Christmas

Another year has quickly come and gone, and what a blessed year it was!  We sold out town home in 2 days, moved in with our parents/in-laws, built a home, had a healthy and very happy baby, and moved into our new place.  Nate and I continue to have good jobs, we have good health, and have a healthy and "spirited" two year old on top of our healthy "big boy".  God is good, and has been very good to us! 

We decided this year that we were going to spend Christmas at home even though I didn't have to work.  It was so nice to just hang out at home with our family.  Christmas eve we went to church and then over to Mema & Boppa's for dinner.  John, Cheryl, Lauryn, Dave, and J joined us for dinner.  It was so nice to see them and get to spend that time with them.  Ava is super excited that she got asked to be the flower girl in Dave & Lauryn's wedding.  They are so very special to us!!!  Christmas morning we got up and did our stockings.  Uncle Wes, Aunt Janna, Mema, & Boppa came over and we opened all of our gifts and had a very yummy brunch.  The rest of the day was spent reading books, playing toys, etc.  It was just a nice low key day.

Friday afternoon we packed up the Traverse and headed south.  We had to stop only once to feed Grant and have dinner before we arrived at Grandma & Grandpa's that evening around 8:30.  Nate went down to my Grandma's to watch the gopher game while I stayed home and put the kids to bed.  Saturday was spent pretty much eating all day, or at least that's how I felt.  There was so much food and for some reason I couldn't stay away from it.  Ava loved playing with her cousins while Grant enjoyed being held, cuddled, and kissed 24/7.  We opened presents after nap time and before we knew it, Santa and Mrs. Clause arrived.  We then had a nice dinner and I somehow made room for my mom's dessert.  Ava was once again up until 10:00 playing with her cousins.  She was exhausted, but had such a great time.  She got to sleep on Grandma & Grandpa's bedroom floor with all her cousin's, and they had story time in the big bed each morning. 

Sunday morning we went to Grandma Great's to have our last Christmas celebration.  We spent the entire day up there.  It was great to see everybody there, and it was so nice that we didn't have to rush out of there in order to get home that evening.  Nate took Monday off so that we could spend the extra day down there.  So Monday morning we packed up, made a quick stop at the bank to tell Grandma good-bye, and then headed home.  New Year's Eve was very low key as we stayed in and hung out. 

Grant is now 10 weeks old, which means that I have to head back to work very shortly.  Just 11 more days and I'll be returning.  That means that Grant has 11 days until he figures out how to sleep through the night.  Last Friday, while at my parent's house he slept from 11:40 pm until 6:40 am.  Amazing!  Now we just need a repeat performance...on a nightly basis.  Last night he was up at 2 am.  Granted, he gets up only once a night but sleeping through the night sure would be nice for when I return back to work.  I remember that Ava started to consistently sleep through the night at 11 weeks.  Hopefully Grant will do the same!

Well I'm exhausted so I'll sign off for the night.  I hope that you all had a wonderful Christmas and we wish you a Wonderful and blessed 2013!

 After Christmas Eve service

 Boppa, Grant, Mema, & Ava

 All the grandkids with their piggy banks, which they put money into every time they spend the night at Grandma & Grandpa's. 

 Mema and princess Ava reading princess stories.

 Ava trying to get to the bottom of her stocking...wouldn't want to miss anything

 "Dr. Ava" is what she calls herself.  I have to tell you, we got our money's worth out of that doctors kit after the first day...I'm so tired of playing Dr. 

 Mema & Grant chatting and smiling

All smiles!

A little smooch for Jakob.

Cousin Jakob could not get enough of Grant.  He would have held him and given him kisses all day long. 

Grandma Becker made aprons for the grandkids.

All the kids watching for Santa and his reindeer to leave.  I tried to upload a picture of Santa, Mrs. Clause, and the kids but I think I hit my limit on pictures.  I'll try again later. 

Ava loves her Dora stuff from Grandma Great

Early morning story time in Grandma & Grandpa's bed.  Grant joined in after he had breakfast.  All of the grandkids (minus Grant) had a slumber party on Grandma & Grandpa's bedroom floor.

Grant & Dave having a little chat

Grandma Great with all the great grandkids

Snuggle/nap time with Grandma Great

Ava & Grandpa

 Grant's 10 week picture.  We've gotten lazy and didn't do a sign yet again.  And yes, he's in his pj's getting ready for bed.  Sometimes we don't get around to these things until the last minute.