Update

Since I haven't had a normal blog post in a good long while, I think I will fill you in on what we've been up to. It's been a busy time!

I have a new nephew! Hudson was born in early December.

Doesn't Holly look too good to have just had her fourth baby?

Hudson and his Grammi

in the outfit we gave him (what a handsome man)

on his blessing day

I kept asking Holly if I could just take him with us when we moved. She said sure, but we'd just have to bring him back when he got hungry (which is every few hours). It was worth a try though, right?

Then we went to California for Mike and Amber's wedding. Just a few photos here, but click here for more (and better) pictures.

Here's one I didn't take (Elise the photographer did) of Elise and Natalie.

Grandma and Grandpa's house was lots of fun, as always. We stayed right through Christmas.

Grandpa is always so much fun.

We discovered a nearby playground, and Elise had her first ever go on the swings. How did she not encounter swings before, you may ask? I'm not sure, but I do know she loved them.

After playtime, Elise put in some serious practice time on the piano with Aunt Natalie.

(In all seriousness, Matt and Natalie played such a great organ/piano duet at church on Christmas Day.)

Elise just loves to harass this poor, old dog. Hazel was pretty patient with her, though.

And Elise was also obsessed with my cell phone while we were in California.

She loved this book, I think because it was small and had a picture of a moon and a picture of a dog in it.

Laying on the floor by the Christmas tree while reading 'Twas the Night Before Christmas is the best way to get into the Christmas spirit, after all.

coloring with Grandma

Grandpa, Grandma, and Aunt Ann on Christmas Day

And don't forget the lovely Natalie.

Matt and Elise, all geared up for present-opening

one of Elise's presents (of many, too many)

She's really good at this puzzle already.

We all ate very well, thanks to my amazing mother-in-law, Patti.

Elise helping Grandma water the flowers

We had such a nice trip to California. But at least it was also warm and sunny in the place we were going back to.

Ryland and Elise watching out the window for the arrival of either Daddy

Target toy clearance trip with Holly and a van full of kids

That's five kids in car seats, people!

one last Costa Vida trip before we moved

Unfortunately Matt was working and didn't get to come. Unfortunate for him because he didn't get yummy food or exciting company like we did, but also unfortunate for me because Elise was out of control (notice that while I take this picture she is standing up in the high chair I had her buckled into).

Umm...

Then we moved to Mesa, after six months of living with my sister, Holly, and her sweet family. We miss them so much already, and we're so grateful for their generosity toward us.

Then we went to Disney On Ice in Phoenix. Free tickets and we found free parking? You can't get any better than that. We even got to sit by Holly's family.

It was really a lot of fun, even if it was way too late for Elise.

And now we're here in Mesa, working on sorting out our rented town home. By "sorting out," I guess I mean getting the carpet replaced (it smelled like cat urine), sanitizing as we go, and slowly but surely unpacking.

We've also been enjoying the antics of this sweet kid.

If you've actually read this ridiculously long post to the very end, you may now consider yourselves officially updated.