It's Only Been A Month...

Since it has been a full month since I last posted, I thought we're probably due for an update. **Caution... this post ended up kind of long**

First of all, we had a merry Christmas at our house. My sister Leslie and her family were staying with us durring Christmas so we had a fun Christmas morning with 4 little kids.

Santa's helpers

Savannah and her santa gift, a baby doll with "a stroller that the baby can lay down in." I love Savannah's expression in this picture.

Justin and his Santa gift, a ball pit. Ohhhh the pure joy of burying yourself in 200 balls. Ohhh the joy of picking up those 200 balls daily. I should have thought that one through!

The Saturday after Christmas my sister-in-law Jessica planned a snowboarding trip complete with a beginner lesson. So I geared up and went along. I had a really fun time! I'm hoping to be able to go soon with Craig to show off my beginner skills. Here is a tip for you beginner snowboarders out there... don't run 12 miles the day before you go. Apparently snowboarding really uses your quads. There were a few times I thought my legs were going to catch fire they were burning so bad!

Our crew. Chad, Kirsti, Kristi, Jessica, Danny, Iris, Jeff

I love this picture because it looks like I know what I'm doing. Check out how the snow is blowing around under my board!

Guaranteed this picture was taken within seconds of the previous one.

A few days later it was New Years Eve. I've learned that New Years Eve is always a bummer but especially when you have little kids who have an 8pm bedtime. BUT this year turned out to be surprisingly fun. I fed the kids and put them to bed while Craig went and got Wingers take out. Then we stuffed ourselves with Wingers wings and watched The Dark Knight. My little brother Devin was staying with us so we introduced him to New Years Eve parent style. After the movie was over there were just a few more minutes until midnight so we turned the tv to Dick Clark's Rockin' New Year Eve or whatever it is called. WOW! I know the show is named after Dick Clark and all, and he has been the hosting the show for about 100 years, but I think his time for retirement has come!

OK... on with 2009! Savannah has yet to go back to preschool. Her teacher has been ill so Christmas break got extended 3 additional weeks. Meanwhile Savannah has had lots of playdates and has worked hard in some school workbooks and been working on her coloring.

This is a picture Savannah was especially proud of. She is really trying hard to stay in the lines.

Last week I watched my niece Sierra and nephew Austin. Here are some snapsots I took that day.

Cute cousins.

Sierra and Justin in matching outfits! Sierra is 10 months younger that Justin but her thighs are twice as big. She has those picture perfect chubby baby thighs I just want to sit and honk all day long! Quite a contrast to Justin's chicken legs!

Preschool Christmas Program

Today Savannah had her preschool Christmas program. The children all did a great job singing for their parents. Singing is one of Savannah's favorite things to do so she was very excited for this day to come. She sang and did all the actions beautifully. All the kids dressed up as the Nativity and Savannah got to be a shepard. At the end of the program Santa appeared! Savannah got to sit on his lap and tell him what she wants... "a barbie doll who is getting married"... check! On a side note, when we were getting ready this morning I got Savannah's hair all curled and put the big bow in her hair and then she burst into tears saying she looked like a boy!

We put Justin on Santa's lap to save ourselves a trip to the mall, and to my suprise, he loved it! Justin was all smiles with Santa.

Here is a little video clip of Savannah singing one of the songs in the performance. I believe it is "Christmas Times A Comin'". The girl standing to the right is Savannah's good friend Olivia.

When we left the Christmas Program it was snowing again, for the third time this week. Come on! How am I supposed to train for a marathon in this? Notice that nicely shoveled drive way... yep, that is MY handywork! You're welcome, Craig.

And he's off...

Justin officially has a new trick. He's walking. I couldn't even keep up with him crawling so now what am I going to do??? At least he won't get any more holes in the knees of his jeans (at least for a few years). Who has ever heard of a 12 month old getting a hole in brand new jeans because they crawled too much?

Other November Happenings...

Fun with Dad

I love catching my kids sleeping in this position. It looks so incredibly uncomfortable.

Craig participated in another triathlon. This was the Telos Tri in Orem. Craig was happy because he had his best time ever and even beat his brother Chad by 12 seconds. Isn't it obvious who the most macho Colyar brother is!

The best part of the Telos Tri was that Craig's mom participated too! It was her very first triathlon and she not only finished... she won third place for her age division! I am so proud of her!

The double mint twins racing to the pool.

After the tri I talked Craig into hanging our Christmas lights. Didn't he do a good job?

Justin's latest hobby... pushing this bike around the house to get where he needs to go.

We spent Thanksgiving at my sister Lynne's house. We had a delicious feast. Here Justin is taking his first bite of his first Thanksgiving.

Our little beauty. If she keeps this up Craig might have to invest in a shotgun.

Happy Birthday to Justin!

Justin had his first birthday on Thanksgiving this year. It was fun to take time out from stuffing our faces to celebrate Justin. I can't believe he is already a year. I'm sad I no longer have a "baby" but look forward to what his life will bring. He is my little happy boy.

Craig's Return to Mexico City

Our first apartment and killer black PT Crusier

On top of the presumed Hill Cumora of BoM times - Tuxtla Santiago



Olmeca Head at anthropology museum in Xalapa, Veracruz

I am in Mexico City right now and wanted to make a brief post. Most of you know that Kristi and I lived in Mexico City for about 2 1/2 years between 2000 and 2003. This experience was quite an adventure for us and ultimately left us with many fond memories of this incredible country and its people. Mexico City is a crazy place....25 million people, cars everywhere, smog, stink, beggars, you name it, this city has it. But, there's something I love about it. Being here again has been such a cool experience. I went to one of me and Kristi's favorite restaurants last night and filled myself to the brim with tacos al pastor, chicharron de queso, cebollitas, frijoles charros, and bottled "Coca Light" (much better than Diet Coke). I have also spent my day here in the TNI office where I put in some real blood, sweat, and tears back in the day. The whole thing has been positively nostalgic. The last thing I want to mention is how much I appreciate Kristi for having such a great attitude about all of my travels and for allowing me to have these experiences without making me feel like a bum of a husband and father! (I'm beginning to wonder if she prefers it when I'm out of the house!) The photos above are from when Kristi and I lived in Mexico.

Let It Snow...

This morning we woke up in a winter wonderland. When Savannah saw the snow she asked,"Is it Christmas today?" I was so excited to get the kids outside but since this was our first snowfall of the year it took me a while to find all the snow clothes, especially for Justin since I can't exactly rerun the stuff he wore last year. In the end Savannah had a great time, until she got cold, which was about 45 minutes. Justin hated it from the beginning. Probably because it was naptime, he didn't have any gloves and he was wearing pink and purple boots.