Christmas in Utah 2012 part 1

On our way to Utah our flight got delayed twice and then we sat on the tarmac for 2 hours before our 3 hour flight. It was very uncomfortable and long. Luckily the kids did ok and we all survived. Our first full day in Utah, Brett and Parker went downtown with his family while I stayed behind. I was sick from traveling and Tate desperately needed a nap.

Parker loved seeing the Temple.

Brett looked away for 2 seconds and then found Parker here, on the grounds crew truck. Luckily he didn't push the pedals!

Tabernacle

Church History Museum

Lunch in the J.S. Memorial Building

Decorating cookies with Grandma

Parker had seen Grandma and Grandpa's train on skype and was very excited to see it. Grandma made his day when he got to put candy in it.

Benny and Tate

We got together with friends one night for a white elephant party. We haven't laughed that hard in a long time!

It was so fun to see everyone and we remembered how much we miss them.

We played several games and ate while the kids were entertained in a playroom downstairs.

Everyone was supposed to wear an ugly sweater for a contest. Brett didn't have one, so he printed off a picture of his friend John and pinned it to his sweater. John was such a good sport about it. Brett won the gift card to Target!

Parker loved having cousins to play with in the snow.

There were plenty of boys around to play with.

After a morning of playing in the snow, Brett made breakfast for the boys.

Tate enjoyed picking on Baby Ben. Luckily, Ben took it well.

Pre-Christmas 2012

Courtney came home from BYU-I and had surgery. Even though she wasn't feeling great, she wanted to make gingerbread houses/trains with Parker. She is such a great aunt.

Luckily, Tate didn't care if the candy bag was open, he just liked the crinkly packaging.

Parker was very excited to decorate a TRAIN!

Here is the train and the gingerbread house I decorated.

Parker met Santa at the ward Christmas party. He made huge progress this year. Instead of running away, he sat on his lap and whispered what he wanted (trains). As you can see, Parker was careful not to touch Santa with his hands.

Parker also made a craft at the ward party which sadly got eaten by Tate on the way home. Mmmm, cotton balls! Tate was very upset when we took the cotton balls away and pulled some out of his mouth.

We also went downtown to the Macy's display, "A Day in the Life of an Elf" followed by the Hollidazzle parade.

Parker was fascinated by the display. I felt bad that he was a little rushed to move along with the crowd.

Unlike last year, he didn't try to climb into the displays!

After the Macy display, we caught up with our friends, the Holkers for the Hollidazzle parade. They had tickets for us in the enclosed, heated seats! They served hot chocolate and apple cider. It was nice and warm in there and we had a great view.

Tate enjoyed the lights!

Tayna was so nice and bought the boys these light sticks. Parker LOVES this light stick and both he and Tate have been playing with it for months now.

Here are the Holkers with Kody's cousin on the right.

As we were packing to go to Utah, Eli dropped off a Christmas present for Parker's trip- a Thomas the Train backpack filled with snacks, and toys for the airplane ride! Wow, what a friend! Parker LOVED it and when he started preschool, he told me he wanted to bring his Thomas backpack "so the other kids can see it". Haha.

Tate with his after bath crazy hair when we were packing for Utah.

Late November-Mid December 2012

Swimming with Nana and Papa

Put up the Christmas tree

Reese quickly made herself at home

The boys love bathtime

Tate became obsessed with the cozy coupe

...and Tate still loves Reese

Parker "called" his friends a lot, good thing he has unlimited minutes :)

Tate learned to scoot on this truck and loved the mobility

Parker helped Daddy put up his new book rack in his big boy room

Tate thinks he looks super cute in hats, and he's right

Tate loved sitting in the car, it kept him busy for a long time!

Parker found Daddy sleeping, put a blanket on him, rubbed his head and sang to him. Very sweet.

Reese drove me crazy with the Christmas decorations. Mostly with the nativity because she wanted to eat the strings hanging from the fabric under it, I was afraid she would knock the pieces off. Lucky for her, she never did.

Parker had some cookie with his Christmas sprinkles.

Tate is cute.

really cute

2 boys and a cat on a pretend train is really really cute

Tate won't take a pacifier but sucks on this duplo man all day.

The boys enjoy playing in the snow

Parker seems to have more fun than Tate.

So I taught him to eat the snow...

...he loved it, I promise! He couldn't get enough of it!

Sand toys work great in the snow!

Even Reese joins us outside

Parker tried to give Tate and Reese a ride, but it was too heavy

Tate switched to a bottle. I was sooooo happy!

These two love being together

Parker is super cute too.

Here he is kickin back at Nana and Papa's house.

We went out with friends for Brett's birthday. Two other guys in the group have a birthday within a week of Brett, so it worked out nicely. These friends are all from our ward, we love them!

This is Tate's, "I'm not impressed" face.

Parker finished his first swimming lessons.

Luckily Tate will play trains with Parker- it makes Parker so happy.

I'm behind on blogging so I dumped all these pictures together. It doesn't do them justice but at least we have some evidence of our wonderful life. The boys are growing quickly, Brett is busy with school and we are so blessed with a full life of family, church service, school and activities for the boys.