A visit from old friends to bring in the new year......

A few weeks after Jordan and I were married, we went to a beach BBQ hosted by some friends of ours. While we were there we met Dave and Jan. They had been married a month longer than us and we hit it off immediately. We got together all the time for game nights, football games, movies, etc. - needless to say - we miss them. Since we moved to Utah - we have of course kept in touch, they visited us here last October and then we were lucky enough to have them here for a couple of days just after Christmas. For the life of me - I cannot get my child to pose, smile or even look at the camera!

We ate food from our favorite restaurants (take-out mostly because lets be honest...dining with the H isn't always the most relaxing), the boys went skiing/boarding while the girls had a lunch with other girlfriends (which ended abruptly with a Harrison diaper blowout-very appetizing I am sure for the rest of the people trying to enjoy their lunch), we saw some sights downtown, and spent New Years Eve playing games, making homemade pizzas and brownies, and just enjoyed being together! We miss them - and can't wait to go back and visit Huntington Beach!

A Howe Christmas

Not everyone on the Howe side could be together on Christmas day proper, so we had a Howe Christmas a couple of days after. We got together at Kim and Tim's house again in Eagle Mountain, had an incredible Christmas feast, opened gifts, and had a wonderful time. The boys played together while the girls (and Jenn's boyfriend JP from Chicago) all saw a movie. It was wonderful.

I made the dessert for the meal - apple pie, cherry pie, and a traditional English trifle (my first attempt)! Everything turned our beautifully - and was enjoyed by all.

Christmas Day

Christmas morning was all about the H. We set out four vehicles on the coffee table and watched as he sucked in his breath with happiness. I wish I could capture a smile from him on film - a task that is proving to be near impossible. He LOVES buses, fire engines, ambulances, and tractors - and we were lucky enough to find these online.

Then he opened his magnetic letters for the fridge.....they were a perfect companion to the magnetic animals that Nanna and Grumpa sent (those were opened several days before Christmas due to one afternoon when I was losing it and needed a new toy for entertainment)

A book from Nanna and Grumpa........he loves it - it's all about animals....

An airplane from Daddy.......

and he was happy as could be!

After we opened gifts and got ready for the day - we attempted to go down to Kim and Tim's house to spend Christmas day. We got about 15 minutes into the one hour drive and had to turn around. The freeways were covered in snow and it was almost a complete white-out. When we left it was clear at our house - how quickly things change.

Once we made it home (to clear skies) we all took a long nap - and attempted the drive once again once the storm had passed completely. The boys had a wonderful time together - playing with their new toys and in Harrison's case, going up and down the stairs a gazillion times (his newest triumph!).

Harrison strutting his stuff..... and cute cute Alex showing off......

Aunt Jenn flew in from Chicago and the boys monopolized all her time! Jackson wanted to make sure she LOVED his new Spiderman slippers!

Harrison is in heaven when we are there, so many new toys! Alex LOVES the Woody doll!

We didn't end up leaving until late into the night - and when we walked outside snow had begun to fall and the roads were beginning to be dusted with snow. As we continued to drive - it became a total white-out with snow swirling and blowing all over the place. Visibility was just a few feet - and I was terrified. Jordan put up with my backseat driving and two and a half hours later we were home safe. Have I mentioned before that I miss California?

Here is the aftermath of the storm the next morning - I think 15 inches fell in all. Lovely.

Jordan put on all his snow gear and began the hour long process of shoveling out our corner lot. Although snow is freezing and puts a damper on getting out of the house - I love how quiet it makes everything - I guess I should be thankful for a white Christmas!

Harrison spent the day climbing up and down the newest addition to our kitchen - my stepladder! He loves it just as much as I do! (it's tough being 5'1")

Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve is my FAVORITE day of the year. Growing up it was always so special at the Clason house - something I will try to continue to do in my own home with my family. Since we stayed in Salt Lake and Emily and Tim were here also - we decided to spend the evening together.

The night began with an absolutely genius idea by Tim - get together a couple of hours before the kids' bedtime, feed them their dinner, open their present from each other, attempt a nativity, and then put them down so the parents could enjoy a leisurely, calm, delicious dinner. Why had I not thought of this?

So the evening went as follows.......

Claire was thrilled beyond words that Christmas is finally here....

Then Harrison and Claire had some evening milk.......

Next Joseph (Harrison) and Mary (Claire) got all dressed up and rode the donkey into Bethlehem.....yes Joseph AND Mary both rode in our version of the story all the while snacking on some sweet potato puffs dressed in a bath towel and little red riding hood cape.........

And as the costumes came off.....Harrison read Claire the Christmas story and she found it a little funny...

Then on to presents - puzzles, a little people nativity, and a bulldozer.....



And finally, Christmas jammies!

After the kids were sound asleep we had a wonderful dinner - ham, mashed potatoes, salad, rolls, and pie - followed by Jimmy Stewart in It's a Wonderful Life. By 10pm we were all exhausted and falling asleep so we headed home for our first Christmas in our new home.

Once Harrison was down, Jordan and I exchanged gifts in front of the tree. I loved it. Neither of us stuck to the budget we had set - but hey, what girl doesn't want one of these?