From Our Break

Early in our break (Dec. 22nd) we had the annual Smith family party, this year at my mom's house. We ate yummy treats, caught up with beloved cousins, and sang Jingle Bells very loudly so Santa would hear his cue and come deliver special gifts! My big kids were elated and Luke just cried about it. It was such a fun night!

I am in love with this picture! Love these two so much. This is from December 26th. We had a very good day because Joseph was around all day to just play and hang out. He took the kids sledding, traced out requested pictures for our darlings to then paint with their new art supplies from Nanny, and later that night snuggled up with them with freshly popped popcorn for a movie night. My babes are in heaven when they get that kind of attention from their daddy.

A random collection of pics from art time to sledding to Joseph snuggling Luke and baby cousin Leo (9 months younger than my guy but they will be fast buddies I am sure :)

 

 My boys went to a Jazz game December 28th using Bentley's free tickets from playing Jr. Jazz. It just so happened to be the night Bob was going to a game with a bunch of his old friends. Joseph and Beans joined the big group of friends at Rodizio's for dinner beforehand where Bentley ate everything in sight and even tried a chicken heart. Such a fun date for both of them! I stole this pic from Joe's phone—the arena looks so pretty with the lights and fresh snow:

 

 

Our New Year's Eve was freezing cold and very low key. We had Cafe Rio for dinner (loving that it is newly opened in Herriman and just so close and convenient!) did baths for the kids, popped some colorful crackers and called it a night. Oh, and we did pose for some awesome pics too...

On New Year's Day we hosted all the LeBarons we could round up for pizza, sledding, cocoa and cake and ice cream—a 2nd celebration of Luke's birthday but also a great chance to get together and play. We were planning to celebrate Luke's nearly twin cousin Annacapri that day too but she and her fam were really needing to get back to CA for various reasons (Anna's badly burned hands being a huge factor. Sweet baby girl...) We will have to postpone a joint celebration until next year. What do you think about that Krista—should we get it on our calendars already?! :)

The crew called this jumble "LeBaron Lincoln Logs." Can you spy Evie and Elijah's feet as the perpendicular row in this craziness? 10 LeBs heading down the hill on 5 sleds!

 

Yesterday the kids were feeling restless waiting on some friends so I suggested they play with mom's hair. They were so excited to give me a real hairdo at first—Cares did my 2 braids—but then they wanted to put every last clip and bow somewhere on my head. Quite the results, no? It did earn me title of "coolest mom ever" from Bentley so it was completely worth it :)