Picking out our CHRISTMAS TREE!

Searching for the perfect tree...

"Yes, sir. This here is gonna be one fine Christmas Tree."

Eliza and I are posing in front of our soon-to-be Christmas Tree. Too bad we are perfectly blocking every bit of the tree but the top tip. Nevertheless, you can rest assured that it was a perfect specimen of evergreen.

Montana time

We arrived in Billings, Montana, the first of December and then we enjoyed an entire month there! Jed and Ryan worked during the day while Michel and I stayed home with the kids, and then we all got to spend time together in the evenings.
We took advantage of all the fun 'toys' Ryan and Michel have... playing with the two remote control monster trucks (I never could quite get the hang of the controls... apparently it requires someone with more coordination that I have!), their Wii (Jed and I spent many a late hour playing the tanks game and the matching game), Ryan's two 4-wheelers, their pool table (I never knew guys could play pool so much)... Anyway, it was fun!

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Ryan did a lot of feeding, dressing, and playing with Eliza, and a lot of sweeping up the floor when she was done eating... He's a master sweeper, in case you didn't know.

Here's Daddy and Eliza getting ready to go Ryan and Michel's church Christmas party. Eliza is saying, Yippee!

Oh, this was so cute! While we were at the party, Santa made a surprise appearance. They announced his arrival and opened the stage curtain, and I kid you not, Benjamin went racing between the tables, bounded up the stairs, and ran right up to Santa before any of the other children had even taken a step. He jumped right up on his lap without a qualm when Santa invited him up. It was the cutest thing! I got a picture of the two of them up there all alone - his arm around Santa and talking to him... So cute. The stage was swarming with kids within a few minutes. Benjamin definitely got the most time with St. Nick. And he was thrilled that he gave him a bag of goodies and a candy cane. :)

This was a big day for Benny - his first trip to the MOVIE THEATER! Ryan's work had a Christmas party at the movies, where we watched 'Bolt' in 3D. It was super fun! We even saw Santa in the foyer. Look at Benjamin's surprised and happy face- it's like he's saying, "Hi Santa! What are YOU doing here?!"

Seeing family...

On November 30th we left Salt Lake City and drove up to Logan, where Jed's sister, Melanie, lives with her family. Benjamin got to hang out with his cousins, Jackson, Walker, and Cade. Walker (pictured on the top step) and Benjamin are only three months different in age, and they bonded by jamming out to the music from the toy on the fridge. :)

Jed's parents met up with us in Utah and then we all drove to Idaho to spend the night before continuing on the last leg of the journey. In Idaho we got to visit with both of Jed's sets of grandparents. Here is Ryan and his father, and Benjamin and his Great-Grandma Walker.

And here are the kids with their Great-Grandma and Grandpa Sommer. We had such a GREAT time getting to visit with our grandparents. We sure love them.

What a great visit!

Well, these are the last of my Utah pictures. I certainly soaked in lots of family time, and it was great!

My sisters, Mom, and I were able to hang out lots. Here we are at Gardner Village (it's a whole bunch of darling quaint shops nestled around like a little 'village'). Melanie and Brittany were there too. This place is SO FUN. I wish I could go more often.

Benjamin got the stomach flu over the weekend. He was so sick, the little sweetie. Mom stayed home from church with him and gave him lots of snuggles over the weekend while he recuperated. There's nothing better than a Grandma to dote over you when you're feeling sick.

Of everything we did, this was my favorite: Hanging out at night together in the front room. Just talking, lounging, and being together. It seriously is my FAVORITE ever. I'm so glad that my siblings live around my parents so they could hang out at night. Matt & Amy and Brittany & Eric would put their kids to bed in pack-n-plays and then they could stay until late. And Mindy & Griff would stay too. (Melanie & Brad and their kids usually had to leave around bedtime since five boys + a sleepover is a bit more complicated... :) ) But anyway, I just loved talking and lounging around together. It was awesome.

Lights at Temple Square

Every year the Temple grounds are decked out in millions of twinkly lights. Every branch on a tree will be carefully lighted. It's incredible. Especially some of the really huge trees - when every branch is lit up at night it's spectacular! They have to begin lighting the trees in July and August; it's a long process. Anyway, we went to Temple Square on the night that they first turned on the lights for the winter. The entire family came. It was a very fun night.
Eliza is wearing her little beenie that Brittany crocheted for her. Isn't it pretty? Thanks 'Aunt Baba'!

My sisters and Mom... Mindy, me, Melanie, Brittany, and Mom.

And finally, a picture of the temple itself. This is where Jed and I were married, five and a half years ago. It's a beautiful temple!

portraits

My sisters and I went to get some pictures taken by one of Melanie's friends. :)

BYU game

We watched the BYU vs Utah game at my parents house. Everyone was all decked out in BYU blue - even all the kids, including Eliza.

Funny background on her BYU outfit - When Jed went to Utah in October he stopped by the BYU bookstore and picked out a shirt for each of us, and then went to get something for Eliza. Well, apparently they only sell two things for infants - a little BYU cheerleader outfit and a little football uniform. Guess which one Jed brings back to Michigan for Eliza? You got it - the football uniform! I was like, "Jed, she's a GIRL! Why did you get the boy outfit?!" :) Oh well, we added a big bow, tights with little hearts in them, and an undershirt with ruffled edging. She pulled it off well. :)

Everybody was all dressed in BYU.... except Brittany & Eric, that is. We had two Utah fans amongst us. But alas, they're too lovable to kick out so we just pretended we didn't see what colors they were wearing. :)

Horseback Riding

My Dad took us one morning to ride the horses. He and my brother, Matt, own a few Missouri Foxtrotters. We had a blast getting to ride them around. This is the first time Benjamin has ridden a full-sized horse. These are just WAY cooler than ponies! :)

Benjamin looks like he belongs in the saddle. Howdy, Cowboy!

There's my Dad with Benjamin and cousin TJ on their horse.

There was Dad, me, Benjamin & Eliza, Connor & TJ, Matt & Wesley, and Brittany & Gabe. We all had fun.... Connor & TJ gave the kids rides in the wheelbarrow much to their joy. :)

Born in the saddle! Benjamin looks especially comfortable... I swear he's not sitting on top of the saddle horn. :)

Below is a pic of Brittany and Benjamin feeding one of the horses an apple after we were through riding. Benjamin didn't know exactly what was going on, so when the horse nipped that apple right out of his palm, he was quite surprised!