Holidays/visiting family

Before I posted about Florida, I should have explained that James set up a surgery rotation in SL from November 25- December 20. The kids and I went with him and we all stayed with the Browns for the month and through the holidays. James really enjoyed his rotation, by the way. I have a feeling that he will decide to go into surgery, but right now he's in the mode of guilt tripping himself for leaning toward such a demanding field. We'll see if my prediction is right in the next few months though.
Back to the trip though, ya, we were gone for a long time! But, we did have a blast visiting the family and spending the holidays with them...even if we did out-stay our welcome. Here are a bunch of pics that probably won't be in the correct order.


First off, our Christmas card. Unfortunately I definitely didn't order enough:(. So consider yourself lucky if you got one:)  None of our AZ friends did-we didn't even get one for us. It's hard having so many friends- haha!

This was Eden's first taste of the snow that season, and what she thought of it. Benson wasn't much better. 

Building a snowman in powder. This was the best we could do. 

James put us to shame later that night by building this. 

Ice skating at the Gallivan Center, and reliving our dating days

Festival of Trees- visiting our friend's tree they made for their baby. 

Eden was obviously ready to leave.

 

The cousins loved the train

Hogle Zoo lights

James's baby cousin is getting so tall!

Phelps family Christmas party

Fun in the snow...(or what was left of it)

Christmas Eve at Ann and Peter's 

Benson & Yaya ie Mary & Joseph

Christmas morning

James must have been really good this year, because he was spoiled rotten (by me and Santa) for Christmas!

The kids, esp. Eden, loved their camping chairs and sat in them the whole time we opened presents

'Building on the rock' sweatshirts from Grandma and Grandpa. Based on our family scripture of Helaman 5:12. 

On Christmas day, after opening presents and hanging around the house, we went to Ben's church and played volleyball with Ben's, Ann's, Katie's, Ali's and my families. Jason and some friends also came, as well as some of the Chases. Like always, it was really fun, and, like always, mom took the kids so we could play.  

 

We did our big party the day after Christmas, because not everyone could come on Christmas Day.  We went skating at Deleta, then did dinner and a program that night.

Trying to go sledding at Soldier Hollow. Unfortunately, they were already sold out so we didn't get to sled for very long. So disappointing, because it was such a beautiful day!

Opening presents with the Browns

Benson must have been pooped!

Thanksgiving in Flor-i-da-huh!

The ride over went better than I could have even hoped.  James had to rotate at the hospital in UT until right before Thanksgiving, so the kids and I went with John and Vicki.  They helped me so much and Benson and Eden loved being spoiled by Grandma and Grandpa...Plus, John and Vicki got us the seats right behind first class, so we had a few extra inches of leg room, and the kids could roam between our two rows.  It made all the difference!



At the hotel

Disney World

Waiting in anticipation

Party on the tea cups, Eden was the only one not enjoying herself.

Last ride of the night- Big Thunder

Watching the castle light up. We were all bundled up (but still freezing) because it dropped down to 44 degrees!  

 Two of the crazy brothers playing on the kids' toys at the hotel.  We also enjoyed the resort's pool and tennis facilities.

 

 

Eating Cuban food at Downtown Disney

 

 

We had a beautiful Thanksgiving dinner- prepared mostly by Jeff and Polly. At the dinner they announced they are going to have another baby next summer! We are so excited for them and are keeping our fingers crossed that it'll be a girl, like they are hoping

 

 

After dinner we went to an awesome park and let the kids run wild. I've never seen that many toys at a public park before. Like always, I should have take more pictures.     

All the grandkids except Nicole at the Christmas gift exchange

The original Browns reunited again.

* While we were at Jeff and Polly's the first night we got in, I ran into my old dance friend from BYUI-McKenzie Emery! I hadn't seen her in forever, so it was so fun to catch up with her. She is in Jeff and Pollyanna's ward, and came over to visit teach Polly that night.  Such a small world, especially in the church!  

Monday night volley ball. So sad that so many are moving! We will miss you guys!

Eden loves posing for pictures. I love her 'cheese ' face!

And here are a few of our family rock climbing 

Benson's 3rd birthday

Benson's birthday fell in the middle of a very busy week- right in between relief society activities, ward Halloween parties, school Halloween parties, etc.  So rather than scheduling another party on top of everything already going on, we decided to do a party at volleyball. 

It turned out really well. We just had cupcakes and a really ghetto piñata. It was great. Benson loved it. 

Birthday party at volleyball. 

Opening presents at home

Here are a few of his favorites-

New to-mater car from Grandma Brown

Truck from Grandma Carol 

Spider-man jammies from Granny Ginny 

Our main present to Benson was this new bike. Thanks to his old strider (balance) bike, he learned to ride this one the first time we went out! I was one proud parent!!! Even though he can ride it, he still is intimidated by the new pedal bike though, and asks for his "little" bike back.  

Halloween

This year's Halloween costumes were provided by our friends Danny and Collin Wood. In my book, borrowing costumes is the only way to go- not only are they free, but there's no creativity or work involved!

Ward trunk or treating

James was Peter Pan (yes, he wore tights), I wasn't exactly sure what I was. I was suppose to be Tinkerbell, but I was somewhere between that and one of the lost boys. I also had a pirate costume that I wore at another party. The woods really hooked us up! Benson was a pirate, and Eden was a mermaid one night, and a ladybug once that costume got dirty. (The exact same costumes that we used for her last year...shows how little she's grown!)

Our friend's block party

Midwestern's party

Right after trick or treating