Caught Up, Finally!

So remember that time, like a month ago, when I said I would catch everyone back up with the rest of our holiday happenings within a couple of days? If you stay caught up with our blog you know that definitely didn't happen. But, we did have a very enjoyable Christmas at home! We really missed getting to see all of our family, but I have to say that it was probably one of the most relaxing Christmases we've had for awhile. Plus, we got to really decorate our house for the occasion! Last year, we moved in roughly a week before Christmas so we didn't see any point in even putting anything out.

We did have some visitors, which was nice! Mason's mom and step-dad came the weekend before Christmas and my dad and step-mom came the weekend after. As you can imagine, Eli was spoiled, and now has more toys than any one child could possibly need or want! It made me happy that Mason and I didn't go too crazy with the amount of stuff we bought for Eli because otherwise we'd really have a hard time trying to find a place for everything!

Here's Eli with just a very small portion of his loot! He's totally going to love me for the deer antlers! ;)

We also started some of our own traditions together. Christmas Eve we went to the early church service together. Afterward I told Mason that since we were going to be making a big meal the next day I didn't really want to cook. So, Chinese take out it was! And it was fabulous! After we ate and Eli took a quick nap, we each opened a gift, which was a new pair of pajamas to wear on Christmas Day. We then got cookies ready for Santa, and a couple carrots for the reindeer, and we were off to bed. The next morning, Eli woke up around 5ish to eat, if I remember correctly. We had plans to go back to sleep for awhile, but being the little kids that Mason and I are, we had to get up and see what Santa brought! He was very generous this year! ;)

We must have been good this year...even Gus got some treats!

Lots of yummy goodies!

The rest of Christmas Day we lounged around, ate too much food, and just enjoyed each other's company. We even had a nice cozy fire going, which was pure bliss! Like I said, we missed our families, but did not miss driving all over God's creation to get from place to place.

The three of us together on Christmas Day! :)

We even got a smidgen of snow the weekend Grandpa and Grandma Steffen came down to visit. This is Eli's first time playing in the snow!

Otherwise, everything is going great! Eli is growing like a weed, and he's doing so many new things. He is a rolling champ and is in the beginning stages of trying to scoot around. He's definitely not crawling yet, but he kicks his legs to push himself forward and then face plants the floor. I hate to laugh at the kid, but it is kind of funny.. He is a lot more vocal and babbles all the time! And he is also trying new foods. He loves his cereal, and has tried peas, avocados, and green beans. The first experience with green beans did not go well, but he doesn't seem to mind them as bad now! He also likes being read to and is grabbing at his toys, and hair, and jewelry a lot! In general, he is an incredibly happy baby!

Mason started back to school, with which he has a love/hate relationship. I think it's more "hate" at this point. For the most part, he enjoys his classes, but he's just so ready to be done. He will have to take some classes this summer and fall, and then hopefully (fingers crossed) he will graduate in the spring of 2014. Though the amount of time it has taken him is typical (he started when we met in the fall of 2009), it sometimes seems like a lot longer.

Since Christmas, I've just been busy with school. I joined a women's Bible study at my church, and that's been very enjoyable. But otherwise, that's been about it. The first weekend in March I will be going to Kansas City to have a girls' weekend with a couple friends from college. I am ecstatic about that because it feels like forever since I've seen them! And we "may" be making a trip to Iowa during our spring break. We're not 100% yet, but it's something we're looking at doing. I'm hopeful we can, because the last time we were there it was October.

I better run for now. My mom and step-dad are coming down Thursday evening for the weekend, and I've got at least a million loads of laundry to get done between now and then, and hopefully a little cleaning. I've finally resigned to the fact that our house will never be clean again, and I'm mostly okay with that, but I'm still going to make an attempt. :) Have a great rest of the weekend!