Holiday post, part II

Where was I? Oh, yes, we'd been to Universal Studios and enjoyed ourselves. When we were exhausted, we headed to Dan's parents' house for the duration of our Florida visit. Played lots of games, got some sun, was entertained by our niece (age 4 1/2) and her new baby brother (almost 7 months), spent one afternoon at a pretty chilly beach (water temp was 61 degrees, but Dan and the boys went in anyway), had a visit from Santa and a very large meal, and then the day after Christmas, we headed home, just missing two pretty major storms.

SO CUTE!

Everyone was thrilled that she got to open presents.

Even Reed gets a holiday popper.

Then began round two of the holiday celebrating - spending time with my family in the cold north! My mom and my brother came to visit, and we spent the rest of the week playing lots of games, trying not to get shot by Nerf guns, eating, and trying to get the boys' clothes dry between trips outside in the snow/mud. Much time was spent with "the cousins", as my brother Nat's kids are called around here. The out of town visitors left Jan. 2nd, the boys started back to school and Dan went back to work on the 3rd, and I've spent the last week just trying to clean up, catch up, and generally get our lives back into some kind of pattern again. Oh, and moving into my new office at work (3/4 of my College moved to a new building). I officially start back to work on Monday.

The youngest are the most dangerous.

 

For anyone who wanted to see what Nick looks like these days. He's wearing his winter growth.
 

And for your viewing pleasure, Nerf guns in use. Notice Isaac sitting on the floor in the midst of all the shooting. Now THAT's a boy you want with you for calm in the center of a storm.