The Holidays and More.

There is no way to get you completely caught up on our life in the last month. We have been there and back again (to quote a famous hobbit). So I will try the "bullet approach." I have seen it on several blogs and thought I would try it to efficiently tell you of our latest adventures. =)

• After Jaxter's birthday both the boys battled colds.
• Went to Grandpa's and Nana's house on Monday Dec 21 for some Christmas shopping and time with U.Jared, U.Justin, A.Erin Cousin Jacoby and Cousin Morgan.

Cousins.

• I got a new camera because my old one (that had Best Buy accident warranty) broke and they just gave me a new one - a blessing indeed.
• Onward to the Ranch on Wednesday to see Grandma, Gramps, A.Marie, Cousin Craig and Cousin Lisa. We instructed Desmond and Jaxter to only show their best sides as Cousin Craig and Lisa are expecting their first baby and we didn't want to "spoil" it. =) The boys, of course, complied very well to that. =)
• A.Corrina and U.Maury arrived on Thursday to round out the full house of relatives. Many a good meal was had over the course of the holidays with so many good cooks under one roof! Cousin Craig is a Cellar Master so we also had a lot of good wine served with some education of the art.
  Group shot of family at Christmas dinner.

• Christmas morning saw chaos as we all opened presents - we were so blessed that at one point Desmond looked at Marc and said "Presents, all done." meaning that he didn't want to open them any more. So we took a break and left some of the bigger items for later - and have no worries he got right back into the swing of things opening them all before the day was done. =)
  
  The initiation of presents.

• The 26th was a sad day as we had to say good-bye to A.Marie, Cousin Craig and Cousin Lisa. It was also sad because Jax started to show signs of being not well. We took the boys sledding - which they both enjoyed as did Gramps.

Indoor sledding.

Outdoor sledding.

• Sunday saw Jax in full sick mode so Jill and he stayed home while Desmond and Marc went into town to visit church folks and some other friends. We took the boys sledding again. Jaxter was too ill to enjoy it, though, so he went back inside after just a minute. He spent most of the day just being held...poor guy. He ended up with a high fever so we headed back to Grandpa and Nana's house that night to be close to a pediatric facility. Not the exit we had planned but better safe than sorry.

Sick little boy. =(

• Monday all of Jill's family was together again for some holiday time. Jax battled his illness for the rest of the week but gradually did better and better. I don't know if it was him not feeling well but he sure had a tendency to stay away from the action. We have quite a few pictures of him off by himself. Jacoby and Desmond had a wonderful time together - playing in the tent, going to the "bookstore", jumping off of steps, crawling under furniture.
• We let kids open their presents on Wednesday morning - again chaos! =) a pleasant chaos, of course - what fun to watch the process of little ones at different ages and their reactions!

More presents.

Another group photo.

• Thursday A.Erin and I took Desmond and Jacoby to the real bookstore - I think the intention was lost on them as they immediately went to their "bookstore" upon returning from our road trip. Marc went to Red Lodge to play a New Year's Eve gig while the rest of us went to bed early.

At the "bookstore".

• New Year's Day was a big fancy family dinner. The two older boys also got to go to U.Maury's fire station and tour the firetrucks and ambulances. Exciting times! =)
  

Fireman Desmond

• Saturday we headed back home to catch our breath before jumping back into "life as normal."

Since the holidays we have been to the doctor for the boys' checkups (both healthy and growing), been on walks in some rather warm January weather, watched a high school basketball game, been shopping, celebrated Marc's big 3-0, built a snowman, played in a train tunnel at church, petted a dog, Jaxter was dropped at nursery for the first time, had a playdate with Beth, Abby and Emmery, wrote our Christmas letters (check your mailbox) and Jax took his first step (note: singular not plural).

Desmond helping make birthday cookies for Dad.

Our little family.