back to real life!

We were able to fly home for 10 days over Christmas and didn't want to come back.
We were busy almost every minute and loved spending so much time with our families.
I wasn't very good about getting pictures, but here are a few to recap our Christmas celebrations:

 Chris cut his finger really bad a few days before we left for Utah.

The small circle is when we thought the bleeding stopped...not quite!

Here is Chris enjoying his Christmas presents that we opened a few days before flying home for free.
We had a blast having our own real Christmas for the first time...since last year we spent $20 total on each other.

Reunited with my sweet doggy!

 My dad and niece Savannah on Christmas Eve.

Bana and Nana.

Crik and Bana.

My killer hand in Rook.
Can't say the rest of trip went so well...

 FINALLY eating Cafe Rio!

We were so happy to see so much snow!

I really wanted to steal all our nieces and nephews to bring back with us.

My grandma rocks at Quiddler. 

Playing with my cousins, aunt and g-ma P at the Thomas Hotel.

Pockets!

After a fabulous and much too short visit to Utah, we flew home, didn't get more flight vouchers (boo), and I went to work the next day and got laid off.

Lame.

We've been enjoying lots of time together since then though.

Visiting Ikea with a front row parking spot!

I was pretty excited about it! I've never had to walk less than a mile from a parking spot at Ikea.

Really? Is this supposed to be comfortable?

So humidity plus cold temperatures is REALLY cold!

I can seriously feel my legs freeze from the outside in when I'm wearing shorts. (to the gym of course)

Oh and this picture above is a frozen pond. There is a lot of cool frozen water here.

Please welcome Chris to the 21st century everyone!
After being eligible for a cell phone upgrade since 2008, he FINALLY got a new phone!
You might recognize the phone on the left if you have been/were a Verizon customer 5 years ago.
It's about time!