Family Photos

i have always enjoyed looking at the wall of family pictures that line the staircase at my in-laws house. i love seeing nate and his siblings and how much they changed and grew from photo to photo, i love seeing how fashion and hairstyles have evolved over the years (wow, there are some really great ones!)...but mostly i love the fact that they took the time to get a picture taken to remember that little moment in their lives. we have started a wall like that at our house.

the first official tew family portrait...

12.28.10
nate: 30 jess: 28
miss mabel jane: 7 months exactly

standing up like such a big girl!

scratchin' the wall
(this girl loves to scratch things)




peek-a-boo: two little teeth!

way too crazy background...




bowl of yummyness


tiny dancer




the photographer wanted to try a few shots of us in front of this barn yard red wall on a gold couch but they had to be turned to black and white because i think the colors totally clashed.
(see below)

yay for pictures! thanks fotofly.

Christmas Festivities Part III

The Monday after Christmas my mom, Kraig, and Jacob drove out from Colorado to come visit for a week! I wish they could just move back out here. We missed my little sister Kelsey who wasn't able to come because of work.

my mom was attached to mabel most of the trip :)

mabel loved to stare at uncle jacob

jacob and fritz napping

reading one of mabel's favorite books, "Farm Babies"

mabel looked pretty cute in jacob's hat

ever since mabel was born our catkids have been pretty neglected (sorry boys!)
whenever my mom comes to visit they take advantage of her willingness to cuddle them

jacob and kraig were very happy that
In and Out and Five Guys were both mere minutes away from our house


mumsie and mabel


We had my grandparents, aunt, and cousins over for a dinner get together:


my mom showing off her awesome printed blog book
(i am waiting for a coupon then i am printing mine!)


kraig cooking, grandpa getting warm, and anna feeding baby jack


feasting


please ignore the gang signs


we had three different soups in breadbowls...delicious



Then on Friday we went up to Kamas to have Christmas
with my family and grandparents...


when we were young my grandpa taught all of us how to play rummy...
jacob gave him a run for his money





more presents for me?




I put a few meltaway puffs on the ground for Mabel and she realized she could just roll over and eat them instead of picking them up - that clever little girl!

Christmas Festivities Part II

We had our own little Christmas Sunday morning and unfortunately my cold was at its worst. I had a terrible sinus headache, could barely breathe out of my nose, and just wanted to crawl back into bed. We stayed home from church and Nate watched Mabel so I could rest a little. I was constantly washing my hands and trying not to kiss Mabel as much as usual - I didn't want her to get sick!

Despite feeling pretty under the weather it was great to Skype with family so they could see Mabel open some of her presents. She LOVED the wrapping paper and would start tearing at each present we gave her.



We watched our favorite Luke II video and a few other Christmas messages that Nate found.


The cutest present ever!


Mabel made sure everything tasted okay:
paper, blocks, and books


We love this little person so much!


the catkids liked their mice present and they also got a wet food treat


We ended the day with Christmas Story on repeat and an awesome feast of canned chicken noodle soup. It was the only thing that sounded good to me and I was just too tired to cook.