Family Togetherness - Part One

I'm on my fourth draft for a new post. There are so many things on my mind. First and foremost, I feel so blessed for my family. So blessed to have a loving husband and a happy baby. So blessed to have good parents and siblings who have taught me and guided me by example (and who continue to do so today). So blessed to have fun, supportive in-laws (complete with parents, brothers, and sisters) whom I adore. So blessed to be able to live with my grandma for a few weeks (to shorten Brendon's commute for his psychiatric rotation from 60 to 10 minutes). Seriously, so blessed.

We were fortunate to spend our two week break (the benefit of being students) in California with a lot of family. It was wonderful. Two full weeks of family, family, and more family. I could have stayed forever.

My little family had a nice drive to California, just the three of us in our little Mercury. I love road trips. We talked, laughed, ate our snacks, and took a lot of shopping breaks to ease our little Henry into long car rides. It was perfect (except for the small patch of snow we hit). Thanks to Brendon's mad driving skills, we managed to make it in one piece to Norco.

California with the Holmes was a blast! We spent the majority of the time relaxing, eating, and watching movies. The best of times were those spent talking, wrapping gifts, laughing, watching babies interact, hugging and kissing babies, shopping, catching up, playing games and laughing some more. I just love the big family atmosphere.

Cousin Lovin'

We had our annual Pitt and Holmes Christmas parties, which are always a highlight. We exchanged gifts, ate a lot of good food, and spent time catching up with people we don't see often enough: the grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins...and they all come by the dozens. I remember feeling a bit overwhelmed at these parties when we were first married, but now I relish in it: the hugs, the conversations, the sharing of babies, and the feeling of family. I think it's a little taste of heaven.

Henry with Grandma & Grandpa Holmes

 Henry with Grandma & Grandpa Pitt

Christmas Eve & Day with the siblings was so much fun.  I don't think I've ever enjoyed seeing what other people got for Christmas so much.  I don't know why, but I really enjoyed it this year.  We love our new jammies and Henry I are enjoying some new toys to play with.

 

The highlights of the week were watching Grandma Sheryl and Grandpa Russell play with Henry, the girls-only game of Loaded Questions, shopping, hanging out with Aunt Randi 24/7, and chatting with everyone.

Eating up time with Grandpa & Grandma

Aunt Randi

Thanksgiving

We had a most marvelous Thanksgiving weekend full of family and time to ourselves. First, we welcomed some friends over to chat and catch up. Bradford & Catherine happened to be in Utah (they currently reside in CA) for Thanksgiving and we were glad they took some of their time in Utah to come over to see us.

We were also able to see the Warner family. Brendon and I went over to Grandma Warner's house to see Katherine, Franny, Sophie, Claire, Grant, Julia, Warner, and Hannah. It was such a treat to sit and talk with them and to watch all the babies interact with each other.

I stole pictures from everyone else, since I forgot my camera. I never realized just how much Henry and Claire look like each other until I saw these pictures.

Thanksgiving day was spent with my family. We gathered at my parent's house for a wonderful feast and good company.

The next morning Grant and Julia met up with us at Magleby's Fresh for some all-you-can-eat french toast. Then we spent the rest of our Black Friday at home, I think. It's been so long I don't even remember what we did. Oh yeah, we spent Friday and Saturday night watching movies from Red Box. It was perfect. I remember thinking it was a perfect holiday weekend: a lot of friends, a lot of family, and a lot of time with just the three of us (me, Brendon, & Henry).

He Is...

We sure do love you, little man!

The Luckiest

First & foremost, I have him.

  Secondly, I get to be his mother.

Today I have felt very lucky to be this kid's mom.  

I am so grateful my other children will have him as their older brother.  

Henry is such a joy.  He is so blessed with a happy countenance.  A very, very happy countenance.  

We laughed & played all day today.

I hope I always remember how lucky I am

because

I am the luckiest.

Typical Monday

Monday:

Running day (not on a rainy day like today). Stay inside day.

Cleaning day. Laundry day.

So-glad-I-don't-have-to-go-to-work day.

Movie day. Play day.

Monday from another perspective:

Stay inside day.

Cleaning day.

Laundry day.

Movie day.

 Play day.

Updates All Around

Brendon

Found a new hobby called mountain biking,

 which means he loves Utah even more than he did before

Had a birthday and turned 27 years old

Finished his family medicine rotation and is now doing surgery
 (He loves the surgery room a lot, but says it's not for him [thank goodness!])

Bought a mountain bike
(Happy Birthday + Merry Christmas to him)

Started to help coach UVU's club volleyball team

**************

Stephanie

Canned homemade spaghetti sauce & chicken for the first time

Had a freshman roommate reunion

Started teaching herself to crochet

Went to the Gardner's Village with Henry & Grandma

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Henry

Stands on his feet nearly all day long
(Notice the one-handed trick; he even climbs up the walls)

Says "Mmmm" with almost every bite of food
Says "mom" & "momma" regularly

Became an exclusively formula-fed baby
(& mom couldn't be happier about it)

Experienced his first fever

(like a champ)

Happy {Belated} Halloween

First & foremost, Henry made quite the cute little monkey.  Even though I insisted he didn't need a costume, grandma pulled through.  Whenever I held up his costume & made monkey sounds, Henry smiled really big.  Oh, I just love my little monkey!

Brendon & I were invited to a Halloween party by Brendon's cousin so we uncreatively researched ideas online & found an idea we liked.  I decided to make the costumes (totally unlike me, I know) & was really pleased with how they turned out.  I never thought I'd say this, but it was a really fun project.