Sunny and 60

The closest place we know that's 60 degrees in January is St. George! Emri had a long weekend from school, so I packed up the kids, picked up Momma Max and we headed south (poor Brett had to work).  

It was baby Ike's first official "vacation" and I think he handled it well. Don't you?! 

We spent lots of time with our favorite St. Georgians.... Emri, Jet and I got to watch Aunt Mindy and Uncle Marty finish their St. G 1/2 Marathon. 

 They totally rocked it!! 

 Here's Marty's backside... almost there!

 We hung out at the vacation house...

Had a pizza picnic in the middle of town. Can't wait to go back and play in the water....

 Soaked in the hot tub....

 Emri got pretty daring at the park and was able to cross the monkey bars for the first time on her own!

 Jet barely was still long enough for a picture...between the slides and the swings, the only thing that could get him to leave the park was the promise of a cookie from Swig!!

Ikey boy lovin his time with Gma Max

 Even the babes got some social time in. Nora and Ike chattin' it up!

 Since it was still a little too cold to heat the pool the kids "swam" for about 3 hours one afternoon in the hot tub. It was perfect! 

I enjoyed the view from here several times that weekend. Blue skies and sunshine...just what I needed to survive the last couple months of winter! 

 Emri has also mastered the hula hoop.... 

Ike @ 4 Months

4 Month Check-Up Stats:

Weight: 14 lb. 6 oz. (24%)

Height: 24 1/2 inches (18%)

Head Circumference: 16 1/2 inches (55%)

poor boy had a little cold in his eye, so it looks a little puffy :(

 of course, big brother needed to show him how to be silly....

 all gussied up at church... hangin' out in the mother's lounge.

meeting santa for the first time

 he's talented...

 noooooo! Don't eat it!

 First Christmas Eve!

 Snugglin' Papa... first Christmas!

 With his crew on the Anderton side. All born in 2013: Georgia, Nora, Ike, & Hendrix

 The most adorable buckeye fan! Cheering for the Buckeyes in their bowl game. Too bad they blew it...

 4 month check-up appointment....and shots. Boooooo. He did so good though! His face turned red, he got ticked off, let out a whimper and that was it! He was a bit feverish and sad though that night and the next day.

At 4 Months, Ike:

• gave us his first laugh 12/12/13 just after turning 3 mos. 
• started waking up around 5 am this past month, i let him "cry" which was more like a whine for 10 min then he'd go back to sleep...after about 4 nights of that he was back to sleeping through. 
• size 3 diapers
• at 14 weeks i dropped his "dream feed" (10pm)....so he would eat for the last time at 7:30 pm, got to bed around 8 and sleep till 7:30 or 8 am!!
• is starting to get so distracted while eating. I now threaten the older kids to be quiet while he eats or he's all over the place looking for noises!
• 1/5/14 rolled from his tummy to his back for the first time (17 weeks)!
• is still so sweet tempered and so happy! WE LOVE YOU BABY IKEY (jets name for him)--or--IKE-A-RUMBA (emri's nickname for him)!

The Most Wonderful Time of the Year....

...unless you get hit with the influenza. Nuff said. Blah.

Luckily I was the only one...in our immediate family, anyway. The kids were still able to have a wonderful time and enjoy all the fun! Christmas Eve was spent just hangin out at the house. We had planned to go bowling and get take-out, but instead we stayed home and ate leftovers. haha! The kids opened their jammies and gifts to eachother. Jet was stoked about his "army guy hat"....

 ....and shark. Emri nailed it with her $1 store picks!

A few of my favorite pics from Christmas morning: Jet LOVES gum!

Emri hugged her Santa present as soon as she saw what it was!

Jet was too cool in his "blue minja turtle" gear!

 Luckily I was feeling a bit better Christmas day, so we headed to SLC to have Christmas with the Brklacich crew (i just sported that sexy mask all day). 

Papa always loves to spoil the grandbabies with Harley Davidson apparel. Jet was stylin' in his jacket and begged papa for a motorcycle ride. Too cold pal!

 Jet and his bestie, Uncle Brody

 The grandkiddos

 Oh yes, Ike was also part of this big day! Between naps I'm surprised I even got a pic (bad mommy). We had a great day!!!

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

We celebrated Christmas with the WHOLE Anderton gang a few days after Christmas. I LOVE this first picture...it captures the day perfectly! LOTS of people, LOTS of chaos, LOTS of love!

 G & G gave all the grandkids the funnest gift....these personalized sweatshirts! Each says property of G&G, then has their last name on the sleeve. AND THEY ALL FIT! I can't imagine the time it took them to figure out sizes, right coloring for boy/girl, and get all the last names on there! So awesome! We all thought G&G stood for Gma & Gpa, but it means "good & great" to remind them of how they ought to be/act. 29 Grandkids total now! 

 And here is the final edition of 2013 Anderton crop of babies!! 

~Georgia~Nora~Ike~Hendrix~

 Naughty Nora...causing domino babies! haha!

 Ike seems a bit concerned about Brystun's baby-holding skills!  :)

 I always love the kids rendition of the nativity. The older kids usually are in charge of being the "directors," and the adults don't have anything to do with the production! Emri played the angel this year, Ike starred as baby Jesus....

 ...and Jet....The Mexican????? hahahah!

 Definitely entertaining....and most likely not as somber as the real Nativity, but memorable nonetheless!

 We also spent New Year's Eve in Morgan.... i was a bit nervous we were going to run out of bubbly ;)

 The kids celebrated around 10 pm and we headed home around 11. Definitely late enough for us old married folk! 

 I planned to take the tree down New Year's Day, but the kids begged us to keep it up. Finally, i convinced them a few days later that they could have a picnic for dinner in front of the tree, then Brett and I took it down that night after they went to bed. 

 I feel extremely blessed this holiday season. We were surrounded by those we love and were able to spend time with all of them. Until next year.....