Our New Home, Christmas Band Concert, Lyza's 14th Birthday, and It's Beginning to Look a Little Like Christmas

We have some catching up to do...

Mason enjoying a cheese pull on a mozzarella stick

Henry brushing his teeth while soaking his feet

We had a crazy wind storm and the next day I noticed that a smaller tree was broken but the top portion of it did not fall down because it was tangled up with other trees

The week before we closed on our home purchase we did a walk through at the house and brought the kids to see it for the first time

They were so excited to see the new house

I got new glasses

Lyza hanging out on the big pillow

We didn't put up any Christmas decorations at the old house but Figgy still came

On December 11th we went to the title company, signed a thousand documents, and became the owners of a new home (Henry wasn't feeling well that day so he came with us)

We were greeted by a gift basked from our real estate agents

We had a picnic style dinner at the house that evening

Then it was back to more packing

We took a load of furniture and large items to the house on Friday afternoon

That evening Lyza and Nixon had their Christmas band concert

Lyza even had a small solo at the end of a piece and did an amazing job

We were very proud of them!

Kim and I watched some Elf that night sitting on the big pillow because all the couches had been moved

The next day was the big move and we thankfully had enough help both loading and unloading

We stuffed the U-Haul, my truck, the van, and at least one other truck and we still had a little more that we needed to get later in the day

Unloading went really fast

Nixon rode in the big truck with me to drop it off

Then came the fun part...assembling beds

And unpacking

It didn't take too long for the kids to start enjoying the basketball hoop

Or to set up a go-kart track in the basement

They have also enjoyed the trampoline

For Lyza's birthday we had pizza

And then presents

And cake

It is hard to believe our little girl is 14. We love her so much.

Nixon and I had fun with the helium baloon

Mason happily built our Lego Christmas tree

We also got our Christmas tree up before Christmas

Lyza got some flowers for her birthday from the ward

Enjoying scripture reading

Nixon was happy to have this breakfast

Mason made some Christmas crafts

I got this picture of our house one day when the sky was real moody

The boys had some friends over to play

After putting together various bed frames I then got to assemble Henry's bed

Kim and I attended her work Christmas party

Here are the ultrasound techs

I took this picture of our living room before church the week of Christmas

We attended our old ward on the Sunday before Christmas and the kids were so happy to hold a baby

Then we took a few pictures after church

We made gingerbread houses

Playing Lyza's new game

That evening we went out to see Christmas lights

Check out his shirt

Then we came back home and watched a Christmas movie and had hot chocolate

Nixon got a Christmas puzzle out

Kim had to work on the 22nd. I made a run to the dump and when I came home our backyard was full of kids playing basketball. I left Lyza in charge and as I was pulling into the driveway Lyza called me and frantically told me that Nixon let all of these kids come over after she told him it was not OK. I told her it was fine ;)

Someone gifted us some fresh bread and home made jam so we enjoyed those together

Mason also did some Christmas puzzles

It is nice seeing the kids play together

Nixon helped mop the floors

Lyza and Kim made gingerbread fudge together

Then we went to the boardwalk to see the Christmas lights. We even ran into The Grinch.

It was so cute watching Henry write a letter to Santa

And then he mailed it

We love the resort at Christmas time

Then it was back home to watch another Christmas movie

I can't wait to share our Christmas with you. Stay tuned...