Christmas + New Years

We spent this year in Arizona for Christmas.

Jackson loves driving to Arizona so he was pretty excited about Christmas here.

We went to Carrabas for dinner (per tradition) and then they let Jackson open up one gift the night before per our tradition.  He thought he would be opening the Wii but Brady quickly changed the wrapping of it so when Jackson opened the juggling balls, he was a little bummed out.  Then we went right into more of the Nielsen Family traditions where the adults act out the nativity scene!  It's pretty funny to act it all out as if we were kids.  After we sang Christmas songs, had a snowball fight, put on our matching pajamas Brenda picked out for everyone and then I tucked little man to sleep so Santa could come.  He was so excited and so was I to be apart of his Christmas 2013.  

Christmas morning was so exciting.  Brenda set up stockings, Santa gifts, and fun things like that.  We opened gifts all morning which isn't usual for us, but it was fun to have everyone take their time for gifts.  Jackson got a bike, Skylanders, a air hockey set and a lot of fun things.

When we drove back home, we had New Years Eve at the Devines.  We played games and were team USA.  We actually won the whole thing!  When we got home, the Nielsens were sleeping over.  We woke up early and went to the Rose Bowl Parade.  I was pregnant here and really sick so it wasn't a pleasant day walking around with lots of people when I wanted to just throw up everywhere.  Elise is also pregnant too.  We were only 2 weeks apart.  I ended up miscarrying in May of 2014.

Merry Merry Time

It's finally December! So excited.  Bring on the cold weather and socks.

(picture we used for our Christmas card)

We talked to Jackson before he came over.  It was fun to plan what we were going to do for the weekend with him. He loves a good plan, and play by play.

After we talked, he wrote me a note that I will cherish forever and ever.

Brady is getting use to coming home to me taking apart something, and fixing it up. This was a flimsy bookcase he has had for a long time that was def not very good quality so I wanted to make it not be such an eye sore.  We figured all of the furniture we have here won't go with us to our next place so we are trying to not buy anything new. Almost everything we have is hand-me-downs so it gets me excited to change things up a bit.

It was a bigger project than I expected.

We picked up Jackson and went straight to the snow in Fraizer Park which isn't too far from us but this particular day there was a crash or something so we sat in traffic for forever.  We read books and kept busy but when we finally got to the snow, we jumped out to play in it.  Brady bought a sled and we found a hill to go down.

Jackson wearing both graduate schools Brady went/goes to.

rapping like it's his buisnas

This picture says it all. He was a happy, cold boy.

After we went to the church, 2/3 of us matching for the Christmas party.

It was so cute to see him line up to meet Santa with the younger kids.

little seven year old with Santa.  He said, "My you are heavy"

That night the Elf got ambushed by his Skylanders.

Then, sadly we had to say goodbye! It was a fun weekend!

He was so sad, had tears but had to go.