Christmas with the (rest of the) Callahan's

The weekends before Christmas we got together with Brad's side of the family. The kids were so excited to be together with all their cousins and of course share fun times with the fun gifts they got from grandpa and grandma Callahan.

the girls (minus one napping baby Maren)

the boys (minus one little baby Dallas)

all the grandkids together

the girls got some real makeup from grandma and grandpa and they spent that night putting almost all of it on at once.

someone's fabulous!

Maren opening her very first gift!

On Sunday we all went to the nursing home to attend church with Grandma Great! Grandma loves it when the great grandkids come to visit and they love her so much!

all the family minus Brad's oldest brother and his girlfriend.

A very merry weekend!

Checking in at 4 months

Maren Stats:

weight - 14 lbs. 8 oz.

height - 24.75 in.

doing great!

trying our first bites of rice cereal

It's not too bad so far. It will just take a little getting used to.

Santa Claus

We got to have a special visit with Santa!

This year -as always- my kids don't really ask for much or don't know what to ask for (enjoy it while it lasts? probably). They've been asked several times what they would ask Santa for for Christmas, Garrett said he didn't know and earlier this week Embrie said she was going to ask for some new toys. ha ha!

But when they finally got the chance, Garrett first thought transformers, then changed his mind and asked Santa for a car. Of course Santa was relieved when we clarified that it would be a toy car instead of the real deal. Embrie asked for a doll. However, she did so via mom because of a sudden case of 'the nerves'.

Maren sat this one out. Mostly because when we got to our turn to see the Big Man she and dad were no where to be found. For some reason I don't think she'd have had much to say anyway, but she sure looked cute!

the spirit of giving

Ok so this hardley ever happens, in fact I don't remember the last time this happened. Brad bought me flowers!!!! ok so I was standing there in the store with him and he handed them to me I smelled them said they were pretty and put them back. He was like "I mean you can have them." Yay! pretty and festive. Now this is not to say that Brad doesn't do lost for me he just doesn't usually buy flowers. But this was a special treat. Thanks honey!

On the 3rd

There was seriously so much going on on this day! First of all Garrett started Jr. Jazz, yay! I wasn't there so there are not pictures of that yet (rest assured there will be). The reason I wasn't there is because me and the girls were headed to Ogden for a couple of big events. First our Jerzee girl's 3rd birthday!

Here she is licking the frosting off her barbie -doll cake, ha ha it was funny!

Garrett and Brad met up with us about an hour into it.

Then there was the annual Neilsen family Christmas Party.
This year my mom and I had volunteered to be in charge of the big bash. We decided to do a service project of donations and cards for care packages to the US Troops overseas.
As I was planning these events I heard many people around me talking about how their families would moan and groan if they suggested a service project or how young men and young women in their church organizations would only come as long as it was a "fun" activity but wouldn't show up to do a service.

So I'm really proud of my family for all the donations they gathered and the cards the kids made and the kind letters from the adults. I am glad that we could count on them to willing do this with us and I am glad that it turned out to be a success and that we also had fun as always!

Fa la la la la

We've decked the halls!

(Maren's first Christmas tree ornament)

Sick sick sick

The last year or so has gone by pretty good in the way of staying healthy. It was not bound to last though, this last 3 weeks we've been hit hard. It started with Garrett having gastroenteritis, and I got a cold while taking care of him then he got a really bad cold before he was even over the other stuff. Then Just as he was getting well -although I had tried as I might for 9 days to keep everyone seperated- Embrie got sick with a fever and bad cold which then turned into pneumonia. She finally started to get better and now Maren has her first illness a really bad cold that is making her miserable and now I have a new cold too. (Brad has been lucky and he even works at a hospital and then comes home to us how'd he get so lucky?) Ok ok I know you can't stay away from every germ forever but I am ready to get us all healthy and enjoying the holidays!

This is a picture of Embrie's poor red and cracking lips, I don't know if she was dehydrated from lack of liquid combined with cold weather and cold medicine, but this picture sums up the funk we've been in.