With December comes parties.  Lots of them.  We started off with our ward party on Friday, Dec.13th.  I took time off of work so we could actually go.  Luck would have it that the baby took a late nap, and we weren't sure if we were going to make it.  She did wake up, and we got there late.  It worked out because she got to bed later than usual, so at least she was pleasant.  We got there in time to grab some dinner before the program started.  It was the nativity story, and it was cute.

Next was McKade's birthday on Friday, Dec. 20th.  I worked that night, so I didn't join in the fun, but the whole family did get together on Thursday the 19th to see Frozen.  Since it was at 6:20, my cousin Elisabeth babysat Henlie and put her to bed for us.  Jackie and Curtis were in town for the break, so we had everyone plus Charlie and Christopher.  With all of the adults, we took up a full row!  The movie was adorable.


Saturday, Dec. 21st, we got together for family pictures since everyone was in town.  After pictures, we got to see my parents as well, since they had come up for a Christmas dinner with Dad's parents and siblings.  Then that afternoon, we had the Hadfield party where we ate yummy soups and went sledding with the four-wheelers.  So much fun!  We of course had hot cocoa, but after yummy soup, I was too warm to enjoy cocoa.  Fortunately, I have an awesome husband who bundled back up and took me on a four-wheeler ride, just the two of us while everyone else was inside.  Cooled me right down so I was able to get some cocoa ;)







Sunday, Dec. 22nd, we had the Christiansen party.  We had dinner and then opened presents.  Only real difference was this year, we did presents upstairs since Grandpa can't get downstairs at the moment.  Henlie got a doll (that is machine washable!) and we got a gratitude journal and a challenge to write down things we are thankful for throughout the year to take to the party next year.  So far, I'm doing really well writing in it.  Matt has even written a few things down. :)



Christmas Eve is always the Wilson party.  Henlie loved the pass-along gifts.  We had yummy dinner and had a tiny program.  Apparently Grandma is a little sad that no one does anything for the program anymore.  Fortunately, Benjamin and Rebecca are still little enough that they perform for us :)  Then we sing carols (we did better with all of the words this year - yay for phone apps!), and I read the Christmas story in Luke.  Then we all sing Silent Night, and it is present time!  This year, we only put Henlie in the cousin draw.  It was much nicer only having to come up with one gift :)




Christmas Day will be its own post :)

My birthday fell on a Thursday this year, which meant Matt was gone to work and class all day.  So it was me and the baby all day.  And frigid temperatures!

We had a pretty relaxing day.  We texted Matt a lot and posted our happenings on Facebook. (Including learning how to take a snapshot of my phone to show just how cold it was!)


A whole bunch of people wished me happy birthday on Facebook. Love notifications :)


I dressed cozy.  While the baby napped, I walked the dog and got the mail.  I got a birthday card from my parents. :)


I also put together bookshelves for Henlie's room. Finally! Somewhere to put all of the kids' books I've been storing :)


I was going to watch my new favorite show, Reign, but Henlie had lost our remote weeks prior, and I couldn't find it.  Needless to say, I still ended up watching it online after-the-fact. (We did find the remote that Saturday, in the kitchen, behind the cheese grater...)

I made myself a cake on Saturday - because I wanted a chocolate carmel cake and didn't get to it on my birthday :)

All in all, it was a pretty low-key birthday, but it was still enjoyable :)

While we were in St. George for my nephew's farewell, we found out my sister's family was planning on coming back up for Thanksgiving. Myron and I decided we would also come - and so we did! Morris and his kids were even able to come up.  We had a grand time.  Since we were planning so far in advance (and since we'd just had a short trip that was super rough on the baby), Matt decided he wanted to actually spend some time.

We headed down Wednesday afternoon.  Henlie did well for a lot of the trip, but when she started getting cranky, Matt pulled over and made me sit in the back with her.

Grandma and Grandpa Erdmann were so excited to see Henlie! So much, that my dad kind of ruined it for himself by wanting to hold her before she was ready to be held by him.  It may have taken her a little longer to warm up to Grandpa after that.


That evening, Mariona and her family came over to Mom and Dad's house.  Felicity and Marquessa loved playing with Henlie while Mari cut my hair. (I love my hair, too.  It works as wash-and-wear the best out of all haircuts I have ever had haha) That night, Myron's family made it in too.  Henlie didn't sleep so well the first night, but with each night, she got better.

Thursday, Thanksgiving day, everyone was off hiking with their dad, so Matt took advantage and took a nap.  Then we went for a little walk around Grandma and Grandpa's neighborhood.




That afternoon, everyone except Monica's family gathered to play while dinner was being prepared. (Monica was hosting the Johanson side at her house.) Dinner was tasty - and we got to sit at the adult table lol. With the babies as well.  It worked out well.  Since I was sharing with Henlie, I got some yams.  I also tried them for myself (for the first time).  Turns out with enough butter and brown sugar, they are awfully tasty.











Friday, we took family pictures at a golf course. After that, we went with Mom and Dad and the Leavitts to Santa's Workshop.  We didn't buy anything this year, but we did witness a flash mob proposal :).  That afternoon, everyone else went to a BBQ at their dad's house, and us and Mom and Dad went to Costco to pick up Henlie's birthday cake.  However, baby girl made a mess with her pouch of food in the car seat, so we ended up just heading back home.








At 2pm, everyone re-joined us (except Morris, who was visiting with an aunt, I believe, whom he hadn't seen in years).  Before the party started, Henlie was showing off her soccer skills to Uncle Ryan.  :)  We had cake and Henlie opened presents. She is very loved.












For dinner that night, those who were staying at Mom and Dad's had leftovers.  However, we'd already had those after we got back from Costco.  While they were yummy, I wasn't excited to eat them twice in one day, so Matt took me out to SmashBurger. (My first time there.)  We took it back to the house to eat, but it was fun to get out together. (It was late, so we let everyone else watch the babe.)




Saturday, we were going to head out in the morning, but everyone decided to visit the Glitter Pits again. (Those who came early in the week had gone once.) We caravanned across the state line into Arizona to play in the Glitter Pits before heading home and then getting on the road.


















It was really fun getting to spend time with my family.  It was also really nice actually taking a few days to relax.  St. George is so close that when something is happening, we usually just make an overnight trip at most, so spending a few days was definitely luxury :)