Home At Last

Dec. 29, 2016: Elise, totally relaxed at Chick-fil-A on our drive home.

She was very happy to not be in her car seat for an hour or so.

Dec. 31, 2016

We finally had time to open the rest of our Christmas gifts! We left some gifts at home to lighten the load while we were driving. Plus these gifts went with a special surprise that was at home: a Wii! 

Elise claims the biggest gift

...until Aaron arrives and shoves her away.

Big brothers are the best.

I didn't get any pictures of the gift opening: we were too busy Skyping with Grandpa & Grandma! Seth especially was very excited to see the Wii--he's spent many hours now perfecting his Mario Kart skills. He still has nothing on his dad, though! Thank you for spoiling us, Mom!

I love the tradition of giving your kids one ornament each year. At first I was just giving random ornaments, but the past couple of years I tried to get ones that reflect something about that year for that child. I've bought them in the past, but this year I decided to make them. They turned out pretty well! Seth got Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Catherine got a copy of one of her drawings, Aaron got a puppy dog with sad eyes, and Elise got a Baby's First Christmas ornament (not made by me--sent by Grandma Cathy!). Next year, however, I will be smarter and use PLASTIC bulbs!

Blood Bonding Time

Dec. 26, 2016

I love watching our kids play with their cousins. I have such fun memories with my cousins--they're built-in best friends! 

Avery, Jason, Catherine & Megan

Aaron & Avery

Aaron LOVED Avery. I'm not sure they actually interacted all that much, but he was constantly asking where she was. Maybe because she was so quiet & calm compared to everyone else?

Catherine & Megan were best buddies:

Cousin hugs:

Dec. 27, 2016

We made mass group plans to take all the kids to a children's museum. Being awesome parents, Jon & I somehow managed to stay home and send our kids with Aaron & Ashley (just Seth & Catherine). We have impressive pawning-off-kids skills. 

Seth & Evan in the treehouse climbing thing

Catherine & Megan in the ball pit

Catherine was apparently very bad at following the Ashley-designed buddy system.

She would just move on whenever she was bored.

Luckily her buddy (Megan) was diligent and would hunt her down.

Seth pans for gold

That afternoon we celebrated a romantic 11th anniversary (a day early) by going out for lunch with a van full of Bloods:

I really lucked out in the in-law department

This series of pictures cracks me up. I call it, "Aaron Waits for His Prey":

An innocent Elliot, coming to turn off the lights on the tree

As soon as Elliot is distracted, Aaron moves in.

"The HAAIIIIIIIIRRR."

Dec. 28, 2016: This is what happens when you let Aaron figure out your phone's passcode:

He put this as my background.

I haven't changed it.

Dec. 29, 2016: Despite Aaron & Ashley's best attempts, Jon was not interested in staying longer. We spent our last night in WV at Stephen & Claudia's new house. I'm jealous of all their storage space! That house is huge, plus has an unfinished basement. 

Tauriel & Elise, not cooperating for a cute picture

We loved the crazy, fun, chaotic time together at Christmas. We are so grateful for our wonderful family!

Family Pictures

Dec. 26, 2016

Since we were (almost) all going to be home together, I thought it would be nice to get some professional pictures taken of the family. It had literally been a decade since we had a picture taken not in the foyer or the living room. 

After some serious coordinating with all sisters-in-law and the photographer, we had a plan for pictures inside the Capitol building (it's hard to find an indoor venue for such a large group). 

As it turned out, the day we had scheduled for pictures was GORGEOUS. Almost 70 degrees. We made a last-minute decision to take pictures outdoors at a local park instead. The weather was perfect: warm, but cloudy. Exactly what you want for pictures. And the park had an old wine cellar with gorgeous stone walls. We definitely lucked out!

I brought my camera and snapped some pictures, too. I'm obviously not a professional, but I love learning! 

Beautiful Catherine, who was feeling sick & just wanted to go home

(we passed around a lovely stomach bug this year)

I wanted a cute picture of our four kids. 

This was the best I got:

Thanks for being so cooperative, Elise.

The photographer's was a little better:

The entire Blood clan:

We're missing Jacob (on his mission to Salt Lake), and Mary's kids who were with their dad.

Luckily Mary had family pictures taken a few weeks later and I photoshopped her kids in:

Watching Elliot's antics: 

The original Blood clan: 

Grandparents & grandkids: 

I snapped this picture of Mom & Dad, which turned out so cute!

Dad's eyes look so blue!

The pictures turned out so beautiful! Now we can wait another ten years before the next ones.

Christmas!

Having Christmas on a Sunday is both lovely (a good chance to worship and celebrate), and complicated (everything has to be rushed so we can get ready for church on time). Thankfully the Bloods' ward started at 10 am, so we had an extra hour for things like investigating stockings:

We enjoyed a lovely music-filled meeting, then headed home for the opening of gifts.

Elise was very excited for her first Christmas: 

Gift sorting for way too many people:

Catherine, buried up to her chin in gifts. Can you say "spoiled"?

Aaron LOVED the chaos of Christmas with thirty-plus people:

"No want to!"

Seth was VERY excited to open gifts:

...until I reminded him that he's the second-oldest grandchild and thus had a LONG wait ahead:

Elise was third in line (after Hazel & Tauriel).

She loved her bath toys from Catherine:

Aaron recovered from his trauma in time to open his gifts:

Catherine's Elsa doll from Seth:

And her expanding bath sponge toys from Adleigh (her favorite gift):

Seth loved his bow & arrow from Catherine & Elise.

I think Jason loved it more, though:

Nerf gun from Russell (also a hit with Jason):

Not pictured: Jon getting some nice new work shirts from Stephen (the Koford version) & the kids, me getting some adorable winter boots from Marah. Jon & I already exchanged gifts. He bought me a laptop & smartphone, I bought him a carpet cleaner. 

That afternoon we had a chance to Skype with Jacob:

We also enjoyed some delicious Christmas treats:

Yes, that's a knife in her hand.

Funny story: this tray of cookies had been sitting on the table. Elise was also sitting on the table (of course). She saw the tray but didn't seem very interested until she watched me cut off a piece. It was like a light went on in her brain. "That is FOOD?!?!" She speed-crawled across the table and over the tray of cookies to get one. You can actually see her handprint near the edge of the picture. This girl doesn't mess around with food. 

And, finally, Eowyn:

This picture makes me happy because

1) She's gorgeous, and

2) She was interacting with me voluntarily, and actually seemed to enjoy it.

Another wonderful Christmas in the books!

Christmas Eve

Dec. 24, 2016

We made the trek to West Virginia again for Christmas this year. It was extra special since everyone (with the very sad exception of Mary's four kids and the not-so-sad exception of Jacob, who is serving a mission) was coming home this year.  

There were lots of games played, lots of small children running around, and lots of trips to the store for more food. 

Catherine & Elise sporting their matching outfits

In an attempt to get out of the house, we arranged a dodgeball game at the church. Since Elise is terrible at dodgeball, I got to hang out on the sidelines and take pictures. 

My favorite part was watching Aaron's technique. Apparently curling up in a ball in the middle of the gym is actually fairly effective:

A good picture of the chaos:

Catherine cons a ride out of Uncle James:

Oh, Aaron...

The baby brigade had a good time, too. Tauriel & Elise got to know each other a little better:

Then it was back to Grandpa & Grandma's for some Christmas Eve Wii time:

Avery, Seth, Jocelyn, Catherine & Brianna

Jocelyn, Catherine, Jason, Megan, Brianna & Aaron

By the time we actually got around to the Christmas Eve activities (aka the Nativity play), most of the little ones had been put to bed. I don't think Aaron & Elise minded too much. The big kids helped Grandma open some 12 Days of Christmas gifts:

And then it was on to the Nativity, with Seth as Joseph and Catherine as a Wise Woman:

Rubbing Uncle James' bald head is a great source of wisdom and power:

We ended the evening by singing some carols:

Then it was off to bed for the kids (and Jon, who is a big party pooper).