The Return of Elder Rohwer

My little brother James returned from his mission in the Dominican Republic a couple of weeks ago. He came in at 7:45 p.m. on a Saturday, spoke on Sunday and then started school on Monday. It was so fun to see him come down the escalator and towards us. He hadn't met Drake yet, and I was so excited for the two of them to get to know each other. They are buddies now! It was a really joyous time for our family!! Definitely more fun than when we dropped him off at the MTC. Welcome home Jimmy!! We love you so much!

Our future missionary!

The crew

The last few seconds for Lauren and I to enjoy being the favorite child....because the second he walks off that plane, we are bumped down to #2!!

My grandpa was so nervous. He was pacing back and forth.

The best sight in the whole world!

Mom getting the first hug.

Dad and James

I have the best little brother ever!

James meeting Drake for the first time.

Drake wasn't so sure about this James fellow!

James and Lauren. He couldn't believe how much she had changed. He kept saying, "Lauren, it looks like you are walking on stilts!"

Mom going in for another hug!

James and Grandma

James looking at the poster Boston made for him.

James and Grandpa

Uncle Dan is so proud!

It took a few minutes for Drake to warm up to James. Like I said before, they are buddies now!

And mom in for another hug!!

The happiest mom in the world right then!

The whole fam!

The Rohwer's

He is home!

Reuniting with Lucy

James and his friends all reunited after the missions!! The bristol boys are all home now. Cute boys!

Drake's Worst Nightmare

NOT A FAN OF SANTA CLAUS

Christmas 2010

We had a really good Christmas this year. It is funny how when you get older, you don't really care so much about the gifts as you do just spending time with family. We celebrated Christmas with my family Christmas Eve day. We went up there and opened presents. Lauren had just gotten her wisdom teeth out the day before and didn't feel great, so we didn't do much.

Drake enjoyed opening the presents and playing with the paper more than he did the actual toys inside.

Lauren was pretty miserable, but a good sport!!

After we opened gifts with my family we headed up to Pocatello to spend the rest of Christmas with the Wood's. All of Josh's siblings were there and his Grandpa came over and spent Christmas Eve and Christmas morning with us.

Christmas Eve in our pj's my parents got for us (my favorite tradition at Christmas time. I look forward to getting new jammies every year!)

Grandma with all of her grandkids

Grandpa Baird holding Drake. He laughed at Drake the whole time. Probably wondering where in the heck he came from. He walked around that house like he owned the place. We have tried to teach Drake to say grandma because he can say grandpa. Well, he won't so he says Lisa and Barbara. It is really cute for now!

I don't know what Santa was thinking when he gave Drake that talking Elmo. It talks, laughs and sings every time you so much as bump it!

He was so excited and he loves it!

Christmas morning

Grandpa Baird was so excited cause he got Pepsi in his stocking. Barb asked if he wanted ice to drink it with and he said "No, it doesn't have anything good in it!" Ha ha that guy won't drink water.

Taking a break from opening gifts.

Talking to Grandpa Syd on the phone

Cooper and Buzz Lightyear

Aunt Andi and Drake

The Wood's play a card game called Back Alley Bridge. It is so much fun, and I have been addicted to it ever since I played it for the first time. I look forward to playing this game every time I know we are going to be with them. Well, this year we drew names and then bought funny hats to wear when we play this game. It was really fun and gave us some laughs.

Syd and Barb. Syd is known for quite the sayings while playing Back Alley. One of them is "Cut em thin so Syd can win." I drew his name and was pretty excited to write it on his hat.

Brad

Andi and Jonathan

Robin and Ted

Josh and Me

This is the hat that will be passed around to whoever wins the game.

Drake and Cooper took baths every night and morning. They both like to play in the bathtub and it was an easy place to keep them for a little bit.

Now that Christmas is over, the next exciting thing coming up is the return of my little brother Elder Rohwer. He comes home from his mission January 8th at 7:35 p.m. I am so excited to see him, I can't contain myself. I am having a hard time sleeping at night! I hope all of you had a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Making Gingerbread Men

We started a new tradition this year of making gingerbread men. It was a lot of fun for the kids to decorate. I enjoyed it too!

Holly made the gingerbread and it was delicious!

Drake loves it at Dan and Holly's house. There are so many toys and kids to play with.

Josh, Ashley and Drake

Elder Rohwer (who comes home in 5 days)!!

Grandpa and Me

Elli and Hannah made some cute snowmen.

I love the hula girl Lauren did. So cute!

Grandma "Sa Sa" (That is how Drake says Lisa)

You might think this is the gingerbread men that Drake did..... nope it is Mckay's!

Grandma helped Boston do this basketball player.

Drake just crawled up and down the stairs getting toys from upstairs and bringing them downstairs. Elli tied that bow around his waste, and he thought it was pretty cool.

Christmas Project

Hayley, Karly and I worked hard the last week of November and the first week of December to get this advent calendar done for the Christmas season. It was a big pain cutting out the different felt ornaments, but it was fun to hang out with my friends and now we have these cute advent calendars that we will use for years to come. I think it turned out great! There is only one ornament that we still have to do and that is a wreath. It will be super cute when it is done, but it is going to take some time to do it, so we decided to save it for another night. I am excited when my kids will be able to enjoy this calendar!