Final stretch

The sunday after Christmas we stopped at my sister Melinda's for a little bit and said goodbye then headed to Uncle Mark and Auntie Cara's played with Uncle Mark's new X-Box kinect.

Danny got in on the action, I think he was rafting trying to jump over rocks, apparently working out has made him jump higher. It was great spending time with Mark and Cara, next time we see them it will be for their wedding. Hooray a new girl in the family, can't wait to celebrate the big day.

Then we headed home, the long stretch back we made it to SLC to spend the night with Cherlyn and family. Brooklyn loved her new leapfrog laptop and new Cinderella doll from Auntie Dina and Uncle Angelo, they keep her entertained.

Playing with cousin Marissa on the new toys from christmas.

That night we got to SLC we went with the Johnson family and there extended family to This is the Place to see the live nativity and walk around the christmas decor. It was REALLY cold as you can tell we were not quite prepared having really only packed for rainy So Cal weather, so we put on lots of layers and borrowed a few jackets.

Eliza being Santa

B was actually brave enough to touch the gaot perhaps because it was just about her size.

Ah cousin love, we had a good time with the family rode the train and had hot cocoa. It was a great way to spend the end of Christmas break before heading home to reality and work. Thank you to all the family and friends that we were able to spend time with it was a great holiday season and can't wait to see you all again.

Merry Christmas!!

Christmas Eve night we put out cookies for Santa and put B down for the night. Christmas morning B woke up and came in our room, Daddy asked her if Santa came and ate the cookies she said yes. She was quite sure having not seen the plate or have much of an idea what Santa is. First thing she had to brush her teeth with her daddy (they do this every morning together) and put a bow on (she got it all herself I had no influence was not even in the bathroom).

Santa came and ate the cookies she was a little confused trying to look for Santa until she saw the PRESENTS! Wow did Santa go crazy this year, I think he was running late and dropped a few presents out of his sack.

She got a monkey slepping bag, she loves it. Daddy can't wait to have a slumber party on the floor in the house one night.

Little Mermaid chapstick how did he know that she LOVES chapstick, it is one of her favorite things. This girl will put it on all day have a bright pink upper lip and be so happy.

Her first Itty Bitty American Girl Baby doll.

Baby and new stroller

Nursery set, we managaed to keep that in the box so we could take it home easier. Christmas was in shifts this year, one because we had a lot of presents to get though and a 2 year old can only handle so much and two because Mark and Cara didn't come over til the afternoon. So gave B a nap and went for round 2.

Pink Sparkly princess shoes, every little girls dream.

Another dolly ( between her birthday and christmas this was the year of babies she will have lots of practice being a mommy) Yes her outfits keep changing with every gift she opens she must wear, new sweater dress.

Daddy's new docking station for his Iphone in the garage tunes.

Yea Christmas morning!!

Grandpa and B checking out all the loot.

New jacket from Aunt Marsha, thank you this should be good for a few seasons.

Showing Aunt Marsha her Santa socks and saying ho ho ho!

Auntie Cara needs lipstick too.

Christmas afternoon

Skinny danny!

New princess hide and seek book, Thank you Auntie Cara and Uncle Mark.

New mommy and me aprons from Mark and Cara. We love to cook in them.

Time to chill

B playin with the cousins robot dinosaur.

Ah Uncle Mark, she loves him always talks about him and Auntie Cara. It was a great day filled with family, phone calls, and lots of gifts. We were beyond spoiled, thank you everyone for the amazing gifts.

Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve morning was Grandpa, Brooklyn and me. Nana had a work function and Daddy was playing golf with some friends. Brooklyn enjoyed reading the paper with Grandpa and helping me bake for dinner.

Brooklyn was ready for dinner at grandma and papa's house with all the family minus grandma and papa. Thanks to my neighbor Beth for letting me borrow this cute dress and shoes.

This is pretty much what Brooklyn likes to bring with her whenever we go places, purse, baby, silly bands(which she has been wearing everyday even to bed and they are from the dollar store) and she picks out a bow. She is our true girly girl.

Aw Christmas Eve with my family, I do miss these Little family traditions.Dinner was different without mom and dad to make it, but we survived and had a ton of food. Jeanette made her first turkey with several phone calls back and forth with me explaining how stuff it and get it ready it turned out great. Good Job Jeanette looks like you will have to practice again next year. We all go to the dollar store and pick out cheesy gifts for $2 and come back wrap them and do a gift exchange. Yes even the little kids participate and someone end up crying when there gift gets taken away. This year it was Scott, but it ends out fine at the end and quite comical on what some of the gifts are.

Easton and Jace growing up to fast.

B with Aunt Melinda always wanting to see baby Shelby.

Another tradition, the reenactment of the Nativity. Brooklyn was the Angel this year.

The Wise Men riding their "camel" to the manger. Evan in the back with his neighbor, their family got to join us this year.

The Shepard's looking up at the Angel

Easton the STAR

The Manger Scene

Mary Claire with baby Jesus Shelby.

It was a great evening with my family it was the only time I got to see some of them and we got to talk and not rush around. It did not stop them from harassing me and telling me we have your picture if you need to go somewhere else tonight.  We exchanged our gifts that we had gotten for the family that we drew, Brooklyn got a Princess Castle from the Stooksbury's and she loves it in fact if you play with her and do not play right she corrects you. We gave the Shank family marshmallow shooters that Danny made it so we had a mini war, good thing grandma wasn't home although she might be finding marshmallows now. Sorry mom! Mom and Dad you were missed, but I think that you might have had a little more peaceful Christmas enjoy the quiet now.

Here's a little video of Brooklyn and Claire playing outside before dinner.

The Journey begins...

Brooklyn ready to do a little Outlet shopping in St. George before we make the final stretch to California. The first 10 hours of our trip was pretty good, we hit traffic in SLC there was a fatal crash that blocked the FWY for a while luckily I called Cherlyn and she told me how to get around the traffic. That saved us a few hours delay. Then we were almost to our exit in St. George and we saw a family flagging anyone that would stop off the side of the road so we stopped. I was a little worried at first since they approached my side of the truck, but they had lost a wheel and had no phone to call for help. We helped as much as we could and where on our way again, we made it to the hotel around 9pm.

Our seasoned traveler, she does great when we travel. We are able to make it about 10 hours before all of us go crazy and need to stop. Once we made it to California the traffic was pretty nasty and it was raining so it took longer, thankfully we had borrowed our neighbors DVD player and that was a great distraction for her. We didn't have to use it much on the trip which is good.

Brooklyn was enjoying her time with Uncle Mark at Uncle Doug's funeral. She thought it was so funny to catch the rain in her hand and then flick it at her uncle.

Uncle Doug with his son David, and nephews Danny and Mark at Danny's college graduation party. He was always a character making faces, telling stories never a dull moment with him around. He is missed it is hard to belive he is gone, but we all have plenty of stories to share.

Nana so happy to be cuddling with her Sunshine girl.

We went to Uncle Mark and Auntie Cara's house for dinner on night. As you can see B and Skylar hit it off. Skylar was a good sport letting B lay on her. Brooklyn was all about sharing her blanket and Buttercup dog.

On Thursday night Dec 23rd, mom had the Adait family over for dinner. It was good to be able to talk to them a little bit more without the funeral craziness. Brooklyn loves her silly bands and her daddy.

Nice smile Brooklyn, I guess that's what you get when you ask a 2 yr old to say cheese. The newset Auntie to be, Cara. Mark proposed the week before. We are excited to have her in the family, I am excited to have another sister-in-law, she is a great match for Mark. We are so excited to see him happy.

Cousin Madisen and B hanging out sucking there thumbs, which they thought was so funny. Madisen was so sweet to Brooklyn reading to her and playing with her. Thanks Madisen.

Grandma Adair and Danny, she was so happy that we came down. It was great to see her light up with Brooklyn.

Brooklyn got her first Mr Potato head, she was quite excited to play with it. She had no problem hamming it up for the camera and the family. Great Grandma Adair got her a Dora book that has a music player attached to it, she loves it and had even more dun showing off dancing to it. When I can get the video uploaded I will post it.