Christmas 2013

1st Christmas, we celebrated as a family a couple days before leaving on our trip to Kent and Seaside.

In stark contrast to last year, Hayley was quite excited about Santa coming and eager to leave out cookies and milk by Grandma's tree. 

Christmas Eve, Grandma Forbes was able to come visit! 

(This was taken late…after a long day…)

This year I got a little crazy and made 7 pairs of these monster slippers for my kids and some of their cousins. They were pretty fun to make.

One night we went and walked along the path at Gene Coulon Park. 

They had some really pretty lights up.

Mom and Dad and grandkids…and Alyssa. 

(Sorry Mom and Dad that you have branch mustaches…)

A couple days after Christmas we made our way down to Seaside to visit Skyler's family. 

Kid's Table

As per New Years tradition, Jodi and Ben bring their Chocolate fountain. 

It is quite the spread if indulgence!

Jodi and Kylee

Nick, Jenna, Brenna

Hayley and Skyler, celebrating New Year's for kids…at 9pm.

Let's be real, we love them, but 12am would be 4-5 hours past bedtime 

and they don't know the difference at 9pm. 

Break out the streamers and noise makers for 5 min, do a fake countdown…. and bedtime! 

When in Seaside…ride the Carousel.

And of course, visit the beach! 

We had a few family photos taken, this is one that I snapped right before my batteries died. 

Go figure.

We had a wonderful time visiting both our families and getting to see just about everybody.