Christmas/Winter break - Part 3

We went to breakfast with the Cowden's (thank you Aunt Becky for treating us!), Rich and Misty, Mike, Pete, and Uncle Rich one morning.  It was fun to be together - we love being with the Cowden's....they are so good to us and love our kids so much.

Annie is the best - she babysat for us one day so John and I could see Les Miserables....LOVED it.

 

 

Meg, Lucy, and Nora came over one morning to play and visit.  Brooklyn and Lucy hit it right off together and played great.  It is nice to be getting to ages that they play better together and not just take everything away from each other...although there is still some of that too :)

We went sledding one afternoon with Rich, Misty, and Sophia.  We went to the Capitol and found the perfect hill for the girls.  They looked so cute bundled up in their snow gear. 

I love these two.  And I love that Brooklyn calls Sophia "Soy-ah".

These next pictures crack me up...we got going pretty fast...

 

 

love Brooklyn's face in this one :)

 

Hailey - 20 months, Sophia - 18 months, Brooklyn - 23 months....love these close girl cousins!

We spent a couple days down in Orem with the Fry's and James and Sara and their kids.  It was fun to visit with everyone and even went shopping kidless with Heather and Sara.  Brooklyn loves her cousins and is always so entertained when we are with them.  

 Royce and Brooklyn - 8 days apart - look alike cousins :)

Isn't he so cute?!

 

Brahm and Jake - 3 months apart.  Brahm is James and Sara's youngest....such a cute and happy boy!

Christmas/Winter break - Part 2

Christmas morning we woke up at 7:00 and met in Jon and Jeannette's room before we all went downstairs together to see what Santa had brought everyone.  I don't think Brooklyn completely got Santa this year, but was really excited to be with cousins and excited about the presents she got.

 

I love this picture.  It captures her excitement perfectly...I love Christmas with kids!

going down the stairs, youngest to oldest....well mostly

Brooklyn got a Disney princess castle from Santa with princess figurines that go with it

Brooklyn also got this big giraffe that is bigger than her

 It was a fun and relaxing morning.  All the kids were excited about their gifts and played with them while Jeannette got breakfast ready - gingersnap cookies, cardamon bread, and scrambled eggs.

 

 

It was so nice to stay in our pajamas all day and be around family.  We took naps, played Just Dance 4, played new board games, ate food, and relaxed all day.  It was perfect.  Thank you so much Jeannette for letting us spend Christmas with you and for all your hard work!   

Christmas/Winter break - part 1

Our time in Utah during John's break and for Christmas was GREAT.  I am sad that it's over and that it went by so fast, but also glad to be back in Arizona, which does feel like our home now.  The weather in Utah was cold almost every day and it snowed a ton, which I LOVED for Christmas and the days after....but I can't complain about being back in 65 degree weather :)

The first night we got there, all my siblings came over for dinner...PF Changs...provided for FREE by Candy.  It was awesome!  Tons and tons of delicious food.  Then we went with the Bowen's to see the lights at Temple Square.  (Note to self: never go see the lights the Saturday night before Christmas again).  It was PACKED.  We still enjoyed seeing all the lights and I think the kids liked it too, but it was hard to push strollers around with that many people.  
  

Sunday, December 23rd was the Olsen/Sorensen annual family Christmas party at the CH2 ward building.  Our family "talent" this year was provided by Mike, Kate, Hannah, Brooklyn, and Pete singing Jingle Bells...Mike and Pete were good sports!

We spent Christmas Eve day at the Bowen's.  Brooklyn had fun getting all bundled up and playing outside in the snow with Kate and Hannah.  I was so glad that we had a "white Christmas" and that Brooklyn got to experience the snow.  I definitely am a 4-seasons person and love when there is snow at Christmas.

 

The rest of my siblings and the Cowden's came over for dinner and our funny white elephant exchange that we do every year.  This year there were some good ones!

Emily's hideous purse that Pete brought

Jake with his best friend...Aunt Becky

Hannah got a plunger from Jesse (it was new)

Annie's lovely unicorn cross stitch :)

Then we let the kids open one present, which is always new pajamas on Christmas Eve.  We put them to bed and John actually fell asleep on the couch and went down to bed.  I stayed up with Jeannette, Mike and Pete (who spent the night too), and Jon when he got off work.  It was so fun playing Santa with them and laughing harder than I have in a long time.  It was such a fun night (we stayed up until 1 a.m.) and one I will always remember.