Christmas

To go home this year was the best Christmas present I could ask for.  We missed our families so much!  The flight home was great.  Lincoln was a champ.

 We got home at 10 in the morning and so we enjoyed the day with Claire and went over and visited my family.  After we went to Corbin's to celebrate my Dad's birthday and Brett's birthday.  It was so great to see everyone!

The next day was Saturday and we had a great day with the Mellor family.  We made chili, sugar cookies, rang bells, and even put together Disney puzzles.  It was a fabulous day.

 Lincoln loved standing on the table and joining in on the bell ringing.

 That puzzle was harder than it looks...

 The next day was Sunday and my mom threw a Beus Family Christmas Party at her house.  All my extended Beus side came and it was a lot of fun.  

 I especially enjoyed the game of rook with my uncles and cousins.

 Lincoln and papa learned this game together...Papa would say read, set....

And Lincoln would answer...GO!  And drop.  It was played everyday.

Love my Laina!

 My dad gave Brett a Boy Scouts of America gun.  It is truly a gorgeous gun.  Unfortunately my dad thought it wouldn't work to take it as our carry-on home...weird.

 Love my family.

 On Christmas Eve we had a beautiful snow fall.  I have missed the snow so much since moving to Virginia.

 We had a great time playing in it and...

Sledding on the back hill!

Also on this day Katie and I enjoyed helping Claire in the kitchen to make a delicious dinner.

On Christmas Eve we got to talk to Josh.  It was great to talk with him.

 Again...I love this girl.

 Christmas morning was so fun.  Unfortunately I didn't take very many pictures, but here are what I have.

My moms beautiful wrapping!

 Lincoln confused and happy at the same time.

 A table setting fit for Christmas morning breakfast.

 Laina playing with her new boxes, and earlier announced that she will be getting a baby brother soon!

 The men.

 Again, Love this little family of mine.  And geez my husband is hot.

 Papa is hilarious!

 Part of the group.

 Brett's birthday followed the next day where we celebrated by going to Tepanyaki, yum!  

 After we devoured a delicious Baskin Robbins Cake.  

  On Brett's birthday Brett, Katie, and I went to the movie Lincoln, while Claire kindly watched our Lincoln for us.  

 

Whew...okay, the next day we had Laura's baby shower!!!  It was such a blast and I'm so, SO excited for her to be a mom.  

 Claire did a fabulous job getting the house put together and preparing amazing food!  

She got lots of great gifts and it was a great time. 

 After that we had a few days to chill out a little bit.  On Saturday we went to the BYU Basketball game down at the Energy Solutions Arena.  Kirt and April had tickets that they weren't going to use so they gave them to our fam.  It was a great game and fun to go with my family.

 That Sunday Trevor had his Eagle Court of Honor.  It was so fun to watch him receive such an amazing achievement.  So proud of Uncle T!

 The 5th annual Red Neck Shoot out was cold, but awesome out on Stansbury Island.  The boys were extra excited this year because they brought an explosive called Tyranite...it was a TON of fun.

My dad definitely had a fabulous hit!

 Me ready with the .22...

 Brett loves the handguns....

It was the best break I could ask for.  We had such a wonderful Christmas spending time with family and enjoy not being in school.  Can't wait until next year!

1. Brett turns 27!

2. Laura having a baby this year!

3. Andrea having a baby this year!

December Highlights

  This year I finally put a Christmas tree.  A felt tree.  I figured since we wouldn't even be here for Christmas day we wouldn't spend the money or time with a real tree, and this one worked great.  We had a small Christmas on the 20th after Brett's last final.  

 So excited to head home for Christmas!

 Lincoln got a fire station and LOVED it!  He is obsessed with the fire house door.

 That night Brett and I went to dinner to celebrate our anniversary, which is the 27th.  It's always so crazy at Christmas time so we thought we would celebrate before.  We went to a restaurant called Duner's and then to the movie Skyfall.  It was a great night.  Happy 4 years to us!

Also in December I was released from my calling as Sunbeam teacher of these crazy kids to...

 2nd counselor in the young women for these gals.  I'm so happy to be in the young womens!

  McShades...

 Playing with dad...

 A group of friends and I went down to the childrens museum to play.  Lincoln loved it inside and played with everything.  Outside was a little different story.  All the other kids jumped on the carousel like it was the coolest thing ever....Lincoln cautiously stood by and carefully went round and round.  No joke, he is such a careful little boy. 

Sorry that was a little random, but hey I'm behind on blogging and gotta get caught up!

More December Highlights

This little boy is my world.  I adore him so much.  Each morning he LOVES to read his books.  It's nice because mom and dad like to sleep in and he reads his books and waits for us to wake up.  

 Virginia has tons of trees...Lincoln loves leaves...The two have a wonderful relationship.

 Charlottesville has really dreamy weather.  On this day it was 60.  Pretty nice for the middle of December.

 

 Loves his pears.

 Building forts with dad is the best!

 Our cute friends the Bunker's held an Ugly Sweater Party and it was such a blast.  We love our friends here.  

Christensens, Bylunds, Bunkers, Guynns (x2), Hardings, Watts, and Quists

We love Bishop Shiul, and so does Lincoln. 

 Lincoln recently discovered that he fits underneath the bed.  He goes under there with his cars and his blanket and stays a while.  He is darling.

 It might sound silly, but we have been working on this toy for a long time now.  Lincoln finally has it mastered!  Proud moment for me as a mom.

1. Great C'ville friends!

2. Wonderful weather.

3. Just weeks until we go home for Chrismas!

Stud Muffin

Lincoln is turning into such a little man.  He is loving nursery and the girls are loving him in his sweet suit.  (Thanks papa dustin :))

love him.

1. lincoln.

2. cute boy clothes.

3. quiet time book at church

Adventure Day

I have been wanting to do a quick trip up to DC and Baltimore for a bit now and I finally went.  Lincoln and I started off early in the morning and got to DC and went to lunch with a friend of mine from high school, Anna Storey Wood.  I was so excited to see her!  

 Lincoln was such a trooper.

We had lunch a block from the capital and it was just magical.  So happy to see her!

 

 After Lincoln and I headed up to Michael and Staci's house.  Staci was kind enough to watch Lincoln while I went to the temple.  It was such a gorgeous night to go!

While I was there, Lincoln was there being entertained by Staci, Michael, and the kids.  Thanks guys!

The next day we went to a fun bounce and play house.  Lincoln was so funny about the toys.  He was really nervous about the bouncing toys but LOVED the slide.  

  

 Naturally Lincoln fell asleep 5 minutes from home.  Awesome.

And a video from the slide :)

1. Temple.

2. Staci and her fam!

3. Making it through DC alive by myself.