A few cut-throat games of connect-four with 2nd cousins and 1st cousins once removed and great grandma L and other distant and well-loved relatives. (we didn't make it to the count-down -- we were driving through the Salt Lake Valley when the clock switched over, the children fast asleep in the back of the van, Joseph and I enjoying a little Harry Potter on CD, watching fireworks shoot up randomly across the valley. Joseph: "Happy New Year, honey. 2010 was a good year." Tara: "It was good, wasn't it? Happy New Year, Babe.")
A little fun with the L's - Cousin N gave Aunt Emily a run for her money with the boys' new sparing gear they got for Christmas -- she said, "Aunt Emily, will you fight with me? We can fight for fun, but I will still love you, and you will still love me, right?"
Having recovered sufficiently to go bowling with the family, Grandpa Bruce enjoys a smooch from his cutest little granddaughter. :) (okay, the cutest is up for debate, but she's definitely in the running) (Cousin B and M threw up tonight at the Chick-fil-a after dinner! The fun continues!!!)
J-boy and Ms. B played foosball for hours! It was so cute. Flu bug hit Grandma and Grandpa and Kendra today. And Great Grandma B. : (
Ms. B let Baby A help her with her gingerbread house - so sweet!!!! (Joseph was down with it today)
Sweet little lady with Great Grandma B - I love it!!!
I love this girl - this picture makes my eyes prick with tears while I smile. I've told Joseph that living next to Heather and Ryan for that year in Ohio has ruined me for life - I will always always always be trying to live near them again. Our quick little 2 1/2 days together for Christmas was just not enough. (can you believe she was up all the night before throwing up - that's right, we were definitely sharing the love).
The whole fam damily after church on Sunday. Well, not ALL of us, but a good crowd, at any rate (we missed you, Dave, Mindy, Eric & Scott!!!!!!!)
This little lady (my 6 month old darling niece) is so dainty and cute - she was crossing her ankles just before I snapped this shot. :) Cute PJ's, too, eh?
J-boy got a REAL FLIGHT SUIT and some awesome lego sets - little boy heaven!!!!
K-lady got a doll house that's taller than her!!!! (Made with love by Grandpa Bruce for a 9-year-old Tara once upon a time)
Christmas PJ's on Christmas morning - Joseph and I and Gabe broke the rules and got dressed - I'd been up all night throwing up, so I felt like I had a reasonable excuse to shower and clean up before tearing into the presents Christmas morning. Baby A had already changed out of her PJ's, but since she changes clothes 20 times a day, it was only expected.
YAY! Joseph was my hero and drove from 4:00 am till we pulled in at mom and dad's at 7:30 that night. We only stopped TWICE! (I guess the kids were rather dehydrated, having been sick the day before - potty stops were at a minimum) We made it in time for Christmas Eve stories and games and pajamas! PJ's Phase 4: cute cousins wearing 'jama's!!! (the other 3 were already in bed)
I thought the sunset through the icy window looked kind of cool.
Finally on the road! After a little make-over session with mommy's make up Baby A settled in for some movies.
PJ's phase 3: DONE! I just made the pants; mom bought shirts to go with them. They turned out darling!
But this picture doesn't really show what we did on the 23rd. The day started around 1:30 am with K-lady throwing up (on her bed). Baby A followed suit around 2:30, and J-boy finished us off at 3:00 by throwing up on HIS bed. Their room REEKED. So instead of waking up at 4 am and driving to Utah, we decided to stay home for the day and do laundry and hopefully get rid of the bug so we wouldn't take it with us. (No such luck.)
The Christmas party at church included a lovely program with music and spoken word, all reverent and sweet. Which meant that Joseph got to hang out with Baby A and J-boy in the hall while I played the piano. :) But he did get this cute picture! :) We got home from our party around 9:30, and dug into the packing of the car (I had done a little during the day, but not nearly enough!). Joseph gave up around 10:30 and went to bed, I finished up around 12:30. But the night wasn't over yet.
sick day #1 (of many many in the next few weeks). J-boy woke up & threw up - stomach bug on it's way for all of us! Saltines and sprite in a sippy cup, blankets pillows, coats, hats and movies. We thought he was better by bedtime....
bundle of Christmas joy delivered to the big city today by Baby A and myself (a few last minute errands before we head out of town!)
we made treats for friends/neighbors today.
cute little clutches for my cute little neices.
pajamas phase 2 (cut out)
I felt so triumphant taking my small bundle of packages to be mailed - didn't ever make it to the Christmas cards this year, but the present made it out on time. :)
Christmas-in-a-bag (well, three bags), all ready to transform the primary room into a Christmas party for my Activity Day girls.
Not much for naps these days, but we both still need our hour of quiet time.
This cutie IS still part of the family - she just doesn't make it into as many shots as her younger counterparts.
The craft room (food storage room, home office, mud room, pantry, garage, etc) seems to take the brunt of my busy days. Luckily, it's horrid messy state scares the children away, so I'm free to leave Christmas gifts in plain sight - kind of like Where's Waldo. There's so much going on, you can't see what's right in front of you. And it all hides behind a curtain when company comes to call. :)
Today was NOT a perfectly ordinary day! Today we got our new camera! We bought a previously-loved canon rebel from a friend, and Joseph brought it home tonight after an exciting night of hunting (actually, not very exciting - no deer). So I ran around the house taking pictures of any random thing I could (with a FLASH!). Hurray!!!!
