Christmas # 1

We had Christmas with Paul's Family on Christmas Eve in the morning.  Having Christmas two days in a row was fun.  It makes it last a little longer.  Christmas morning with three doesn't last very long.  I miss it when I'm not around.  This is the first time I have traveled for the holidays with a child.  Next time I will know to pack an extra suitcase.  We were spoiled.  Audrey got a purse from her cousin.  She stuffs it as full as she can and carries everywhere she goes now.  It was the gift of the year.  She plays with it twice as much as anything else.

We had a really great time together, and I'm pretty sure I got a picture of everyone in Paul's family.  

Success.  

Words cannot describe how happy I was to spend the holidays in Utah.  It was just the family break we all needed.  The trouble is now I'm missing all of these people twice as much now that I'm gone.  I might be going back sooner than I anticipated.

Santa at Aunt Jenn's

In the days leading up to Christmas my sister planned a few activities for the family.  She didn't disappoint.  We had the most amazing breakfast I have ever seen or tasted.     

After breakfast the kids got to see Santa.  When it was Audrey's turn I was pretty sure of how it was going to go.  I'm glad Paul was there to get some pictures because I knew it would be quick.  I'm pretty sure it was a traumatizing for Santa as it was most of the kids.  Ha ha.  Loving the memories these photos are going to provide!

Audrey's not too into food these days, thus my feelings of defeat and her look of disgust.  Hoping she gets over it soon.  

 This beautiful little girl is my sisters.  I wish I could take her home with me.  I love that she will let anyone hold her and how she gets so excited when you talk to her.  

 This is my brother's son.  He is such a sweet boy.  I feel bad that I didn't get to go out and visit with his parents a little more. 

 The Santa encounter

 Opening the gift Santa gave her.

Impressive Engineering

We build towers.  My Dad made these blocks when I was a lot younger.  We use to pull them out on Sundays and have tower building contests.  One day with the amount of blocks we had we were able to build a tower to the ceiling.  It was awesome.   Definitely something to check off your bucket list.  I still love playing with them.  We spent our first Sunday at my parents house because I managed to get sick.  Paul was building with Audrey until she got disinterested.  Then he decide he would try to build a tower using a very small support at the bottom to see what kind of weight it would hold.  So here is Paul's pretty amazing structure that looks like the Eiffel Tower.   He's talented even when his materials are wooden blocks.  Audrey was lucky enough to be the one to get to knock it down.   

Another lazy Sunday afternoon at my parents house, just the way I like it.  I really miss it, but I guess that's what makes it so special when I get to go home.  

Cousin Friends

 I wish I lived closer to this girls parents.  I doubt that fate would place them here but I would really like it.  Audrey can't stop talking about her.  They were so cute together.  Now that I think about it....we should have lived up those first few days that they were alone and did something away from the house.  I was just so absorbed in trying to spend time with both family's and helping my Mom with PJ's for the grand kids that I missed out.

I love these girls.  L told me that she loved me and that we were best friends.  I think we should be pen pals.  What do you think L?  Miss you.

Gingerbread Houses

The trip to Utah went really well.  Audrey was a champ.  It was only as we were getting ready to land that she complained.  Direct flights are my friends.  Paul parents came to get us.  It was kind of surreal sitting in Rod's van just like I have many other times.  It feels so weird to go from being in Texas to being in Utah within hours.  After a few days of being in Utah I start to feel like I've never left.  I love it.  Mostly I just love being with family.  

This particular day we were with Paul's parents putting together Gingerbread houses.  They know how to do their gingerbread houses.  I almost felt intimidated.  I've seen the previous year's gingerbread houses.  I knew I couldn't compare but I tried moving beyond the four wall, one level structure.  It turned out okay.  The kids went out to play in the snow.  Audrey didn't really care to be out in the cold.  Every time we left the house she would tell me she was freezing.  I didn't even get a picture of her.  Lame.  

We really enjoyed putting together our houses and talking about our lives.  I really love to watch Paul and his brothers get together.  They have this camaraderie that I've never seen anywhere else.

If I'm ever going to take up this tradition of making ginger bread houses I'm going to have to ask Anne her secrets.   

Lesson Learned

I had a really wise idea to clean out my ears by myself.  I had some pressure in my ear and thought a good cleaning would fix it.  I had Paul spray water into my ear with a bulb syringe.  I remember thinking the first couple times were a little uncomfortable, but the third time was really really painful.  It was the weirdest thing I have ever experienced.  It was a combination of fighting off fainting and being really dizzy at the same time.  I couldn't hear, and I was still in pain the next day so I went to see a doctor.  

Merian was so nice to watch Audrey last minute.  I love that Audrey loves being at her house.  It makes it easier to leave her.  

The doctor said I blew a hole into my ear drum.  I was horrified, until he told me that it would heal up itself as long as I didn't try playing doctor again.  When I got back to Audrey Merian had Christmas gifts for us.  Audrey got Minnie Mouse.  She sat on the couch and played for an hour until I told her she had to eat lunch.  She loves her mouse.  Thank you Merian!  She was too cute to pass up taking pictures.

Christmas Card

We actually sent out Christmas cards this year. Audrey was not cooperating but we came up with a few.  For all of those who missed it.  Here it is.  

This year we will be spending Christmas with family. Audrey will have her first formal introduction to snow, which is sure to be an event.

Audrey turned two this year.  She has grown so much in such a short time.  She has developed a glare which she will give to any stranger she comes into contact with until she gets to know them.  She's talking more and more every day.  She surprises me daily with sentences I didn't know she could formulate. She has loved learning the alphabet, numbers, colors, and shapes. She is still very much attached to Bubba (her teddy bear) and blanket.  For the most part they’re permanently attached to her side.  She is such a sweet little girl and a pretty great side-kick.

I started teaching voice lessons this year.  I have loved singing on a regular basis again.  I also really enjoy doing photography.  I mostly do it to document Audrey's life but I was able to do a few shoots this year for friends.

Paul has been at Exxon for about a year and a half now.  He really enjoys what he does.  When he has free time he likes to work on cars, model airplanes, and small projects for me.

Above all, we thank and remember our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and all he has done for us.

Wishing you and your family a Merry Christmas,

Paul, Emily and Audrey