Our little elf.

The four cousins.. James, Angela, Paige and Ethan

Layla and Ethan

Taking a bath

In the ticketing line in Vegas.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!

Well, it was a great Christmas! We once again have traveled around the world and back! We flew out on December 11th to go to Portland to visit my family. It was great fun! Ethan was introduced to so many animals you would think we had taken him to the zoo! He liked most of them, except the birds. He liked them until one of them almost nipped him, then not so much. We enjoyed playing settlers with my dad and step-mom and eating Chinese with my Mom, step-dad and brothers. And of course, we got wet in the rain.

On the 18th we hopped on a plane bound for Vegas. Instead of renting a car to make the two and half hour trek to Enterprise we decided to be financially smart and take the St.George Express shuttle (a.k.a. the St.George Sardine Can). We were scrunched in there so tight. There were 11 passengers crunched inside a 12 passenger van. It cannot possibly seat 12 full grown (some overgrown) adults comfortably, not mention our luggage. So yeah, it was interesting to say the least. (After reading this last sentence James said, "you are a woman of understatements, you know that?)

Once we finally made it to Enterprise we were all pretty exhausted! The following days were great! Ethan enjoyed his grandparents, aunts and uncles a whole lot. And they enjoyed him too, I'm sure. And I enjoyed not being the one that had to hold him all day. Ethan enjoyed Christmas. Well I think what he enjoyed most of all was eating the paper.

You'll never believe it, but the day after Christmas we went back to Vegas and caught a flight back to Portland! You're thinking.. that is a lot of flying with a baby.. and you're right! I enjoy Ethan much better on the ground. Anyhow... we went back for Kimball (James' brother) and Shelley's wedding. It was beautiful! It was also great fun to see all of James' family again. And to meet Shelley's family too. We really enjoyed sharing that day with them.

So, yesterday we made the trek home. On the first leg of our flight Ethan was a dream. He smiled and laughed and was just a happy boy. The second leg was another story... it is now nice to be home where he can sleep in the comfort of his own crib.

We hope you all had a Merry Christmas! Have a Happy New Year!