aaaaaaaaaaaaaand we're back.

Hope you each had a happy holiday season.  We sure did!  Here are the kids on Christmas morning with our dear little Charlie Brown tree.

 and J was actually over the moon to get 2 pairs of fuzzy socks.  Crazy kid. :)

We made the long drive across Wyoming without much trouble from the weather, and we had a fun visit with family.  With M's family, we mostly played in the snow, and busted out the old Atari so M could impress the kids with his awesome joystick skills; good times!

We rang in the New Year with my family and the annual sparkler writing.  This year we had to do several tries because it was so cold some of the sparklers wouldn't stay lit!  That's cold!

It was a party just the way we like it; some absurd Minute To Win It games, copious amounts of candy, and lots of goofball uncles and crazy cousins around armed with silly string!

We also met 2 new family members, Uncle B's & Aunt J's adorable little baby boy and a ginormous puppy adopted by Uncle L.

Since we got home, J lost both front teeth...

and my mom & dad found out they will be serving an LDS mission in New Zealand for 2 years starting this spring.  My dad served a mission there as a young man and is thrilled to be returning.  They will be serving in record preservation for the genealogy department.  We are super excited for them!

and thus ended a terrific 2012, and began a whole new year!