Light It Up

Michael, Graham, and I went to the Trails of Lights at the Denver Botanic Gardens.  The Trail of Lights is out at the Chatfield location, which is just 10 minutes from our house.  It was pretty cold, but we bundled up and had a great time seeing the lights.

Holiday Roundup

We didn't take a ton of pictures over the holiday season, but here is a few moments that we did capture!

Family picture at the Winter Festival at Tagawa

Checking out a reindeer at Tagawa

Santa and Mrs. Claus at the Evergreen Winter Festival - they arrived for the festivities on a fire truck!

G loving the live music at the Evergreen Winter Festival

Making the traditional Christmas Eve pizzas

The perfect Christmas scene (snow was falling outside too)

Opening presents with the help of Abey

I apologize for my serious lack of holiday pictures.  I have nothing of Hanukkah and none of our dinner on Christmas Day.  I definetly need to get better about remembering to take pictures!!

The Little King Gets A Queen...

...sized bed that is!  We decided to move Graham into a queen-size bed (with a rail).  He really enjoyed napping in the larger beds at both sets of grandparents' houses, and we were finding his toddler bed a little small to fit the larger stuffed animals he was wanting to sleep with.  The mattress (mine) and bed frame (Michael's) had been set up in Michael's parent's guest room for the last few years.  They were nice enough to let us have them back, so we didn't end up having to spend a bunch of money on a new bed set.

Last sleep in the toddler bed

Somehow M got everything loaded onto and in the Prius

First sleep in the big bed

G's room

G's room

G's room



The Artist

Angie, Graham, and I painted Christmas ornaments, did apple stamping, and ball rolling art (is that even what it's really called?). It was Graham's first time painting, and he jumped right in!  Definitely something we will be doing again in the future, maybe we'll even make a tradition out of ornament painting with our favorite Aunt!

Oh, You're a Wild One

I've been keeping Graham's hair a little longer - partly because it's winter and partly because of the massive panic that resulted the last time I buzzed it down.  Graham has a cowlick right on the top of his head, so when his hair is not quite short enough and not quite long enough, it sticks up.

Go Pretekin's!!

The Pretekin family has recently had a lot to celebrate.  Michael finished his second bachelor's degree in electrical engineering.  Michael has been working full-time and going to school online for this degree nearly the entire time we've been together (close to 5 years).  He has often had to spend all of his time away from work completing work for school.  We couldn't be more proud of him for putting in the amount of effort he did and working hard to further his career!  Michael's brother, Zach, recently purchased his condo!  Michael's parents put together an open house with a delicious spread of food (as seen above being sampled by a toddler) and invited many wonderful friends.

Chopped

The day after Thanksgiving my mom, sister, and I took a knife skills class - something I have always wanted to do.

My station

My mom and sister getting ready to chop

My sister, Angie, and I

Some of my work during class

Practicing at home with my new knife!