Merry Christmas!!!

We started the season out right with a Christmas party for my very part-time job at Smiles for New Mexico Kids Pediatric Dentistry. My brother, Jacob was there as well as my sister, Jennefer and her husband Jim (who happens to manage/co-own the company). So, the Jewkes were definitely representing. After the main festivities, the guys played some Rockband. I'm just going to go ahead and let you know that Christian killed it. I'm always telling him he could moonlight as a lounge singer. See for yourself:



On Christmas Eve, we lazed around all day. Then, I bucked the trend by making Cafe Rio pork salad and burritos. After dinner, we read in Luke 2, sang some Christmas songs, then had a little "talent show" with Oliver. We had a singing portion, a dance portion, and then a do-your-own-thing portion. That was a hoot and maybe even a tradition in the making...

During our lazy Christmas Eve, I put Amelia's socks on her ears and Oliver kept calling her a cow. I guess there's some likeness. :)
That night, after the kids went to bed, Christian put this train set together for Oliver while we watched It's a Wonderful Life, which I'd never seen. Can you believe that? Such a cute flick.

Oliver came out of his room on Christmas morning, totally oblivious to it being Christmas or that there were toys and gifts waiting for him. He could have cared less...until we uncovered the train set. It took him a second to grasp that it was really his, but then he literally played with it for 4 hours straight.

Amelia, unlike Oliver, dove right in to her presents.

Grandma Bell gave Amelia this doll and she hasn't had it out of her sight or grasp since this morning. She's absolutely mesmerized by it.

JoLynn, Christian's Mom, painted this picture for all the kids. It's of the house they grew up in. Isn't is amazing?


Ok, I know this isn't the prettiest picture, but this was our breakfast. It was a sort of crumb cake. P.S.- it's supposed to be a Christmas tree.

This was our first Christmas with just our little family and we really missed being with everyone, but it was also really nice just to be able to go on our own schedule, relax, and enjoy the festivities at home. It's been a great day. We're headed to Georgia tomorrow to be with the Jewkes for a week. Hope you all had a very Merry Christmas!!!

Christmas Pictures

We finally gave in to peer pressure and decided to get family pictures. You might even get a Christmas card from us this year! Although we've saved our family picture for the actual card, you can enjoy this little sampling!

Can you tell that Christian and I were REALLY cheesed out by the engagement picture pose?

Birthday and the River of Lights

It was my birthday on Tuesday and since no one is going to give me a shout-out, I guess I'll just do it myself. Just kidding. Birthdays are actually becoming a little less exciting as I get older (Surprise, surprise!). I'm 28. There, I said it. Now you don't have to go call the census bureau. Anyway, it was actually a really great birthday. Let me tell you why. First of all, our friends, the Alders and Fears, had us to dinner on Sunday. They made the best homemade pizza I've ever had (soon to be featured on Peachtree Cooking). And, as if that wasn't enough, they bought the yummiest cheesecake ever from Whole Foods that cost more than your Dolce & Gabbana sunglasses. I have such sweet friends here and I'm so grateful to them for making me feel so special on my birthday.
Then, on my actual birthday... Oh, you thought I was done? No, no, no. I kind of ruined the annual Chick-fil-A breakfast in bed this year by getting up and going on a run before the crack of dawn, but, hey, I knew I had to create some kind of calorie deficit for the certain junk-food consumption that was going to be going on that day, right? Anyway, so after I got home, Christian hurried off to Chick-fil-A and got just what I ordered (which has only taken him almost 5 years to perfect). Then, Christian let me take the afternoon "off" (a.k.a.: no kids) and buzz around town (a.k.a.: grocery shopping). When I returned home, he had set up a cute little scavenger hunt for me to find my gift. It was really sweet and so memorable. I think I might make this an annual thing for myself too. :) Is that okay, hon? That night, my brother, Jacob came and babysat for us while we went to dinner at the famous El Pinto (great setting and ambiance, not that great of food) and finished the day off with a movie, The Blind Side (which we loooooved). What a great day! I really couldn't have asked for anything more. Now, on to more exciting things...

We were feeling antsy a couple Monday night's ago, so we hit up the mall for some FHE action. Of course, we can't go to the mall nowadays without letting Oliver ride the carousel.

Amelia and I just waited patiently for Daddy and Oliver on the carousel.

Then, last weekend, we went to the River of Lights with the Reidheads. It was really, really well done and neat. A definite must for families in Albuquerque this time of year.

It was really cold that night, but Amelia wouldn't have known. It was probably in the high 80's under all that padding.

Just a very small sampling. It was awesome.

Again, Oliver and little Berlynn couldn't be separated. They are just such sweet companions.

Thanksgiving in Utah

We had plans to stay here in Albuquerque for Thanksgiving this year, but at the last minute, decided to make the 20-hour round trip drive to Utah to spend the weekend with the Bells. We celebrated with the extended family at a local church building and it was so much fun. The Bells are such a warm, welcoming bunch, not to mention REALLY good cooks- everything was to die for and I've still been dreaming about a few dishes... The whole weekend was really relaxing and nice and included dinner at Red Iguana, bonfire hot dogs and s'mores, BYU vs. Utah football, Belle's birthday party, lots and lots of shmoozing, and of course, some shopping. I also went down to Provo to spend part of a day with my sisters, Julie and Jennefer.

Christian's Mom, JoLynn, had these three little monkeys "help" her make muffins.

JoLynn took Oliver on her walks every day. He loves his Grandma Bell.

Amelia having some bonding time with her cousin, Molly.

Belle celebrated her 2nd Birthday- she's such a cutie!

Here are almost all the cousins decorating cookies at Belle's bash.

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You think these guys are awesome???...

Well, ya ain't seen nothing yet. You've got to check out Christian and his 2 brothers' new blog at dontdodumbthings.com.