Meeting Dodgens in Denver...Twice!

Siblings Brandon, Taylor and Neely Dodgen were out in Colorado for an unexpected visit at the beginning of January. Sadly, their uncle who lived in Salida passed away unexpectedly and they flew out for the funeral. We of course were happy to see the three of them since they were making the trip anyway. We met them on Wednesday night on the 13th after they arrived in Denver. We were going to go out to eat to Casa Bonita but Taylor & Neely's flights arrived late so instead we ate at the Macaroni Grill which was a lot closer. But not without first stopping at Target to get a tie for Brandon!

Here we are at the Macaroni Grill.



We were able to meet them again in Denver on Saturday before they flew back home. This time we had time for Casa Bonita!

If you have never heard of this place and are ever in Denver...you need to visit! It is a Mexican restaurant. But people do not go for the food, they go for the entertainment. They have several mini-plays being performed throughout your meal...complete with cliff divers! Here's where we picked up our food.

And here is one of the performances.

Having a good time!


More performing...


The boys by Black Bart's Cave! Taylor successfully scared Neely AND I in here. Although he said Neely just screamed without him doing a thing...whereas he jumped out at me.

Last show for us.

We also went to the arcade. A shot to prove to Matt that I did indeed beat his score at Skeeball!

Witt Christmas Continued

Saturday morning, the girls headed to Agia Sophia's. One of Nicole's favorite places on earth. it is a cute little coffee shop in Old Colorado City.

Then we all headed to Castle Rock Outlets for an afternoon of shopping!! I came home from Castle Rock with the best Christmas present ever from my 'n laws...sugar and flour containers! Doesn't sound exciting to you? You have no idea. I have been wanting these containers ever since we were married so I didn't have to keep all of these items in bags in my messy cupboard. My mom always has the nice tupperware containers that kept the baking cupboard tidy-looking. I was fiercely jealous of these. :)

Here is a before picture of my baking cupboard.


And the finished product!

It brings a smile to my face every time I open the cupboard doors. There are actually four containers in there. But you can only see two of them because the others are behind the front ones.

It was also quite a memory we created in purchasing these. Courtney and I each had a card that gives the customer 20% off of one purchase. So me, mom, Nicole & Matt all checked out with a different container...passing the card between us. It was hilarious because Matt said that the lady at the checkout commented to the other cashier..."boy, these are popular!" Two of us went to one cashier and two to the other. I think the one totally knew what we were doing, but evidently the other was oblivious!

This was also the night of the Wii canoeing competition. For more on this check out my mother 'n law's blog here. She uses the word "dominated" about her performance. Well, I am here to show you a video of her dominance and her defeat. Or at least our celebration of her defeat! Ha ha. In all fairness, she was quite good. We had to gang up on her to take her down!

Mom and Dad Witt got Matt and I Wii Sports Resort and two motion controllers for Christmas. Wii Canoeing was on this this game. It was a great gift! We love it. And as you can see...a lot of fun. It was a nice addition to Wii Super Mario that David & Age got us for Christmas!

Nicole brewing some coffee with Matt's new coffee deal from Courtney. Probably a nice gift for everyone as we don't have a coffee maker at all. We don't really have counter space for it and neither Matt or I usually drink coffee. However, Matt would probably drink it every once in a while if he could...thus, the need for the gift. I, on the other hand, never intend to get hooked, so probably will never drink it!


Courtney and I in our matchy-match sweaters from GAP outlet!


While playing some card games, Nicole thought she needed to bundle up in my new blanket.


Monday night after work, we all went out to eat at FatBurger. It was a very good burger joint we never tried before. And there $2 milkshakes were delicious! Lots of laughter and good times here. We will certainly be going back. It filled everyone's tummies for their long drive back to Indiana.


Thanks for coming Mom, Dad, Nicole & Courtney! We had a great time with you here. Love you!

Christmas/Christmas Eve with the Witts

We were really fortunate this year to get to have Christmas with my side of the family and Matt's! Not as easy to pull off when our families live in different states...and we live in another one all together. A couple of days after I got back from Pennsylvania, Matt's dad, mom and two sisters, Nicole and Courtney arrived at our apartment EARLY Christmas Eve (4AM). They had a LONG drive out with some slippery, snowy conditions the last several hours. We were so grateful they made it here safely.

On Christmas Eve, before going to the Christmas Eve service, we went to this home that lit up in sync to Christmas music. It was quite impressive.


We were cruising around in Dad & Mom Witt's new (to them) Lexus.


Then we went to Louie's Pizza for dinner! Louie's is the little pizza joint close to our apartment.




We were surprised how many gifts ended up under the tree!


We couldn't resist so each of the kids opened one gift that night.




We played a little Price is Right on the Wii before bed.


Christmas morn! Nicole deserves the award for being the most festive in her Christmas PJ's!




Matt excited about his Spurs Mr. Potato Head.


Courtney's sweet new Ivy Tech Graphic Design tee that Nicole made for her!


Courtney trying out her new fleece. Nicole looks like she really approves, doesn't she? ha ha.


Nicole's sweet boots.


That afternoon we went sledding!






The race is on.


Matt and the girls!


Matt & Courtney wrestling after a competitive run!




Cooking Christmas dinner in my fancy outdoor apparel.


Dinner's ready!
Complete with sparkling cider.


My first successful Christmas meal! Great times with the fam.

More Christmas in PA

David, Age & Colin surprised us by picking us up in Harrisburg at the airport on Saturday. The clip below begins with Colin serenading us in the car on the way home. He is too cute! He is singing a song from one of his favorite movies...Curious George. The rest of the video is just a few other clips of him from the week...including our family Christmas at David and Adrienne's.

On Monday, the day after the Berry Christmas, Matt and I headed back to Pap & Gram's for an afternoon of game time. Pap was entertaining the whole time...my gut hurt from laughing so hard.


I love this man.


That night, we headed to Grandpa & Grandma Melhorn's house with Dad, Mom & Colin. In fact, Colin took this picture!




Playing games with Colin that I used to play as a little girl at Grandma Melhorn's.


Tuesday night we had our family Christmas at David & Age's house. Check out this cute family!


This is the picture Colin took of his dad and grandma in the video above.


Matt found these swords at Target and thought Colin HAD to have them for Christmas!




Colin was in LOVE with this guitar he asked for for Christmas.


Colin was waiting all week to play legos with Uncle Matt!


Colin in his new fleece from his aunt & uncle! :)


Family shot.


Dad was playing a new hunting game on the Wii and Colin is sitting by him in support. Look at his little hand on his Pappy's back? How cute is that?


Age & Mom


Awesome photobook Age made for my parents.


Age & I


And us.


Matt wanted to try to get my parents some channels with a digital antenna. So after coming back from the store with 3 different contraptions...we found one that caught a few channels. Of course, this was not enough for the MEN. So Matt and Dad propped a ladder up against the back of the house and rigged the antenna up in the sky as high as it would go!
They got a few more channels. :)


Colin & Matt on the deck.


At the car wash. Matt, Dad & David.


A satisfied Kleen Mist customer!


Dad & David at the car wash! Good looking men.


Matt flew back to Colorado on Wednesday to work the rest of the week, and I stayed until Sunday morning. Actually, I was supposed to fly back on Saturday night but a huge snowstorm came through Pennsylvania on Saturday, so to be safe I switched my flight until Sunday morning. I say that now as though it was no big deal, yet I was on hold for 3 hours in the middle of the night Friday trying to switch my flight. Thankfully, my mom woke me when she heard the representative on the other end of the line say, "hello? hello?"

So I flew out fairly early on Sunday morning and was very lucky to get out without a hitch. There were dozens of people at the Harrisburg airport who had been stuck there since the day before and couldn't catch the next plane until around 11am. I ran into my cousin, LaDonna, from the Melhorn side of the family at the airport. I didn't even know she worked there! It was a nice surprise...and "THANK YOU, LaDonna for bumping me up to a first-class seat! You are awesome. I have never flown first class and I absolutely loved it! Please tell your friend who hooked me up thank you as well. You made my day :) "