Happy 2011 and Christmas Recap

We're leaping for joy this New Year! (cheesy? yes!)

Nate and I are counting are blessings this year. We have school, jobs, the gospel, and friends and family that bring us so much happiness. We're looking forward to 2011 and all that the year holds in store for us. We didn't send out Christmas cards. Sorry folks. We'll do better next year. We really appreciated all of the love and Christmas cards we recieved this year. I had about 18 to open when I got back from Texas and it made for a very warming welcome. Love you all! A good friend took the pictures above and we thank her for that!

Here's a brief recap of our Holiday Festivities. We went to Houston again this year. There were two new additions to the family this year; baby David and Kate. The only person missing from this family Christmas photo is David who was peacefully slumbering during all of the commotion of family pictures. Don't look too closely at the family photo opp--you might see some strange things. All photographs are courtesy of the one and only Kate Lauritzen. Thank you very much.

We went to the Houston Temple one day to take a looksie.

This is one of my favorite photos ever. Grandma Carol is wearing 3D glasses. They appear normal in this picture. In fact, I have a picture of Brent and Grandma wearing 3D glasses from last Christmas when we all went out to Moody Gardens to see a 3D movie. These 3D glasses are in fact very different and very special, so she says. We did not attend a 3D movie this year, but Grandma still wore her glasses . . .everyday! She did not just wear them to the movies. She wore them around the house, in the car, at the movies because they helped protect her eyes from the glare (sunglasses do the same thing :-) ) It was a comical sight. Even funnier is the story behind them. Nate and I put them in a white elephant gift that she happened to choose. The glasses along with the movie the Holiday, white chocolate, and a bag of popcorn were in a Radio City Music Hall bucket that was once filled with popcorn from the Rockette Christmas show. Grandma loved her gift! I never knew the glasses were going to be such a hit. They certainly fell into the hands of the right person. I think they suit her very well!

Brent and Grandma Carol. a.k.a Nana Coco

Our darling nephew David Aaron sitting on top of his Christmas gifts!

Loved his camo pjs. The multi-talented Samantha sewed matching camo pajamas for their family.

The undeniably loco Lauritzen brothers! They are always such a hoot when they are together. It's fun to see them interact. They're definitely big kids, especially on Christmas.

We love being aunts and uncles to David! There was plenty of love to go around this year.

Speaking of L.O.V.E. This is Mr. Love himself snuggling his grandbaby. It was said of Craig, my father in-law, that he is 6' 2", 210lbs, and full of love. He was described in this manner over the pulpit during sacrament meeting at the Young Singles Adult branch by one of the YSA members. Us in the back row were dying laughing because the description helped him grow two inches and shed 20lbs. Though, the full of love part wasn't a fib. He truly is full of love. We're grateful for all of the time we were able to spend at home with Nathan's family. They are so wonderful to us. Our flight was cancelled the day we were supposed to come home, so we were able to spend a few extra nights with the fam. It was very relaxing. We got caught up on some movies for the year!
This is really short, but imagine them doing this for a whole car ride. Take it low boys!