle of having to get a contractor/handyman to do it for us.  That was when we moved in, say...5 years ago.  I don't know why I never got around to doing it, maybe I was a little nervous of flubbing it up and getting it wrong or crooked or something.  Anyway, with Papa there I was able to learn how as he showed me the method of installing something that precise into drywall.  We only had time to measure it out and cut the hole, before having to go and make our 1:30 appointment at Forest Lake Golf Club.  Meanwhile, Tangie and Nana took the kids down to the Reparatory Theatre at Loch Haven to see a children's play on Rudolph, which the kids absolutely loved.  It convinced Tangie that she wanted to get a yearly family membership since the kids enjoyed it so much.  So we shall see.  Afterwards the two groups met up together for supper at Old Winter Garden Pizza Company, enjoying the seasonal lights and music from the band that came into the restaurant and played while we ate!

Papa and his two helpers.  They were excited to use their "tools".

Making the first incision...

Nice, gaping hole!

Papa deciding if he'd rather not go through the trees.

With some of the cast of Rudolph. 

                                

A froyo treat after supper.

Putting together their very first gingerbread house kit!

• Sabbath morning we headed to church and made it just in time for Sabbath school, where we met up with Lolo and Lala who had driven up for the day to see their counterparts.  They came back to our place after church for lunch, the grandparents catching up with each other before heading back to Avon Park late afternoon.  Braelyn wanted to go on a bike ride with Calleigh, as the Grodacks just arrived from their 2 week expedition up north, so we picked her up en route to meeting Tangie, Nana, and the twins at Chapin Station Park.  Papa stayed behind and took in a short nap, lucky guy!  It was neat seeing the two girls riding their bikes together, chit chatting back and forth, without their training wheels.  Looks like we'll be going on many more bike rides this year.  That evening we opted to just chill out and stay in for a movie and popcorn.

What a good lookin' kid!

Nana walks with her girls to church.

Kohldie fashions his crown and bow tie accessories!

Maddy shows Papa her crown.

With Lolo and Lala at Sabbath School.

Tackling a large gorilla!

Maddy taking a spin on Daddy's bike!

• Sunday morning we had a nice breakfast of pancakes and omelets, before continuing and finishing up our projects.  Papa and I took Brae and Kohl to Home Depot to pick up some tools and supplies, before heading back to complete the medicine cabinet installation.  Later that afternoon we all headed over to the Grodacks to watch the Broncos play their final game of the regular season, winning over the Oakland Raiders 34-14.  We have a week off as the wild card teams vie for the next round against us, which will be played in Denver as we secured both the #1 seed and home field advantage for the entire playoffs.  Let's just hope the outcome isn't like what it was last year!  I'm so nervous...

Cooking breakfast, Broncos style!

With Papa at Home Depot.

Installing and finishing up the mirrored medicine cabinet.

Nana and Brae in their Bronco grey shirts!

Maddy's first official haircut!

The two moms make nice in their respective team colors!

Frenemies?  Only when we meet up in a couple of weeks!

Showing Bronco pride.

Papa enjoyed watching the game on the Grodack's big screen!  Thanks guys!

What's this?  Another record?  Most points scored by any NFL team ever.

And another record?  Most passing yards by a quarterback.  Ever.  Sorry Drew...

Papa tells the bedtime stories of Little Robbie.
The kids love Little Robbie, who is, in fact, Papa Dave as a young boy.

• Monday morning Kohl and I took a bunch of stuff to the Salvation Army Center, in time for year end donations so we can get some deductions for our taxes, while the rest of the family got ready for the day.  We took the grandparents to the Science Center, having lunch there and spending the afternoon exploring, learning, and playing.  Kohl fell asleep on me during the IMAX movie on woolly mammoths, and took an hour nap while Brae and Maddy played at the dinosaur dig.  After the Science Center we headed north to Apopka, having supper at Tijuana Flats and then going over to Costco for Nana to get a new phone while Tangie picked up some supplies for our New Year's Eve get together with friends the following evening.

Our stash to the Salvation Army, which included 11 large bags of old clothes!

Looking at the intricate details of the landscape sceneries made completely out of icing.

Touching the baby alligator.

Me too!  Me too!

The boys waiting at the IMAX.  He would fall asleep minutes later.

Thank goodness we brought the wagon!

Of course she would!

What a poser!

Showing Papa how to eat rambutan, a tropical fruit resembling hairy balls...

and his reaction!  It's always surprising your first time...

• Tuesday was New Year's Eve, and it began very early.  I woke up at 5:45 in time to get dressed and out the door, heading to Mt. Dora to pick up our friend Jonathan Erickson who was in town for the holidays with his wife and son from Portland, Oregon.  We were playing golf together and he was without transportation.  We came back and picked up Papa, who had gotten up and ready while I was getting Jon, and we headed down to Orange County National and met up with Chris Hazen, for our tee time at 8:33.  8:15 actually, since they asked us if we wouldn't mind starting earlier due to another group that was running late.  It was a fun round, although the marshals felt we were playing a bit slow because the threesome behind us had to wait for their shot.  But I mean, come on.  There were 4 people in front of them!  Anyway, we decided to play best ball on the back 9 and had fun playing against each other, cart vs. cart.  We ended up in a tie!  We headed back home, Jonathan's wife Nikki picking him up from our house.  It was great to see them, if but for a short time.  Meanwhile, Tangie and Nana had taken the kids to a chocolate factory in Kissimmee, where they saw and learned about the process of making chocolate, and then ended up making their very own personal chocolate bars!  Pretty cool, they looked kind of funny by still tasted good.  Then we got busy getting ready for our New Year's Eve party, Tangie taking charge of the kitchen and cooking several appetizers while I cleaned up and prepared the house for our guests, who arrived after 6:  Bergherms, Grodacks, Corey's brother Shawn and his wife Camille along with their 2 kids, Corey's other brother Ricky, and David and Ashley Whitaker with their 2 older daughters (they opted to leave their triplets with the grandparents).  It was a great time with delicious appetizers and hors 'de vors (that was the theme) and included a lot of silly string, snap pops, sparklers, and even some fireworks.  The last guests left just after 10, and we set to work cleaning up, stopping for a minute to watch the ball drop and wish each other a Happy New Year.

Papa living on the edge!

Keep your head down, and follow through...

Great to see each other!

Another Papa project:  Getting the squeals out of the garage door!

Checking out the chocolate machines.

We'll take all of them!

The moms chatting around the kitchen.

And by moms I also mean Duncan!

Ready for the New Year's Eve festivities!

Holding Baby Colby.  No Papa, we are not going to have another one!

With the beautiful Mrs.

It's sparkle time!

Nana joins in on the action.

Randoms:

They removed the small oak tree in front of our yard.  And then...

Year in Review:

• Pacifier free!
• Potty trained!
• Cruise for two
• Pirate party
• Backyard garden
• Miami trip
• 10 year anniversary
• St. Augustine chocolate tour
• Beach vacation
• 1st Grade!
• Big kid underwear
• Weight loss!
• Health coach
• 20th high school reunion
• Bronco game at Mile High!
• Gymnast of the month
• What does the fox say?
• Maddy's very bad stomach bug
• Fresh Beat Band concert
• Braelyn's bike rides
• Holidays with the grandparents

Have a great weekend!