More January

The weather this year has been a little strange; below zero temperatures and snow that stays (it's like we are back in Idaho).  It has been fun to take Elizabeth out in it and although she is still not old enough to truly enjoy she is old enough to look cute in a snow suit!!  Then a week later it will be warm and sunny- we have already got some good use out of the park (this summer will be fun being so close).

Elizabeth has started playing with things differently; she likes to explore (up, under and around furniture) and loves to sit between the couch and chair to read (we made her a little nook), she takes her 'baby' with her everywhere and has started playing with stuffed animals more!  She also loves a PBS TV Show called "Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood" (an animated Mr Rogers Neighborhood) and will bring us the remote and ask, "Daniel?" (well it's more like, "Da...l?" but we get it).

 More Elizabeth January development is that she is now a FULL fledge walker and got her first three teeth.  Getting the teeth was a slow and painful process but she made it through and she looks adorable!! 

We have just enjoyed having Elizabeth around us and seeing her grow and develop!! Our year has started out good!!

Ben's Golf Trip

The past couple of month's we have been doing a health challenge (we have goals and for each that we accomplish we get a point, the points add up to a big extravagant prize) and Ben got his first big prize; a weekend golf trip (Jan 9-12).  So Ben and his friend Jon drove to St. George Utah to spend the weekend with Tobin and GOLF! 

It was a typical man's weekend with lots of food (In-and- Out, BBQ, Steak) and lots of Golf (I think they did 57 holes in two days).  Ben got a lot of new golfing gear for his birthday and was excited to try it all out. He said he did pretty good and that is was fun to try new courses.  They had lots of fun (so much that he felt guilty- ha) and he loved it!!  This might have to be a tradition going forward because it was a great break for Ben and got him geared up and ready for the new year!

New Years/ Ben's Birthday

The week after Christmas I got really sick (flu symptoms with a high fever) and was near death (or so it felt) for a couple of days before we figured out that I had mastitis and got me on antibiotics.  Ben was awesome and took care of Elizabeth and the house while I was dying. 

On New Years Eve we went to the Forsyth's house for a night of friends, food, fun and white elephant gifts! It was a ton of fun to hang out with friends and welcome in the New Year AND Ben's Birthday!!

Happy New Year from Elizabeth!!!

For Ben's Birthday we spent the day at his parents eating good food (shrimp and steak- his usual), watching football and playing games.  What a great way to celebrate the start of 2014 and Ben's 31st year (wow, he's getting up there)!!

Christmas!

Elizabeth's Christmas Dress- actually taken Dec 22!

Having family so close during Christmas is so much fun but this year we decided to do Christmas Eve with our little family at home.  We got take out, went and looked at Christmas lights and then watched 'The Christmas Story' (while doing all the Christmas Eve prep).  On Christmas Eve, we got a picture of Elizabeth as an elf from the Gibson family.  She thought it was so fascinating but you could tell she couldn't quite figure it out! 

 Here is a video of Elizabeth on Christmas Eve- getting tickled by a Santa Hat! *She's so cute!*

Christmas morning was magical (the Newson's had three trees which made it look massive) and Elizabeth enjoyed the wonder and the lights.  She did not really understand the presents; she would rip off one small piece and then hand it to me (with a "oops am I in trouble?" look) and then do it again.  It kind of drove the rest of the family crazy, because it was so slow, but it was so cute to watch her wonder and excitement.  Elizabeth loves her cousins and followed them around in their Christmas morning excitement. 

 **Here is a video we took about a week later of her opening a present from the Markos (that didn't make it for Christmas)... this shows some of her slow unwrapping skills....

 

In the afternoon we went to the Stones house for Christmas appetizers and fun with family.  Again it was wonderful seeing Elizabeth with her cousins and seeing the fun she has with them. 

Just in case you didn't get one in the mail....