New Year's in Colorado

After less than 48 hrs in Charleston, we left on New Year's Eve for DIA, the flight from Atlanta allowing the four of us (Aunt Amanda, Chance, Grace, and Mommy) a row of seats to ourselves. (Daddy couldn't come because he was working.) We thought it was funny when the steward asked the folks in the row in front of us if they wanted to move to the exit row and they responded with a hearty "yes" before the question was even out. :) During the flight, the babies slept, and Mommy even watched a movie, which she hasn't done since she was 8 months' pregnant! (Not an Oscar-winner, mind you, but a movie nonetheless.)

Grammy Sharon met us at the airport, and somehow we transported everyone--and everyTHING--home by about 1:30 am. The next day, Grammy held a joyful Open House to proudly introduce us to her friends!




Chance loved his Aunt Gill (holding him in the picture above). Aunt Haze (Grammy's sister) also came to the Open House too and met the twins for the first time. (We're so glad you came, Haze!)

After a family Christmas dinner, in which EVERYONE sat at the table AT ONE TIME (including the twins!), we opened Christmas presents. Grace sat on her Uncle Sam's lap to open her gifts, much to her delight.

Grammy showed Chance the snow, which he then wanted to crawl around in (but couldn't because we didn't have a snowsuit).

PHOTO BELOW: Aunt Gill, Chance, and Mommy play on the floor with the two dogs: Jack and Bovril (the latter name comes from a sandwich spread commonly used in South Africa, where Gill is from).

PHOTO: Gill and Sam reading stories to the twins.

Gracie's runny nose -- the twins were pretty "gooey" all week. In Aunt Gill's beautiful South African accent, though, "You have a snotty nose" sounds desireable. :-)

Chance, Aunt Amanda, Aunt Haze, and Mommy had brunch with Aunt Haze before we left town, then toured her offices at the Laser Aesthetics Group (http://www.purplehazelaser.com/).

Grace and Chance "argued" over a cell phone. Grace won, mainly because she yelled louder and Chance gave up.





We visited the Butterfly Pavillion in Westminster, CO, (http://www.butterflies.org/) where Chance and Grace were introduced to Rosie the tarantula -- Mommy, an arachnaphobe, literally stood about 10 feet away and let out a loud "yelp" when the spider neared Grace. We think that Mommy's yell, not the spider, made Grace cry.














Mommy, Chance, Uncle Sam, and Grace watched the release of new butterflies.