fa la la la la

Saturday, November 28th we reunited with Elder Deven Day!

 after serving a 2 year mission in Rosario, Argentina.

he looked GREAT! the same as he did before he left ... 

but with a bit of a "glow" about him!

we are thankful for his example.

we are SO excited to have him home!

waiting to see him come down the escalator

here he is!

all of us again WITH dev, byron and lesa

b-man (dev's "companion" for a week) taking off the missionary tag ... he had just been released!

koryn's brithday was the day after thanksgving but we weren't all together that day so we had her open all of our gifts when we WERE together! look how spoiled she is! she is the cutest 2 year old around!

Sunday, November 29th was Deven's Welcome Home.

Jordan and his older brother Kolby were asked to speak with Deven without HIM knowing nor their parents.  It was somewhat of a surprise even though Ali blurted it out Saturday afternoon! 

We tried to cover it up as best we could!

Sacrament Metting turned out really good anyway! It was "one of the most spiritual meetings" a lot of people said they had had in a LONG time.

our boys made us proud!

afterwards everyone headed to the DAY's house for delicious (homemade) cafe rio burritos and yummy treats!

the next 2 pictures are the only ones i got ALL day! what!?? 

i can't believe i didn't even get one of the boys! arrh!

me, jac, east, and cousin mike in the background

nicole and i

Monday, November 30th my beautiful S-I-L went through the temple!

what a special and exciting day!

i can't even describe the feelings i felt and FEEL when thinking about byron and lesa being in the temple with every single one of their children! 

i don't think you could ask for anything greater than that!

congrats nic! i am so PROUD of you! love you!

by the time nicole was dressed and walked out into the waiting room, everyone had left except for those standing in the picture!

from L to R: uncle doug, aunt kaylene, me, grandma beth, nicole. lesa

nicole and her escorts

Tuesday, December 1st was the day of family pictures!

that evening the girls went to a fabulous relief society night of women who danced their testimonies while the boys watched the kiddos. thanks guys!

Wednesday, December 2nd was CHRISTMAS!

the boys went shooting during the day while us girls hung out with the kids.

that night after dinner we did a few christmas traditions and then opened gifts from eachother and byron and lesa ... yes she got all of her christmas done before she went to argentina!

we decided to do christmas with eachother NOW because we were ALL together. kolby and ali will stay in cleveland with thier children for actual christmas and we are heading to georgia!

we like to say this was our christmas 1!

jaxson has become quite the little piano player from taking lessons back in ohio. he loved to show off his skills and play his favorite songs. and east loved to join him!

after dinner we did the NATIVITY.

jax and koryn as the cutest joseph and mary with baby jesus

the whole nativity!

emma=donkey, joseph and mary, lesa=wiseman

east opening his gift from emma! he was pretty much done after this one gift! jord and i opened the rest while he crawled around.

it was difficult to get a good picture of easton but i love this one of emma. she is such a doll!

dev and jord with our awesome hammock that dev brought us from argentina!

sorry for the long post!

this has been our busy week. 

wish i had more or maybe i should say some better pictures to show for it! 

nothing i can really do now though. oh well. 

at least we have the memories!