The Last of 2011

Like every good family, we celebrated the New Year with fireworks.

Of course, we celebrated the New Year at 6:30 pm, but still...there were fireworks.

And that's what really counts in the end.

Catherine enjoys the sparklers maybe a little too much.

Seth refused to go anywhere near the sparklers and spent all his time throwing poppers.

Lighters are SO delicious.

We are such good parents.

The Blood Family Fireworks Display.

Happy 2012!

Aaronhead Gets Married!

Well, Ashley managed to survive Thanksgiving with all of us at the Bloods, so she and Aaron spent the next month getting everything ready for their wedding on December 30th in the Washington, D.C. Temple.

Of course, since we are all of an hour away from the temple, we were home base for several of the Blood families.

Scott & Mary came out early so Seth & Rebekah could have more time to play together.

Seth was totally into Mary's narration until I pulled out the camera...

And then it was the big day:

Catherine looked so darn cute with her blue flowers and brown Ugg boots (not pictured, unfortunately for all of you).

Jacob & Joanna, waiting outside the temple.

Joanna is working very hard on her sullen teenager stance.

I think she's really nailed it here.

Uncle James, babysitter extraordinaire.

Aaron & Ashley Blood

Claudia documenting the wedding.

As we all know, a wedding isn't a wedding without massive amounts of photos:

The wedding party

The Bloods

The Groomsmen.

Oh, Scott Bear.

I like how Aaron's totally nonchalant about this.

"Yeah, we Blood brothers do this kind of stuff ALL the time.  No biggie."

No comment about Jakey.

Jon helps remove a little somethin' somethin' from Aaron's collar.

Nine Blood siblings (missing Timmy--on his mission in Mexico)

After a break for pizza at Ashley's house, it was on the the reception:

Possibly, this room was a little too small for this picture.

Just possibly.

Bridesmaids, Groomsmen, and Jon flashing some sort of gang sign.

Me with my mouth full of some of the delicious, delicious food.

I may or may not have eaten my weight in tiny, tiny cups of lobster bisque.

Aaron & Ashley, can you get married again just so I can have more of that soup?

 

The cake, made by yours truly.

Really awkward picture of me and the cake, also by yours truly

Claudia & Brianna survive the reception.

So do Elizabeth, Jacob & Kade.

And, despite Catherine's best attempts, she & Jon both survive, too.

Obviously Jon was a bit skeptical at this point.

Seth was in heaven.  When he wasn't darting through the crowd to snag more chocolates off the table, he was making vile concoctions in his glass and then dumping in into another glass.  Awesome.

Welcome to the family, Ashley!  

It's CHRISTMAS!!!

Here we are, in all of our Christmas morning glory:

I really should make this extra large just so you can fully appreciate the beauty of our family.

Seth and Catherine investigate their loot from Santa: 

Catherine's first Christmas:

The view from the ledge: 

Our family getting ready to open gifts: 

I have absolutely no idea what Jon is doing to Catherine.

I DO, however, know exactly what Seth is trying to do.

Kenna's favorite Christmas gift?  A half-used bottle of garam masala!

Brian, you're the best husband EVER!

Seth loves Aunt Lori.

And thanks to Aunt Bubba for restraining him for this picture.

Yes, we still spend a good chunk of the day pretending to be a baby.

In fact, he's pretending to be the baby right now as I type this.

Building a gingerbread village.

One last picture before Earthquake Seth struck.

And, sadly, here's where we were the next day: 

At the airport, heading home.

It went by much too fast, like it always does.  

Thank you for a wonderful Christmas.

We love you so much!

Christmas Eve Gifts

After the Nativity, we opened one Christmas gift each.

Me, playing some carols.

Marah helping Catherine open her gift.

Seth opening his gorgeous quilt from Grandma.

Frazzled Meg with her Christmas jammies.

Jon is a jammie snob, so he got new shirts 

(to replace the ones with holes that he insists on wearing anyway)

Then it was time for Santa's cookies: 

Santa only like Double-Stuffed Oreos.

Santa is also very generous with his Double-Stuffed Oreos. 

Lucky for Seth.

Seth was SO excited for Santa to come this year.

Catherine, on the other hand, was just plain exhausted after her first Christmas Eve.

Off to bed!

Christmas Eve Nativity

First (and totally unrelated to the Nativity), we have the lovely chefs:

Traditional Christmas Eve food in our house?  MEXICAN!

And now, Mary: 

"What is this thing?"

"Look, guys!  There's a BABY in here!" 

"I know what babies like!  Blowing raspberries.  Pfhphffhfhphfhfpppph...."

Enter Joseph: 

Joseph is not pleased with the state of Mary's veil

Mary, Joseph, and a Wise Woman

Joseph is also not pleased with the state of Baby Jesus' diaper.

"Umm...isn't there supposed to be a baby in this thing?"

"THAT is not a baby.  That is a cow.  Even I know that!"

Mary examines the loot from the Three Kings

Our Nativity Cast

The Three Kings, Baby Jesus and Mary (with her eyes closed)

The shepherds watching over their flocks of dogs.

Camo also doubled as the donkey.

Joseph was adorably protective of Baby Jesus.

Do I need to buy my son a baby doll?

Apparently.