playing catch-up

I realize I've been promising pictures and an actual blog for a while, now. It's rather daunting when so much time as passed! I feel like I have so much to blog about, that I don't know where to start. So, I'll give a quick run down of the last little while, then I can start blogging about trivial, unimportant things again! We had a great Christmas in our own home this year. Although we missed our families, we enjoyed being together and letting the kids actually open their toys and play with them. (Usually, we put off opening the boxes until they get shipped home to IA. It's the safest way to get all the pieces there :).)

So, this is my first Christmas Eve dinner. Ham. I was a little disappointed though, it turned out cold! GRRR!! Oh well. the rest of it was tastey.
What would Christmas Eve be without new Jammies? A little on the big side, I know; but when you have a kid on the scrawny side and a kid on the long side, what else do you do?
Brooklyn and Daddy arranged the block nativity after we talked about it. Isn't it awesome?!! I love that the angel is on the shelf above!
Ah, Christmas Day. Yes, Brooklyn's stocking is more than half as tall as she is. Santa doesn't even try to make it "full". She loved digging in it, though. (my mom is SOO amazing! She made all our stockings!)
Mason isn't quite sure what's going on....He was ready for a nap before we were even done opening presents. Good times, good times.

Mason's first gift. Brooklyn was so excited she could hardly contain herself!

What would Christmas be without a princess dress??

More gifts.

Ahh, presents

Our little Mets fan....too bad he won't leave it on. He looks so darn cute in it!!

Isn't this how everyone plays with Little People (a.k.a Children)?

Can't go wrong with a Princess book!

The "loot", Santa (a.k.a. Grandmas) definitely knew where we lived and how to get in (Brooklyn was very concerned with how he was going to get in...).

A little Jaunt over the snow mountain with Gage. What a gentleman to hold her hand!

The day after Christmas brought the journey to UT. I think this is actually the day after the day after....but you get the idea.
Occasionally (i.e. most of the time) Brooklyn has a little trouble with her pants.

I'm seeing a trend. The best way to get a toy from point A to point B? In your mouth, of course!

Good times at Grandma Carole's

Our First Ice skating experience. Unfortunately, Jon was the only one stable enough to keep himself and Brooklyn up. I am not so coordinated. I was lucky not to be on my butt.

Mason and I supervised ice skating from inside. He wasn't too keen on letting me leave the room just yet.

Off to go sledding! YIPEE!

Brooklyn LOVED going down on her own. She giggled the entire time and definitely wasn't ready to leave when everyone else was.

We made it down together once or twice,

The Wedding, of course. Such fun!

Jon's Grandparents...Aren't they cute!

Every Daddy needs a heart and star necklace!

Finally heading home. There were smiles....some of the time.

Whew! That's it in a nutshell! We had a great time and so much went on! Now, we can move on to the New Year and our LAST SEMESTER!!!! WOOHOO!