Last Post 2014

Here it is: the final post of 2014. And probably the longest:) What an amazing December we had. Dana's knee is doing well. He finally got his wraps off and can put weight on his leg again. I wanted to get a video of his first steps just for kicks but forgot:) He got tired at Wal-Mart one day and swiped one of the sweet rider carts. It was pretty hilarious until we passed a lady in our ward and her 90 year old mother (who was zipping up and down the aisles unaided). His scars have taken a few weeks to go down but now he's doing PT and feeling great. 



Our ward had a really fun Christmas party. One of the big Mom things I've looked forward to is putting my kid on Santa's lap and getting that hilarious crying or terrified look. You know the one. But I got this instead:

Why oh why is my kid so stinking chill. He honestly could not have cared less. But he was the first one on Santa's lap because he was the youngest so at least I didn't wait in line for his apathy and that's something.

In other news...he loves the seahawks. Or at least this outfit our neighbor gave us. It's a 9 month but the hat is so small it barely fits. Wish I'd taken a photo when Dana tried it on though. That was a hoot. Uncle Matt even gave him a Seahawks bear for Christmas so I guess he's officially a fan.

 

Christmas break was so much fun. We split the drive down into two parts, taking off Friday and stopping in Ontario, OR and then finishing the drive Saturday. Clark did AMAZING! Dana couldn't drive so he just sat in the passenger side and fed the kid puffs when he'd make a peep, which wasn't often.  Mostly he just sat his is carseat surrounded by a mountain of gear and stared into his giraffe mirror. On the way back we hit crazy bad snow on the pass and even got a flat at the top which we were able to get fixed in Pendelton at a Wal-Mart. It was some scary driving but we made it.

 

But here's what we did in Utah with the Washburns, Grandma Tina and Grandpa Pat, and the Woodburys. Saturday we went to the Forgotten Carols with the Great Grands (Wades). It was just as good as I remember, maybe even better since I was sitting next to Sarah and Grandma Wade who laughed up a storm when Michael McLean went on and on and on after the performance with his cheesy songs (For the record, no, we will not be together foreeeeever someday:))

 

Sunday we got to enjoy Jeff Woodbury giving a great talk at church, although I spent a lot of my time changing Clark's diapers in various alcoves of the building. Oh, yes, my baby now poops 8-10 times a day. Please let this be a teething thing. Please oh please. We came home after church and hung out before taking off for lights on temple square. After a bit of parking madness we made it to see breathtaking lights and funny windows displays in Macy's. Dana was a champ on his crutches and Clark didn't make a peep in his bear jacket. One lady thought he was a stuffed animal I just happened to be carrying on my stomach. Ookaaaay.

Monday was the last day we had with Kristina and Fred (or it would have been except they got snowed out on the pass that night and were lucky enough to spend one more night with us. Thanks snow!). We went to an indoor waterpark just down the road from Sarah. Dana and I forgot our bathing suits so we watched the fun on the sidelines but honestly being in a hot, humid, chlorine scented room for an hour was pretty much the best Christmas gift I could ask for.

Fred and the fam were kind enough to help Clark in the water. He wasn't a fan in Destin earlier this summer and was pretty wary this time. All the noise set him off eventually and he bawled so we pulled him out and he sat for a while with Dad. Eventually, however, he had to get back on the metaphorical horse. Grandma Tina took him back in and he finally figured out how wonderful splashing can be...especially when you are splashing Mom on the sidelines.

That afternoon a tuckered out group went down for naps (and yes I'm including the husbands in this) while the girls went out for some serious shopping. I love shopping with my mom and sisters. We are all too alike for our own goods (read: loud).

Taylor gave the best FHE that night about the true purpose of Christmas. It was fun to have such a big FHE group.

Tuesday we said goodbye to Kristina, Fred, and the fun cousins (again). Then I took off to the most outlandish mall in Utah to show off Clark to my old roommates, Aubrey and Jamie. It was so much fun to laugh like a teenager again. Aubrey took some photos of Clark at her grandparents house. These are my favorite.

Wednesday was Isaac's birthday so we went to a trampoline park. This was as far as Dana could get up but we had fun nonetheless. Yes, I even bounced around for a while and I'm sure Mom has some embarrassing video but it's not going on this blog:)

 That night we did the traditional Kitchen Christmas Eve fondu and had the Great Grands over. It was a great night with great food. The kids opened their Christmas jammies and Sarah tried to get one great photo of her adorable brood. The result was pretty funny. I love kids.



 

Christmas day finally rolled around. I didn't really stop to think about this being the Christmas we've been dreaming about for years...the one with a kid but thankfully the Lord did so he kept giving us surprises all day. The first was Clark. He woke up around 7 and Dana pulled him into bed with us. He was laying beside Dana and suddenly said "dada". Yes, we know it was babbling and not him actually calling Dana "Dada" but it sure felt like it. Later that day when Dana was holding him upside down we swear he said "Hi, Dada".

 

Then we stepped outside and found a white Christmas wonderland waiting for us. The boys played all day of course and Dad took a big wintery walk.

We opened gifts with the Woodburys and Mom and Dad. Dana was psyched to finally get his BYU sweatshirt (they sell them at Costco in Utah. Lucky.)



Clark made out like a banshee. Aunt Necia and Uncle Jim gave him books and bibs. Grandma and Grandpa Kitchen gave him more books and a funny dog racer. G&G Gailan made him a golf blanket. And we got him a dinosaur bubble popper that Isla enjoyed immensely and Clark is still figuring out.

Of course, our greatest gift (besides the Savior) is our little man. Look how cute he is in his Christmas jammies.

Friday we celebrated another birthday - Grandpa Pat's 60th! Whoa! We gave him a memory book and the ride of his life down an Olympic Bobsled with an Olympic Silver medalist steering and Sarah and Taylor screaming their guts out in front of him. The sled got up to 65 mph and only lasted 48 seconds but it looked awesome. We tried to get him delicious burgers for dinner but apparently they card everyone in Utah (and Sarah and I were ID less) so we settled for just really good burgers and ice cream. Happy Birthday Dad!

Saturday we took off ready to be home but sad to say goodbye to our wonderful family. Here are some other random things: Is this child abuse?

 

Clark was fascinated with my Dad. He loved to listen to his voice and would let him walk him all around the house to look at stuff.

 Clark loved all the cousins (even if he'd cry at the drop of a hat if too many people were in the room) but Isla was by far his favorite. She's bring him her 'princesses' and horses and pet his head or tickle his feet in the store. I think he was just a big grown up baby doll to her.

  

One of the cool traditions in Sarah's neighborhood is to go out Christmas Eve and launch these balloons into the sky all at the same time. Unfortunately, it was seriously windy that night. We still gave it our darndest with our six balloons. Most caught on fire or never got off the ground but Dad's almost made it...and then crashed into the street sending him running down the road after it in true Dad fashion. 

We had some serious games of risk going on after Christmas. Ethan and Isaac may not have gotten the rules down but they had the fun part down solid.

Just for posterity sake, we had the Great Grands take photos with Clark. This is Grandma and Grandpa Wade. They thought you were hilarious. 

We got back home Sunday and spent the week catching up and seeing Dana's awesome family. Matt and Kristen came over before their big trip to see Clark (yes he freaked out and cried again, which was cute and sad). We spent New Year's just chilling at home and didn't even make it to midnight but that's okay because our neighbors fireworks woke us up in time.  Merry Christmas everyone. We can't wait for next year.