Tis the Season

We have taken full advantage of this holiday season and not wasted on minute.  We've had work parties, and family parties, and drives through the lights, time playing in the snow, and lots of time trying to look at the sights.  Here are just a few pictures of our holiday adventures with more to come!

Oklahoma Thanksgiving

I thought I would catch up on Thanksgiving this year before I wrote about December.  We spent several wonderful days in Oklahoma with my family.  Jake was deliriously happy in the airport on the way there.  He kept saying "Weeeee weeee" as we walked around and he ran so hard that when we got on the airplane he was tired and content to just sit.  Thank heavens!

The weather was so beautiful we were able to go to the park each day, and Jake really interacted with his cousins and laughed and played so hard.  They are so sweet and played with him so well.  He was so sad when we left, that the next day after we got home he kept calling out for Kate and Chase.

My parents seriously planned it right.  They did Thanksgiving and Christmas in 4 days.  We had a turkey on Thanksgiving and a ham for "Christmas" on Saturday.  It was actually super low key and not stressful and it was all the master planning of my terrific mom.  She organized each day and what we would eat, and we all pitched in the help.  My dad is on a quest to find the perfect croissant recipe, and being the scientist he is, he created two mad recipes, each with their own bonus...still he is searching for that perfect one.

Thanksgiving morning, we were running the Edmond Turkey Trot, a Turkey day tradition in my family.  We actually didnt wake up until 30 minutes before the race so we speedily jumped in our clothes and I ran in to wake up mom and dad who were sleeping so soundly I felt bad for waking them (They work super hard 24/7 so I dont blame them).  We literally got in the car and my mom and dad dropped us off at the starting line right when they shot the gun.  Andy and I ran RIGHT into the race, and ran we did! We finished super fast and I nearly threw up, but that is because my super athletic brother, who started minutes after we did while pushing a stroller caught up to us.  It was chaos at the end.  I saw my mom and dad and Jake screaming us on and then my dad said, "Uh Oh Stacey Chris is right behind you!" NOOOOoooway! Then I took off as he ran with his three kids, stroller at my heels.  Andy was so confused cause he didnt hear my dad say anything and wondered why I took off.  We all just started darting in and out of people sprinting to the end.  It was a great way to start the day, and yes, Chris beat me, three kids in the stroller and all.  I guess being 6'3" with zero body fat can allow you that kind of athletic advantage.

We took family pictures in our traditional matching shirts that my mom designed and Christine created.  What a fun idea!

We had a beautiful dinner and ate and laughed, then walked to the park and let the kids play until the sun went down.  It was a beautiful sunset.

During our visit, I was able to go to lunch with my dear friend Kristen at our favorite chic cafe, Cafe 501 and we caught up and strolled around the shoe shop next door.  It is always nice to see my dear friend. Andy was able to take in some flight lessons and sadly, he worked A TON, but a least he was still there with us.  We loved having him near.

We also helped Chris find a deer he had shot with his compound bow.  Mom gave Jake some cheetos, so he sat in the middle of the field eating cheetos while we scavenged about. We found it, and he rejoiced in his hunt for the season....so redneck of us.

We woke up on Saturday with a Christmas tree and presents.  My mom worked super hard to get it all ready and it was magical.  The kids were so patient as we waited for Jake and baby Maddie to wake up for a nap, and the giggles and laughter when it was time to open presents was so fun! Jake was so excited I could hardly stand it.  Christmas is all about the kids now.  Forget presents for me, I just want to see the kids open them!  We loved every minute of being there, and I loved that Jake received his first pair of cowboy boots.  They are beyond cute and tiny.  They are still too big for him, but I cant wait till his toes can fit in them! They will be adorable!

We headed home on Sunday with love and joy that we could be together as a family, one of the greatest gifts and blessings of all!My dear niece, Kate, had tears streaming down her face as we left and it was really hard to leave her like that.  She always asks me for my "lip pretty" at home, so I gave her my lipstick cause I could hardly stand seeing her cry.  She is such a tender darling little girl and is starting to really understand emotions.  I guess she cried and cried before church on Sunday cause she knew we were leaving and she wouldnt eat breakfast.  Then while we ate our lunch, she wouldnt touch that and cried as we left.  I wont ever forget it.  I love my family and sweet Kate. 

Work Christmas Party

Andy's work hosted a beautiful Christmas party that just blew me away.  We are so grateful and I find myself thinking how drastically different the dynamic was from last year's party in Los Angeles. This year, a presentation was given focusing not only on the employees but the families that support them.  WOW, I felt like the company was giving me a big hug.  It has been a rough intense couple of weeks. We cannot stop getting sick combined with Andy working so much=crazy mamma. His job is amazing, and the whole point of my ramblings is that his holiday party was so nice, I left with a huge smile and heart full of gratitude that at least with all his hard work, they realize the families at home work hard as well while the hubbies wrap up year end deals.  They had a 1950's theme and dress, and the whole night was filled with class: A live Jazz band, amazing location at the Hotel Monaco in SLC (WOW LOVED IT!), such divine food, and the best part was the people.  Here is a brief shot from the night with Cameron and Katie Jones, A studly bachelor Chase Elsworth, and my hot babe and I. What good GOOD people.