Tis the Season to be Jolly

I am finally able to update the blog! Our laptop computer screen has been broken and we finally were able to hook our computer up to a new screen!(So sorry this is long there are pictures at the end I promise!) We have had a wonderful holiday season. Brad had two weeks off in the middle of his surgery rotations which was awesome! When Brad had to go back to school yesterday Aiden was bawling. I think all of us (Brad included) had gotten use to having him home. It was a hard day back to reality for all of us yesterday.

But for Christmas we headed down to my mom's house in Georgia for our Christmas break and got to see about half my family. There were 4 out of the 8 siblings there. My brothers Joe and Tim came from out of town and Amy and James were there as well. It was so fun to be with everyone and to just relax. We played lots of games, watched lots of movies, and ate a lot of food :) And we hardly saw Aiden while we there because he was having so much fun playing with his cousins.

Christmas morning Aiden was so excited to see what he got from Santa. He ran to where his stocking was on the couch and started oooing and ahhing over what he got, but then he turned to me and said, "Santa didn't bring me transformers." Of course they were wrapped up right next to his stocking and he was just so distracted by the rest of his loot he hadn't opened them yet :) But when he opened them it was so cute, he was so happy and shouted, "My transformers!" And while Ryder is still clueless about Santa he knew what wrapped things meant and was a pro at opening all his gifts and LOVED all his new toys. My mom made Brad and I a wonderful recipe book that has all the German recipes passed down from her side of the family. And each recipe has a family story with it. I can't wait to start using it and I love gifts like that that you know you will cherish your whole life and that your children will cherish. Thanks mom we love you!

After all the present opening and breakfast we were able to go see Les Miserables (thanks again mom for watching the boys while we went!) It was a beautiful movie and of course had me in tears quite a bit of the time. It really was an inspiring and beautiful movie. Brad and I agreed afterward that it is a movie with a message that the world really needs to hear right now. The beautiful closing message was that "To love is to see the face of God."

We were sad to say bye to everyone especially knowing we will not see them for a while. This was the last Christmas with my little brother James before he leaves on his mission so I am so glad we were able to be there and we can't wait to see where he is called to serve! We are so proud of you James. My mom gave the boys the perfect parting gift of snow discs because the day after we got home it snowed! Sadly Aiden also got a little sick that day, but we managed to go out for a little bit and sled down some hills. Aiden had so much fun! And Ryder was not quite sure about the snow...he just kinda stood around in it :)

It was a wonderful holiday season with lots of good memories and I am sad to see it end. But we are looking forward to 2013. It is going to be a big year most likely with another little one coming at some point :) and also Brad's schooling starting to come to an end. Things are already starting to change with Aiden going into the primary class at church and Ryder going into the nursery class. I can't believe we will have a 4 year old and 2 year old this year. We are so blessed and I love our family so much and can't wait to have some more adventures this year.

 Our Christmas elf had lots of fun this year :)

 Little doctors in the making :)

 Cuddling at Grandma's house.

 Nothing like playing the ipad with a friend by the fire.

 ooo Grandma has a massage chair :)

 So much fun with Grandma!

 Aiden first discovering the transformers!

 So happy to be together. Love you.