Mond-uary

Is it just me, or does January feel like one big long Monday? I mean, in November we were able to take a long weekend and go up to Boise for Thanksgiving. Then in December we took another long weekend and traveled to Kentucky for an early Christmas with Jake's family. Then during Christmas week, and New Year's week, Jacob only had 3-day work weeks. So we're having all this fun all month long, like it's a never-ending Friday.

Then January comes, complete with depressing snow, 5-day work weeks, and a whole heck of a lot of CLEANING that needs to be done. Just like Monday.

Anyway, at least our long Friday was a lot of fun. It was so nice to go visit our KY family. They all just ate Eisley up (not literally, thank goodness) and she basked in the glow of never-ending attention and affection (very literally). She was SO good both on the plane ride, and with the mass of family swarming around her. She was so happy and content, and that made it a lot easier for ME to be happy and content. We had tons of fun having Christmas, eating Missy's biscuits and gravy (something I never understood the appeal of until I had hers. Now I crave them, and I just can't do it the same way), going shopping, re-visiting old haunts, and catching up with old friends.

Eisley and her cousin Kyleigh

...with Granddad Kinney

4 generations! E, Jake, Missy (Jake's mom) and Granny Carlisle
Can you see the family resemblance or what?Eisley and her Auntie Clinton! So cute! There was a picture where you can see Tamara's face too, but this one's so cute with her laughing, that I had to use it instead. Sorry girl. We came back and very soon after we were celebrating Christmas with my family. It's not as big of a deal, since we pretty much all live here and see each other pretty often, but it was still fun. We decided to spread out the presents on Christmas day this year instead of opening them all at 6am and being done and tired by 8. This year, Jacob and I stayed at our house (instead of sleeping over at my mom's as we'd done in previous years) and opened our presents to each other after Eisley finished her morning bottle. Then when she woke up, we went over to my mom's for brunch (attempted biscuits and gravy. Not nearly as good) then most of the family went to see a movie, which is a long-standing tradition for the Dick family. We saw Avatar and LOVED it. Then we came back, Nate and Libbie joined the ranks and we stopped by our house to have everyone open their presents from us. Then back to mom's for the rest of the family presents. When all was said and done, the last present wasn't torn open until 4pm. If you ask me, THAT'S how you do Christmas!

Eisley trying to open her presents early

E and her cousin Elaina Christmas morning

I got Elaina a wooden pizza set. She loved it!Everyone at my house. The kids bought mom and dad a new microwaveNew Year's Eve came quickly too, and we spent it at our house playing games on the Wii, then Guitar Hero and DDR on the Playstation, eating hoagie sandwiches and just being loud and having fun. Now that there are 5 young kids, however, we did not make it till midnight. We decided to go ahead and celebrate with our friends in the Eastern Time Zone and blew our horns and popped our confetti at 10pm. Don't judge us. I was EXHAUSTED, and my living room floor was littered with confetti bits, but I went to bed at 10:30.

Probably one of my favorite pictures EVER.

Or this one. I love it. I think they were canoeing

Me and my girl

Jared and Ben in their special hats. Jacob and I in their special hats.

All in all, it was a wonderful Holiday season, and it makes me a little sad that now I have to live through a month of Monday's. But at least February will be here soon, with promise of another Holiday to look forward too. Now if only someone could remind Jacob that Valentine's Day IS a real Holiday...