Christmastime is over but what a new year to come!

Every year I hope that Christmas will last a little longer than usual, but it never does. Luckily, it was still a wonderful break, Christmas, & New Year!

Half of our days lately have been watching Jackson play (or playing with him) and saying, "how can he be so cute?" or "He's such a clever little boy" and recently, "he's starting to get mischevious in an innocent way" (we realize that does sound like an oxymoron). But he brings us so much joy, it's unbelievable. Most of the time we just have a blast together.

I realized I never posted about Thanksgiving, even though that seems like an eternity ago. We went to the Gannaways for Thanksgiving and Jackson just played and played and played! We had a great feast,  the missionaries joined us, and Jackson sported his Turkey shirt.

This Christmas break was the first time we have ever had a full 3-week break, it was wonderful! We were finally able to spend some quality family time where Grant wasn't super stressed with a crazy semester. The first week of the break, we visited the Gannaways in Rexburg and relaxed. We went to The Hobbit & went to a few of Lee's Basketball games. Jackson was captivated as he watched boys pass and shoot the "bol". We think he kind of loves basketball already.
 For Christmas and New Years we were in Oregon with the Risleys. We got to meet my brother Nate & his wife Kaila's new little baby Cohen. It's insane how small he is compared to Jackson, and how much babies change in a year! Most of Jackson's interactions with him were looking at him, turning his head to the side, and walking away to play with something. But I'm sure they'll be best cousins soon enough!  We went to a tree farm to chop down a tree & decorated it, went to an Oregon basketball game, swam at The Wave Pool, played lots of games, saw Les Miserables, and met up with old friends and had wonderful family time. It was a much needed break!

One of the most exciting things that have happened in the past month or two has been Jackson talking! We're pretty sure his new words are mostly only recognizable to Grant and I, but they're developing. Jackson's favorite and most common words are: ma & dada, ball, book, more, uh-oh, dog, ruff-ruff, meow, applesauce (very roughly...). He also loves to give kisses, hugs, and he responds to 'come here' (3/4 of the time...it decreases as he learns he can be more independent...yikes), 'don't touch just look', and 'yucky'. It's such a big world as he learns new things! We're having so much fun, and making him giggle makes our world so very bright. He's a happy one!

Well here are a few...maybe too many pictures... Of the events of the past few months!

First snow of the season! Jackson was thrilled.

We went with some friends to their family cabin in Park City and played in the snow.

Sledding! Jackson was TERRIFIED.

Mr. Turkey at Thanksgiving

Turkey feathers

Grandma & Jackson

Always up to something...

Helping put up the Christmas lights!

Grant's birthday, celebrated with Chocolate mousse. The first birthday in college he hasn't had finals on his birthday :)

We went up to the mountains to get a tiny little branch as our "Christmas tree".

Here it is! Our tiny tiny Christmas tree! (We're not aloud to have real trees in Wymount apartments, so we got this...we figured it's pretty much the same thing as flowers, right?)

Christmas Eve fondue! Mmm.

Christmas morning... Jackson attempting to enjoy a candy cane.

Baby Cohen & Jackson in their matching Christmas day outfits!

 

Grandma with her Grandkids!

Merry Christmas!

Baby Cohen would take his naps in this basket, and Jackson would always go look at him. After awhile, Jackson thought it was funny to get in the basket like baby Cohen! 

The wave pool! Jackson was terrified at first, but after awhile, he had a blast.

Go Ducks!

A rocking chair at Grandma & Grandpa's was his favorite- just his size!

We're lucky we have such a good plane traveler. He sure was flirting with the flight attendants! Two of them asked to hold him by the end of the flight!