Enjoying the winter fun!

Sunday, we had a great day enjoying the activities of winter.  We took Lauryn to the community center and tried out ice skating for the first time.  It was a lot of fun, although a lot of work for mom and dad and great strain on their backs!  The winter weather came in quickly, but after nap time, we were able to build a snowman family (thanks Archer family for the great gift - we finally got to use it!!) and did a little sledding.  We then made a homemade cheeseburger pizza for the first time- awesome- and watched the ProBowl.  It was a great end to a great few days for Lauryn.  Her grandpa and grandpa McMahan had spent a few days with us prior to, so she was in high heaven!

Last weekend, we were able to spend Saturday with part of the Gruis family, as we visited at Great-Grandma Sylvia's house.  We were able to see Uncle Tim and cousins Sonjah, Addisyn, Jamisyn, Hudsyn, and Tucker.  We also were able to see Grandpa Stan, Uncle Sam, Grandma Sue, and Great Grandma Sylvia.  We made a pit stop to see Great-Uncle Leyghton, Great-Aunt Missy, and cousin Brandon.  Whew!  It was fun!!

a curling iron & a camera...

It is cold outside. Illness is everywhere.  What else is there to do besides break out the curling iron and camera?!?!  Lauryn wanted mommy to curl her hair, and it turned out so cute that we decided to take pictures..and lots of them!  And then, mommy had a blast editing them!!!   Simply taken with the camera on mommy's phone, put fun effects on some, and they turned out better than getting them done somewhere.  Lauryn was very comical and made us laugh the entire time!  Enjoy!

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!

We had a wonderful, yet busy Christmas and New Year.  It is so exciting to see Lauryn understand the true meaning of Christmas, wanting to read about baby Jesus, learning about the Christmas Story, and not wanting to acknowledge Santa Claus!  Whenever someone asks her if Santa came to her house, she says "No Santa, but baby Jesus came!"  Love it! 

We had a great time with the McMahan side of the family for a few days before Christmas and we were back at our house for Christmas Day.  We enjoyed lots of food and making a birthday cake for baby Jesus.  Sadly, Eric's grandpa passed, so he flew to Virigina for the funeral and was gone Friday-Monday after Christmas.  It was very hard for him, although he really enjoyed saying his goodbyes and catching up with his family on the East coast.  Lauryn and mommy treked back down to the McMahan's for those days, celebrating Christmas with a family friend and celebrating Grandma Pat's retirement! 

New Year's was very low key, as Eric had just gotten home from Virginia and was still not feeling well.  We had a quiet night of movies and popcorn, and woke up to the fireworks from the neighbors at midnight!  Megan ran the Polar Dash 10K on New Year's Day and then we had a great relaxing afternoon and evening with snacks and football and movies.  All too soon we are back at work and tired!!

We hope everyone had a great holiday season and we look forward to what 2013 has in store for everyone.

Doggie Dr Kit from Uncle Buster!

PUZZLES!!

Mesmerized by Grandma Pat's trees.

Playing games on the iPhone with Great Auntie Cheryl!



Looking at Baby Jesus' manger.

Gifts in her boot on Christmas morning.  A Gruis family tradition.



Reading the Christmas devotion and lighting the advent wreath on Christmas morning.

Oohhh, the monkey bread!

Hmmm...not sure what to do. What do I open first?

Opening gifts from  Unlce Brad & Aunt LaJena!

In love with the wipeable activity book.

So much fun with the chalk from Uncle Buster and the new easel.

Snow crab for Christmas dinner!

Making Baby Jesus birthday cake!

Happy Birthday Jesus!

Christmas at Janet's - how many necklaces can she wear?!?!

"Mama, I just resting...let me be, I just resting."