Baby's first Christmas

For Griffin's first Christmas we got a tree, but weren't able to cut one down due to a snow storm on the day we planned to go. Hopefully next year. We did get the kind of tree Brandon grew up with instead of the full tree like the one I grew up with that we got last year. I really liked the skinny tree. It reminded me of the Charlie Brown tree. Plus Brandon got to put the lights on the way he did it growing up and it worked (see last year's post for story behind that one). We finally got some tree ornaments and decorations including a stocking for Griff. It was my first desert Christmas season. The warmer weather was nice. Some friends even came to escape the Salt Lake inversion (Don't miss that) and we got in my first bike ride since Griff. Merry Christmas to me!

Staheli Farms. We got the tree to the right of me

I've always wanted to string popcorn and cranberries and I finally did it.

Tradition

This year Griffin helped me deliver the hot fudge sauce

Two of our friends also had boys not long after us. Here they are together for the first time

Gooseberry Mesa with Jenny H

real nice

Britt hanging with Griff

Jenny H

Jenny W

Jenny and Britt

Lynn and Michelle

Cory texting Tara who was in SLC

We spent Christmas with my parents in Colorado. There was no snow and plenty of family. We missed Casey and Beate, but hope to see them in February. This year the house felt much more like home compared to the barely moved-in house last year. It helped to have a full house too. We also spent some time up at the ranch some family friends manage. My dad helps Mike, the manager, do ranch work every morning. He's even learning to drive the machines. I was impressed. B got to go help one day too. We hope to get back and do some more when we can.

Christmas Eve

Original 5 kids on the fireplace. Spouses and children on the couch

My cute, cute mom

Notice the spit-up

Ella LOVES "her Griffindor"

True

Tuckered out

Christmas Day

Watercolor painting of the house I grew up in. I love it.

Ehren was able to calm an over tired Griffin

Casey and Beate + kids on Skype in Norway

Dad giving one of his famous speeches

Perfect!

Nativity

Griff played baby Jesus...for the first half

Hanging out with cousins, aunts and uncles

He loves Archie the monkey

First trip into really cold weather. He reminded me of Randy in "A Christmas Story".

In the spirit of Colorado ranching

The Ranch!

Mike, ranch manager