Post Christmas Photos

After Christmas was over, it was the real picture time. We took some with Tyler with the teddy bear. I tried to hide my hand because he is not able to sit up by himself yet.




Here is Tyler's Christmas loot. I think he looks pleased.


Here is Kate's loot. The doll she has says the name of the body part when you put the hand over that part. It says it in spanish too. She got a few videos and games.


Later that day we went to take the annual family picture.




My dad has taken several photos and made sure everyone looked good in all of them. There were 100 - 150 pictures and it seems none were good. How did people take any good pictures with film?


Here is our own family. I think that I have the best looking family. I married well, huh?


Here is a picture of Josh and Hayley. Is it me or is she glowing?

Here Comes Santa Clause

Katelynn was so excited for Santa to come we had to convince her that she really needed to go to sleep the night before. When she woke up she said that Santa didn't come because she didn't hear him. We said we should go see if he left any presents.

And he did bring some presents. The biggest was a doll house. Kate loves it.


If fact, the plan was to go from the Santa present to my parents to open presents there. Kate wanted to play with her present and didn't want to leave. So we comprimised and brought the doll house to my parents.


At my parents, we got all the cousins together for a picture. We had a great day.

Christmas Eve

This first picture is before Christmas Eve but it was only one picture that didn't need a post so it was adopted by this post. Jen made sugar cookies with her sister Nichole and the kids helped. Here Kate is helping making the cookies. 


So to Christmas Eve, here are all the sitting cousins. Tyler was probably asleep.


Here is the Williams.


And our own alone time.


We had to have two Marys because both wanted to be the Mary. Ethan was Joseph and a doll was baby Jesus. Dan was the donkey.


We gave Anna this apron that matches one Jen made for Kate. The Williams gave Kate an ice/heat pack called Mr. Bump.


We had a great Christmas Eve. The Barnes family did something new this year and each person was asked to memorize something to share with everyone as a kind of present to everyone. The thought was inspired by a talk by Susan Tanner. Unfortunately, Diane asked us if we wanted to do it a long time ago and we didn't decide to do it until a couple days before Christmas Eve so we didn't have a chance to memorize anything very long. Hopefully we will to better this next year.

Seal Beach Trip

Last year we went to a place near Seal Beach, CA called Naples. People decorate their homes for a boat parade. Us common folk just walk around on the walkways. We have gone 3-4 times now but we usually go after Christmas but this year we went before. It was a lot more crowded then it usually is. The Barnes crew all went along with Jen P's family and my parents. It was fun. Here is Dan.


Here is the whole Barnes crew minus Tyler. He was asleep in his car seat.



My parents met us there and actually drove in as we were crossing the street that enters the Naples area so they didn't have to try to find us, they just ran into us. They brought this blanket. I thought Kate looked funny with that big blanket.


Some homes were simple and just had some drift wood decorated, Some homes were elaborate and had the lights in the shape of a Santa face.



This was on a bridge before we left. Kate was tired and so really didn't want to take a picture. For some reason we didn't get a picture with my parents though. Bummer. It was so fun to have everyone there.

Pre-Christmas Kids

We tried to take pictures with the kids and get some cute pictures with them together but Kate decided to fight us on the cute part. She refused to look at the camera and smile.


Here is a smile that we tricked out of her but she isn't looking at the camera.


She did better once we introduced Ty into the pictures.


But Ty wasn't in the mood to be jostled.



I think we gave her candy to get Kate to more cooperative.


And we got a smile out of Ty.


Ty finally broke down but Kate hates it when he is sad so she tries to calm him down.

It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas

The day after Thanksgiving we went to Temple Square to see the Christmas lights. Before the lights we went and saw the Christus.


Kate looking like a Thug. Anna being cute.


Ethan had fun.


I think the kids liked the lights.


I carried Tyler the whole time. I really liked it. It kept him asleep really well as that is what he loves, being held by someone.


I thought this was a cool shot.


Grandma and cousins.



We went to dinner with Dan's future in-laws at the Olive Garden in Salt Lake and then went down to Provo for the rest of the weekend. Nichole and Dave wanted to see a few sights and a few friends. We went and saw BYU together. It has changed from when Jen and I were there last April let alone Nichole and Dave who haven't been there for several (6+) years. Ethan is a great cousin and watches Kate and is so kind to her. I liked this shot. Can you tell where this is at?




We then ate at Red Robin with Dan's future in-laws again. It was fun. Kate had fun with the fountain there. While we were there Josh had left a message earlier and I returned his call. Hayley is pregnant! She is due mid-June. Congrats Josh and Hayley! Tyler will have three cousins, Collin, Bella, and the Hayley-future-arrival that will be a year away from him. That will be fun. Anyway Kate begged for money so I gave her a penny. 

Jen, Kate, and Tyler threw their stuff into Greg and Diane's car and went to California while I went to finish up the last bit of school. Here is the fun they had putting up the Christmas tree.