Pope Family Christmas

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Picture This!

As that mean old magician from "Frosty the Snowman" would say, We've been "busy, busy, busy!!" Just a few shots from our busy holiday weekend. Because we can never have just one thing to do on our weekends. We've either got nothing...or 100.

Above, the Westwood gang at Armida's for Karaoke after graduation Friday night!

Derrick, Man, and Veronica. Close up.
I didn't sing. Man pretended to turn in song requests,
but I think he lied.
And Derrick sang "Everything." I didn't cry this time.

Derrick & Ellie before he headed off to the Bronco/Raider game on Sunday.
Ellie helped him pick out the Bronco hat.

A moving self-portrait of my mom and I at the

Blossoms of Light at the Denver Botanic Gardens Monday night.
Funny. We were holding up traffic.

Rylee Bear loved the lights!

Papa Jim and Ellie have a snack while somewhere off camera Parker sleeps.
Good little boy.

John is lost in space!!!! Ahhhhhh!!

Just cool.

Infatuation

Things I'm Obsessed With:

1. Eliana constantly asking, "Mom, whatchaaaaa dooooing?" And her ballerina dancing.
   
2. Parker's whole-face smile. It's just about the sweetest thing. And his snuggling.
   
3. My husband. You know how sometimes you look across the room and think, "Wow. That person actually married me. And loves me. And puts up with me. And if I was just meeting him now for the very first time I'd be even more attracted to him and in love with him and completely infatuated with him than I was when I originally met him...." That's been happening to me a lot these last few days. I adore you, Derrick.
   

Cookin'

We've been eating a lot of soup. I love soup. I don't know why. I mean, I know why we've been eating a lot of it; because I've been cooking a lot of it. I just don't know why I love it so much, accept to say that it is delicious and just right for cold winter nights.

Here's what's been going down in my kitchen as of late.
Please to enjoy.

Baked Potato Soup

(Second Round Changes: Only did half of requested milk and substituted chicken broth for the rest. Saved 2/3 bacon to put on top as a garnish instead of in soup so it doesn't get so soft. Liked it even better the 2nd time around!)

Cheese Tortellini Soup with Cannellini, Kielbasa and Kale

Spicy Black Bean Soup

Broccoli, Red Pepper and Cheddar Chowder

(Side Note: I'm obsessed with Epicurious.com. They are fabulous. Now you can even select a bunch of recipes and the site will create an entire shopping list for all of the ingredients you might need based on your selections. So cool.)

Slow-Cooker Butternut Squash Soup:
Click on "Good Eats" below. ;)

All that Stuff

So, first things first. Let me set the scene: I am a modern, suburban, moderate-liberal, tree-hugging hippie. I throw the "moderate" in there because while I enjoy things like sushi and lattes (and lots of other stereotypical liberal delicacies) we also own two SUV's, way too many electronic gadgets, and well, I'm a stay-at-home-mom who cooks and cleans and cares for babies all day while Pope goes off to be the bread-winner in a (sexy) suit and tie who fights the good fight and pays the bills. That's just down right traditional, right there!

But I digress.

The point is I'm a hippie. And I hate too much stuff. So the joy of Christmas for me can sometimes be temporarily shadowed by the idea that all we're doing is cramming more stuff we don't need into our house and into our hearts. Who needs a new Xbox 360 game when I could just bake you some nice banana bread, instead? Well....Derrick does. Because he loves video games and detests bananas. Hmmm.

And why do my kids need so many toys? They spend most of the day playing with my pots & pans anyway! It's just so much fun to see the joy when they open the presents on Christmas morning. Christmas is magical because I have kids....but they get too much stuff.

And so, I start my lifelong quest to teach my kids about giving and not about getting. To make them love Christmas and not just for the presents. To teach them gratitude and graciousness and generosity.

Because it's not just about the stuff. But Christmas morning sure will be fun. And my black SUV is packed full of presents, anyway. See what ideals get you? Nothin'!

Kung Fu Santa

Eliana, Parker, and cousin Rylee went to visit Santa Claus at the Lakeshore Athletic Club. Santa was a brave soul who said he could hold all three babies at the same time.
And he did.
And this is the result.

Kung Fu Santa!!
Merry (almost) Christmas!

This & That...

Things have been busy lately. Not like we're not always busy, but they've been busy in a really good way with the holidays and family and good friends. I've had time to reconnect with some of my favorite friends that love me even though I'm forgetful and chaotic and mildly annoying. Hehe.

We got to see my favorite Josalyn twice while she was here for Thanksgiving. We even had a pizza night complete with babies and husbands. It's so funny to talk about getting detention together in Mr. Aigner's 7th grade math class while our kids play together in the background. I've also spent more time with our favorite parents of twins, and Katie impresses me every time I see her (even if she feels like her life is totally out of control. Which it is, of course, but she handles it all so well!!) Next week, another playdate, with Kelly and kiddos, whom I suspect is moving back to New England and I am sad. More good times with good friends from all these little parts of my past.....

I'm more aware than ever what it takes to be a good friend. I know I have some of the best and they always make me smile.

Auntie V

So, you wouldn't know it from the old blog, but I'm a new aunt to my very first little niece. Things have been, well, crazy, but I intend to do a much better job being an aunt as little Rylee grows. It's hard to do much with my two running around and Rylee being only three months old. But that will change. I can only imagine what the holidays will like in two years. So fun!!! Kids playing everywhere. Fighting, laughing, giggling.....

I've had a picture of my kids and brothers kids playing together since I was young. Even when I thought I would never have kids I still had this little picture in the back of my mind of cousins playing. As John lay in the hospital I prayed and prayed on that picture. John had to stay with us because he still had work to do. Things to accomplish. Stories to tell. Maybe he'll have his own kids one day, but at the very least, he has nieces and a nephew to watch over and love.

So, here's to my little bit, Rylee. My first niece. And to me getting my act together and getting ready to help watch over her for many years to come.

Rudolph

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