New Year's 2012

We spent a relaxing New Year's with my family first in California and then drove back to Utah and spent a couple days at the Jeppsons' since Jordan and Jenika were visiting from Idaho for a few days. That was also our belated Christmas celebration with them.

One of Connor's favorite Christmas presents - from G'ma Brenda and G'pa Brian.

Cami, Jordan, and Jenika. I snapped this picture at just the wrong time so everyone looks like they have polarized emotions. Everyone really was happy opening presents, despite what some faces show. :)

Brandon, Jen, and baby Alexis.

Connor helping G'pa Brian open his Christmas present.

The few days we spent with the Jeppsons was fun. It's always good to see Jordy and Jenika since they live so far away; we miss them! Happy New Year everyone!

Christmas 2011

We tend to celebrate Christmas all month long and this year was no different. On December 10 we visited the lights on Temple Square with our friends, the Winegars and the Ormes. It was freezing that night, but we all had a good time. Connor really loved all the lights.

It snowed a few times this winter, but overall this winter was pretty mild. One of Connor's favorite activities was shoveling snow with Brad. He would beg him to go shovel snow, even when it hadn't snowed. We bought him his very own shovel. So cute watching him next to Brad.

Brad's new toy. It shoots snow about 20 feet.

We had a MOMS Club Activity with Santa Claus (my friend's dad, who happens to be in our ward) on December 20. I tried to prep Connor with "Look! It's Santa! He brings you presents and candy for Christmas!" over and over again to try to get him excited so he would sit on Santa's lap for a picture. Santa read "The Night Before Christmas" to all the kids and then they sat on his lap. Connor sat perfectly still and calm and when Santa asked him what he wanted for Christmas Connor said, "Um, more chocolate." Santa laughed. He really loves chocolate. Grandma Brenda should be proud; he is definitely her grandson.

Friday December 23, we drove down to California to spend a week over Christmas with my family. We were there until January 2. It was a great trip, with the exception that Connor came down with Croup on Christmas Eve. We were in the ER from 11 p.m. 'til 3 a.m. since he was coughing so bad and having a hard time breathing. Great. Fortunately he is a pretty tough kid so it didn't really affect him too much after the first couple nights of coughing. Unfortunately I also caught it too (just a bad chest cold for me) and let me say, I really hate being sick when I'm pregnant! I couldn't take ANYTHING to help me feel better except Tylenol, which didn't help my symptoms at all. While in California, we:

opened Christmas presents (which I didn't get a single picture of, dang it, but aren't Will, Jaxson, and Connor cute in their Christmas jammies Christmas morning?!). Connor got books, puzzles, clothes, his blue tricycle from Gaga and Papa, a Buzz Lightyear nerf gun, and a train table from Brad and I (which we gave him when we got back to Utah).  Connor REALLY loves trains and he spent the first week playing with only that every day for 6-8 hours a day.  I wish I was exaggerating.

visited Irvine Park for a train ride,

went to Sea World,

walked around RSM Lake by my parents' house with Claire and Jaxson,

honored a new tradition - Chuck E. Cheese,

and just played around my parents' house and in their neighborhood.

We drove back to Utah January 2 at 3 a.m. (which we always do when we drive so Connor sleeps half the drive time - awesome). We had a great time with my family and always enjoy the Christmas season.

Christmas and New Years

So, I know it's February, but...

Christmas was fun. Brad and I spent Christmas this year with the Carver family in Orange County. It was a fun-filled weekend of opening presents, eating lots of yummy food, and enjoying the company of my family. It was a short Christmas "break" (wish I still had those from work like I did in school) as I had to work on Christmas Eve, but I did manage to get the Friday after Christmas off. Brad got the entire 2 weeks between Christmas and New Year's Day off due to the "Boeing Shutdown" during the holiday season.

Brad was very thoughtful for Christmas this year. He got me a couple of crocheting books to indulge me in my new hobby (one of them was "Crocheting for Baby," which will hopefully be my second hobby soon :) ), a book - Tales of Beatle the Bard (we are big Harry Potter fans), and a knitting loom for more crocheting/knitting fun. I got Brad the edited version of the movie Gladiator, a video game (Star Wars: The Force Unleashed), and both Man from Snowy River dvds - a couple of his childhood favorites.



Brad's attempt at not getting his picture taken (that's why he's holding the movies so far away from him :).




This is a book Mom gave Dad for Christmas. It is a memory book of our golden retriever, Maguire, who passed away in July of last year. We were all crying on Christmas. We all really miss him. This was the sweetest present any of us received for Christmas this year. Thanks Mommy.



This is the cover I made for Mom for her new bread machine from Dad. Her last one broke because of sun damage so this should help protect it a little.




Mom made the cutest baby blanker for Claire for the baby! It was so soft!




Even the kitties got in on the fun!



My brother-in-law, Sterling, was given four foam dart guns for Christmas from his parents. Those provided several hours of 007 fun!







Making scones Christmas morning.



New Year's Eve was fun as well! We rang in the New Year with Brad's cousin and his wife that live in the apartment below us (Jake and Brook). We had a fun-filled night full of DDR, chicken salad sandwiches, movies, and sparkling cider!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year everyone! Even if it is a month late... :)