My New Best Friend

 After approximately 2 minutes of unsupervised time, this is what I found.  Can you say ORNERY?  So this momma had to find a way to outsmart my climbing, exploring, curious, knows no fear, 19 month old.

 Voila...there she is.  Have you seen these things?  I remember seeing them in the store when Lainey was a baby and thinking what on earth would you need that for?  Now I know...you need it for COOPER!  The greatest invention of my life time (with the exception of the flat iron) and my new best friend.  

One Last Christmas Celebration

 The weekend after Christmas, we were able to travel to Arcadia, KS to visit my extended family.  This is my Great Aunt Jessie and Great Uncle Hardy.  Kimberlee and I used to fly to Wichita (when my dad worked for an airline) and visit them.  I have many wonderful memories of our time with them and enjoyed getting to visit them in their new apartment.  

 My wonderful grandparents

 My wonderful parents

 Lainey had such a good time with my cousin Courtney.  She told me she thought Courtney looked like one of the Disney princesses.  So cute.

 The kiddos 

 Opening gifts with the whole gang

 Malloree lovin on her Papa

Cousins

Morton Family Christmas

 I always love going home for Christmas.  Making the drive with the van stuffed full of presents and the kids about to bounce out of their car seats with excitement.  I wouldn't have it any other way.  

We enjoyed our family traditions including my dad reading the Christmas story from Luke 2 in the picture above.

 We exchanged gifts

 Wild at heart

 I thought Chad and Jen might enjoy this picture.  They sent Cooper a Buzz Lightyear and this was his expression when he saw it.  He loves it!

 We added pictures of Jules and Ava to make the picture complete : )

 My mom snuggled up in her oh so soft blanket

The newest member of the family, Malloree and her pretty momma

A new baby for Christmas

And no...it's not a baby for Jamie and I : ) 

Christmas with the O'Dells was extra special this year.  We have a brand new sweet baby nephew that joined the family just a couple of days after Christmas.  We switched the schedule around a little and were able to celebrate with Brian, Crystal and the boys just after they came home from the hospital.  We so enjoyed being close and getting to see little Eli right after he was born.  

Papa's new train set stayed very busy while we visited

 Um yes...we do golf at Christmas

 and don't forget the coloring

 and the snuggling

 and the presents

 and staring at the new little snuggle bug

 Lainey and I with our new matching lockets.  Love my girl.

Our Christmas

 Christmas feels like such a long time ago, but I'm playing catch up on the blog!  December was a bit of a whirlwind with being out of town as many days as we were home.  It was a little tiring but I'm thankful for the memories we made and the time spent with family.  This was Christmas eve when Lainey and I continued our tradition of making and frosting sugar cookies.

 Exchanging brother/sister gifts on Christmas eve

 Does anyone else have this trouble?  Trying to get Cooper to stand still long enough to get a picture of them together.  Lainey was holding onto his arm and he still managed to slip away!

 New power wheels from Santa...before you think that the O'Dells struck gold or that Santa lost his mind, you should know that Santa and his elves discovered Craig's List : )

 Trying it out Christmas morning

 Daddy's new slippers from his kiddos

 All dressed up for our Christmas service at church

 The family picture I would have used for our Christmas card if I had made them.  So sad.  The first year in a while that I haven't gotten them out.  I'll blame it on the whirlwind!

 One of our favorite traditions...a happy birthday Jesus party!