Sunday, December 26, 2010

12.26.2010: The Day After......

The Day After.....
Scott came over to see Brent & Ken since they weren't there when he was over last. So, we got to hang out with him a bit. Ken & Nicole had to head back to Flagstaff...and the snow. Ken had to work tomorrow :( But it was SOOOO nice that they made it out!!!

We were hanging out in the front yard playing catch, watching the kids ride bikes...and playing cornhole. Yup, CORNHOLE. We are going to create a cornhole championship league....because we have found out that others have! Somehow I feel like we should have known about this sooner. Hmmmm....

Brent & Alisa handmade & painted this particular set for Mom & Dad....

Cornhole....

Twins...boots with the furzzz

Release the dogs....

Saturday, December 25, 2010

12.25.2010: Christmas Evening

Christmas day, Brent, Alisa & the kids went out to Alisa's gramma's house for the day where Mike & Olivia were staying the night. The rest of us stayed at the house and relaxed all afternoon and had a delish prime rib dinner. Great evening about to get much much better! After the rest of the group were done visiting their gramma...they came back to our house for the evening.

The boys had made it their goal to finish off the keg before the end of the night...so the game began!! That and a little game of Toss Across...which is tic-tac-toe with bean bags. Who knew it would create such a commotion! I don't know who had more fun with it...us or the kids!!

We stayed up all night playing this crazy game...talking...drinking...and making fun of each other!! Such a great time! And the boys came oh so very close to finishing off the keg too! Kenny ended up passed out on the couch...ok, not literally passed out...but semi-coherent! They put a pretty big dent in it!!! Hilarious to watch!!


Waiting for her turn to play...
Cracking the fingers...warming up...this game was no joke!
Strategy w/ Grandpa...
Alisa...tilting the couch...heehee!! She is having just as much fun as the rest of the group...and not even drinking!!
Kenny trying to keep his eyes open....the girls being girls!
Andrew perfecting his throw from all angles...even Vince's lap
Heehee...too much fun!
Brent...drinking his Bud Light out of his wine glass....even he got in on the "empty the keg" game! Couldn't give up the flying pinky though. Keeping his dignity...
Flying bean bag....Alisa vs. Andrew...

12.25.2010: Christmas Morning

Present overload....Christmas morning...we woke up to present overload!! Santa visited overnight and dropped off some bikes for Andrew & Brianna. Brianna got her first "big girl" bike...and Andrew got a bigger bike than his old one that has cool stuff on it with trickability! Drake got the same bike (different color) from us this year too. Now they can ride around and do tricks together!

There were a TON of gifts...and we spent all morning taking our time opening them. Luckily the kids are super patient and very good about taking turns and saying thank you with every single opened gift...and really appreciating each present. We all enjoy taking our time and making it a true event instead of just chaos!! Real thanks to everyone for all the great gifts!!

Bikes!!

The kids passed out all the gifts....took a while since they couldn't read some of the writing on the tags...and that they only gave them out one by one....but they were so excited to do it! Adults hung out in our spots, waiting for our gifts, and drank our coffee....listening to Christmas music!
Yukon had to be up in the mix...buried by the presents!
"New One" even got some presents. New One is the Brent & Alisa's new baby...since she didn't have a name yet...she is called "New One". Hopefully it doesn't stick too long after she is born :)
Vince and I got Andrew some Dr. Seuss books...so in between presents, he caught up on his reading. So cute! He just sat there and read thru a book while we took turns opening presents. Who needs toys!!??
Nana taking a break....
Cheesed up! My turn yet?
After opening our presents...and eating a delish breakfast of our traditional quiche...and a little bit of everything else you can imagine....we cleaned up and headed outside so the kiddos could ride their bikes. The grown kids started throwing the football around, and the bikes were done as everyone kinda wanted to just throw around the ball. Eventually the dogs were released and they played like crazy and chased each other all around. Lots of fun!!
Andrew couldn't touch the ground from his bike so someone usually had to run after him in case he fell on the turns....or for when he was ready to be done!

Brianna had a baby seat on the back of her bike...which she LOVED. It was a must-have so Santa had to search high & low for a babyseat to attach to the back of the bike...and only got it up to the North Pole at the last minute before he loaded up the sleigh for his deliveries...because the mail was delayed from all the other deliveries. Good thing it showed up in the "Nick" of time (get it) and he had some time to stay up late the night before to attach it to the bike!!! :)
Notice the 2 balls flying aross the sky at each other...trick throws by Vince & Kenny
Kenny & Brent were having speed ball throwing contests..
Andrew even got into it...he throws a great spiral!

Friday, December 24, 2010

12.24.2010: Christmas Eve With The Riedmans

As tradition goes for as long as we can remember...and as long as we have been alive...we spent Christmas Eve at Gramma & Papa's house!! This was a special one for the Durbins because Kenny & Nicole were able to make it too. Kenny hasn't "ever" been...according to Gramma...meaning that it has been a few years since he has made it because he usually has to work that day or Christmas day. Lucky for us...he was off and made it out! We spent a lot of time out in the front yard this year admiring the lights and enjoying the gorgeous California weather. It was amazing....especially considering it rained and was freezing all week!! Couldn't have been more perfect!

The greeting party as family arrived:
Vince...always smiling!!
Tina trying to hide her blonde locks behind Matt...my camera catches everyone!! :)
Brent doing his part helping to fix a snowman
YEAH!!! It isnt cold & snowing!! We are in CALI!
We wanna go there!!!!
A little tree in the front yard had not ONE leaf on it...but had this gorgeous flower on it!!!
Musta caught Andrew doing something mischievous...looks guilty!
Happy girl Nana!
Ahhhh so glad Daddy made it to Riverside in time for the party!!! Another semi-guilty look...maybe that is just "his look"??
Gramma making sure the girls in the kitchen are following directions! She is the pro...
Family pic.....
Only missing a few family members...but most of the group was there!
Hmmm...fishy talk??
Tina trying to kidnap Layla...don't tell Shelly!
Andrew and Nicole....
Papa making sure his penguins are standing up straight! Or just poking them in the head!?
Sun going down...lights looking good!
Ken & Nicole in their cozy spot in the living room...
Nana found her present!

The toy was for Tucker...not Angie!!
The living room is getting smaller & smaller...or we are getting bigger...or maybe the family is just growing...which is always good!!
Papa is a present to us all!!
And Layla too!! She loved the bow on her head!
Pretty girl....she was all over the place!!
The Durbin corner...
Papa, Shelly, & Gramma
Angie, Tina & Michael
Andrew & his Jim Beam....ok, it was really Brent's winning from the Gift Exchange
Layla liked climbing on the presents...and fell off a couple times...but it didn't stop her from doing it more!!
The night shot...
Another wonderful successful year of food, family & holiday!! We always have a great time....