Kelley Family Blog: Holidays

We had a wonderful Holiday season this year. Our Christmas Eve started out at Grandma Church's, where we had a fabulous meal and went caroling around the neighborhood. When we got home, all the children opened one gift. Can you guess what it was?

The next morning was chaos, as usual. I think the kids were pretty happy with what Santa and Mom and Dad (and Grandparents) got them

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Alex certainly looks content in the aftermath.

Nate got much-desired sparring gear for karate! (Not to mention, matching PJ's w/ everyone's favorite baby)

A side-ways view of stocking time!

The next day, we took a snowy drive to CO and then NM to visit Aunt Jenni, Uncle Ken and cousins. The roads were bad the first day. There were four accidents along one stretch of road, we felt lucky we made it. We saw a cool rock formation with an abandoned house on the second day of driving.

We stopped at a very chilly four-corners. Dave made sure to get lots of pictures, since we figured we spent $3 for every minute that we spent there!

My sister, Jenni, (the genius) planned all the meals ahead of time and prepared most of them in advance so she wouldn't have to constantly be cooking. We had some great food while we were there. She had also made Alex his own little cake and a big one for the rest of us, since we got there on Alexander's 1st birthday!

Alexander brings such joy to our family. This has been a wonderful year with him being in the world. He is so patient, happy and accepting of all us. We are so grateful to have him. You may notice that he is getting his teeth. I certainly have! Whoever coined the phrase, "Don't bite the hand that feeds you," did not have a nursing baby that was getting teeth. You also might note that he has a "fang" on the upper right side of his gums (I did consider calling him Edward). Hopefully those front teeth will hurry and catch up!

My sister's house in Albuqurque is close to several Native American petroglyphs that are fun to hike and see. Some date back to 1000 BC. Here is a cat and and man in the next photo.

Besides going to the Children's museum, all the cousins had fun hiking Boca Negra canyon to see the petroglyphs. At the top is a beautiful panorama of the city of Albuqurque. What a sight! Thank you, Richardsons!

Dave loves taking pictures w/ our camera, but I've been waiting around for him to blog some of those awesome pictures and he's taking too long!

We spent the 4th of July morning and afternoon in Delta, UT--"The Best of the Best in the West", according to a shirt I had as a child. Also the place my Dad grew up and the hub of his side of the family. Partly because my Grandpa (a former Mayor of the town) still lives there.

We go every year for the parade and a picnic at Grandpa's afterwards. This year Brian and Mirien (my brother and his wife) and their children and Scott and Heather (same as last parentheses) and their baby, my sister and her husband, Krisi and Eddy, and my parents were there. We also were next to my cousin, Maria and her family. The kids love the parade for the candy and seeing cousins.

Aidan had some issues, though. He loves the color pink and decided he could not chase any candy unless it was pink. If anyone else picked up his pink candy he was inconsolable.

Scott and I had to get in on the action when the library float came by--they throw out books!

Alex hung out with grandma Church. After the parade, we all went to great grandpa Church's. He saw Alex for the first time. He could tell that Alex is a wonderful boy.