Christmas with the Bennett's

After brunch with Zach's family we drove to Rexburg and celebrated Christmas with my parents and my Grandpa.  It was fun to watch Declan interact with my Grandpa - he's only been around him a couple times and he warmed up really fast.  Actually, Declan warms up to elderly people SO much faster than anyone else.  The lady that lives below us is in her 90's and Declan just loves her - he always asks about Dottie and gives her hugs every time we see her.  Anyway, he loved opening presents AGAIN!  

 He kept going to the BIG present and wrapping his arms around it and trying to pick it up.  We finally let him open it after all the others were open.  He loves his train table!

 How many men does it take to put together a toddler toy?  :)

Christmas with Oswalds

We left for Idaho early Christmas Eve morning and made it to my in-law's house by late afternoon.  They have a traditional Christmas Eve dinner with extended family every year, it was nice to be there for it!  

The next morning we woke up - not too early and opened presents.  Declan was hilarious about opening presents this year.  He had to help everyone else open their presents and he had to throw away the wrapping paper right away.  He totally loved it and it was so much fun watching him.  Afterwards, we had the traditional Christmas brunch and then drove to Rexburg to spend Christmas afternoon with my parents.  Here is a picture overload...

December - before Christmas

Here are some random pictures of Declan from the beginning of December.  He loved the Christmas tree and lights.  Every morning the first thing he wanted to do was turn on the lights and before bed we would turn them off and he would say, "night night Christmas tree."  It was so cute.  

We opened presents at our house a few days before we left for Idaho.  We wanted to give Declan time to play with his new toys before we left for a week.  

 Declan's favorite movie since he was about 18 months old has been How to Train your Dragon.  This is Toothless from the movie and he makes this really annoying sound and has a bright blue light when you press a button.  The morning after we opened presents I woke up to this dragon in my face....thank you Zach for picking out this present.

 Declan with all his presents from Zach and me.  He had so much fun opening presents this year!  It was fun to watch.

November

I can't even remember what happened in November...except for Thanksgiving.  I was still pretty sick most of the month so I think that's why it is all a blur.  That's the nice thing about pictures, they help remind me of events.  Declan mastered this new trick...

He was quite proud of himself the first time he did it.  He started yelling, "See mom! See!"  

Zach took him to the park a few times so he could get out of the house.  The kid needs to run.  He also really likes to swing and go down the big slides!

We put up the Christmas tree early in November.  I know, I know....we didn't decorate it though until December.  Declan LOVES Christmas lights.  Every morning the first thing he wanted to do was "wake up the Christmas tree."  Every night before he went to bed we would turn off the lights and he would say, "night night tree."  It brought some cheeriness into our gloomy November. :)

 He also rediscovered how much he loves his shopping cart.  It had to eat breakfast with him every morning, watch cartoons next to him on the couch, and he pushed it everywhere!

 In nursery one Sunday they traced the kid's hands and made them into turkeys.  Declan asked everyday after that to make a "hand turkey."  Here he is with his favorite hand turkey.
For Thanksgiving we went to Idaho Falls and spent it with Zach's family.  My parents were in North Carolina visiting my brother and his family.  We missed seeing them but it was nice to be able to just stay in one place while we were home.  Declan had a lot of fun playing with Paige and all his aunts and uncles, and of course grandma and grandpa.  All the girls went to Breaking Dawn on Thanksgiving night and we all spent a lot of time shopping.  Zach and Lyndon put up Christmas lights on the house and Declan loved "helping."  He talked about the Christmas lights on Papa's house forever!

One night while we were in Idaho I was able to meet up with some high school friends for dinner and frozen yogurt.  It was so much fun!  It was the first time the five of us had been together in about 5 years.  Way too long!  It was awesome to catch up on each other's lives.  Also, it was really funny to show up and see who was pregnant since none of us had told each other yet.  Amber and I are due on the same day and Lisa is due in July.  

Zach's sister, Hilary, took some pictures of our family when we were home.  Declan was not cooperating at all though so this is the best one we got. :)  

 Hilary's "artistic" photo of Declan and me.

 Declan loved picking the apples off the tree in the backyard.  I lost track of how many he ate that trip!

One of the last days in November my friend, Kami, and I took our boys up to Bennington Lake to throw rocks in the lake.  Declan loves doing this.  He has a pretty good arm too!  He really likes to throw the big rocks - don't get in his way. :)

Whew, maybe I'll post about December before the end of February.  Don't count on it though.