Berg Family Christmas

Last Saturday we celebrated Christmas with the Berg side of the family.  Bob and Sharon recently moved about 4 miles from us, and were willing to host everyone at their new home.  It was so much fun to all get together!  Susan and her family were sick, so we missed them.  We also missed Krissy and her family.  There was a lot of good food and great company, and I think we all really enjoyed our time together!  Bob and Sharon were wonderful hosts and had everything set up so nicely, and really made everyone feel welcome.

After we ate, we had the first annual Berg Talent Show.  Addie and Jack played the piano, and they did such a wonderful job.  One of the cutest things was seeing Jacks little feet swinging back and forth as he played this big baby grand piano.  He's so little that his feet don't even come close to touching the floor when he's sitting on the piano bench!  So cute!!

Maggie and Chloe sang Jingle Bells, and it was also super cute!

Sharon's talent was playing the guitar while we all sang Christmas songs together.  I have never seen her play before, so it was a treat.

After the talent show, the kids all went into grandma and grandpa's room to get dressed in their costumes to perform the nativity.  This was the first time they have done this for our family, and it was definitely a highlight of mine.  I couldn't stop smiling, and quietly chuckling.  CUTEST THING EVER!!! Maggie played Mary, Jack was Joseph, Grayson was the star, Chloe and Kylie were angels, and Addie was a wise man (or woman=) ), and Grandpa Bob was the narrator. 

Brooklynn made her debut as Baby Jesus this year, and she was proud to play the part!=) She kept making me laugh because she kept trying to pull Maggie's headpiece off.  Poor Mary=)

Shelby made Grayson a star to hold up.  I love his big smile in this pic!  Sharon has a gleeful smile also!=)  Grayson kept making me laugh because he kept accidentally whacking Mary and Joseph with his star. He's doing a great job in this pic though! It was all so fun to watch!

After the Nativity Scene, all the kiddos had a cousin gift exchange.

Brooklynn got some fun new blocks!  She loves them!  Thanks Addie!

Then Grandma and Grandpa gave the kids gifts.  There was a LOT of excitement during this time!  It was so fun to watch all of their reactions as they opened art sets, race car tracks, dolls, and Minnie and Hello Kitty books & dolls.  

Brooklynn loves being around her cousins.  These girls love each other so much!

 Grandma and Grandpa had the biggest surprise a little bit later!  Santa showed up!!!!  Grayson saw him walking up to the door and he got SO excited!  He was running around saying "Santa's here!!"  He had a new book for every child, and he let each one take a turn on his lap telling him what they wanted for Christmas.  Brooklynn was first since she's the youngest.  She is so fun to watch!  She just stared at him at first.

Then she kicked back and got comfy!  So cute!!!

Here's a pic with Santa and all the kiddos, except Brooklynn.  She was really noisy and tired about half way through everyone sitting on Santa's lap, so she went down for a nap.  

 It was such a wonderful day!  It's sad how quickly the time always passes when we are all together.  Thank you so much to Bob and Sharon for all you did to make it a memorable Christmas!  They are planning on serving a mission, so they will most likely not be with us next Christmas.  We'll miss you, but we're so proud of you for taking the time to go and serve!

 

Christmas Sunday 2013

 Brooklynn got to experience her first Christmas Sunday!  Given, Christmas isn't actually on Sunday this year, however, it was the Sunday before Christmas.  She got to wear her new Christmas Dress, and we enjoyed a wonderful program at church.  It was a tradition when I was growing up to get a new dress at Christmas Time and Easter.  It was something I always looked forward to, and I felt so special and beautiful in my new dresses as a child.   I hope to be able to carry on the tradition with Brooklynn.  Looking at these pics, I really cannot believe how big she is, and how quickly time is passing!  The little baby look is no longer in her face.  We are loving this stage though, and how interactive she is.

Just wanted to capture these pics so we can always remember her first Christmas Season.  The tree has been up since the Saturday after Thanksgiving, and she just recently discovered she can touch it, and pull the ornaments off!  Well, at least the tree had a few weeks of peace!=)  Enjoy!

Santa Claus is Coming To Town

Last week Joe came home early and we got to take Brooklynn to The Bass Pro Shop to see Santa!  I have been looking forward to this for a long time, and I was so excited to see how she would react!  I wasn't sure if she would cry or be fine with him.  Part of me thought she would cry, and part of me thought she'd be fine!   We were in line for a long time, for reasons I'll share at the end of this post.  So, by the time we got to Santa, I was really questioning how she would do.  I sat her on his lap................and the pics explain it all!

At first she just stared at him in awe, like "Who are you?!"

 Then all of the sudden she was all smiles, and acting like he was a long lost buddy!  I love this picture of her with him!  First time on Santa's lap was a success!  He was so sweet!  We'll see if she still loves him next year!=)

Sitting in front of the HUGE tree!  She looks so tiny!

Gosh, I just love this girl to pieces!  

She took a pic on the 4 wheeler for Korv and Uncle Joseph!

While we were in line waiting for Santa, we noticed a camera man, and several Bass Pro workers talking and coordinating something.  After standing in line for about 20 minutes, they asked everyone in line to move to one side, and said they had a surprise that we weren't going to want to miss.  A woman and her two children were brought to the front of the line, and the kids were lead to sit on Santa's lap.  They talked to Santa for a few minutes, and then Santa told them to close their eyes.  Their dad had been away for 10 months, serving in the army, and all they wanted for Christmas was for him to come home. Their mom had been working with the Bass Pro Shop administration to coordinate this surprise for months.  While the children closed their eyes and buried their heads in Santa's chest, the ROTC from the local High School walked in carrying the United States Flag, and behind them was the children's father.  The ROTC parted and this father, dressed in his uniform, walked forward and stood staring at his children until Santa told them they could open their eyes.  The little girl must have been around 8, and the boy around 5 or 6.  The little girl opened her eyes first, and when she saw her dad, her mouth dropped open, her face lit up, and she immediately fled from Santa's lap and ran into her dad's arms.  The little boy wasn't far behind.  It was the sweetest thing to watch!  I don't think there were many dry eyes as we all watched this unfold.  It was a good reminder of the important things in life, and I felt so grateful that I never have to say goodbye to Joe for months on end.  I also felt so much gratitude for this man and the sacrifice he makes to protect our country.   It was a really sweet thing to witness, and I think it helped us realize what's really important during this holiday season.  

Over the river and through the Woods, to Grandmother's house we go!

We had the blessing of being able to go to Utah to spend time with my family and celebrate Thanksgiving a few weeks ago.  Brooklynn and I flew out on Nov. 18th while Joe took a PMP course and a test for Project Management, then he flew out on the 23rd and we all came back together on the 29th.    I really try to never take for granted any time that I can spend with my family.  Since I live out of state now, every second is precious.  It was so much fun waking up in my parents' home every morning, and getting to see them and watch them interact with Brooklynn.  She loves her Grandad and Grandma!

I was nervous to fly by myself with Brooklynn this trip since she is now a little bit older, and I worried she would want to be all over the place and not sit still.  She did such a great job though!  The timing of our flight was great for naps, and she fell asleep during take-off on both legs of the trip.  That was a big sigh of relief!  That, and I never had to change her diaper on the plane!  Hallelujah! =) I sat near the back and one of the stewardesses had Brooklynn squawking with excitement playing peek-a-boo with her.  Pretty sure Brooklynn was peeking over my shoulder during the entire flight, looking for her.  SO cute!

When we got to Utah, my dad came to pick us up!  That was a fun treat!  

A funny story.... That first morning we woke up at my parents' house, I sat Brooklynn on the floor to play and she kept putting her face down on the carpet!  We have hardwood and tile downstairs at our house, and upstairs our carpet is textured.  I think she was just in awe of how soft their carpet was, and just wanted to lay on it!=)  So funny!

 

 One of my favorite things was watching Brooklynn interact and spend time with her cousins, my parents, and siblings and their spouses.  Seeing how much everyone love her, and how much she loves them just melted my heart.  We all got together at my parents' for our Sunday celebration of Thanksgiving, and then my brother and his wife had everyone over for breakfast one morning. 

The pic on the left was in August when we were last in Utah.  Brooklynn was 4 months old then.  She was 7 1/2 months this time, and Braden still loves to hold her.  How cute is that?!

These kids play so cute together!  It's so crazy to think all these little kiddos have joined our family in the last 4 years!  I absolutely love just watching them interact, and seeing how much they resemble their parents.  I love watching my siblings being parents too, and seeing the way they respond to their kids, and handle different situations. It's such a fun phase of life! My brothers were down on all 4s giving horsey rides one night, and it was just the cutest thing ever!    

Another highlight of the trip was getting to spend time in the kitchen helping prepare the food for Thanksgiving Dinner.  It's something I miss.  I had a lot of fun with my mom, learning how to make tarts.  Growing up, she made them but I never took time to watch and learn.  Now that I'm the mom at my house, I really wish I would have paid more attention to certain things=)  So, I made sure to pay attention this time.  As always, it was a treat getting to assist my dad.  He made some wonderful dishes, and the food is always spectacular!  He puts in a lot of time, effort, and money, and I miss being able to try all his new recipes!

 Of course, at the Griffin household, there is always a plethora of delicious food.  This trip was no exception!  My dad brined the turkey and it had the most incredible flavor and it was so moist and delicious.  He also made the best ribs I have ever tasted anywhere in my life!  Hands down!!

 There were several trips to the restaurant I miss the most.......Cafe Rio!  I LOVE that there is one in the airport now!  That is usually my last meal before heading back to Texas.  That salad is SO yummy!

There was a trip to the temple with my sister and her husband, my parents, my aunt, and my cousin who leaves for her mission on Wednesday.  That was a really special experience, and I'm so grateful we took the time to go together! 

 There was a day of crafting together, and of course laughing together!  I love getting to do these little things with my family, that I don't get to do on a regular basis.  

This is the cute sign my mom made!  I have since made one for myself=)

I usually help my sister with decorating her house when I'm home.  This time was no exception.  I love that she has something to remind her of me whenever she sees it!  We picked out the fabric together, and I made her some pillow cases. We also made a cute mustard yellow felt wreath.  

While I was home, my best friend, Ashley, took me to get a massage as a belated birthday present.  Pretty sure I felt like I had died and gone to heaven!  I hadn't had a massage since before my last two pregnancies!  It was such a relaxing and tension releasing experience, and a perfect gift!  I could fall asleep just thinking about it!=)  ha ha!

I got to spend a lot of time with my sweet sister, and my mom, and that is always one of the highlights of my trip.  There's just nothing like spending time with them and getting to go shopping, or out for lunch, or just hanging out together....... it's the small every day things that I miss the most.  

We got to go Black Friday shopping together, and we had so much fun!  I stocked up on clothes for Brooklynn for this time next year.  Joe wasn't super thrilled when I came home with 2 big bags from Old Navy, but he'll thank me later!=)  50 Percent off everything at Old Navy is hard to beat!  

I always get my hair cut in Utah, because I LOVE how great of a job Michelle does!  This time I decided it was time for a change, so I chopped it off and got bangs!  I must say that I am loving the change!  Brooklynn was constantly pulling my hair when it was longer, and I have been in pain a lot less since chopping it off!=)

Saying goodbye is always the hardest.  I didn't think it could get harder than it's been the last 4 years, but having a child and watching my parents and my siblings and her cousins say goodbye to her just about broke my heart in half.  

This was our "happy face" right before we had to say goodbye at the airport and the tears started flowing.

I am very grateful that I am able to fly home as often as I get to.  It is always such a special time when I get to spend time in Utah with my family.  I'm so thankful for each one of them, and that they always try to make time for us when we come to visit.  The special memories we make together will last forever!

Where has the time gone?!

I've been pretty good about taking pics, and I'm keeping a baby book for Brooklynn, but I feel like I need to be better at journaling and documenting our life with her. These last 7 months have flown by faster than any other time in my life.  I feel like I blink, and another month has already passed.  She's already 7 months old!  I look at pictures of when she was brand new, and I can't believe how much she's grown and changed since then.  I mean, how much have I changed over 7 months?  My hair is longer, I probably have some more wrinkles, ....minor stuff.  She's grown out of 4 sizes of clothes now, she learned how to hold her head up, she can roll over, she's sitting up by herself, she's grasping things, she has 2 teeth, she's eating solids, she's laughing, she's interested in everything that's going on around her, she loves being around other kids, she's pulling my hair out by the handfuls, she's squawking and just learned how to yell, she shows frustration, she lights up when she sees her daddy walk in, she smiles at almost everyone she sees, and she's always watching me. That is a lot of things to learn in just a few short months.  Not to mention her body is constantly growing! It's so amazing!

Brooklynn is one of the happiest babies I have ever seen.  She is constantly smiling.  People are always stopping me wherever I go to tell me how sweet and cute she is.  A woman pulling out beside me the other day while I was buckling Brooklynn in, rolled down her window to tell me how adorable she was.  People seem to be much more friendly now that I have a baby.=)

Brooklynn just started being a little bit bashful every now and then when people talk to her, and it's hilarious!  She will smile super big, and then she buries her head into my neck or chest trying to hide, then she'll look over at the person and do it all over again.  It's so funny to watch.

One of my favorite times of the day is when I get to feed her baby food.  It's so funny to watch her react to the taste, and textures.  She loves pears, apples, prunes, sweet potatoes, squash, and carrots.  She's not a big fan of green beans, peas, and bananas of all things! ( I could eat those even now!  I think they are so yummy!)  She hated the chicken in chicken broth.  I tried it, and that stuff is disgusting!  The texture is HORRIBLE!!  We tried giving her those little puffs and she wasn't a fan of those at all either.  She gagged and shuddered and didn't want anything to do with them after she tried a few.  She still just has her two teeth that popped through when she was 6 months.

She really has no desire to crawl at this point.  If she's sitting up and she falls over, she'll roll onto her belly and then she'll start whining after about 2 minutes.  She just doesn't like tummy time.  She LOVES sitting on the floor with toys and playing.  She'll sit there for quite a while as long as she has something to keep her entertained.  She still loves her little bouncer too! That was one of the best purchases we made, hands down!

It's hard to believe how much we love this little girl.  Joe was just telling me how much he misses her when he's at work.  I can't even imagine having to leave her all day!  It would break me!  Not a day goes by that I don't express appreciation for being able to stay home with her every day.

We are loving this little munchkin more than we ever thought possible!