Long drive home on New Year's Eve

Courtland was on call for work New Year's Eve and day so we had to make the 12 hour drive back to California sooner than I wanted.  The kids did great though considering and got caught up on a lot of missed sleep from the holidays as you can see below!

It definitely wasn't the ideal way to spend New Year's but at least we have jobs right! (even though with the hours Courtland has been putting in working on this IPO it doesn't seem to be worth it... it will in the end... or that's just what I keep telling myself "you can't be the pee wee/newbie forever"... hopefully)

Relaxing and hanging out!

Mckell had such a fun time playing with her cousins. Sophie was really nice and let Kell follow her around everywhere she went. Hopefully we'll all live close in a few years so our kids can grow up playing with their cousins and have them for best friends.

Watching a movie and eating treats- every kids dream!

Don't know what the faces are in this one!

 So funny, Mckell thought the stockings were really big socks and kept putting them on to wear around the house.

 Absolutely adore this picture (minus Colter sucking on Kell's purple binkie).

 Love her dark brown eyes- what a babe!

 Papa and Colter taking a snooze

 Countless hours spent in my mom's cute playroom

Christmas at the Astill's

After the Critchlow's we headed up to the Astill's for more Christmas fun. Carol made a fabulous dinner and of course more presents!

 We got their family 'ticket to ride' and Kell was happy to open it for them.

 I wish this picture wasn't fuzzy so you could see Colter's very excited grin!

 This was the PERFECT gift for him and I'm sure will be a favorite toy at our house. We don't have many boy specific toys so this is just what he needed! (only problem is getting Mckell to understand that it's not hers!)

 Colter playing xbox with uncle Andrew!

We had such a fun Christmas this year! The best part for me is just spending time with family- wish we lived in Utah so we could see them more often... one day!

Christmas morning at the Rabe's

We slept Christmas eve this year at my parents and woke up to find what santa had left for everyone.  This year was fun because Mckell understood a little better what was going on and had the time of her life!

 (Can't tell who's more excited... Kell or papa Rabe!?) haha

 Trying out her new bike- she probably won't get to use it much until summer but she thought it was pretty sweet!

 Every time you asked Mckell what santa was bringing her she would say, "my own trampoline and a new bike."  And since we definitely don't have room for a real tramp- this one will have to do until we can get a bigger one. (I highly recommend this present- it's the perfect energy sucker)

 And don't worry- Colter was having just as much fun as Kell!
This face says it all!

 Mckell had to help everyone else open their presents as well as her own!

 Doesn't this two year old just look like she's in heaven? Too much fun!

 And the ever curious Colter (almost 8 months old)

After opening presents, we quickly got ready and went to Bennett's blessing and then over to visit Grandma and Grandpa Critchlow.
I'm pretty in love with this little man- he's a mamma's boy for sure!

 Kell had fun pretending to be santa and in a marching band... It was the perfect morning!

Christmas Eve 2011

 Christmas Eve this year started out with the traditional brunch at my parent's house. It was as always delicious- my mother is the best cook (I should have been better at learning from her, I'm kicking myself now for not!) around!  Everyone was in town this year except for Jake and his cute family... hopefully next year! We missed you guys!

 

  After eating, we opened presents! Of course there was the traditional matching jammies and then we opened presents from each other.  We did a name exchange between the cousins this year that was especially fun!

 

Graham sporting his new push car 

 

Mckell of course had to open all of Colter's presents too! She was in heaven with all her new (and Colter's) presents! 

  

After presents we attempted a grandkid picture-

Mckell, Colter, Sophia, Bennett, Graham, and Malan

(missing: Nolan & Luke) 

 And then there was Settlers- pretty sure I was the winner. ha

Later in the day we went to the lights in Ogden, which I thought would be lots of fun but ended up being a bit of a disaster! We had the Astill's meet us there but 5 minutes after getting out of the car, Kell was screaming out of control because she was TOO cold. So the lights were VERY short lived... maybe next year!

Critchlow side Christmas party!

One of my favorite get togethers is with my Mom's side of the family. I grew up spending a lot of time with those cousins and so I look forward to seeing them all again and catching up!  This year the party was at my uncle Cliff's gorgeous cabin/house and we had a blast.

Love Courtland's face! ha

 gift exchange for the kiddos

 Mckell actually loved her present, which I think was supposed to be in the adult white elephants. The things that make our kids happy- love it!

Can't wait until the next get together with the Critchlow side!

night out with my girlfriends

Every year we draw names and do a gift exchange. I've been friends with these girls since around 3rd grade? Love them to pieces and know we'll be friends for life!

We first went to 'color me mine' and painted a mug, then went to Texas Roadhouse (YUM!), then to Cassi's to exchange gifts and stay out way too late.. as usual! Whenever we have girls nights we always end up staying until the wee hours of the morning- so fun! Love, Love, LOVE these girls!

Showing off our mugs- Chodi, Ali, Rachael, Me, & Cassi.

Astill side Christmas party

Our first party in Utah was with the Astill side. Kell had a blast running around the gym with some of the other kids and of course playing with G&G Astill!

For one of the games the kids tied up grandpa.

Then they did a gift exchange.

We had a great time at the party- LOVE this time of year and spending so much time with family!

Taylor & Sunda are hitched!!

We are so SO excited and happy for Taylor and Sunda who got hitched and gave us a reason to come back early for Christmas to Utah.  Taylor is Courtland's best friend from high school and my favorite of his friends. And now I like him even more that I can talk and hang out with Sunda instead of always being with the boys! haha Congrats you two! Can't wait for the many good times we have ahead of us!

Courtland giving his best man speech.

Their high school gang back together.

I got to go home to Utah extra early for Christmas (we drove to Utah so I'd have a car but Courtland could only stay a few days before heading back to Cali for work while the kids and I stayed and hung out with family). I love December and the holidays!