The Thomsons: Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year 2013!

Before I get into our Christmas activities I just wanted to throw these pictures into the post. This is Lincoln running around with the laundry basket pocket on his head so it bounces behind him. He laughs and squeals around the house and has been so excited he runs into something. Many times...He doesn't always look where he is running when he gets really excited.

I already have a picture of our Christmas tree in a previous post but I just love seeing it all lit up!

We went to this adorable placed called The Train Shoppe in Salt Lake. We went with Lys and the girls and rode their little train around. It was adorable and the kids were so excited about riding on the train.

They had all these train villages set up that you could control.

There was a little saloon area. Kiley is serving us up some drinks and treats.

On another weekend we went to Temple Square with Shay, Rebecca and kids and Seth, Kim and Ashley. We happened to go during probably the worst storm of this winter season. Lincoln was really upset because his hands and feet froze. He was double layered and still was too cold. Sheehan, Link, and I would have been pathetic pioneers.

Lincoln with cousin Ashley

Since the weather was too bad for driving we decided to take the front runner. Everyone else seemed to have the same idea so it was PACKED! There was also a Jazz game that night so if you weren't going to temple square you were going to the Jazz game. I did enjoy riding the frontrunner and trax speed trains. I just need to learn how to hop from train to train on the different routes. I'm a bit directionally challenged.

Sheehan holding his chicken little boy.

It was freezing with this bone chilling wind around temple square so I took my pictures of the lights from inside the visitor center.

As you can see I am bundled up and Lincoln has layer upon layer covering him and it was still way too cold to wander around outside. We took shelter in the Joseph Smith Building and warmed up with some hot chocolate until the next Trax train came.

Lincoln got his tractor Christmas present early.

We decided to take our family Christmas pictures at our house and pattern it after Sheehan's home inspection reports. I love Lincoln's crinkly nose smile in this picture. I'm holding Bagheera (our black cat) but he is too dark to see. This was one of the photos taken but not the final Christmas card product.

On the weekend of December 14th we used vouchers we had for the Westgate Resort in Park City. Devin and Julianne came with us. We had to sit through a sales presentation but took advantage of the spa, nice room, and general luxury. Lincoln was a little king. He immediately ran into the room climbed up on the king bed, jumped on the pillows and grabbed the remote. We arrived late Thursday night after Sheehan got home. He finished his work and inspection reports in the hotel.

The next morning, Friday, we watched Baby J while Devyco and Julianne got massages. Later, I got my nails done. Then my Mom came to join us over Friday night through Saturday when we checked out. She brought us pizza and cookies and we all just hung out talking and watching movies.

Saturday morning we got all our rooms packed up and left the hotel. We went and visited our cousin Amber at the Smith's in Park City (where she works) then went directly across the street to the Olympic Park where they were holding the Luge World Championship. Part of the competition also included qualifying the team for the 2014 Sochi Olympics. It was so cool watching them speed down the course going over 80 mph on these teeny sleds. As the pictures show you could stand right next to track as they zoomed through. They are going so fast it's hard to snap a picture of them. Devin was loving making "slow motion" videos of the competitors.

Julianne is the winner!

Lincoln and Baby J

Luge buddies!

There was a little tent setup near the track with Santa, music, face painters, balloon makers, and hot cocoa. Lincoln and I got our faces painted and they made Lincoln a puppy ballon. Sheehan was very tired.

Haub-Thomson bobsled team

We moved on to the museum and found last years Junior World Champion watching the results on one of the big screens in the museum. It was just him and his family and friends. He was really nice so my Mom questioned him for at least 30 minutes about the Luge sport. Leave it to my Mom to find someone who really knows what they are talking about and leave as friends.

Lincoln, our future Luge competitor.

Or our future ski champion.

After wandering the Olympic Park we went to downtown Park City. I love walking the stores and enjoying the Christmas decor on the streets. They even had Santa and Mrs. Claus walking on the street wishing Merry Christmas. As you can tell it is pretty cold.

Later that week, we decided last minute to go with my parents to check out the Festival of Lights in Spanish Fork. You drive through and look at all their light displays. It was really fun. Lincoln enjoyed dancing to the music.

Sheehan is opening Lincoln's gift from Scott and Terri here. He loves the Stuffies Giraffe they got for him.

On Christmas eve we called Grandpa Haub who is living in Lancaster, California. We did Facetime on our iPhones with him (yes, even Grandpa Haub has his own iPhone). He played us some Christmas songs on the piano and chatted with us for a while. It topped of the night to hear his amazing piano playing skills of some of my favorite holiday songs.

Earlier on Christmas Eve morning we went bowling with everyone. This used to be a Nelson Family Tradition that we are going to bring back. We were able to invite Colleen and Shay and his family along with some of Julianne's brothers and their family's.

Lincoln redecorated our tree all through out the month. That's why we have plastic ornaments. Between Lincoln and the cat it became a necessity.

Bagheera hanging out in front of the stockings on the mantle.

Lincoln's gift from Santa was a fire truck! It is noisy...so he absolutely loves it.

We got him tons and tons of hot wheels and cars. Now they are all over the house.

We can't forget it was not only Christmas but Sheehan's 27th birthday!

This Christmas was a new experience for us and Lys, Devyco and I all stayed in Utah instead of driving out to California. We exchanged gifts, played some games, ate ham rolls, cheese bread, and vanilla or chocolate malts. It was lots of fun. Every get together is extremely loud and a little chaotic now that the little children are getting older.

This special gift deserves a bow

Over in California they had a great time too and sent us this picture of Great Grandma Connie looking as good as ever. I hope I have her good health genes.

Lyssa was able to score everyone tickets for an indoor/outdoor train ride with Santa and lots of beautiful pictures of the life of Christ. I had to work :( so I only get to enjoy the pictures.

This is our final Christmas card photo. I love how it turned out. I have such a wonderful life and am just so grateful for all of our blessings. Sheehan's success in his business and being able to support our family, our wonderful home, our adorable little Lincoln boy, and another on the way. I am really spoiled.

For New Year's Eve we all got together as a family again. We played a game Devin brought, the kids ran around crazy like usual, and we popped a ballon every hour with trivia and/or questions pertaining to New Year's Eve. We streamed the Dick Clark program on the tv and celebrated the ball dropping with the east coast.

With the kids and all of us being tired, responsible adults now we decided it was too late to stay up until midnight so we celebrated at 10:00 pm then all went our separate ways to get some sleep! It has been a year of highs and lows. We are looking forward to the home inspection business continuing to grow and our little family receiving another little addition in just a few months! It's a Wonderful Life!